Senthazham Poovil
From Mullum Malarum · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Mullum Malarum1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm | Humming melody... |
| Male | |
| { Senthaazham poovil | In the fragrant screwpine flower... |
| Vanthaadum thendral | The gentle breeze that dances... |
| Enmeethu mothuthamma } (2) | Dashes against me (Repeated) |
| Male | |
| Poovaasam medai poduthamma | The fragrance of flowers sets up a stage |
| Pen polae jaadai pesuthamma | And speaks in gestures like a maiden |
| { Ammamma aanantham } (2) | Ah, what sheer joy! (Repeated) |
| Male | |
| Valainthu nelinthu pogum | Winding and twisting along |
| Paathai mangai moga koonthalo | Is the path like a maiden's alluring hair? |
| Mayangi mayangi sellum vellam | The stream flowing blissfully along |
| Paruva naana oodalo | Is it the bashful love-feud of youth? |
| Male | |
| Aalam kodi melae kili | The parrot atop the banyan branch |
| Thaen kanigalai theduthu | Searches for sweet fruits |
| Aasai kuyil baashai indri | The affectionate cuckoo, without any language |
| Raagam enna paaduthu | What melody is it singing? |
| Kaadugal malaigal devan kalaigal | Forests and mountains are God's artistic creations |
| Male | |
| { Senthaazham poovil } (2) | In the fragrant screwpine flower... (Repeated) |
| Vanthaadum thendral | The gentle breeze that dances |
| Enmeethu mothuthamma | Dashes against me |
| Male | |
| Azhagu miguntha rajakumaari | A princess of exquisite beauty |
| Megamaaga pogiraal | Moves along like a passing cloud |
| Jarigai neliyum selai kondu | With a saree of shimmering zari borders |
| Malaiyai mooda paarkiraal | She attempts to cover the mountain |
| Male | |
| Pallam silar ullam enna | Why are some people's hearts shallow like pits? |
| Yen padaithaan aandavan | Why did the Almighty create them so? |
| Pattam thara thedugindren | I search to bestow a crown |
| Engae andha naayagan | Where is that ideal leader? |
| Mazhayin kaatchi iraivan aatchi | The sight of rain is the rule of God |
| Male | |
| { Senthaazham poovil } (2) | In the fragrant screwpine flower... (Repeated) |
| Vanthaadum thendral | The gentle breeze that dances |
| Enmeethu mothuthamma | Dashes against me |
| Male | |
| Ilaiya paruvam malaiyil | When youthful age arrives upon the hills |
| Vanthaal yegam sorga sinthanai | Heavenly thoughts completely engulf the mind |
| Idhazhai varudum paniyin kaatru | The chilly wind that caresses the lips |
| Kamban seidha varnthanai | Is like a poetic description crafted by poet Kamban |
| Male | |
| Oodai tharum vaadai kaatru | The cool northern wind brought by the stream |
| Vaan uzhagai kaatuthu | Reveals the heavenly world above |
| Ullae varum vellam ondru | A rising surge of joy within me |
| Engo ennai kootuthu | Guides me to an unknown place |
| Maraven maraven arputha kaatchi | I will never, ever forget this marvelous sight |
| Male | |
| { Senthaazham poovil | In the fragrant screwpine flower... |
| Vanthaadum thendral | The gentle breeze that dances... |
| Enmeethu mothuthamma } (2) | Dashes against me (Repeated) |
| Male | |
| Poovaasam medai poduthamma | The fragrance of flowers sets up a stage |
| Pen polae jaadai pesuthamma | And speaks in gestures like a maiden |
| { Ammamma aanantham } (2) | Ah, what sheer joy! (Repeated) |
ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம்
Humming melody...
{ செந்தாழம் பூவில்
வந்தாடும் தென்றல்
என் மீது மோதுதம்மா } (2)
In the fragrant screwpine flower...
The gentle breeze that dances...
Dashes against me (Repeated)
பூ வாசம் மேடை
போடுதம்மா பெண்போல
ஜாடை பேசுதம்மா
{ அம்மம்மா ஆனந்தம் } (2)
The fragrance of flowers sets up a stage
And speaks in gestures like a maiden
Ah, what sheer joy! (Repeated)
வளைந்து நெளிந்து
போகும்பாதை மங்கை மோக
கூந்தலோ மயங்கி மயங்கி
செல்லும் வெள்ளம் பருவ
நாண ஊடலோ
Winding and twisting along
Is the path like a maiden's alluring hair?
The stream flowing blissfully along
Is it the bashful love-feud of youth?
ஆலங்கொடி மேலே
கிளி தேன் கனிகளை தேடுது
ஆசை குயில் பாஷை இன்றி
ராகம் என்ன பாடுது காடுகள்
மலைகள் தேவன் கலைகள்
The parrot atop the banyan branch
Searches for sweet fruits
The affectionate cuckoo, without any language
What melody is it singing?
Forests and mountains are God's artistic creations
{ செந்தாழம் பூவில் } (2)
வந்தாடும் தென்றல்
என் மீது மோதுதம்மா
In the fragrant screwpine flower... (Repeated)
The gentle breeze that dances
Dashes against me
அழகு மிகுந்த
ராஜகுமாரி மேகமாக
போகிறாள் ஜரிகை
நெளியும் சேலை கொண்டு
மலையை மூட பார்க்கிறாள்
A princess of exquisite beauty
Moves along like a passing cloud
With a saree of shimmering zari borders
She attempts to cover the mountain
பள்ளம் சிலா்
உள்ளம் என ஏன்
படைத்தான் ஆண்டவன்
பட்டம் தர தேடுகின்றேன்
எங்கே அந்த நாயகன்
மலையின் காட்சி
இறைவன் ஆட்சி
Why are some people's hearts shallow like pits?
Why did the Almighty create them so?
I search to bestow a crown
Where is that ideal leader?
The sight of rain is the rule of God
{ செந்தாழம் பூவில் } (2)
வந்தாடும் தென்றல்
என் மீது மோதுதம்மா
In the fragrant screwpine flower... (Repeated)
The gentle breeze that dances
Dashes against me
இளைய பருவம்
மலையில் வந்தால் ஏகம்
சொர்க்க சிந்தனை இதழை
வருடும் பனியின் காற்று
கம்பன் செய்த வர்ண்தனை
When youthful age arrives upon the hills
Heavenly thoughts completely engulf the mind
The chilly wind that caresses the lips
Is like a poetic description crafted by poet Kamban
ஓடை தரும்
வாடை காற்று வான்
உலகை காட்டுது உள்ளே
வரும் வெள்ளம் ஒன்று
எங்கோ என்னை கூட்டுது
மறவேன் மறவேன்
அற்புத காட்சி
The cool northern wind brought by the stream
Reveals the heavenly world above
A rising surge of joy within me
Guides me to an unknown place
I will never, ever forget this marvelous sight
{ செந்தாழம் பூவில்
வந்தாடும் தென்றல்
என் மீது மோதுதம்மா } (2)
In the fragrant screwpine flower...
The gentle breeze that dances...
Dashes against me (Repeated)
பூ வாசம் மேடை
போடுதம்மா பெண்போல
ஜாடை பேசுதம்மா
{ அம்மம்மா ஆனந்தம் } (2)
The fragrance of flowers sets up a stage
And speaks in gestures like a maiden
Ah, what sheer joy! (Repeated)
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Humming melody...
{ Senthaazham poovil
In the fragrant screwpine flower...
Vanthaadum thendral
The gentle breeze that dances...
Enmeethu mothuthamma } (2)
Dashes against me (Repeated)
Poovaasam medai poduthamma
The fragrance of flowers sets up a stage
Pen polae jaadai pesuthamma
And speaks in gestures like a maiden
{ Ammamma aanantham } (2)
Ah, what sheer joy! (Repeated)
Valainthu nelinthu pogum
Winding and twisting along
Paathai mangai moga koonthalo
Is the path like a maiden's alluring hair?
Mayangi mayangi sellum vellam
The stream flowing blissfully along
Paruva naana oodalo
Is it the bashful love-feud of youth?
Aalam kodi melae kili
The parrot atop the banyan branch
Thaen kanigalai theduthu
Searches for sweet fruits
Aasai kuyil baashai indri
The affectionate cuckoo, without any language
Raagam enna paaduthu
What melody is it singing?
Kaadugal malaigal devan kalaigal
Forests and mountains are God's artistic creations
{ Senthaazham poovil } (2)
In the fragrant screwpine flower... (Repeated)
Vanthaadum thendral
The gentle breeze that dances
Enmeethu mothuthamma
Dashes against me
Azhagu miguntha rajakumaari
A princess of exquisite beauty
Megamaaga pogiraal
Moves along like a passing cloud
Jarigai neliyum selai kondu
With a saree of shimmering zari borders
Malaiyai mooda paarkiraal
She attempts to cover the mountain
Pallam silar ullam enna
Why are some people's hearts shallow like pits?
Yen padaithaan aandavan
Why did the Almighty create them so?
Pattam thara thedugindren
I search to bestow a crown
Engae andha naayagan
Where is that ideal leader?
Mazhayin kaatchi iraivan aatchi
The sight of rain is the rule of God
{ Senthaazham poovil } (2)
In the fragrant screwpine flower... (Repeated)
Vanthaadum thendral
The gentle breeze that dances
Enmeethu mothuthamma
Dashes against me
Ilaiya paruvam malaiyil
When youthful age arrives upon the hills
Vanthaal yegam sorga sinthanai
Heavenly thoughts completely engulf the mind
Idhazhai varudum paniyin kaatru
The chilly wind that caresses the lips
Kamban seidha varnthanai
Is like a poetic description crafted by poet Kamban
Oodai tharum vaadai kaatru
The cool northern wind brought by the stream
Vaan uzhagai kaatuthu
Reveals the heavenly world above
Ullae varum vellam ondru
A rising surge of joy within me
Engo ennai kootuthu
Guides me to an unknown place
Maraven maraven arputha kaatchi
I will never, ever forget this marvelous sight
{ Senthaazham poovil
In the fragrant screwpine flower...
Vanthaadum thendral
The gentle breeze that dances...
Enmeethu mothuthamma } (2)
Dashes against me (Repeated)
Poovaasam medai poduthamma
The fragrance of flowers sets up a stage
Pen polae jaadai pesuthamma
And speaks in gestures like a maiden
{ Ammamma aanantham } (2)
Ah, what sheer joy! (Repeated)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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