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Isaimozhi
Siraichalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sempoove Poove

From Siraichalai · 1996

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singers
M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Siraichalai
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
14 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sempoove poove un megam naan
Vandhaal oru vazhi undo
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Padai kondu nadakkum manmadha silayo ohoo..
Female :Mannavan viralgal pallavan uliyo ohoo.
Imaigal udhadugal aagumo oh..
Female :Vetkathin vidumurai aayulin varai dhaano
Sempoove poove un megam naan
Vandhaal oru vazhi undo
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Andhi chooriyanum kundril saaya
Megham vandhu kachchai aagha
Kaaman thanghum mogha poovil
Muththa gumaalam
Thanga thingal netri pottum ittu
Vennilaavin kannam thottu
Nenjil aadum swasa chootil
Kaadhal kutralam
Thaen thelikkum thendralaai
Ninnarugil vandhu naan
Selai nadhi oramaai neendhi vilayadaava
Naalum minnal konjum
Thaazhampoovai cholli
Aasai kenikkullae
Aadum meengal thulli
Kattilum kaalvali kollaadho
Kaivalai kaigalai keeriyadho
Sempoove poove un megam naan
Vandhaal oru vazhi undo
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Indha thaamarai poo theeyil indru
Kaathirukku ullam nondhu
Kangal ennum thoondil
Thumbhi paadi chellaadho
Andha kaaman ambu ennai chuttu
Paavai nenjin naanam chuttu
Megalayin nool arukkum selai pon poove
Vimmiyadhu thaamarai
Vandhu thodum naalilaa
Paavai mayil saayudhae
Mannanan mani maarbilo
Muthathalae pennae
Selai neiven kannae
Naanathaal orr aadai
Soodi kolven naanae
Paayagum madi solladhae
Panjanai pudhayal ragasiyamae
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Sempoove poove un megam naan
Vandhaal oru vazhi undo
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Red flower, sweet flower, I am your rain cloud,
If I arrive, is there a way in for me?
Even if a single drop falls into a resting conch shell,
It becomes a pearl, my precious pearl...
Are you a statue of the love god marching with an army? Oho...
Are my king's fingers a Pallava sculptor's chisel? Oho...
Could your eyelids turn into lips? Oh...
Will this vacation from shyness last our entire lifetime?
Red flower, sweet flower, I am your rain cloud,
If I arrive, is there a way in for me?
Even if a single drop falls into a resting conch shell,
It becomes a pearl, my precious pearl...
As the evening sun dips behind the hills,
And the clouds wrap around like a bodice,
Upon the blooming flower of desire where love resides,
Kisses celebrate in joy!
Placing a golden crescent as a mark on the forehead,
Caressing the cheek of the silvery moon,
In the warm breaths rising and falling on the chest,
Love flows like a cascading waterfall!
Like a gentle breeze sprinkling honey,
I will come close to you,
And swim playfully along the river of your sari!
Flirting with lightning every single day,
Speaking of the fragrant screw-pine flower,
Inside the deep well of desire,
The fish leap and splash with joy!
Won't the legs of the bed begin to ache?
Did your bangles leave scratches on your hands?
Red flower, sweet flower, I am your rain cloud,
If I arrive, is there a way in for me?
Even if a single drop falls into a resting conch shell,
It becomes a pearl, my precious pearl...
In today's burning heat, this lotus flower
Waits patiently with an aching heart.
Hooked by the fishing line of your eyes,
Won't the dragonfly sing and fly away?
The love god's arrow struck me,
And burned away this girl's shyness,
Snapping the waist-chain's thread, my golden sari flower!
Did the lotus tremble and sigh,
Only for the day your touch arrived?
This gentle girl leans softly like a peacock,
Against her king's noble chest!
With my sweet kisses, my girl,
I will weave a sari for you, my love!
A garment woven out of modesty,
I will drape around myself!
Don't reveal the lap that became our bed,
The treasure of our soft bed is a secret!
Even if a single drop falls into a resting conch shell,
It becomes a pearl, my precious pearl...
Red flower, sweet flower, I am your rain cloud,
If I arrive, is there a way in for me?
Even if a single drop falls into a resting conch shell,
It becomes a pearl, my precious pearl...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Sempoove Poove from the film Siraichalai (1996) is an iconic romantic duet composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Arivumathi and performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra. The song weaves classical imagery of nature, sculpture, and ancient romance to portray the deep sensual affection between two lovers. Using metaphors like rain transforming into pearls upon meeting a conch shell, and fingers sculpted like Pallava chisels, the song captures the delicate interplay of bashfulness, passion, and poetic intimate bonding.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Sempoove poove un megam naan

Compares the protagonist to a cloud nourishing the red flower (his beloved).

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Mannavan viralgal pallavan uliyo

Compares the hero's fingers to the sculpting chisel of Pallava artisans.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Kangal ennum thoondil

Describes eyes metaphorically as a fishing hook (thoondil) that entangles the lover.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Andhi chooriyanum kundril saaya / Megham vandhu kachchai aagha

Rhyming pattern on the second consonant across lines (chooriyanum / megham).

Did you know?

Trivia

Siraichalai (1996) is the Tamil dub of Priyadarshan's acclaimed Malayalam period film 'Kaalapani'. The song 'Sempoove Poove' was originally composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the Malayalam film and retains its legendary status as one of South Indian cinema's finest romantic compositions.

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