Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sila Sila Aandugal

From Engal Selvi · 1960

Lyricist
Kuyilan
Singers
P. Leela, Chorus
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Engal Selvi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
3 Dec 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sila sila aandugal munnam
Palarum pottrum vannam
Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annam
Kaalaiyil alaigal melodi
Kalippudan neenthidum irai thaedi
Kaalaiyil alaigal melodi
Kalippudan neenthidum irai thaedi
Maalaiyile irul velaiyilae
Avai vanthidum thangal idam thedi
Maalaiyilae irul velaiyilae
Avai vanthidum thangal idam thedi
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa….aa….
Sila sila aandugal munnam
Palarum pottrum vannam
Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annam
Annam poriththathu oru kunju
Aanantha vaazhvin ilam pinju
Annam poriththathu oru kunju
Aanantha vaazhvin ilam pinju
Aasaiyaaga valarnthathu naalum
Aanum pennum konjiyae
Sila sila aandugal munnam
Palarum pottrum vannam
Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annam
Sila sila aandugal munnam
Palarum pottrum vannam
Saernthu vaazhnthathu rendu annam
Ippadi magizhnthidum naalaiyilae
Ezhunthathu kodiya perum puyalae
Soppanam polae arputha vaazhvai
Thool thoolaakki maranthathuvae
Thaniyae pirintha thaayannam
Thanjamindri alaigirathae
Thaniyae pirintha thaayannam
Thanjamindri alaigirathae
Iniya kunjai ninainthu ninainthu
Yaengi yaengi kanneer pozhigirathae
A few years ago,
Admired by everyone around,
Two swans lived together.
Gliding over the waves in the morning,
They swam joyfully in search of food.
Gliding over the waves in the morning,
They swam joyfully in search of food.
In the evening, as darkness fell,
They would return, seeking their home.
In the evening, as darkness fell,
They would return, seeking their home.
Aa.....aa.....aa.....aa.....aa.....aa....aa.......
A few years ago,
Admired by everyone around,
Two swans lived together.
The swan hatched a little chick,
A tender little one in their joyful life.
The swan hatched a little chick,
A tender little one in their joyful life.
It grew day by day with deep love,
As both father and mother showered it with affection.
A few years ago,
Admired by everyone around,
Two swans lived together.
A few years ago,
Admired by everyone around,
Two swans lived together.
During those days of pure happiness,
A cruel and mighty storm arose.
Like a dream, that wonderful life
Was shattered into pieces and lost.
Separated and alone, the mother swan
Wanders now without a shelter.
Separated and alone, the mother swan
Wanders now without a shelter.
Remembering her sweet little chick again and again,
She yearns with a broken heart and sheds tears.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Did you know?

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Inba Visai2020
VaazhlNatureAllegorical
Mazhai Mega Vanna2002
DesamMelancholicSeparation
Vasantha Kala Thendralil1962
Konjum SalangaiLossNature
Pattathu Rajavukku1972
Kanna NalamaFamilyMelancholic
Azhagana Kovil1976
Veedu Varai UravuMelancholicMemory
Gourava Sabaikku1980
Oru Velladu VengaiyagiradhuGriefMelancholic

From the same album

More songs from Engal Selvi

View album
Vaarayo Vaarayo1960
Engal SelviTender
Unnai Nambi Avalirunthaal1960
Engal SelviMelancholic
Sollathan Ninaikkiren 21960
Engal SelviDesperate
Sollathan Ninaikiren1960
Engal SelviMelancholic
Jaya Jaya Jaya Rama1960
Engal SelviMournful
Enna Peru1960
Engal SelviPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.