Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Ninaivu Chinnam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Singara Seemaiyile Selvangalai

From Ninaivu Chinnam · 1989

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ninaivu Chinnam
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
14 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oo…oo…oo….oo…oo….oo…oo….oo….oo…
Singaara seemaiyilae selvangalai saerththathennna
Senthoora sengalilae kovil katta naernthathenna
Singaara seemaiyilae selvangalai saerththathennna
Senthoora sengalilae kovil katta naernthathenna
Nonbu pala naanirunthu vendum varam vendi nirkka
Nonbu pala naanirunthu vendum varam vendi nirkka
Dheivamthaam thanthathu unnaiththaan ilangiliyae
Yaelae ilangiliyae innum urakkamenna
Paalae pasungkodiyae ingae varuththamenna
Thaayanbu kaanaathu thaniyaaga vaada
Nee vanthu saernthu enakkinaiyaaa paada
Thaayanbu kaanaathu thaniyaaga vaada
Nee vanthu saernthu enakkinaiyaaa paada
Yaaradi unnai padaiththaar
Annaiyum thanthaiyum illai
Kooradi ennai koduththaar
Dheivamaa nampavumillai
Anbilae anpai inaiththu
Vambugal seivathum enna
Unmaithaan solladi
Mullaiyae mayangaathae
Singaara seemaiyilae selvangalai saerththathennna
Senthoora sengalilae kovil katta naernthathenna
Malai meedhu thavazhnthaadi vilaiyaadum nadhiyae
Alai veesum kadal pola tamil paadum kodiyae
Malai meedhu thavazhnthaadi vilaiyaadum nadhiyae
Alai veesum kadal pola tamil paadum kodiyae
Moodadi vaasarkadhavai kangalthaan pattu vidumae
Paadadi paasakkavithai nenjanthaan kettu vidumae
Endraikko ezhuthi vaiththaan
Indraikku nadappathellaam
Unmaithaan mullaiyae
Ennaiyae naan maranthaen
Singaara seemaiyilae selvangalai saerththathennna
Senthoora sengalilae kovil katta naernthathenna
Nonbu pala naanirunthu vendum varam vendi nirkka
Dheivamthaam thanthathu unnaiththaan ilangiliyae
Yaelae ilangiliyae
Paalae pasungkodiyae
Yaelae ilangiliyae
Paalae pasungkodiyae
Oh.......oh......oh......oh.....oh........oh.......oh.....oh.......oh.......
Why did I gather all this wealth in this beautiful land?
Why did it happen that I built a temple with red bricks?
Why did I gather all this wealth in this beautiful land?
Why did it happen that I built a temple with red bricks?
When I kept many fasts and prayed for a boon,
When I kept many fasts and prayed for a boon,
God Himself gave you to me, my sweet little parrot!
Hey, my little parrot, why are you still asleep?
Sweet as milk, my tender vine, what sorrow is there here?
When I was withering alone without a mother's love,
You came to join me and sing by my side.
When I was withering alone without a mother's love,
You came to join me and sing by my side.
Tell me, who created you?
There is no mother and no father!
Tell me, who has ruined me?
Was it God? I can hardly believe it.
Binding love with love,
why do you tease and trouble me?
Tell me the truth,
My jasmine blossom, do not lose your senses...
Why did I gather all this wealth in this beautiful land?
Why did it happen that I built a temple with red bricks?
O river flowing and playing across the mountains,
O tender vine singing sweet Tamil like the surging sea,
O river flowing and playing across the mountains,
O tender vine singing sweet Tamil like the surging sea,
Shut the front door, the evil eye might fall on you!
Sing a song of love, or my heart will ache and fade!
He wrote it all down long ago—
everything that is unfolding today!
It is the truth, my jasmine,
I have completely forgotten myself...
Why did I gather all this wealth in this beautiful land?
Why did it happen that I built a temple with red bricks?
When I kept many fasts and prayed for a boon,
God Himself gave you to me, my sweet little parrot!
Hey, my sweet little parrot!
Sweet as milk, my tender vine!
Hey, my sweet little parrot!
Sweet as milk, my tender vine!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Singaara Seemaiyilae from Ninaivu Chinnam (1989) is a poignant composition expressing deep emotional devotion, wonder, and soul-deep bonding. The speaker contemplates the futility of material wealth and grand structures, realizing that true divine grace lies in the priceless human connection granted to him. The song marvels at fate and destiny, describing how loneliness and longing are healed by the arrival of a loved one. Using lush natural imagery such as creeping vines, mountain rivers, ocean waves, and jasmine blossoms, the lyrics highlight the purity and playful nature of love. Ultimately, it reflects total self-surrender to destiny and affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Initial Alliteration

“Singaara seemaiyilae selvangalai saerththathennna”

Repetition of the initial consonant/vowel sounds in words on the same line, such as 'Singaara' and 'Seemaiyilae' or 'Senthoora' and 'Sengalilae'.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Dheivamthaam thanthathu unnaiththaan ilangiliyae”

Addressing the beloved using tender terms from nature like 'Ilangiliyae' (young parrot) and 'Pasungkodiyae' (green creeper).

Simile (Uvamai)

“Alai veesum kadal pola tamil paadum kodiyae”

Directly comparing the vine singing Tamil to the expanse of a waving sea using the comparative word 'pola'.

Erhung / Rhyming (Edugai)

“Malai meedhu thavazhnthaadi vilaiyaadum nadhiyae”

Matching sound patterns in the second letter across lines ('Malai' / 'Alai').

Did you know?

Trivia

This song was written, composed, and sung by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja himself for the film Ninaivu Chinnam (1989), which stars Prabhu and Radhika. Known for its earthy folk melody blended with deep philosophical lyrics, it remains one of Ilaiyaraaja's classic solo vocal hits from the late 1980s.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Annakili Nee Sirika Sad1992
Rickshaw MamaTenderLoneliness
Naan Paadum Paattile1967
BhavaniDevotionTender
Malaiyae Asainthalum Shanthi Ethu1956
Mathar Kula ManickamFateGrief
Chinnamma (Female)1995
VeluchamiDevotionGrief
Vaada En Raja1980
Rishi MoolamGriefHope
Kadavulum Neeyum Oru1994
Sindhu Nathi PooGriefLoneliness

From the same album

More songs from Ninaivu Chinnam

View album
Yele Ilangkiliye1989
Ninaivu ChinnamTender
Vaikasi Masathula Panthal1989
Ninaivu ChinnamRomantic
Soru Thinnu Naalachu1989
Ninaivu ChinnamCheerful
Oorukkulla Ennapathi Unnapathi1989
Ninaivu ChinnamPlayful
Oorellam Thoonguthu1989
Ninaivu ChinnamMelancholic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.