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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sengatrae

From Taj Mahal · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
T. K. Kala
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Taj Mahal1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sengaathae…ae…O red wind... ah...
Sengaathae..ae…O red wind... ah...
Sengaathae…ae…O red wind... ah...
Female
Sengaathae…ae…O red wind... ah...
Sengaathae..ae…O red wind... ah...
Sengaathae…ae…O red wind... ah...
Female
Ulaga kaathalarAll the world's lovers'
Perum moochellaamDeep sighs
Unakkul sumanthu sumanthuCarrying again and again within yourself
SoodaakinaaiYou grew warm
Female
Kaathal kathai ellaamAll the love stories
Nee arivaaiYou know them
Engal kaathalaiyum nee kelaaiListen to our love story too
Engal kaathalaiyum nee kelaaiListen to our love story too
Female
Ada karuvukkulOh wind,
Uuyir thantha kaathaeThat gave life inside the womb
Enga kaathalukkuTo our love,
Uyir kodu kaathaeGive life, O wind!
Female
Enga udambukkulInside our bodies,
Ulavidum kaathaeWind that wanders around
Enga uyirkkoruFor our souls,
Vazhi sollu kaathaeShow a way, O wind!
Female
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Nenju vedikkirathae yaathaeMy heart is bursting, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Imai thuddikkirathae yaathaeMy eyelids are trembling, oh wind
Chorus
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Nenju vedikkirathae yaathaeMy heart is bursting, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Imai thuddikkirathae yaathaeMy eyelids are trembling, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Uyir valikkriathae yaathaeMy soul is aching, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Uyir valikkriathae yaathaeMy soul is aching, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Uyir valikkriathae yaathaeMy soul is aching, oh wind
Female
Sengaathae…ae..O red wind... ah...
Sengaathae…ae…O red wind... ah...
Female
Kallaraiyin kaathalaraiLovers from the grave,
Nee eluppa vaa vaaCome, come wake them up
Ada kaathalar saagalaamOh, lovers may die,
Unmai kaathal saagathuBut true love never dies
Udalgal marainthaalumEven if bodies vanish,
Unarvugal maraiyaathuEmotions never disappear
Chorus
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Vizi thoongavillai yaathaeEyes do not sleep, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Uyir thaangavillai yaathaeThe soul cannot bear it, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Udal alinthu vidum yaathaeThe body will perish, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Uyir alivathillai yaathaeThe soul never perishes, oh wind
Chorus
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Vizi thoongavillai yaathaeEyes do not sleep, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Uyir thaangavillai yaathaeThe soul cannot bear it, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Udal alinthu vidum yaathaeThe body will perish, oh wind
Yaathae yaathaeOh friend... oh wind...
Uyir alivathillai yaathaeThe soul never perishes, oh wind
Female
Uyir alivathillai yaathaeThe soul never perishes, oh wind
Uyir alivathillai yaathaeThe soul never perishes, oh wind
Uyir alivathillai yaathaeThe soul never perishes, oh wind

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Sengaathae' from the movie Taj Mahal is a haunting, deeply emotional plea addressed to the red wind (Sengaathu). The lovers plead with the wind—which has borne the warm, agonizing sighs of star-crossed lovers throughout human history—to hear their sorrow and give life to their love. They lament the physical and mental anguish of separation, as their hearts break and their souls ache in torment. Despite the immense pain, the lyrics carry a profound message of immortal devotion: while physical bodies decay and mortal lovers pass away, true love and genuine feelings transcend death itself. The song serves as both an existential cry for relief and a timeless affirmation of love's immortality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Engal kaathalaiyum nee kelaai

The wind ('Sengaathae') is directly addressed as a sentient being capable of listening, carrying sighs, understanding love stories, and granting life.

Antithesis / Paradox

Ada kaathalar saagalaam / Unmai kaathal saagathu

Contrasts mortal, destructible elements (the body/lovers) with immortal, eternal ones (true love/feelings/soul).

Anaphora (Adukkuthoodar)

Yaathae yaathae

The emphatic repetition of the refrain 'Yaathae yaathae' accentuates the inescapable grief and rhythmic lamentation of the song.

Metaphor

Perum moochellaam / Unakkul sumanthu sumanthu / Soodaakinaai

Describing the wind as warm because it carries the heavy, hot sighs of all the world's lovers.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu for Bharathiraja's 1999 romantic drama 'Taj Mahal', this song portrays intense rural angst and tragedy. A.R. Rahman's score blends authentic folk sensibilities with orchestral arrangements to create a hauntingly memorable soundscape.

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