- Lyricist
- Kuruvikkarambai Shanmugam
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Dhavani Kanavugal
- Movie release year
- 1984
- Lyrics added on
- 18 Jun 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Sangamaththai nenaikkudhu
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Kuukuu kukuu kuukuu koo
Kuukuu yena koovum kuyil
Chinna chinna santhathil
Anthi por nadathum
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Kuukuu yena koovum kuyil
Chinna chinna santhathil
Anthi por nadathum
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Muththamidum maalai
Female :Velai
Male :Moodu vizha naadagamo
Niththam ithazh thaedum
Female :Neram
Male :Naanam enum noi varumo
Poo maalai soodathu
Paai thaeda koodathu
Ellai thanai thaandaathu
Pillai yena thaalaatu
Manjal tharum naal kooru
Vanjam illai thaal podu
Kaaman kanai yeval enai
Kaaval meera thoonduthae
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Laa lala laa
Laa lala laa
Laa lala laa laa lala laa
Laalaa laala laa laa laalaa laala laa
Mangai ival dhegam
Male :Nogum
Female :Moganamaai thaalamidum
Gangai nadhi paayum
Male :Neram
Female :Kaadhil oru saethi kodu
Naal thorum raakkaalam
Edhinghae boo baalam
Inba karai kaanadhu
Kangal imai moodadhu
Unnai karai saerkaadhu
Enthan alai oyaadhu
Saeval adhu koovum varai
Naanam oivu kaanumae
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Kuukuu yena koovum kuyil
Chinna chinna santhathil
Anthi por nadathum
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Male :Ahahhaa ahaaha
Female :Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Male :Ahah ahaha
Sengamalam sirikkudhu
Female :Ahah ahaha
Male :Sangamathai nenaikkudhu
Female :Ahahhaa ahaaha
The red lotus smiles
Thinking of coming together
The red lotus smiles
Thinking of coming together
Koo-koo koo-koo koo-koo koo
The cuckoo singing "koo-koo"
In sweet, gentle rhythms
Fights a duel with the twilight
The red lotus smiles
Thinking of coming together
The cuckoo singing "koo-koo"
In sweet, gentle rhythms
Fights a duel with the twilight
The red lotus smiles
Thinking of coming together
An evening meant for kisses
Female: At this hour...
Male: Is this a drama of holding back?
Constantly searching for lips
Female: At this moment...
Male: Will this sickness called shyness strike?
Without wearing the wedding garland,
You must not seek the bed
Without crossing the line,
Lull me to sleep like a child
Tell me the wedding day when you will give me turmeric,
There is no deceit, bolt the door
The command of Kamadeva's (god of love) arrow
Urges me to break past all restraint!
The red lotus smiles
Thinking of coming together
The red lotus smiles
Thinking of coming together
La lala la
La lala la
La lala la la lala la
Lala lala la la lala lala la
This young woman's body
Male: It will ache...
Female: Beats a lovely rhythm with desire
When the river Ganga flows,
Male: At that moment...
Female: Whisper a secret in my ear
Every single night,
Where is the bed of blossoms?
Without reaching the shore of joy,
My eyes will not close in sleep
Without bringing you safely to shore,
My waves will never rest
Until the rooster crows at dawn,
Shyness will take a rest!
The red lotus smiles
Thinking of coming together
The red lotus smiles
Thinking of coming together
The cuckoo singing "koo-koo"
In sweet, gentle rhythms
Fights a duel with the twilight
The red lotus smiles
Male: Ahaha ahaha
Female: Thinking of coming together
Male: Ahah ahah
The red lotus smiles
Female: Ahah ahah
Male: Thinking of coming together
Female: Ahaha ahaha
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Sengamalam sirikkudhu is a sensual and poetic duet that uses metaphors of nature to express romantic desire and playful hesitation between lovers. The blooming red lotus symbolises the woman blooming with passion, while the calling cuckoo and flowing river represent the rhythm of love and urgency of union.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Sengamalam sirikkudhu”
Comparing the blooming red lotus ('Sengamalam') to a smiling, blushing woman yearning for love.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Sengamalam sirikkudhu / Sangamathai nenaikkudhu”
Initial consonant harmony with 'S' sound in 'Sengamalam' and 'Sangamathai'.
Onomatopoeia
“Kuukuu yena koovum kuyil”
Imitation of the cuckoo bird's call using 'Kuukuu'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Dhavani Kanavugal (1984) was written and directed by K. Bhagyaraj, starring himself alongside Raadhika and Shivaji Ganesan. The film's musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.
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