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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Siruvaani Aathu

From Irattai Roja · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Irattai Roja1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Siruvaani aathu thanniWater from the Siruvani river
Marudhaani vecha kanniA young girl adorned with henna
Urugaadho unna enniWon't she melt thinking of you?
Uravaada thaanJust to build an intimate bond
Arasaani pakkam vandhaaIf she comes near the wedding pillar
Thalagaani paaya pottuLaying down the pillow and mat
Uravaadi konja venumNeed to cuddle and bond intimately
Medhuvaaga thaanVery gently indeed
Female
Azhagaana nethiyilOn the beautiful forehead
Oru pottu vachenI placed a bindi
Edhanaala innum onna vittu vechenWhy have I still spared you without uniting?
Chorus
Haei silusilu poongaathuHey, the gentle cool breeze
Adhu adikkiradhaaIs it blowing?
Haei sogu sogu sogu soguHey, stylishly and comfortably
Siru siru vala meen polaLike small fish caught in a net
Manam thudikkiradhaaIs the heart fluttering?
Haei sogu sogu sogu soguHey, stylishly and comfortably
Haei silusilu poongaathuHey, the gentle cool breeze
Adhu adikkiradhaaIs it blowing?
Haei sogu sogu sogu soguHey, stylishly and comfortably
Siru siru vala meen polaLike small fish caught in a net
Manam thudikkiradhaaIs the heart fluttering?
Haei sogu sogu sogu soguHey, stylishly and comfortably
Male
Siruvaani aathu thanniWater from the Siruvani river
Marudhaani vecha kanniA young girl adorned with henna
Urugaadho enna enniWon't she melt thinking of you?
Uravaada thaanJust to build an intimate bond
Female
Vizhundhenae naanum vandhuI too came and fell for you
Melae melaeHigher and higher
Vidiyaadhae nenjineera chaela polaeLike a wet saree that does not dry till dawn
Male
Pizhinjaalae neeyumEven if you wring it out
Oru karumba polaLike a sweet sugarcane
Varuvenae naanum suthi erumba polaI will hover around you like an ant
Female
Ini enna paechuWhat is left to say now?
Sariyaa thaan pochuEverything turned out just right
Adiyaathi ingae shock adikkudhuOh my, an electric shock hits me here
Male
Rosaa indha raasaaOh Rose, this king
Unna laesaa vida maattenaeWill not let you go easily
Female
Siruvaani aathu thanniWater from the Siruvani river
Marudhaani vecha kanniA young girl adorned with henna
Urugaadho unna enniWon't she melt thinking of you?
Uravaada thaanJust to build an intimate bond
Male
Arasaani pakkam vandhaaIf she comes near the wedding pillar
Thalagaani paaya pottuLaying down the pillow and mat
Uravaadi konja venumNeed to cuddle and bond intimately
Medhuvaaga thaanVery gently indeed
Chorus
Haei Ae…Hey Oh...
Thandhaanaa thandhaanaaThandhana thandhana
Thandhaanaa thandhaana thaanaaThandhana thandhana thaana
Male
Azhagaana aiyanaaru koyil oramBeside the beautiful Ayyanar temple
Kadhai onnu pesa povom konja naeramLet us go talk about our story for a while
Female
Theriyaadhaa unna pathiDon't I know about you?
Maamaa maamaaDear uncle / Beloved
Kadhai enna ingae sollu kekkalaamaaTell me what story is here, can I hear it?
Male
Kadha solla thodhaaConvenient to share our story
Kanagamma thoppuKanagamma's grove
Kanakkaaga poothu kaathirukkudhaeIs blooming perfectly and waiting
Female
Thottaa viral pattaaIf a finger touches
Manam kettaa alai paayaadhaaWon't the overwhelmed mind wander in waves?
Male
Siruvaani aathu thanniWater from the Siruvani river
Marudhaani vecha kanniA young girl adorned with henna
Urugaadho unna enniWon't she melt thinking of you?
Uravaada thaanJust to build an intimate bond
Female
Arasaani pakkam vandhaaIf she comes near the wedding pillar
Thalagaani paaya pottuLaying down the pillow and mat
Uravaadi konja venumNeed to cuddle and bond intimately
Medhuvaaga thaanVery gently indeed
Male
Azhagaana nethiyilOn the beautiful forehead
Oru pottu vechaaWhen a bindi was placed
Adhanaala enna iva katti vechaaDid she captivate and tie me up because of that?
Chorus
Haei silusilu poongaathuHey, the gentle cool breeze
Adhu adikkiradhaaIs it blowing?
Haei sogu sogu sogu soguHey, stylishly and comfortably
Siru siru vala meen polaLike small fish caught in a net
Manam thudikkiradhaaIs the heart fluttering?
Haei sogu sogu sogu soguHey, stylishly and comfortably
Haei silusilu poongaathuHey, the gentle cool breeze
Adhu adikkiradhaaIs it blowing?
Haei sogu sogu sogu soguHey, stylishly and comfortably
Siru siru vala meen polaLike small fish caught in a net
Manam thudikkiradhaaIs the heart fluttering?
Haei sogu sogu sogu soguHey, stylishly and comfortably
Female
Siruvaani aathu thanniWater from the Siruvani river
Marudhaani vecha kanniA young girl adorned with henna
Urugaadho enna enniWon't she melt thinking of you?
Uravaada thaanJust to build an intimate bond

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Siruvaani Aathu Thanni is a playful and romantic folk duet from the 1996 Tamil film Irattai Roja, written by Vaali and set to music by Ilaiyaraaja. The song captures the lively banter, affection, and growing intimacy between two lovers in a lush rural setting. Using iconic regional metaphors—such as the sweet water of the Siruvani River and henna-stained hands—the lyricist highlights the pure, sweet nature of their relationship. Throughout the song, the lovers exchange cheeky promises and eager anticipation of marriage and togetherness. Metaphors of ants surrounding sugarcane, fish squirming in a net, and secret meetings near village temples bring out the raw, sensory experience of romance rooted in Tamil folk traditions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Siruvaani aathu thanni / Marudhaani vecha kanni

The second letter 'ru' rhymes across consecutive lines, creating a bouncy folk cadence.

Simile (Upamai)

Siru siru vala meen pola / Manam thudikkiradhaa

Compares the fluttering, excited human heart to a small fish squirming inside a net.

Simile (Upamai)

Varuvenae naanum suthi erumba pola

Compares the persistent, loving pursuit of the hero around his sweetheart to ants attracted to sweet sugarcane.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Adiyaathi ingae shock adikkudhu

Exaggerates the thrilling feeling of love and physical touch to receiving an electric shock.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as Unknown in some credits, the music for Irattai Roja (1996) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, and this song features vocals by Mano and Swarnalatha. The Siruvani River mentioned in the opening line flows near Coimbatore and is world-famous for having extremely sweet drinking water, making it a popular cultural reference for sweetness and purity in Tamil literature and film music.

Keep listening

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