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Lyrics & meaning

Shenbagame Shenbagame (Male Version)

From Enga Ooru Pattukaran · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Enga Ooru Pattukaran1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pattu pattu poochi polaeLike a silk butterfly,
Ethanaiyo vannam minnumShining in so many colors,
Nattu vachu naan parikkaaPlanted by me to pluck,
Naan valartha nandhavanamThe flower garden that I raised,
Male
Katti vaikkum en manasaThat captivates my heart,
Vaasam varum malligaiyumAnd the fragrant jasmine flower,
Thottu thottu naan parikkaFor me to gently touch and pick,
Thudikkidhandha senbagamaeThe yearning Champak flower!
Male
Senbagamae senbagamaeOh Shenbagam, Oh Shenbagam!
Then pothigai sandhanamaeSandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!
Thedi varum en manamaeMy heart comes searching for you,
Serndhirundhaa sammadhamaeIs it agreeable if we unite?
Male
Senbagamae senbagamaeOh Shenbagam, Oh Shenbagam!
Then pothigai sandhanamaeSandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!
Male
{ Un paatham pogum paadhaiOn the path where your feet tread,
Naanum poga vandhenaeI came to walk along as well.
Un melae aasa pattuHaving fallen in love with you,
Paathu kaathu ninnenae } (2)I stood watching and waiting.
Male
Un mugam paarthuOn the path where your feet tread,
Nimmadhi aachuI came to walk along as well.
En manam thaanaa paadidalaachuHaving fallen in love with you,
Male
Ennoda paatu sathamI stood watching and waiting.
Thedum unna pinnaalaLooking at your face,
Eppodhum unna thottuI attained peace of mind.
Paadaporen thannaalaMy heart automatically started singing.
Male
Senbagamae senbagamaeThe sound of my song
Then pothigai sandhanamaeWill follow you everywhere.
Thedi varum en manamaeAlways touching your soul,
Serndhirundhaa sammadhamaeI will keep singing naturally.
Male
Senbagamae senbagamaeOh Shenbagam, Oh Shenbagam!
Then pothigai sandhanamaeSandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!
Male
Moonaam piraiya polaeMy heart comes searching for you,
Kaanum nethi pottodaIs it agreeable if we unite?
Naamum kalandhirukaOh Shenbagam, Oh Shenbagam!
Venum indha paatodaSandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!
Male
Karuthadhu megamLike the crescent moon,
Thalai mudidhaanoWith the bindi on your forehead,
Izhuthadhu enna poovizhidhaanoFor us to merge together,
Male
Ellukum rasi pathiIt must happen through this song.
Pesi pesi theeradhuDid the rainclouds darken,
Un paatukaran paatuOr is that your flowing hair?
Unna vitu pogaadhuWas it your flower-like eyes that pulled me?
Male
Senbagamae senbagamaeAbout our connection,
Then pothigai sandhanamaeEndless talk won't suffice.
Thedi varum en manamaeYour singer's song
Serndhirundhaa sammadhamaeWill never leave your side.
Male
Senbagamae senbagamaeOh Shenbagam, Oh Shenbagam!
Then pothigai sandhanamaeSandalwood of the sweet Pothigai hills!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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