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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sempattu Poove

From Purusha Lakshanam · 1993

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Purusha Lakshanam
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
23 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sempattu poovae venn mottu thaerae
Sri ranga kaaviriyae….
Pon mottu maanae poonthattu thaenae
Bhoomiyin devathaiyae….
Mannilae oru vennilaa
Kalai vannangal intha pennilaa
Kulir megam unthan kannilaa
Kuyil padum Geetham sollilaa
Sempattu poovae venn mottu thaerae
Sri ranga kaaviriyae….
Pon mottu maanae poonthattu thaenae
Bhoomiyin devathaiyae….
Kaanji pattuduththi
Nadanthidum gangaiyin oorvalamo
Kaala brammanavan vazhangiya pennina seedhanamo
Mannilae antha devan sabai vanthu koodum
Pala vaazhththu solli unnai paadum
Punnagaithaan ponnagaiyo kannigai vaa vaa vaa
Sempattu poovae venn mottu thaerae
Sri ranga kaaviriyae….
Pon mottu maanae poonthattu thaenae
Bhoomiyin devathaiyae….
Poovin nenjukkullae
Pudhuvitha bodhao thulliyathae…ae…
Kaadhal pulliyilae padiththida
Aasai solliyathae….ae….
Ennavo idhu endrum illaatha mayakkam
Imai endum ottaamal urakkam
En vizhiyil un mugamthaan
Vendrathu vaa vaa vaa
Sempattu poovae venn mottu thaerae
Sri ranganatharukkae…hoi
Pon mottu maanum poonthattu thaenum
Ennuyir raamanukkae…hoi
Mannilae vantha vennilaa
Intha kannanaik konjum penn nilaa
Kulir megam unthan kannilaa
Kuyil geetham kadhal sollilaa
Aa….aa….aa…..Sempattu poovae
Venn mottu thaerae
Sri ranga kaaviriyae….
Pon mottu maanae poonthattu thaenae
Bhoomiyin devathaiyae….
Red silk flower, chariot of white buds,
O Kaveri of Srirangam...
Golden bud deer, honey in a flower plate,
Goddess of this earth...
A glowing white moon on this earth,
Does all the beauty of art dwell in this girl?
Is there a cool cloud resting in your eyes?
Is the cuckoo's song in your words?
Red silk flower, chariot of white buds,
O Kaveri of Srirangam...
Golden bud deer, honey in a flower plate,
Goddess of this earth...
Draped in Kanchipuram silk,
Is this a walking procession of the holy Ganga?
Is she a precious gift given to womankind by Lord Brahma?
The council of gods will gather here on earth,
To sing your praises with endless blessings.
Is your smile itself golden jewelry? Young girl, come, come, come!
Red silk flower, chariot of white buds,
O Kaveri of Srirangam...
Golden bud deer, honey in a flower plate,
Goddess of this earth...
Deep inside this flower's heart,
A brand-new sweet intoxication has leaped up...
To step onto the threshold of love,
My heart's desire has spoken...
What is this enchanting feeling I have never known?
A sleepless state where my eyelids never close,
In my eyes, your face alone
Has won my heart—come, come, come!
The red silk flower and the chariot of white buds,
Belong only to Lord Ranganatha... hoy!
The golden bud deer and the honey in the flower plate,
Belong only to my beloved Rama... hoy!
The bright white moon that came down to earth,
Is this lovely girl-moon who dotes on her Krishna!
Is there a cool cloud resting in your eyes?
Is the cuckoo's song in your words of love?
Aa... aa... aa... Red silk flower,
Chariot of white buds,
O Kaveri of Srirangam...
Golden bud deer, honey in a flower plate,
Goddess of this earth...
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Sempattu Poove is a classic romantic duet from the 1993 Tamil film Purusha Lakshanam, composed by Deva with lyrics written by Kalidasan. The song captures the poetic exchange between two lovers who adore each other using sacred, romantic, and celestial imagery, likening the maiden to the holy Kaveri river, divine silk, and goddesses.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Sri ranga kaaviriyae….”

Directly equating the heroine to divine and natural elements like 'Sri ranga kaaviriyae' (Kaveri river of Srirangam) and 'Bhoomiyin devathaiyae' (goddess of Earth).

Anaphora / Rhyme (Iyaibu & Etukai)

“Kulir megam unthan kannilaa”

The repeating rhyming endings (-ae, -ilaa) across consecutive lines create rhythmic harmony throughout the song.

Hyperbole (Uyarnavu Navirtchi)

“Nadanthidum gangaiyin oorvalamo”

Describing a maiden walking in Kanchipuram silk as if the holy River Ganges itself were walking in a procession.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Purusha Lakshanam (1993) stars Jayaram and Meena. Composed by Deva with lyrics by Kalidasan, this melody sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra became one of the film's most memorable musical highlights.

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