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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sila Sila Aandugal

From Engal Selvi · 1960

Lyricist
Kuyilan
Singers
P. Leela, Chorus
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Engal Selvi1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sila sila aandugal munnamA few years ago,
Palarum pottrum vannamIn a manner praised by many,
Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annamTwo swans lived together.
Female
Kaalaiyil alaigal melodiFloating over the waves in the morning,
Kalippudan neenthidum irai thaediSwimming joyfully in search of food,
Kaalaiyil alaigal melodiFloating over the waves in the morning,
Kalippudan neenthidum irai thaediSwimming joyfully in search of food,
Female
Maalaiyile irul velaiyilaeIn the evening, during the dark hours,
Avai vanthidum thangal idam thediThey would return seeking their place.
Maalaiyilae irul velaiyilaeIn the evening, during the dark hours,
Avai vanthidum thangal idam thediThey would return seeking their place.
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa….aa….Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa….aa….
Female
Sila sila aandugal munnamA few years ago,
Palarum pottrum vannamIn a manner praised by many,
Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annamTwo swans lived together.
Female
Annam poriththathu oru kunjuThe swan hatched a chick,
Aanantha vaazhvin ilam pinjuA tender shoot of a joyful life.
Annam poriththathu oru kunjuThe swan hatched a chick,
Aanantha vaazhvin ilam pinjuA tender shoot of a joyful life.
Aasaiyaaga valarnthathu naalumIt grew with love every day,
Aanum pennum konjiyaeAs the male and female swans fondled it.
Chorus
Sila sila aandugal munnamA few years ago,
Palarum pottrum vannamIn a manner praised by many,
Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annamTwo swans lived together.
Sila sila aandugal munnamA few years ago,
Palarum pottrum vannamIn a manner praised by many,
Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annamTwo swans lived together.
Female
Ippadi magizhnthidum naalaiyilaeOn days of such happiness,
Ezhunthathu kodiya perum puyalaeA cruel, great storm arose.
Soppanam polae arputha vaazhvaiLike a dream, this wonderful life
Thool thoolaakki maranthathuvaeWas shattered to pieces and wiped away.
Female
Thaniyae pirintha thaayannamSeparated all alone, the mother swan
Thanjamindri alaigirathaeWanders around without a refuge.
Thaniyae pirintha thaayannamSeparated all alone, the mother swan
Thanjamindri alaigirathaeWanders around without a refuge.
Iniya kunjai ninainthu ninainthuThinking endlessly of her sweet chick,
Yaengi yaengi kanneer pozhigirathaeShe sheds tears in deep longing.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sila sila aandugal munnam is an allegorical story song from the 1960 Tamil movie Engal Selvi, composed by K. V. Mahadevan and written by lyricist Kuyilan. Sung poignantly by P. Leela, the song utilizes the tale of two swans to metaphorically depict a once-happy family torn apart by fate. Initially, the male and female swans live in absolute bliss, raising a tender chick with immense care and affection. However, a sudden, cruel storm shatters their peaceful existence like a broken dream, separating the mother swan from her loved ones and leaving her homeless and devastated, weeping ceaselessly for her lost offspring.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annam

The two swans (rendu annam) are used as a extended metaphor to represent a loving human couple and their peaceful domestic life.

Simile (Uvamai)

Soppanam polae arputha vaazhvai

The phrase compares their blissful life to a wonderful dream (Soppanam polae) using the explicit comparison word 'polae'.

Alliteration (Monai)

Thaniyae pirintha thaayannam

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Th' ('Thaniyae' / 'thaayannam') creates phonetic harmony.

Reduplication (Adukku Thodar)

Iniya kunjai ninainthu ninainthu

Words like 'ninainthu ninainthu' (thinking repeatedly) and 'yaengi yaengi' (longing repeatedly) are doubled to intensify the depth of sorrow.

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Trivia

Engal Selvi (1960), starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri, was the Tamil remake of the successful Telugu film Santhanam (1955). The song serves as a central narrative device within the film, structured like a tragic fable/dance drama to mirror the real-life sorrow of the main characters.

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