Senthamarai Malar
From Vazhi Piranthathu · 1964
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- T. Chalapathi Rao
- Details
- Vazhi Piranthathu1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Senthamarai malar pol | Like a red lotus flower, |
| Sekka sivandha mugam | A deep red, glowing face, |
| Adhil saelthaano vel thaano | Are those carp fish or spears? |
| Ennum iru vizhigal | Such are her two eyes, |
| Kandoor manangavarum | Captivating the hearts of all who behold, |
| Kovvai kani idhazhgal | Lips red like the ripe scarlet gourd, |
| Kaatril asaindhadum | Swaying gently in the breeze, |
| Poongodi pol chinna idai | A slender waist like a flowering vine. |
| Male | |
| Senthamarai malar pol | Like a red lotus flower, |
| Sekka sivandha mugam | A deep red, glowing face, |
| Adhil saelthaano vel thaano | Are those carp fish or spears? |
| Ennum iru vizhigal | Such are her two eyes. |
| Male | |
| Anna nadaiyudaiyal | She walks with the grace of a swan, |
| Azhagin uruvamaval | She is the very embodiment of beauty, |
| Kannal mozhiyudaiyal | Her speech is sweet as sugarcane, |
| Kanni paruva mayil | She is a young peacock in her maidenhood. |
| Vanna kiliyavalai | If one keeps describing this colorful parrot-like maiden, |
| Varnithu kondirundhaal | And continues praising her beauty, |
| Vayirum pasikkaadhu | One will not even feel hunger in the stomach, |
| Neram povadhum theriyadhu | Nor realize how time slips away. |
| Male | |
| Senthamarai malar pol | Like a red lotus flower, |
| Sekka sivandha mugam | A deep red, glowing face, |
| Adhil saelthaano vel thaano | Are those carp fish or spears? |
| Ennum iru vizhigal | Such are her two eyes. |
செந்தாமரை மலர்போல்
செக்க சிவந்த முகம்
அதில் சேல்தானோ வேல்தானோ
என்னும் இரு விழிகள்
கண்டோர் மனங்கவரும்
கொவ்வை கனி இதழ்கள்
காற்றில் அசைந்தாடும்
பூங்கொடி போல் சின்ன இடை
Like a red lotus flower,
A deep red, glowing face,
Are those carp fish or spears?
Such are her two eyes,
Captivating the hearts of all who behold,
Lips red like the ripe scarlet gourd,
Swaying gently in the breeze,
A slender waist like a flowering vine.
செந்தாமரை மலர்போல்
செக்க சிவந்த முகம்
அதில் சேல்தானோ வேல்தானோ
என்னும் இரு விழிகள்
Like a red lotus flower,
A deep red, glowing face,
Are those carp fish or spears?
Such are her two eyes.
அன்ன நடையுடையாள்
அழகின் உருவமவள்
கன்னல் மொழியுடையாள்
கன்னிப் பருவமயில்
வண்ணக் கிளியவளை
வர்ணித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தால்
வயிறும் பசிக்காது
நேரம் போவதும் தெரியாது
She walks with the grace of a swan,
She is the very embodiment of beauty,
Her speech is sweet as sugarcane,
She is a young peacock in her maidenhood.
If one keeps describing this colorful parrot-like maiden,
And continues praising her beauty,
One will not even feel hunger in the stomach,
Nor realize how time slips away.
செந்தாமரை மலர்போல்
செக்க சிவந்த முகம்
அதில் சேல்தானோ வேல்தானோ
என்னும் இரு விழிகள்
Like a red lotus flower,
A deep red, glowing face,
Are those carp fish or spears?
Such are her two eyes.
Senthamarai malar pol
Like a red lotus flower,
Sekka sivandha mugam
A deep red, glowing face,
Adhil saelthaano vel thaano
Are those carp fish or spears?
Ennum iru vizhigal
Such are her two eyes,
Kandoor manangavarum
Captivating the hearts of all who behold,
Kovvai kani idhazhgal
Lips red like the ripe scarlet gourd,
Kaatril asaindhadum
Swaying gently in the breeze,
Poongodi pol chinna idai
A slender waist like a flowering vine.
Senthamarai malar pol
Like a red lotus flower,
Sekka sivandha mugam
A deep red, glowing face,
Adhil saelthaano vel thaano
Are those carp fish or spears?
Ennum iru vizhigal
Such are her two eyes.
Anna nadaiyudaiyal
She walks with the grace of a swan,
Azhagin uruvamaval
She is the very embodiment of beauty,
Kannal mozhiyudaiyal
Her speech is sweet as sugarcane,
Kanni paruva mayil
She is a young peacock in her maidenhood.
Vanna kiliyavalai
If one keeps describing this colorful parrot-like maiden,
Varnithu kondirundhaal
And continues praising her beauty,
Vayirum pasikkaadhu
One will not even feel hunger in the stomach,
Neram povadhum theriyadhu
Nor realize how time slips away.
Senthamarai malar pol
Like a red lotus flower,
Sekka sivandha mugam
A deep red, glowing face,
Adhil saelthaano vel thaano
Are those carp fish or spears?
Ennum iru vizhigal
Such are her two eyes.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a classic romantic portrait penned by lyricist A. Maruthakasi, praising the mesmerizing beauty and grace of a young woman. Using traditional Tamil literary imagery, her face is likened to a blooming red lotus, her eyes to sharp spears or darting carp fish, her lips to ripe red gourd fruits, her waist to a delicate flowering vine, and her gait to that of a majestic swan. The speaker expresses such deep enchantment that admiring her beauty makes him forget basic human needs like hunger and renders him completely unaware of the passage of time.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Senthamarai malar pol / Poongodi pol chinna idai”
Explicit comparison using 'pol' (like) comparing her glowing face to a red lotus flower and her waist to a slender flowering vine.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Kovvai kani idhazhgal / Kannal mozhiyudaiyal”
Directly metaphorizing her lips as ripe scarlet gourd fruit and her speech as sugarcane sweetness.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vanna kiliyavalai / Varnithu kondirundhaal / Vayirum pasikkaadhu”
Repetition of initial consonants/vowel sounds in consecutive words such as 'Vanna', 'Varnithu', and 'Vayirum'.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Anna nadaiyudaiyal / Kannal mozhiyudaiyal / Vanna kiliyavalai”
Matching second consonants across lines: 'An-na', 'Kan-nal', and 'Van-na'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Vazhi Piranthathu (1964) features music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao with lyrics by the legendary A. Maruthakasi. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan, the track showcases classical Sangam-inspired literary imagery adapted seamlessly into mid-20th-century Tamil cinema romance.
Keep listening
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