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Mullum Malarum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Senthazham Poovil

From Mullum Malarum · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Mullum Malarum
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
22 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
{ Senthaazham poovil
Vanthaadum thendral
Enmeethu mothuthamma } (2)
Poovaasam medai poduthamma
Pen polae jaadai pesuthamma
{ Ammamma aanantham } (2)
Valainthu nelinthu pogum
Paathai mangai moga koonthalo
Mayangi mayangi sellum vellam
Paruva naana oodalo
Aalam kodi melae kili
Thaen kanigalai theduthu
Aasai kuyil baashai indri
Raagam enna paaduthu
Kaadugal malaigal devan kalaigal
{ Senthaazham poovil } (2)
Vanthaadum thendral
Enmeethu mothuthamma
Azhagu miguntha rajakumaari
Megamaaga pogiraal
Jarigai neliyum selai kondu
Malaiyai mooda paarkiraal
Pallam silar ullam enna
Yen padaithaan aandavan
Pattam thara thedugindren
Engae andha naayagan
Mazhayin kaatchi iraivan aatchi
{ Senthaazham poovil } (2)
Vanthaadum thendral
Enmeethu mothuthamma
Ilaiya paruvam malaiyil
Vanthaal yegam sorga sinthanai
Idhazhai varudum paniyin kaatru
Kamban seidha varnthanai
Oodai tharum vaadai kaatru
Vaan uzhagai kaatuthu
Ullae varum vellam ondru
Engo ennai kootuthu
Maraven maraven arputha kaatchi
{ Senthaazham poovil
Vanthaadum thendral
Enmeethu mothuthamma } (2)
Poovaasam medai poduthamma
Pen polae jaadai pesuthamma
{ Ammamma aanantham } (2)
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
From the red screw-pine flowers,
the dancing breeze arrives,
and gently brushes against me.
The fragrance of flowers sets up a stage,
and hints playfully like a young woman.
Oh, what pure joy! Oh, what pure joy!
Winding and curving along,
is this path like a woman's flowing hair?
The stream flowing softly in a trance,
is it like a youthful lover's shy quarrel?
On the banyan vine, a parrot
searches for sweet honeyed fruits.
Without any words, what melody
does the longing cuckoo sing?
These forests and mountains are works of God's art.
From the red screw-pine flowers,
the dancing breeze arrives,
and gently brushes against me.
A princess of great beauty
drifts past like a cloud.
With her shimmering bordered sari,
she tries to drape the mountain.
Valleys in the land, shallow hearts in some people—
why did God create them?
I search to honor Him with an award,
where is that supreme Creator?
The beauty of rain is the reign of God.
From the red screw-pine flowers,
the dancing breeze arrives,
and gently brushes against me.
When youth steps into these hills,
boundless thoughts of heaven fill the mind.
The misty breeze brushing against the lips
is like poetry composed by Kamban (the legendary Tamil poet).
The cool breeze from the stream
reveals the world of heaven.
A flood of feeling rising within
takes me somewhere far away.
Never will I forget this wonderful sight!
From the red screw-pine flowers,
the dancing breeze arrives,
and gently brushes against me.
The fragrance of flowers sets up a stage,
and hints playfully like a young woman.
Oh, what pure joy! Oh, what pure joy!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song 'Senthazham Poovil' from the 1978 film Mullum Malarum is a majestic celebration of nature, youth, and spiritual bliss. The lyrics describe a protagonist captivated by the serene beauty of hill landscapes, flowing streams, and mist. As a gentle breeze laden with the fragrance of screwpine flowers touches him, nature comes alive through vivid imagery—the winding path feels like a woman's hair, the cloud draped over the hill appears like a princess in a zari saree, and the touch of cold breeze evokes the poetic brilliance of ancient poet Kamban.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

“Pen polae jaadai pesuthamma”

Nature is personified as a woman communicating through subtle gestures and clouds pictured as a princess trying to cover a mountain with her saree.

Simile (Uwamai)

“Paathai mangai moga koonthalo”

The winding path through the hills is explicitly compared to a young woman's seductive tresses.

Internal Rhyme & Rhythm (Monai / Etukai)

“Kaadugal malaigal devan kalaigal”

Tamil poetic rhyming structures like initial and second-letter agreement enhance the song's musical flow.

Literary Allusion

“Kamban seidha varnthanai”

Direct allusion to the legendary Tamil poet Kamban to denote the supreme artistic beauty of the mountain wind.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas with lyrics by Kannadasan, 'Senthazham Poovil' is one of Tamil cinema's most famous nature ballads. Filmed in picturesque hill locations for J. Mahendran's acclaimed directorial debut 'Mullum Malarum' starring Rajinikanth and Sarath Babu, the song was composed in the ragam Bowli, evoking an ethereal early-morning atmosphere.

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