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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Singapooru Thangachi Vanthiya

From Thanga Malar · 1969

Lyricist: Pattukkottai Narayanasamy
Singers: S. Janaki, A. L. Ragavan
Music director: T. G. Lingappa
Movie name: Thanga Malar
Movie release year: 1969
Lyrics added on: 23 Jun 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Singapore thangachi vanthiyaa

Ingu serndhu nadanam aada vanthiyaa

Singapore thangachi vanthiyaa

Ingu serndhu nadanam aada vanthiyaa

Aada vanthiyaa paada vanthiyaa

Aada vanthiyaa paada vanthiyaa

Aalai kavarndhida vanthiyaa

Singapore thangachi vanthiyaa

Ingu serndhu nadanam aada vanthiyaa

Sagasathilae ulagam mayangudhu

Sagasathilae ulagam mayangudhu

Adhu thannalathaiyae enni thayangudhu

Veluthathellam paalum illai

Veluthathellam paalum illai

Veenai kettaal nadhamae illai

Singapore thangachi vanthiyaa

Ingu serndhu nadanam aada vanthiyaa

Siricha mugathai katti neeyum

Singaara kondaiyum pottukko

Puruvam naduvil azhagu kaana

Javvaadhu pottaiyum theettikoo

Singapore thangachi vanthiyaa

Ingu serndhu nadanam aada vanthiyaa

Nallavar polae pesiduvaar

Raaja varisaiyum seithiduvaar

Nallavar polae pesiduvaar

Raaja varisaiyum seithiduvaar

Kallathanamaai kanni pengalai

Kallathanamaai kanni pengalai

Selladha kaasu pola aakkuvaar

Thottaththu malarai kasakkiduvaar

Sooda malarai naadiduvaar

Thottaththu malarai kasakkiduvaar

Sooda malarai naadiduvaar

Have you come, sister from Singapore?

Have you come to join in and dance here?

Have you come, sister from Singapore?

Have you come to join in and dance here?

Have you come to dance, or have you come to sing?

Have you come to dance, or have you come to sing?

Or have you come to charm someone's heart?

Have you come, sister from Singapore?

Have you come to join in and dance here?

The world is easily lured by sweet pretensions,

The world is easily lured by sweet pretensions,

yet it hesitates, thinking only of its own selfish gain.

Everything that looks white is not milk,

Everything that looks white is not milk,

and if the veena is damaged, it cannot make music.

Have you come, sister from Singapore?

Have you come to join in and dance here?

Show a cheerful, smiling face,

and tie your hair into a pretty bun.

To look lovely between your eyebrows,

wear a dot of fragrant javvadhu (traditional perfume paste).

Have you come, sister from Singapore?

Have you come to join in and dance here?

Men will speak as if they are noble,

and treat you with royal respect,

Men will speak as if they are noble,

and treat you with royal respect,

only to deceitfully take young girls,

only to deceitfully take young girls,

and toss them away like worthless coins.

They will crush the garden flower,

and then go looking for a fresh blossom.

They will crush the garden flower,

and then go looking for a fresh blossom.

Male

Female

Male

Female

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This lively dance song from the 1969 Tamil movie 'Thanga Malar' greets a young woman styled as a visitor from Singapore while imparting cynical yet realistic wisdom about the deceitful nature of the world. Through playful rhythm and expressive dance cues, the lyricist warns that superficial appearances are misleading—not everything white is pure milk, and smooth-talking men who act like kings will eventually betray young women once they grow tired of them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Siricha mugathai katti neeyum / Singaara kondaiyum pottukko”

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Sagasathilae' and 'Adhu', or 'Siricha' and 'Singaara'.

Proverb / Idiomatic Metaphor (Pazhamozhi)

“Veluthathellam paalum illai”

'Veluthathellam paalum illai' is a well-known Tamil proverb equivalent to 'All that glitters is not gold'.

Simile (Upamai)

“Selladha kaasu pola aakkuvaar”

Comparing ruined maidens to invalid/counterfeit coins ('selladha kaasu pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Thottaththu malarai kasakkiduvaar”

Metaphorically comparing women to garden flowers ('thottaththu malar') that men crush after enjoyment.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by T. G. Lingappa, 'Singapore thangachi vanthiyaa' reflects the prominent cultural connection between Tamil Nadu and Singapore during the 1960s, often highlighted in vintage Tamil cinema through stage dance numbers and cabarets.

Keep listening

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