Senneer Thaana
From Paradesi · 2013
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Gangai Amaran, Priya Himesh
- Music director
- G. V. Prakash Kumar
- Details
- Paradesi2013
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Senneer thaanaa | Is it red blood? |
| Senneer thaanaa | Is it red blood? |
| Senthaeneeril sempaathi | Half of the fine tea is red... |
| Kanneer thaanaa | ...or is it just tears? |
| Nyaayam thaanaa | Is this justice? |
| Nyaayam thaanaa | Is this justice? |
| Or ezhaikku kaikooli | Is a poor person's wage... |
| Kaayam thaanaa | ...merely a wound? |
| Male | |
| Aandaikku oru paadi | One half goes to the master, |
| Aavi pochae | Our life force is gone. |
| Attaikku saripaadhi | Exactly half goes to the leech, |
| Raththam pochae | Our blood is gone. |
| Enga melu kaalu | Our body and limbs, |
| Verum tholaa pochae | Have become mere empty skin. |
| Adhu kangaani seruppukku | And that became fit... |
| Thothaa pochae | ...only for the supervisor's leather shoe. |
| Male | |
| Senneer thaanaa | Is it red blood? |
| Senneer thaanaa | Is it red blood? |
| Senthaeneeril sempaathi | Half of the fine tea is red... |
| Kanneer thaanaa | ...or is it just tears? |
| Nyaayam thaanaa | Is this justice? |
| Nyaayam thaanaa | Is this justice? |
| Or ezhaikku kaikooli | Is a poor person's wage... |
| Kaayam thaanaa | ...merely a wound? |
| Male | |
| Ye…. oosi mazhaiyae | Oh, needle-like rain, |
| Oosi mazhaiyae | Needle-like rain, |
| Enga udaloadu uyir soodu | The heat of life in our bodies... |
| Aththupochae | ...has completely vanished. |
| Ye…… oodhakkaathae | Oh, biting cold wind, |
| Oodhakkaathae | Biting cold wind, |
| Enga poorveega porvaiyum | Even our ancestral blanket... |
| Poththu pochae | ...has been torn to pieces. |
| Male | |
| Dhegathil ulla elumbukku | Over the bare bones in our bodies, |
| Oru veri naaiyum | A rabid dog... |
| Thora naaiyum modhudhey | ...and a stray dog fight. |
| Maanathil vaazhum nenjamo | Does a heart living with self-respect... |
| Than maaraappai | ...run away without giving up... |
| Thaaraamal odudhae | ...its modesty cloak? |
| Uyir kaappaatrum dheivangal | The gods who save lives... |
| Kan moodudhae… ooo oo oo oo | ...are closing their eyes... oh... |
| Female | |
| Ooo ooo oo oo oo ooo oo | (Vocalizing) |
| Oo ooo ooo ooo | (Vocalizing) |
| Oooo oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo | (Vocalizing) |
| Male | |
| Oor ellaam vittu | Leaving our native village, |
| Nnam ilamai kettu | With our youth ruined, |
| Naam veliyaanom | We departed, |
| Poonaikku vaakkapattu | Betrothed to a cat, |
| Oru maanangettu | Losing our dignity, |
| Siru soaru thinbom | We eat a meager meal. |
| Paei mazhaiyodum | Amidst torrent rain, |
| Paniyodum thookkangettu | And dew, losing sleep, |
| Male | |
| Paambukku pasi vandhadhae | The snake became hungry, |
| Oru siru kozhi allaadum koottilae | In the coop where a small chick trembles! |
| Yaanaiyin perum kaalilae | Under the massive foot of an elephant, |
| Siru kaalaangal ennaagum kaattilae | What becomes of small ants in the forest? |
| Ival uyir kaatha | The single asset that saved her life, |
| Oru soththum paripogudhae | Is now being snatched away. |
| Female | |
| Ooo ooo oo oo oo ooo oo | (Vocalizing) |
| Oo ooo ooo ooo | (Vocalizing) |
| Oooo oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo | (Vocalizing) |
| Male | |
| Senneer thaanaa | Is it red blood? |
| Senneer thaanaa | Is it red blood? |
| Senthaeneeril sempaathi | Half of the fine tea is red... |
| Kanneer thaanaa | ...or is it just tears? |
| Nyaayam thaanaa | Is this justice? |
| Nyaayam thaanaa | Is this justice? |
| Or ezhaikku kaikooli | Is a poor person's wage... |
| Kaayam thaanaa | ...merely a wound? |
| Male | |
| Aandaikku oru paadi | One half goes to the master, |
| Aavi pochae | Our life force is gone. |
| Attaikku saripaadhi | Exactly half goes to the leech, |
| Raththam pochae | Our blood is gone. |
| Enga melu kaalu | Our body and limbs, |
| Verum tholaa pochae | Have become mere empty skin. |
| Adhu kangaani seruppukku | And that became fit... |
| Thothaa pochae | ...only for the supervisor's leather shoe. |
| Female | |
| Ooo ooo oo oo oo ooo oo | (Vocalizing) |
| Oo ooo ooo ooo | (Vocalizing) |
| Oooo oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo | (Vocalizing) |
| Female | |
| Ooo ooo oo oo oo | (Vocalizing) |
| Oo ooo ooo ooo | (Vocalizing) |
செந்நீர் தானா செந்நீர் தானா
செந்தேனீரில் செம்பாதி
கண்ணீர் தானா
நியாயம் தானா நியாயம் தானா
ஓர் ஏழைக்கு கை
கூலி காயம் தானா
Is it red blood?
Is it red blood?
Half of the fine tea is red...
...or is it just tears?
Is this justice?
Is this justice?
Is a poor person's wage...
...merely a wound?
ஆண்டைக்கு ஒரு பாதி
ஆவி போச்சே
அட்டைக்கு சரி பாதி
ரத்தம் போச்சே
எங்க மேலு காலு
வெறும் தோலா போச்சே
அது கங்கானி செருப்புக்கு
தோதா போச்சு
One half goes to the master,
Our life force is gone.
Exactly half goes to the leech,
Our blood is gone.
Our body and limbs,
Have become mere empty skin.
And that became fit...
...only for the supervisor's leather shoe.
செந்நீர் தானா செந்நீர் தானா
செந்தேனீரில் செம்பாதி
கண்ணீர் தானா
நியாயம் தானா நியாயம் தானா
ஓர் ஏழைக்கு கை
கூலி காயம் தானா
Is it red blood?
Is it red blood?
Half of the fine tea is red...
...or is it just tears?
Is this justice?
Is this justice?
Is a poor person's wage...
...merely a wound?
ஏ ஊசி மழையே ஊசி மழையே
எங்க உடலோடு உயிர் சூடு
அத்து போச்சே
ஏ ஊதக்காத்தே ஊதக்காத்தே
எங்க பூர்வீக போர்வையும்
பொத்துப் போச்சே
Oh, needle-like rain,
Needle-like rain,
The heat of life in our bodies...
...has completely vanished.
Oh, biting cold wind,
Biting cold wind,
Even our ancestral blanket...
...has been torn to pieces.
தேகத்தில் உள்ள எழும்புக்கு
ஒரு வெறி நாயும்
துரை நாயும் மோதுதே
மானத்தில் வாழும் நெஞ்சமோ
தன்மானத்தை தாராமல் ஓடுதே
உயிர் காப்பாத்தும்
தெய்வங்கள் கண் மூடுதே ஓ.....
Over the bare bones in our bodies,
A rabid dog...
...and a stray dog fight.
Does a heart living with self-respect...
...run away without giving up...
...its modesty cloak?
The gods who save lives...
...are closing their eyes... oh...
ஓஓ....ஓஒ....ஓஒ....
ஓஓஓஓ ஓஓ.....ஓஓ.......ஓஓஓஓஒ......
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
ஊரெல்லாம் விட்டு
நம் இளமை கெட்டு
நாம் வெளியானோம்
பூனைக்கு வாக்கப்பட்டு
ஒரு மானம் கெட்டு
சிறு சோறு திம்போம்
பேய் மழையோடும்
பனியோடும் தூக்கங்கெட்டு
Leaving our native village,
With our youth ruined,
We departed,
Betrothed to a cat,
Losing our dignity,
We eat a meager meal.
Amidst torrent rain,
And dew, losing sleep,
பாம்புக்கு பசி வந்ததே
ஒரு சிறு கோழி என்னாகும் கூட்டிலே
யானையின் பெருங்காலிலே
சிறு காலான்கள் என்னாகும் காட்டிலே
இவள் உயிர் காத்த ஒரு
சொத்தும் பரிபோனதே...
The snake became hungry,
In the coop where a small chick trembles!
Under the massive foot of an elephant,
What becomes of small ants in the forest?
The single asset that saved her life,
Is now being snatched away.
ஓஓ....ஓஒ....ஓஒ....
ஓஓஓஓ ஓஓ.....ஓஓ.......ஓஓஓஓஒ......
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
செந்நீர் தானா செந்நீர் தானா
செந்தேனீரில் செம்பாதி
கண்ணீர் தானா
நியாயம் தானா நியாயம் தானா
ஓர் ஏழைக்கு கை
கூலி காயம் தானா
Is it red blood?
Is it red blood?
Half of the fine tea is red...
...or is it just tears?
Is this justice?
Is this justice?
Is a poor person's wage...
...merely a wound?
ஆண்டைக்கு ஒரு பாதி
ஆவி போச்சே
அட்டைக்கு சரி பாதி
ரத்தம் போச்சே
எங்க மேலு காலு
வெறும் தோலா போச்சே
அது கங்கானி செருப்புக்கு
தோதா போச்சு
One half goes to the master,
Our life force is gone.
Exactly half goes to the leech,
Our blood is gone.
Our body and limbs,
Have become mere empty skin.
And that became fit...
...only for the supervisor's leather shoe.
ஓஓ....ஓஒ....ஓஒ....
ஓஓஓஓ ஓஓ.....ஓஓ.......ஓஓஓஓஒ......
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
Senneer thaanaa
Is it red blood?
Senneer thaanaa
Is it red blood?
Senthaeneeril sempaathi
Half of the fine tea is red...
Kanneer thaanaa
...or is it just tears?
Nyaayam thaanaa
Is this justice?
Nyaayam thaanaa
Is this justice?
Or ezhaikku kaikooli
Is a poor person's wage...
Kaayam thaanaa
...merely a wound?
Aandaikku oru paadi
One half goes to the master,
Aavi pochae
Our life force is gone.
Attaikku saripaadhi
Exactly half goes to the leech,
Raththam pochae
Our blood is gone.
Enga melu kaalu
Our body and limbs,
Verum tholaa pochae
Have become mere empty skin.
Adhu kangaani seruppukku
And that became fit...
Thothaa pochae
...only for the supervisor's leather shoe.
Senneer thaanaa
Is it red blood?
Senneer thaanaa
Is it red blood?
Senthaeneeril sempaathi
Half of the fine tea is red...
Kanneer thaanaa
...or is it just tears?
Nyaayam thaanaa
Is this justice?
Nyaayam thaanaa
Is this justice?
Or ezhaikku kaikooli
Is a poor person's wage...
Kaayam thaanaa
...merely a wound?
Ye…. oosi mazhaiyae
Oh, needle-like rain,
Oosi mazhaiyae
Needle-like rain,
Enga udaloadu uyir soodu
The heat of life in our bodies...
Aththupochae
...has completely vanished.
Ye…… oodhakkaathae
Oh, biting cold wind,
Oodhakkaathae
Biting cold wind,
Enga poorveega porvaiyum
Even our ancestral blanket...
Poththu pochae
...has been torn to pieces.
Dhegathil ulla elumbukku
Over the bare bones in our bodies,
Oru veri naaiyum
A rabid dog...
Thora naaiyum modhudhey
...and a stray dog fight.
Maanathil vaazhum nenjamo
Does a heart living with self-respect...
Than maaraappai
...run away without giving up...
Thaaraamal odudhae
...its modesty cloak?
Uyir kaappaatrum dheivangal
The gods who save lives...
Kan moodudhae… ooo oo oo oo
...are closing their eyes... oh...
Ooo ooo oo oo oo ooo oo
(Vocalizing)
Oo ooo ooo ooo
(Vocalizing)
Oooo oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
(Vocalizing)
Oor ellaam vittu
Leaving our native village,
Nnam ilamai kettu
With our youth ruined,
Naam veliyaanom
We departed,
Poonaikku vaakkapattu
Betrothed to a cat,
Oru maanangettu
Losing our dignity,
Siru soaru thinbom
We eat a meager meal.
Paei mazhaiyodum
Amidst torrent rain,
Paniyodum thookkangettu
And dew, losing sleep,
Paambukku pasi vandhadhae
The snake became hungry,
Oru siru kozhi allaadum koottilae
In the coop where a small chick trembles!
Yaanaiyin perum kaalilae
Under the massive foot of an elephant,
Siru kaalaangal ennaagum kaattilae
What becomes of small ants in the forest?
Ival uyir kaatha
The single asset that saved her life,
Oru soththum paripogudhae
Is now being snatched away.
Ooo ooo oo oo oo ooo oo
(Vocalizing)
Oo ooo ooo ooo
(Vocalizing)
Oooo oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
(Vocalizing)
Senneer thaanaa
Is it red blood?
Senneer thaanaa
Is it red blood?
Senthaeneeril sempaathi
Half of the fine tea is red...
Kanneer thaanaa
...or is it just tears?
Nyaayam thaanaa
Is this justice?
Nyaayam thaanaa
Is this justice?
Or ezhaikku kaikooli
Is a poor person's wage...
Kaayam thaanaa
...merely a wound?
Aandaikku oru paadi
One half goes to the master,
Aavi pochae
Our life force is gone.
Attaikku saripaadhi
Exactly half goes to the leech,
Raththam pochae
Our blood is gone.
Enga melu kaalu
Our body and limbs,
Verum tholaa pochae
Have become mere empty skin.
Adhu kangaani seruppukku
And that became fit...
Thothaa pochae
...only for the supervisor's leather shoe.
Ooo ooo oo oo oo ooo oo
(Vocalizing)
Oo ooo ooo ooo
(Vocalizing)
Oooo oo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
(Vocalizing)
Ooo ooo oo oo oo
(Vocalizing)
Oo ooo ooo ooo
(Vocalizing)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Senneer Thaanaa from the film Paradesi (2013) is a heartbreaking lament depicting the extreme oppression and misery suffered by bonded laborers on colonial tea plantations. The lyrics capture how the laborers' sweat, blood, and dignity are drained away to build the fortunes of plantation owners, leaving them with nothing but hunger, bodily pain, and despair.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Senthaeneeril sempaathi”
Comparing the red tint of tea directly to human blood ('Senthaeneeril sempaathi'), emphasizing how labor exploitation costs physical lives.
Metaphor
“Ye…. oosi mazhaiyae”
Comparing freezing, sharp rain to piercing needles ('oosi mazhaiyae') to convey physical suffering under nature's elements.
Iyaibu (Rhyme)
“Aavi pochae”
The recurring end-rhyme suffix 'pochae' emphasizes total loss and hopelessness across several lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Senneer Thaanaa' features in Bala's period drama Paradesi (2013), with music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar and lyrics by Vairamuthu. The film is adapted from Paul Harris Daniel's 1969 novel Red Tea, documenting the real-life plight of tea plantation slaves in the Madras Presidency during the 1930s.
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