Senthoora Poove
From 16 Vayathinile · 1977
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- 16 Vayathinile1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower |
| Female | |
| { Senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower |
| Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae | Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze |
| En mannan engae en mannan | Where is my king? Where is my king? |
| Engae nee konjam sollaayo } (2) | Won't you tell me where he is? |
| Female | |
| Senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower |
| Female | |
| Thendralai thoothu vitu | Sending the gentle breeze as a messenger |
| Oru sethiku kaathirupen | I will be waiting for a piece of news |
| Kangalai moodavitu indha | Closing my eyes, in this |
| Kanavinil naan mithapen | Dream, I shall float away |
| Female | |
| Kanni paruvathin | Belonging to the age of maidenhood |
| Vanna kanavithuvae | This colorful dream |
| Ennai izhukuthu | It pulls me towards it |
| Andha ninaivathuvae | That very sweet memory |
| Female | |
| Vanna poovae thendral kaatrae | Oh colorful flower, oh gentle breeze |
| Ennai thedi sugam varumo | Will happiness come seeking me? |
| Female | |
| Senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower |
| Female | |
| Senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower |
| Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae | Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze |
| En mannan engae en mannan | Where is my king? Where is my king? |
| Engae nee konjam sollaayo | Won't you tell me where he is? |
| Female | |
| Senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower |
| Female | |
| Neela karunguyilae | Oh dark blue cuckoo bird |
| Thennanjolai kuruvigalae | Oh sparrows of the coconut grove |
| Kolamidum mayilae | Oh peacock drawing colorful patterns |
| Nalla gaana paravaigalae | Oh sweet singing birds |
| Female | |
| Maalai varum | The evening that is approaching |
| Andha naalai uraithidungal | Foretell that day to me |
| Saalai vazhi engum | All along the pathway |
| Poovai iraithidungal | Scatter flowers everywhere |
| Female | |
| Vanna poovae thendral kaatrae | Oh colorful flower, oh gentle breeze |
| Ennai thedi sugam varumo | Will happiness come seeking me? |
| Female | |
| Senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower |
| Female | |
| Senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower |
| Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae | Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze |
| En mannan engae en mannan | Where is my king? Where is my king? |
| Engae nee konjam sollaayo | Won't you tell me where he is? |
| Female | |
| Senthoora poovae senthoora poovae | Oh red vermilion flower, oh red vermilion flower |
செந்தூர பூவே
Oh red vermilion flower
{ செந்தூர பூவே
செந்தூர பூவே ஜில்லென்ற
காற்றே என் மன்னன் எங்கே
என் மன்னன் எங்கே நீ
கொஞ்சம் சொல்லாயோ } (2)
Oh red vermilion flower
Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze
Where is my king? Where is my king?
Won't you tell me where he is?
செந்தூர பூவே
Oh red vermilion flower
தென்றலை
தூது விட்டு ஒரு
சேதிக்கு காத்திருப்பேன்
கண்களை மூட விட்டு
இந்த கனவினில் நான்
மிதப்பேன்
Sending the gentle breeze as a messenger
I will be waiting for a piece of news
Closing my eyes, in this
Dream, I shall float away
கன்னி பருவத்தின்
வண்ண கனவிதுவே என்னை
இழுக்குது அந்த நினைவதுவே
Belonging to the age of maidenhood
This colorful dream
It pulls me towards it
That very sweet memory
வண்ண பூவே
தென்றல் காற்றே
என்னை தேடி
சுகம் வருமோ
Oh colorful flower, oh gentle breeze
Will happiness come seeking me?
செந்தூர பூவே
Oh red vermilion flower
செந்தூர பூவே
செந்தூர பூவே ஜில்லென்ற
காற்றே என் மன்னன் எங்கே
என் மன்னன் எங்கே நீ
கொஞ்சம் சொல்லாயோ
Oh red vermilion flower
Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze
Where is my king? Where is my king?
Won't you tell me where he is?
செந்தூர பூவே
Oh red vermilion flower
நீல கருங்குயிலே
தென்னஞ்சோலை
குருவிகளே கோலமிடும்
மயிலே நல்ல கான
பறவைகளே
Oh dark blue cuckoo bird
Oh sparrows of the coconut grove
Oh peacock drawing colorful patterns
Oh sweet singing birds
மாலை வரும்
அந்த நாளை உரைத்திடுங்கள்
சாலை வழியெங்கும்
பூவை இறைத்திடுங்கள்
The evening that is approaching
Foretell that day to me
All along the pathway
Scatter flowers everywhere
வண்ண பூவே
தென்றல் காற்றே
என்னை தேடி
சுகம் வருமோ
Oh colorful flower, oh gentle breeze
Will happiness come seeking me?
செந்தூர பூவே
Oh red vermilion flower
செந்தூர பூவே
செந்தூர பூவே ஜில்லென்ற
காற்றே என் மன்னன் எங்கே
என் மன்னன் எங்கே நீ
கொஞ்சம் சொல்லாயோ
Oh red vermilion flower
Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze
Where is my king? Where is my king?
Won't you tell me where he is?
செந்தூர பூவே
செந்தூர பூவே
Oh red vermilion flower, oh red vermilion flower
Senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower
{ Senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower
Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae
Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze
En mannan engae en mannan
Where is my king? Where is my king?
Engae nee konjam sollaayo } (2)
Won't you tell me where he is?
Senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower
Thendralai thoothu vitu
Sending the gentle breeze as a messenger
Oru sethiku kaathirupen
I will be waiting for a piece of news
Kangalai moodavitu indha
Closing my eyes, in this
Kanavinil naan mithapen
Dream, I shall float away
Kanni paruvathin
Belonging to the age of maidenhood
Vanna kanavithuvae
This colorful dream
Ennai izhukuthu
It pulls me towards it
Andha ninaivathuvae
That very sweet memory
Vanna poovae thendral kaatrae
Oh colorful flower, oh gentle breeze
Ennai thedi sugam varumo
Will happiness come seeking me?
Senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower
Senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower
Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae
Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze
En mannan engae en mannan
Where is my king? Where is my king?
Engae nee konjam sollaayo
Won't you tell me where he is?
Senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower
Neela karunguyilae
Oh dark blue cuckoo bird
Thennanjolai kuruvigalae
Oh sparrows of the coconut grove
Kolamidum mayilae
Oh peacock drawing colorful patterns
Nalla gaana paravaigalae
Oh sweet singing birds
Maalai varum
The evening that is approaching
Andha naalai uraithidungal
Foretell that day to me
Saalai vazhi engum
All along the pathway
Poovai iraithidungal
Scatter flowers everywhere
Vanna poovae thendral kaatrae
Oh colorful flower, oh gentle breeze
Ennai thedi sugam varumo
Will happiness come seeking me?
Senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower
Senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower
Senthoora poovae jilendra kaatrae
Oh red vermilion flower, oh cool breeze
En mannan engae en mannan
Where is my king? Where is my king?
Engae nee konjam sollaayo
Won't you tell me where he is?
Senthoora poovae senthoora poovae
Oh red vermilion flower, oh red vermilion flower
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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
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