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16 Vayathinile album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Senthoora Poove

From 16 Vayathinile · 1977

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
16 Vayathinile
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
27 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Senthoora poovae
{ Senthoora poovae
Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae
En mannan engae en mannan
Engae nee konjam sollaayo } (2)
Senthoora poovae
Thendralai thoothu vitu
Oru sethiku kaathirupen
Kangalai moodavitu indha
Kanavinil naan mithapen
Kanni paruvathin
Vanna kanavithuvae
Ennai izhukuthu
Andha ninaivathuvae
Vanna poovae thendral kaatrae
Ennai thedi sugam varumo
Senthoora poovae
Senthoora poovae
Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae
En mannan engae en mannan
Engae nee konjam sollaayo
Senthoora poovae
Neela karunguyilae
Thennanjolai kuruvigalae
Kolamidum mayilae
Nalla gaana paravaigalae
Maalai varum
Andha naalai uraithidungal
Saalai vazhi engum
Poovai iraithidungal
Vanna poovae thendral kaatrae
Ennai thedi sugam varumo
Senthoora poovae
Senthoora poovae
Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae
En mannan engae en mannan
Engae nee konjam sollaayo
Senthoora poovae senthoora poovae
O bright red flower,
O bright red flower,
O bright red flower, O cool breeze,
Where is my beloved? Where is he?
Won't you please tell me where he is?
O bright red flower...
Sending the gentle breeze as my messenger,
I will wait for word from him.
Letting my eyes softly close,
I will drift in this dream.
In this youthful time of my life,
this is such a colorful dream.
It gently draws me in,
this very thought of him.
O colorful flower, O gentle breeze,
will happiness come searching for me?
O bright red flower,
O bright red flower,
O bright red flower, O cool breeze,
Where is my beloved? Where is he?
Won't you please tell me where he is?
O bright red flower...
O dark singing cuckoo,
O little birds of the coconut grove,
O dancing peacock,
O sweet songbirds,
The day the wedding garland comes,
please tell me when that day will be!
And all along the path,
scatter fresh flowers!
O colorful flower, O gentle breeze,
will happiness come searching for me?
O bright red flower,
O bright red flower,
O bright red flower, O cool breeze,
Where is my beloved? Where is he?
Won't you please tell me where he is?
O bright red flower, O bright red flower...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
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Female
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Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Senthoora Poove is a classic romantic song from the landmark 1977 Tamil film 16 Vayathinile. Sung by S. Janaki with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Gangai Amaran, the track expresses the innocent yearning and blooming romantic desires of a young girl entering maidenhood. Addressings elements of nature like the vermilion flower, the cool breeze, cuckoos, and peacocks, she asks them if they know where her future lover is.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe / Thoothu (Messenger Trope)

“Thendralai thoothu vitu”

Addressing non-human elements of nature directly as messengers to convey romantic longing.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Neela karunguyilae / Thennanjolai kuruvigalae”

Harmonious rhyming ending syllables across consecutive lines ('uyilae', 'igalae', 'ayilae', 'aigalae').

Visual and Auditory Imagery

“Kolamidum mayilae / Nalla gaana paravaigalae”

Creating rich vivid sensory descriptions of rural nature, dancing peacocks, and singing birds.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song earned playback singer S. Janaki her first National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer. It remains one of Ilaiyaraaja's most celebrated early compositions, perfectly blending Tamil folk sensibilities with lush orchestral arrangements.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Mama Manasukkulle1995
Thedi Vandha RaasaDesireNature
Ootha Kaathu1980
Gramathu AthiyayamLongingDesire
Raathiri Poothathu1988
Dhayam OnnuDesireLonging
Nethu Oruthara Oruthara1990
Puthu PaatuNatureDesire
Engeyo Etho1980
Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha KadalLongingNature
Thedinen Pudhiya Sugam1982
SankarlalNatureHope

From the same album

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View album
Sevvanthi Poo Mudicha1977
16 VayathinilePlayful
Manjakkulichi1977
16 VayathinileFestive
Solam Vethakkaiyilae1977
16 VayathinileWistful
Aattukkutti1977
16 VayathinilePlayful

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