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Lyrics & meaning

Sevvanthi Poo Mudicha

From 16 Vayathinile · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
16 Vayathinile1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………...
Male
Sevvanthi poo mudichaWearing a yellow chrysanthemum flower,
ChinnakkaaDear younger sister,
Female Chorus :HoiFemale Chorus: Hoi
Male :Saethi ennakkaaMale: What is the news, sister?
Female Chorus :HoiFemale Chorus: Hoi
Male :Nee chittaatam yen sirichaMale: Why did you smile like a nimble bird?
SollakkaaTell me, sister.
Female Chorus :HoiFemale Chorus: Hoi
Male :Muthu pallakkaaMale: Showing your pearl-like teeth?
Female Chorus :HoiFemale Chorus: Hoi
Male & Chorus :Athu ennamo ennamo hoi..Male & Chorus: It's something mysterious, hoi..
Chorus
YeahhhhhehhhhhhYeahhhhhehhhhhh
Female :Koyil ammanukku soodam kaattuFemale: Show camphor flame to the temple goddess,
Athai neeyum kaattuShow that to her,
Athu sirippathu theriyaatho..Don't you know that she smiles?..
Female
Poosai un kaiyaal pottaachuThe worship was performed by your hand,
Naanum paathaachuAnd I saw it too,
Ini enakkathu puriyaatho..Won't I understand it now?..
Male
Kannaal sollu malai eduppenCommand with your eyes, I will lift a mountain,
Rendu kaiyaalae athai valaippenI will bend it with both my hands,
Kannaal sollu malai eduppenCommand with your eyes, I will lift a mountain,
Rendu kaiyaalae athai valaippenI will bend it with both my hands,
Sirikkaathae kaathu porukkaathaeDon't smile, my ears cannot bear it,
En manasae keduthae kuyilae mayilaeMy heart gets ruined, my cuckoo, my peacock,
Hoooooooo..Hoooooooo..
Female
Sevvanthi poo koduthaThe one who gave the chrysanthemum flower,
ChinnaiyaaYoung gentleman,
Male Chorus :HoiMale Chorus: Hoi
Female :Saethi ennaiyaaFemale: What is the news, sir?
Male Chorus :HoiMale Chorus: Hoi
Female :Naan Chittaatam yen sirichenFemale: Why I smiled like a nimble bird,
SollaiyaaTell me, sir,
Male Chorus :HoiMale Chorus: Hoi
Female :Muthu pallaiyaaFemale: Showing my pearl-like teeth?
Male Chorus :HoiMale Chorus: Hoi
Female & Chorus :Athu ennamo ennamo hoi..Female & Chorus: It's something mysterious, hoi..
Chorus
……………………….....
Male
Aathula kaathadichaaWhen the wind blows across the river,
Alaiyodum alaiyodum alaiyodumWaves run, waves run, waves run,
Kendai vilaiyaadumThe Kendai fish play about,
Aathula kaathadichaa alaiyodumWhen the wind blows across the river, waves run,
Kendai vilaiyaadumThe Kendai fish play about,
Ippo manasula thudikkuthammaaNow my heart throbs,
Female
Aayiram nenappukkuFor a thousand desires,
Vayasirukku chinna manasirukkuThere is youth, there is a delicate heart,
Athu thuninthathu ethukkaagaWhy did it become so daring?
Male
Odambu ippo nadungkuthammaaThe body trembles now,
Salangkaiyai pol kulungkuthammaaIt shakes like anklet bells,
Female :Nee balasaali nalla arivaaliFemale: You are strong and very intelligent,
Male :Enakkithuvae pothumMale: This alone is enough for me,
Kuyilae mayilae ho..ooooMy cuckoo, my peacock, ho..oooo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sevvanthi Poo Mudicha from the iconic 1977 movie 16 Vayathinile is a playful rural duet filled with traditional folk rhythm and romantic banter. The song uses rich rustic metaphors—such as river ripples, jumping fish, and flowers—to depict youthful love, playful tease, and romantic devotion between village lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muthu Pallu (Pearl Teeth Metaphor)

Muthu pallakkaa

Compares bright white teeth to shining pearls.

Nature Imagery

Aathula kaathadichaa alaiyodum kendai vilaiyaadum

Evokes scenic rural nature to reflect emotional restlessness and joy.

End Rhyme (Eybhu)

Kuyilae mayilae

Use of matching end syllables for rhythmic folk poetry flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

16 Vayathinile (1977) was a pathbreaking landmark film directed by Bharathiraja that shifted Tamil cinema from studio sets to natural rural outdoor locations. The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Kaviyarasu Kannadasan.

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