- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Singers
- Unnikrishnan, Arun Mozhi
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Sethu
- Movie release year
- 1999
- Lyrics added on
- 10 Sept 2018
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sikkaatha sitrondru
Kaiyil vantha
Nikkaama paatu varum
Aathoram thoapporam
Roatoramaa
Nikkaama aada chollum
Kaadhal vevagaaram
Athu enga samaachaaram
Kaathal pannu oru tharam
Nee pidikka kaiyil vaanam varum
Ada college-ju
College-ju pogindra teenagejula
Ellorkkum kaathal varum
Sorga ulagam
Sollaama thedi varum
Ye sikkaatha sitrondru
Kaiyil vantha
Nikkaama paatu varum
Aathoram thoapporam
Roatoramaa
Nikkaama aada chollum
Kodi kotti koduththaalum
Kaathal kidaikaathu dae
Siyaan siyaan.. siyaan siyaan..
Siyaan siyaan..
Amaam kaalam kadathaathae
Suthi valaikaathae ae
Siyaan siyaan.. siyaan siyaan..
Siyaan siyaan..siyaan..
Oorukkullae naan irunthen
Theevukkullae..
Kaathalithaal naan parappen
Vaanathilae..
Minminigal kannil vanthu
Theduthadaa..
Pournamiyo nenjukkullae
Aaduthadaa..
Ennathil vannathu poochigal
Vanthu vanthu hoo
Kannaamboochi aaduthu..
En manasula kichu kichu mootuthu..
Ye sikkaatha sitrondru
Kaiyil vantha
Nikkaama paatu varum
Aathoram thoapporam
Roatoramaa
Nikkaama aada chollum
Jodi paakaama pesaama
Thookkam pudikkaliyaa
Siyaan siyaan.. siyaan siyaan..
Siyaan siyaan..
Signal vaaraama yaarodum
Kal manasil kaathal vantha
Thenna enna
Ootreduthu anbai thedi
Povathenna
Kaalaiyilae maala vara
Yenguthadee..
Maalai vanthaal unnai manam
Theduthadee..
Pechilum moochilum
Naan kaanum Aththanaiyilum
Kanmani neethaanadee..
Chinnakuyilae payithiyam
Aanenadee..
Ye sikkaatha sitrondru
Kaiyil vantha
Nikkaama paatu varum
Aathoram thoapporam
Roatoramaa
Nikkaama aada chollum
Kaadhal vevagaaram
Chorus :Athu enga samaachaaram
Male :Kaathal pannu oru tharam
Chorus :Nee pidikka kaiyil
Vaanam varum
Ada college-ju
College-ju pogindra teenagejula
Ellorkkum kaathal varum
Sorga ulagam
Sollaama thedi varum
{Ye sikkaatha sitrondru
Kaiyil vantha
Nikkaama paatu varum
Aathoram thoapporam
Roatoramaa
Nikkaama aada chollum} (2)
When an elusive little bird
lands in your hand,
a song flows without stopping!
By the riverbank, beside the grove,
or along the road,
it makes you dance without stopping!
Matters of love,
that's our kind of thing!
Fall in love just once,
and the sky will come within your reach!
Hey, college...
In those teenage years of going to college,
love comes to everyone.
A heavenly world
comes looking for you unannounced.
Hey, when an elusive little bird
lands in your hand,
a song flows without stopping!
By the riverbank, beside the grove,
or along the road,
it makes you dance without stopping!
Even if you offer crores of wealth,
love can never be bought, buddy!
Chiyaan, Chiyaan... Chiyaan, Chiyaan...
Chiyaan, Chiyaan...
Yes, don't waste any time,
don't beat around the bush, hey!
Chiyaan, Chiyaan... Chiyaan, Chiyaan...
Chiyaan, Chiyaan... Chiyaan...
Though I lived in the middle of town,
I felt like I was on an island...
If I fall in love, I will soar
high up in the sky...
Fireflies come into my eyes
and go searching, man...
Is that a full moon
dancing inside my heart, man?
In my thoughts, butterflies
keep arriving, ooh,
playing hide-and-seek...
and tickling my heart with joy...
Hey, when an elusive little bird
lands in your hand,
a song flows without stopping!
By the riverbank, beside the grove,
or along the road,
it makes you dance without stopping!
Without seeing or talking to your lover,
are you unable to sleep?
Chiyaan, Chiyaan... Chiyaan, Chiyaan...
Chiyaan, Chiyaan...
Without waiting for a signal from anyone,
when love enters a heart of stone,
why this honey-like sweetness?
Springing forth in search of love,
why does it keep rushing ahead?
Right from the morning, for evening to come,
it yearns so deeply, my dear...
And when evening arrives, my heart
searches only for you, my dear...
In my words and in my breath,
in everything I see around me,
it is only you, my precious one...
Oh little cuckoo, I have gone
completely crazy over you, my dear...
Hey, when an elusive little bird
lands in your hand,
a song flows without stopping!
By the riverbank, beside the grove,
or along the road,
it makes you dance without stopping!
Matters of love,
Chorus: That's our kind of thing!
Male: Fall in love just once,
Chorus: And into your grasp,
the sky itself will come!
Hey, college...
In those teenage years of going to college,
love comes to everyone.
A heavenly world
comes looking for you unannounced.
Hey, when an elusive little bird
lands in your hand,
a song flows without stopping!
By the riverbank, beside the grove,
or along the road,
it makes you dance without stopping!
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This energetic song from the film Sethu celebrates youth, romance, and the transformative joy of falling in love. The lyrics compare love to an elusive bird that, once caught, brings unstoppable song, dance, and euphoria. It highlights how love is priceless, transcending wealth and making college life feel like paradise.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Sikkaatha sitrondru”
Compares love/the beloved to a rare, hard-to-catch little bird ('Sikkaatha sitrondru') that brings instant music and joy.
Imagery
“Minminigal kannil vanthu... Pournamiyo nenjukkullae”
Creates vivid visual and sensory imagery of love filling the heart with full moon brightness and fireflies in the eyes.
Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aathoram thoapporam Roatoramaa”
Repetition of starting phonetic sounds across lines ('Aathoram', 'Roatoramaa').
Did you know?
Trivia
The recurring vocal chant 'Chiyaan' in this song became actor Vikram's popular screen prefix and nickname following the massive success of the film Sethu (1999), directed by Bala with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Sethu
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.