Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Senthoora Poove

From Senthoora Poove · 1988

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, B. S. Sasirekha
Music director
Manoj – Gyan
Details
Senthoora Poove1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sendhoora poovae inguO reddish Sindhoora flower here,
Thaen sindha vaa vaaCome to spill honey!
Thenpaangu kaatrae neeyumO sweet southern breeze, you too
Ther kondu vaa vaaCome bringing a chariot!
Female
Iru karai meethilaeBetween two riverbanks,
Than nilai meeriyaeExceeding its bounds,
Oru nadhi polae enLike a surging river, my
Nenjam alai modhudhae … aeaeaeHeart ebbs and surges... aeaeae
Female
Ooo sendhoora poovae inguOoo reddish Sindhoora flower here,
Thaen sindha vaa vaaCome to spill honey!
Thenpaangu kaatrae neeyumO sweet southern breeze, you too
Ther kondu vaa vaaCome bringing a chariot!
Male
……………………………………………………………..................................................
Male
{ Ven pani polae kangalil aadum{ Like white snow dancing in the eyes,
Malligai thottam kandenI saw a garden of jasmine flowers;
Azhagaana vellaikingae kalagangal illai } (2)In this beautiful white flood, there are no conflicts } (2)
Male
Adhudhaanae endrum ingae naan thedum ellaiIs that not forever the boundary I search for here?
Sendhoora poovae ingu thaen sindha vaa vaaO reddish Sindhoora flower here, come to spill honey!
Thenpaangu kaatrae neeyum ther kondu vaa vaaO sweet southern breeze, you too come bringing a chariot!
Male
Minnalai thedum thaazhampoovaeO screwpine flower seeking lightning,
Un ezhil minnal naanae pani paarvaiI am your beautiful lightning; a single cool glance
Ondrae podhum pasi theerum maanaeIs enough to quench my hunger, my deer-like girl!
Male
Aa ha haa minnalai thedum thaazhampoovaeAa ha haa, O screwpine flower seeking lightning,
Un ezhil minnal naanae pani paarvaiI am your beautiful lightning; a single cool glance
Ondrae podhum pasi theerum maanaeIs enough to quench my hunger, my deer-like girl!
Uravaadum endhan nenjam unakaaga thaanaeMy loving heart belongs only to you!
Male
Sendhoora poovae ingu thaen sindha vaa vaaO reddish Sindhoora flower here, come to spill honey!
Thenpaangu kaatrae neeyum ther kondu vaa vaaO sweet southern breeze, you too come bringing a chariot!
Male
{ Annangal polae ennangal{ Like swans, millions of thoughts
Kodi oorvalam pogum velai nizhalGo on a procession, at which time a shadow-
Thedum solai ondrai vizhi oram kanden } (2)Seeking grove I caught a glimpse of at the corner of my eyes } (2)
Nizhalaaga naanum maara parandhodi vandhenTo turn into that shade myself, I came flying and running!
Male
Sendhoora poovae ingu thaen sindha vaa vaaO reddish Sindhoora flower here, come to spill honey!
Thenpaangu kaatrae neeyum ther kondu vaa vaaO sweet southern breeze, you too come bringing a chariot!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Sendhoora Poovae' is a classic Tamil romantic song expressing the deep yearnings, overflowing emotions, and romantic reveries of a maiden. She addresses nature—the red bloom (Sendhoora Poove) and the southern wind (Thenpaangu Kaatru)—inviting them to bring joy, sweetness, and her beloved to her. Her heart overflows like a river bursting past its banks, filled with pure, serene thoughts likened to white jasmine and swans in procession.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Oru nadhi polae en Nenjam alai modhudhae

Compares the turbulence of the heart to a river overflowing its banks ('Oru nadhi polae en nenjam').

Ethirukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Iru karai meethilae / Than nilai meeriyae

Rhyming of second letters 'ru' in 'Iru' and 'Than' (phonetic rhyming/assonance across couplets).

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Ven pani polae kangalil aadum Malligai thottam kanden

Likening white pure thoughts dancing in her vision to a white jasmine garden and snow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the benchmark 1977 film '16 Vayathinile' (directed by P. Bharathiraja), this classic was penned by lyricist Muthulingam and rendered exquisitely by S. Janaki. S. Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her soulful rendition of this legendary song.

Keep listening

More from Senthoora Poove