Sempoove Poove
From Siraichalai · 1996
- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Singers
- M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Siraichalai1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sempoove poove un megam naan | O red flower, flower, I am your cloud |
| Vandhaal oru vazhi undo | Is there a path for me if I come? |
| Female | |
| Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum | Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles |
| Muthaagidum muthundaee… | Does it not turn into a pearl? |
| Male | |
| Padai kondu nadakkum manmadha silayo ohoo.. | Are you a statue of Cupid marching with an army? |
| Female :Mannavan viralgal pallavan uliyo ohoo. | Female: Are the king's fingers a Pallava sculptor's chisel? |
| Male | |
| Imaigal udhadugal aagumo oh.. | Will eyelids turn into lips? |
| Female :Vetkathin vidumurai aayulin varai dhaano | Female: Is shyness on leave for a lifetime? |
| Male | |
| Sempoove poove un megam naan | O red flower, flower, I am your cloud |
| Vandhaal oru vazhi undo | Is there a path for me if I come? |
| Female | |
| Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum | Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles |
| Muthaagidum muthundaee… | Does it not turn into a pearl? |
| Male | |
| Andhi chooriyanum kundril saaya | As the evening sun leans over the hill |
| Megham vandhu kachchai aagha | The clouds turn into a bodice |
| Kaaman thanghum mogha poovil | In the passionate flower where Cupid resides |
| Muththa gumaalam | There is a celebration of kisses |
| Female | |
| Thanga thingal netri pottum ittu | Applying a bindi on the golden moon forehead |
| Vennilaavin kannam thottu | Touching the cheeks of the silvery moon |
| Nenjil aadum swasa chootil | In the warmth of breath dancing on the chest |
| Kaadhal kutralam | Love becomes a cascading waterfall |
| Male | |
| Thaen thelikkum thendralaai | Like a gentle breeze sprinkling honey |
| Ninnarugil vandhu naan | Should I come near you |
| Selai nadhi oramaai neendhi vilayadaava | And swim and play along the banks of the saree river? |
| Female | |
| Naalum minnal konjum | Daily fondled by lightning |
| Thaazhampoovai cholli | Speaking of the screwpine flower |
| Male | |
| Aasai kenikkullae | Inside the well of desires |
| Aadum meengal thulli | Dancing fish leap around |
| Female | |
| Kattilum kaalvali kollaadho | Won't even the bed feel pain in its legs? |
| Kaivalai kaigalai keeriyadho | Did the bangles scratch the hands? |
| Male | |
| Sempoove poove un megam naan | O red flower, flower, I am your cloud |
| Vandhaal oru vazhi undo | Is there a path for me if I come? |
| Female | |
| Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum | Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles |
| Muthaagidum muthundaee… | Does it not turn into a pearl? |
| Female | |
| Indha thaamarai poo theeyil indru | Today, in the fire of this lotus flower |
| Kaathirukku ullam nondhu | The heart waits in distress |
| Kangal ennum thoondil | In the fishing hook called eyes |
| Thumbhi paadi chellaadho | Won't the dragonfly sing and go? |
| Male | |
| Andha kaaman ambu ennai chuttu | Cupid's arrow burns me |
| Paavai nenjin naanam chuttu | Burning the bashfulness of the maiden's heart |
| Megalayin nool arukkum selai pon poove | O golden flower of a saree that snaps the waist-chain thread |
| Female | |
| Vimmiyadhu thaamarai | The lotus sobbed |
| Vandhu thodum naalilaa | Is it not on the day it touches? |
| Paavai mayil saayudhae | The maiden peacock leans |
| Mannanan mani maarbilo | Upon the king's gem-like chest |
| Male | |
| Muthathalae pennae | With kisses, my dear girl |
| Selai neiven kannae | I will weave a saree, my dear |
| Female | |
| Naanathaal orr aadai | With bashfulness, a garment |
| Soodi kolven naanae | I myself shall wear |
| Male | |
| Paayagum madi solladhae | Do not tell the lap that acts as a bed |
| Panjanai pudhayal ragasiyamae | The secret treasure of the cozy bed |
| Female | |
| Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum | Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles |
| Muthaagidum muthundaee… | Does it not turn into a pearl? |
| Male | |
| Sempoove poove un megam naan | O red flower, flower, I am your cloud |
| Vandhaal oru vazhi undo | Is there a path for me if I come? |
| Female | |
| Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum | Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles |
| Muthaagidum muthundaee… | Does it not turn into a pearl? |
செம்பூவே பூவே
உன் மேகம் நான் வந்தால்
ஒரு வழியுண்டோ
O red flower, flower, I am your cloud
Is there a path for me if I come?
சாய்ந்தாடும் சங்கில்
துளி பட்டாலும் முத்தாகிடும்
முத்துண்டே
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Does it not turn into a pearl?
படைகொண்டு
நடக்கும் மன்மதச்
சிலையோ ஓஹோ
மன்னவன்
விரல்கள் பல்லவன்
உளியோ ஓஹோ
Are you a statue of Cupid marching with an army?
Female: Are the king's fingers a Pallava sculptor's chisel?
இமைகள் உதடுகள்
ஆகுமோ ஓ
வெட்கத்தின்
விடுமுறை ஆயுளின்
வரைதானோ
Will eyelids turn into lips?
Female: Is shyness on leave for a lifetime?
செம்பூவே பூவே
உன் மேகம் நான் வந்தால்
ஒரு வழியுண்டோ
O red flower, flower, I am your cloud
Is there a path for me if I come?
சாய்ந்தாடும் சங்கில்
துளி பட்டாலும் முத்தாகிடும்
முத்துண்டே
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Does it not turn into a pearl?
அந்திச் சூரியனும்
குன்றில் சாய மேகம் வந்து
கச்சை ஆக காமன் தங்கும்
மோகப் பூவில் முத்தக்
கும்மாளம்
As the evening sun leans over the hill
The clouds turn into a bodice
In the passionate flower where Cupid resides
There is a celebration of kisses
தங்கத் திங்கள்
நெற்றிப் பொட்டும் இட்டு
வெண்ணிலாவின் கன்னம்
தொட்டு நெஞ்சிலாடும் சுவாச
சூட்டில் காதல் குற்றாலம்
Applying a bindi on the golden moon forehead
Touching the cheeks of the silvery moon
In the warmth of breath dancing on the chest
Love becomes a cascading waterfall
தேன்தெளிக்கும்
தென்றலாய் நின்னருகில்
வந்துநான் சேலை நதியோரமாய்
நீந்தி விளையாடவா
Like a gentle breeze sprinkling honey
Should I come near you
And swim and play along the banks of the saree river?
நாளும் மின்னல்
கொஞ்சும் தாழம்பூவைச்
சொல்லி
Daily fondled by lightning
Speaking of the screwpine flower
ஆசைக் கேணிக்குள்ளே
ஆடும் மீன்கள் துள்ளி
Inside the well of desires
Dancing fish leap around
கட்டிலும் கால்வலி
கொள்ளாதோ கைவளை
கைகளை கீறியதோ
Won't even the bed feel pain in its legs?
Did the bangles scratch the hands?
செம்பூவே பூவே
உன் மேகம் நான் வந்தால்
ஒரு வழியுண்டோ
O red flower, flower, I am your cloud
Is there a path for me if I come?
சாய்ந்தாடும் சங்கில்
துளி பட்டாலும் முத்தாகிடும்
முத்துண்டே
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Does it not turn into a pearl?
இந்தத் தாமரைப்பூ
தீயில் இன்று காத்திருக்கு
உள்ளம் நொந்து கண்கள்
என்னும் தூண்டில் தும்பி
பாடிச் செல்லாதோ
Today, in the fire of this lotus flower
The heart waits in distress
In the fishing hook called eyes
Won't the dragonfly sing and go?
அந்தக் காமன் அம்பு
என்னைச் சுட்டு பாவை
நெஞ்சின் நாணம் சுட்டு
மேகலையின் நூலறுக்கும்
சேலைப் பொன் பூவே
Cupid's arrow burns me
Burning the bashfulness of the maiden's heart
O golden flower of a saree that snaps the waist-chain thread
விம்மியது தாமரை
வந்து தொடும் நாளிலா
பாவை மயில் சாயுதே
மன்னவனின் மார்பிலோ
The lotus sobbed
Is it not on the day it touches?
The maiden peacock leans
Upon the king's gem-like chest
முத்தத்தாலே
பெண்ணே சேலை
நெய்வேன் கண்ணே
With kisses, my dear girl
I will weave a saree, my dear
நாணத்தால் ஓர்
ஆடை சூடிக்கொள்வேன்
நானே
With bashfulness, a garment
I myself shall wear
பாயாகும் மடி
சொல்லாதே பஞ்சணை
புதையல் ரகசியமே
Do not tell the lap that acts as a bed
The secret treasure of the cozy bed
சாய்ந்தாடும் சங்கில்
துளி பட்டாலும் முத்தாகிடும்
முத்துண்டே
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Does it not turn into a pearl?
செம்பூவே பூவே
உன் மேகம் நான் வந்தால்
ஒரு வழியுண்டோ
O red flower, flower, I am your cloud
Is there a path for me if I come?
சாய்ந்தாடும் சங்கில்
துளி பட்டாலும் முத்தாகிடும்
முத்துண்டே
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Does it not turn into a pearl?
Sempoove poove un megam naan
O red flower, flower, I am your cloud
Vandhaal oru vazhi undo
Is there a path for me if I come?
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Does it not turn into a pearl?
Padai kondu nadakkum manmadha silayo ohoo..
Are you a statue of Cupid marching with an army?
Female :Mannavan viralgal pallavan uliyo ohoo.
Female: Are the king's fingers a Pallava sculptor's chisel?
Imaigal udhadugal aagumo oh..
Will eyelids turn into lips?
Female :Vetkathin vidumurai aayulin varai dhaano
Female: Is shyness on leave for a lifetime?
Sempoove poove un megam naan
O red flower, flower, I am your cloud
Vandhaal oru vazhi undo
Is there a path for me if I come?
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Does it not turn into a pearl?
Andhi chooriyanum kundril saaya
As the evening sun leans over the hill
Megham vandhu kachchai aagha
The clouds turn into a bodice
Kaaman thanghum mogha poovil
In the passionate flower where Cupid resides
Muththa gumaalam
There is a celebration of kisses
Thanga thingal netri pottum ittu
Applying a bindi on the golden moon forehead
Vennilaavin kannam thottu
Touching the cheeks of the silvery moon
Nenjil aadum swasa chootil
In the warmth of breath dancing on the chest
Kaadhal kutralam
Love becomes a cascading waterfall
Thaen thelikkum thendralaai
Like a gentle breeze sprinkling honey
Ninnarugil vandhu naan
Should I come near you
Selai nadhi oramaai neendhi vilayadaava
And swim and play along the banks of the saree river?
Naalum minnal konjum
Daily fondled by lightning
Thaazhampoovai cholli
Speaking of the screwpine flower
Aasai kenikkullae
Inside the well of desires
Aadum meengal thulli
Dancing fish leap around
Kattilum kaalvali kollaadho
Won't even the bed feel pain in its legs?
Kaivalai kaigalai keeriyadho
Did the bangles scratch the hands?
Sempoove poove un megam naan
O red flower, flower, I am your cloud
Vandhaal oru vazhi undo
Is there a path for me if I come?
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Does it not turn into a pearl?
Indha thaamarai poo theeyil indru
Today, in the fire of this lotus flower
Kaathirukku ullam nondhu
The heart waits in distress
Kangal ennum thoondil
In the fishing hook called eyes
Thumbhi paadi chellaadho
Won't the dragonfly sing and go?
Andha kaaman ambu ennai chuttu
Cupid's arrow burns me
Paavai nenjin naanam chuttu
Burning the bashfulness of the maiden's heart
Megalayin nool arukkum selai pon poove
O golden flower of a saree that snaps the waist-chain thread
Vimmiyadhu thaamarai
The lotus sobbed
Vandhu thodum naalilaa
Is it not on the day it touches?
Paavai mayil saayudhae
The maiden peacock leans
Mannanan mani maarbilo
Upon the king's gem-like chest
Muthathalae pennae
With kisses, my dear girl
Selai neiven kannae
I will weave a saree, my dear
Naanathaal orr aadai
With bashfulness, a garment
Soodi kolven naanae
I myself shall wear
Paayagum madi solladhae
Do not tell the lap that acts as a bed
Panjanai pudhayal ragasiyamae
The secret treasure of the cozy bed
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Does it not turn into a pearl?
Sempoove poove un megam naan
O red flower, flower, I am your cloud
Vandhaal oru vazhi undo
Is there a path for me if I come?
Saayandhadum sangil thuli pattaalum
Even if a drop falls on the conch as dusk settles
Muthaagidum muthundaee…
Does it not turn into a pearl?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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