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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Shenbagame Shenbagame (Male Version)

From Enga Ooru Pattukaran · 1987

Lyricist: Gangai Amaran
Singer: Mano
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Enga Ooru Pattukaran
Movie release year: 1987
Lyrics added on: 6 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Pattu pattu poochi polae

Ethanaiyo vannam minnum

Nattu vachu naan parikkaa

Naan valartha nandhavanam

Katti vaikkum en manasa

Vaasam varum malligaiyum

Thottu thottu naan parikka

Thudikkidhandha senbagamae

Senbagamae senbagamae

Then pothigai sandhanamae

Thedi varum en manamae

Serndhirundhaa sammadhamae

Senbagamae senbagamae

Then pothigai sandhanamae

{ Un paatham pogum paadhai

Naanum poga vandhenae

Un melae aasa pattu

Paathu kaathu ninnenae } (2)

Un mugam paarthu

Nimmadhi aachu

En manam thaanaa paadidalaachu

Ennoda paatu satham

Thedum unna pinnaala

Eppodhum unna thottu

Paadaporen thannaala

Senbagamae senbagamae

Then pothigai sandhanamae

Thedi varum en manamae

Serndhirundhaa sammadhamae

Senbagamae senbagamae

Then pothigai sandhanamae

Moonaam piraiya polae

Kaanum nethi pottoda

Naamum kalandhiruka

Venum indha paatoda

Karuthadhu megam

Thalai mudidhaano

Izhuthadhu enna poovizhidhaano

Ellukum rasi pathi

Pesi pesi theeradhu

Un paatukaran paatu

Unna vitu pogaadhu

Senbagamae senbagamae

Then pothigai sandhanamae

Thedi varum en manamae

Serndhirundhaa sammadhamae

Senbagamae senbagamae

Then pothigai sandhanamae

Just like colorful butterflies,

so many shades sparkle and shine.

In the flower garden that I planted

and raised so I could pick its blooms,

my heart is held captive

by the fragrant jasmine,

and as I gently reach to pick,

here flutters my Shenbagam flower!

Oh Shenbagam, my sweet Shenbagam,

sandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!

My heart comes searching for you,

and being together is all it desires!

Oh Shenbagam, my sweet Shenbagam,

sandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!

Along the path where your feet walk,

I came walking along too.

Longing for you with deep love,

I stood watching and waiting for you.

Just looking at your face

brought peace to my soul,

and my heart began to sing on its own.

The melody of my song

will follow and search for you,

and gently touching you always,

I will keep singing on my own.

Oh Shenbagam, my sweet Shenbagam,

sandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!

My heart comes searching for you,

and being together is all it desires!

Oh Shenbagam, my sweet Shenbagam,

sandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!

Like the young crescent moon,

with the mark shining on your forehead,

for the two of us to unite

through this song is all I want.

Is that dark cloud in the sky

really your beautiful hair?

Was it your flower-like eyes that drew me in?

About how perfectly we are matched,

words will never be enough.

The song of your singer

will never ever leave you.

Oh Shenbagam, my sweet Shenbagam,

sandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!

My heart comes searching for you,

and being together is all it desires!

Oh Shenbagam, my sweet Shenbagam,

sandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Shenbagame Shenbagame from Enga Ooru Pattukaran (1987) is a celebrated rural Tamil romantic song. The protagonist addresses his beloved, Shenbagam, likening her to a tender flower in a carefully tended garden and the sweet sandalwood of the sacred Pothigai hills. He describes how merely looking at her face brings calm to his mind and inspires his music, promising that his song will forever pursue and protect her. The lyricist uses traditional imagery—comparing her hair to dark clouds, her eyes to flowers, and her forehead bindi to a third-phase crescent moon—to portray deep romantic devotion. The overall tone is one of pure, innocent village romance where love and music are inextricably intertwined.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

“Pattu pattu poochi polae”

Compares the beloved's forehead bindi to a crescent moon ('Moonaam piraiya polae') and vibrant beauty to a silken butterfly ('Pattu pattu poochi polae').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Then pothigai sandhanamae”

Directly addresses the beloved as the sweet sandalwood of the Pothigai mountains ('Then pothigai sandhanamae').

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Thottu thottu naan parikka”

Doubling of words like 'Pattu pattu', 'Thottu thottu', and 'Pesi pesi' enhances the rhythm and emotional warmth.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Moonaam piraiya polae / Kaanum nethi pottoda”

Rhyming second consonants in adjacent lines such as 'Pattu' / 'Nattu' and 'Moonaam' / 'Kaanum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, 'Shenbagame Shenbagame' became a massive chartbuster and remains one of the defining rural melodies of 1980s Tamil cinema. The film 'Enga Ooru Pattukaran', directed by Manobala and starring Ramarajan, solidified Ramarajan's status as a village hero box-office phenomenon. The soundtrack featured multiple renditions of this track rendered by Mano, S. Janaki, and Sunanda.

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From the same album

More songs from Enga Ooru Pattukaran

Paechi Paechi1987

Enga Ooru PattukaranAffectionate

Shenbagame Shenbagame Duet1987

Enga Ooru PattukaranRomantic

Azhagi Nee Perazhagi1987

Enga Ooru PattukaranCelebratory

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Shenbagame Shenbagame (Female Version)1987

Enga Ooru PattukaranTender

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