Senthoora Kolam (Sad)
From Durgadevi · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Jayachandran, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Durgadevi1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Devi……devi…. | Goddess... goddess... |
| Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam | Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp, |
| Thirukoyil deivam naan unakkaaga vaazhven | The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you. |
| Kadhal idhu kaalangalin leelai | This love is the play of time, |
| Idhu devi vanthu sootti vaiththa maalai….. | This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself... |
| Male | |
| Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam | Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp, |
| Thirukoyil deivam naan unakkaaga vaazhven | The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you. |
| Kadhal idhu kaalangalin leelai | This love is the play of time, |
| Idhu devi vanthu sootti vaiththa maalai….. | This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself... |
| Female | |
| Vaanorgal paattu en kaathaara kettu | Listening to the song of the celestials to my heart's content, |
| Kannaara unai kandaen | I beheld you with my own eyes. |
| Kannaara kandu kaantharvam endru | Seeing you with my eyes, calling it a divine celestial bond, |
| Pennaaga uru kondaen | I took form as a woman. |
| Female | |
| Yogam naan seitha yaagam | Good fortune is the sacred ritual I performed, |
| Yogam naan seitha yaagam | Good fortune is the sacred ritual I performed, |
| Idhu aanmaavin isaiyalllavaa | Isn't this the music of the soul? |
| Sontham pantham deivatham | Kinship, relationship, and divinity. |
| Male | |
| Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam | Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp, |
| Thirukoyil deivam naan unakkaaga vaazhven | The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you. |
| Kadhal idhu kaalangalin leelai | This love is the play of time, |
| Idhu devi vanthu sootti vaiththa maalai….. | This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself... |
| Deva….aa….aa….aa…. | Lord... ah... ah... ah... |
| Female | |
| Yaehezhu jenmam naan vantha pothum | Even if I am born across forty-nine births, |
| Unakkaaga naan vaazhvaen | I will live only for you. |
| Male :Enthentha mannil naan vantha pothum | Male: In whichever land I am born, |
| Unai thedi naan kaanben | I will search and find you. |
| Male | |
| Maarum kaalangalthorum | Through changing times, |
| Female :Maarum kaalangalthorum | Female: Through changing times, |
| Female :Idhu aanmaavin isaiyallavaa | Female: Isn't this the music of the soul? |
| Male :Jeevan | Male: Soul, |
| Female :Thegam | Female: Body, |
| Both :Sangamam…. | Both: Confluence... |
| Female | |
| Deva…. | Lord... |
| Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam | Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp, |
| Male :Thirukkoyil deivam | Male: The deity of the sacred temple, |
| Naan unakkaga vaazhven | I will live for you. |
| Female :Kadhal idhu kalangalin leelai | Female: This love is the play of time, |
| Male :Devi vanthu sootti vaiththa maalai | Male: A garland adorned by the Goddess herself, |
| Female :Deva | Female: Lord. |
தேவி......தேவி....
செந்தூரக் கோலம் என் சிங்கார தீபம்
திருக்கோயில் தெய்வம் நான் உனக்காக வாழ்வேன்
காதல் இது காலங்களின் லீலை
இது தேவி வந்து சூட்டி வைத்த மாலை…
Goddess... goddess...
Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp,
The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you.
This love is the play of time,
This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself...
செந்தூரக் கோலம் என் சிங்கார தீபம்
திருக்கோயில் தெய்வம் நான் உனக்காக வாழ்வேன்
காதல் இது காலங்களின் லீலை
இது தேவி வந்து சூட்டி வைத்த மாலை தேவி......
Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp,
The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you.
This love is the play of time,
This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself...
வானோர்கள் பாட்டு என் காதாரக் கேட்டு
கண்ணார உனைக் கண்டேன்
கண்ணாரக் கண்டு காந்தர்வம் என்று
பெண்ணாக உருக் கொண்டேன்
Listening to the song of the celestials to my heart's content,
I beheld you with my own eyes.
Seeing you with my eyes, calling it a divine celestial bond,
I took form as a woman.
யோகம் நான் செய்த யாகம்
யோகம் நான் செய்த யாகம்
இது ஆன்மாவின் இசையல்லவா
சொந்தம் பந்தம் தெய்வதம்
Good fortune is the sacred ritual I performed,
Good fortune is the sacred ritual I performed,
Isn't this the music of the soul?
Kinship, relationship, and divinity.
செந்தூரக் கோலம் என் சிங்கார தீபம்
திருக்கோயில் தெய்வம் நான் உனக்காக வாழ்வேன்
காதல் இது காலங்களின் லீலை
இது தேவி வந்து சூட்டி வைத்த மாலை
தேவா......ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....
Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp,
The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you.
This love is the play of time,
This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself...
Lord... ah... ah... ah...
ஏழேழு ஜென்மம் நான் வந்த போதும்
உனக்காக நான் வாழ்வேன்
எந்தெந்த மண்ணில் நான் வந்த போதும்
உனைத் தேடி நான் காண்பேன்
Even if I am born across forty-nine births,
I will live only for you.
Male: In whichever land I am born,
I will search and find you.
மாறும் காலங்கள் தோறும்
மாறும் காலங்கள் தோறும்
இது ஆன்மாவின் இசையல்லவா
ஜீவன்
தேகம்
இருவர் :
சங்கமம்…
Through changing times,
Female: Through changing times,
Female: Isn't this the music of the soul?
Male: Soul,
Female: Body,
Both: Confluence...
Lord...
Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp,
Male: The deity of the sacred temple,
I will live for you.
Female: This love is the play of time,
Male: A garland adorned by the Goddess herself,
Female: Lord.
Devi……devi….
Goddess... goddess...
Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam
Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp,
Thirukoyil deivam naan unakkaaga vaazhven
The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you.
Kadhal idhu kaalangalin leelai
This love is the play of time,
Idhu devi vanthu sootti vaiththa maalai…..
This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself...
Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam
Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp,
Thirukoyil deivam naan unakkaaga vaazhven
The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you.
Kadhal idhu kaalangalin leelai
This love is the play of time,
Idhu devi vanthu sootti vaiththa maalai…..
This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself...
Vaanorgal paattu en kaathaara kettu
Listening to the song of the celestials to my heart's content,
Kannaara unai kandaen
I beheld you with my own eyes.
Kannaara kandu kaantharvam endru
Seeing you with my eyes, calling it a divine celestial bond,
Pennaaga uru kondaen
I took form as a woman.
Yogam naan seitha yaagam
Good fortune is the sacred ritual I performed,
Yogam naan seitha yaagam
Good fortune is the sacred ritual I performed,
Idhu aanmaavin isaiyalllavaa
Isn't this the music of the soul?
Sontham pantham deivatham
Kinship, relationship, and divinity.
Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam
Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp,
Thirukoyil deivam naan unakkaaga vaazhven
The deity of the sacred temple, I will live for you.
Kadhal idhu kaalangalin leelai
This love is the play of time,
Idhu devi vanthu sootti vaiththa maalai…..
This is the garland adorned by the Goddess herself...
Deva….aa….aa….aa….
Lord... ah... ah... ah...
Yaehezhu jenmam naan vantha pothum
Even if I am born across forty-nine births,
Unakkaaga naan vaazhvaen
I will live only for you.
Male :Enthentha mannil naan vantha pothum
Male: In whichever land I am born,
Unai thedi naan kaanben
I will search and find you.
Maarum kaalangalthorum
Through changing times,
Female :Maarum kaalangalthorum
Female: Through changing times,
Female :Idhu aanmaavin isaiyallavaa
Female: Isn't this the music of the soul?
Male :Jeevan
Male: Soul,
Female :Thegam
Female: Body,
Both :Sangamam….
Both: Confluence...
Deva….
Lord...
Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam
Red vermilion pattern, my beautiful lamp,
Male :Thirukkoyil deivam
Male: The deity of the sacred temple,
Naan unakkaga vaazhven
I will live for you.
Female :Kadhal idhu kalangalin leelai
Female: This love is the play of time,
Male :Devi vanthu sootti vaiththa maalai
Male: A garland adorned by the Goddess herself,
Female :Deva
Female: Lord.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Senthoora Kolam is a deeply emotional, devotionally charged romantic song from the 1977 Tamil movie Durgadevi, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Kannadasan. The song portrays love as a sacred, eternal bond that transcends mortal life and spans across multiple reincarnations. The lovers view each other as divine beings residing in a holy temple, celebrating their union as an ordinance of fate and the divine play of the Goddess. The lyrics highlight how the soul (Jeevan) and the body (Thegam) unite in complete harmony, turning love into a spiritual ritual.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Senthoora kolam en singaara dheepam / Thirukoyil deivam naan unakkaaga vaazhven”
The beloved is poetically equated to a 'Senthoora kolam' (vermilion decoration), 'singaara dheepam' (ornate lamp), and 'thirukoyil deivam' (deity in a sacred temple).
Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kannaara kandu kaantharvam endru”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of words creates rhythmic harmony.
Anaphora / Repetition for Emphasis
“Yogam naan seitha yaagam”
The repetition of 'Yogam naan seitha yaagam' and 'Maarum kaalangalthorum' underscores the sacredness and timeless continuity of their love.
Antithesis / Complementary Pairing
“Male :Jeevan / Female :Thegam / Both :Sangamam….”
Juxtaposing 'Jeevan' (life/soul) and 'Thegam' (physical body) to express total physical and spiritual union ('Sangamam').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed during Ilaiyaraaja's early years in Tamil cinema (1977), 'Senthoora Kolam' showcases his signature blend of classical Carnatic phrasing with contemporary orchestrations. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully blends themes of marital devotion (Sinthoor) with spiritual reincarnation, a recurring motif in classic Tamil film poetry. Sung by P. Jayachandran and S. Janaki, the duet remains a notable example of late-1970s melody driven by flute and acoustic strings.
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