Siruvani
From Enga Ooru Kavalkaran · 1998
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Ilayaraja, S. P. Sailaja, Sunandha
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Enga Ooru Kavalkaran1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Siruvaani thanni kudichchu | Drinking the water of Siruvani, |
| Naan bhavaniyil kulichchu valandhava | I grew up bathing in Bhavani. |
| Female | |
| Thaamaribarani thanni kudichchu | Drinking the water of Thamirabarani, |
| Naanum vaigaiyila kulichchu valandhava | I too grew up bathing in Vaigai. |
| Male | |
| Kaveriyil naan kulichchen | I bathed in Kaveri, |
| Paal aaththula neendhi vandhen | I swam across the Palar river. |
| Yaaraa irundhaalum | No matter who you are, |
| Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu | Drinking Chembarambakkam water, |
| Chennaiyil valaravenum | One must grow up in Chennai. |
| Male & Female : | Male & Female : |
| Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu | Drinking Chembarambakkam water, |
| Chennaiyil valaravenum | One must grow up in Chennai. |
| Female | |
| Siruvaani thanni kudichchu | Drinking Siruvani water, |
| Naan bhavaniyil kulichchu valandhava | I grew up bathing in Bhavani. |
| Female | |
| Vaigaiyila kulichcha ponnu | A girl who bathed in the Vaigai river, |
| Vaigaraiyil ezhundhiduva | She gets up early at dawn. |
| Vaasal thelichchu kolam pottu | She sprinkles water outside and draws a kolam pattern, |
| Saamiyaththaan kumbiduva | And worships the deity devoutly. |
| Female | |
| Siruvaani thanni kudichcha | The girl who drank Siruvani water, |
| Seekkiramaa ezhumbamaatta | She won't get up so quickly. |
| Sooriyanum vandhaa kooda | Even if the sun rises, |
| Thirumbi ava paakka maatta | She won't even turn to look. |
| Female | |
| Sandiththanam pannum | She acts stubbornly, |
| Male :Pababbababbababaa | Male: Pababbababbababaa |
| Female :Vandi maadu pola | Female: Like a bullock cart bull, |
| Male: Pababbababbababaa | Male: Pababbababbababaa |
| Female :Kondaiyila kulukku | Female: A sway in the hair bun, |
| Sandai ingu edhukku | Why have a fight here? |
| Male :Sakkalaththi thaan | Male: Only co-wives, |
| Sandai poduvaa namakkedhukku | Fight each other; why should we fight? |
| Female | |
| Siruvaani thanni kudichchu | Drinking Siruvani water, |
| Naan bhavaniyil kulichchu valandhava haa | I grew up bathing in Bhavani, haa! |
| Female | |
| Thaamaribarani thanni kudichchu | Drinking Thamirabarani water, |
| Naanum vaigaiyila kulichchu valandhava haa | I too grew up bathing in Vaigai, haa! |
| Male | |
| Thanniyila baedhamillae | Water itself has no discrimination, |
| Adhukku oru niramum illae | It doesn't even have any color. |
| Serugindra nilaththappolae | Just like the land it flows into, |
| Maarum andha niramum ingae | Its color changes right here. |
| Evvalavu thanniyaththaan | No matter how much water, |
| Alli alli kudichchu paaththom | We scooped up and drank, |
| Andha gunam varavum illa | That good nature did not come to us, |
| Aandavanum kodukka villa | Nor did God grant it to us. |
| Male | |
| Kannirundhum kurudaa | Being blind despite having eyes, |
| Female :Rambambambam bambam bam | Female: Rambambambam bambam bam |
| Male :Nadandhidum manidha | Male: Oh human walking along, |
| Female :Rambambambam bambam bam | Female: Rambambambam bambam bam |
| Male :Kannirundhum kurudaa | Male: Being blind despite having eyes, |
| Nadandhidum manidha | Oh human walking along, |
| Mannumeladhaan neeyirukkanum | You ought to live properly on this earth, |
| Purinjikkadaa | Understand this, friend! |
| Female | |
| Siruvaani thanni kudichchu | Drinking Siruvani water, |
| Naan bhavaniyil kulichchu valandhava haa | I grew up bathing in Bhavani, haa! |
| Female | |
| Thaamaribarani thanni kudichchu | Drinking Thamirabarani water, |
| Naanum vaigaiyila kulichchu valandhava haa | I too grew up bathing in Vaigai, haa! |
| Male | |
| Hae hae | Hae hae |
| Kaveriyil naan kulichchen | I bathed in Kaveri, |
| Paal aaththula neendhi vandhen | I swam across Palar, |
| Yaaraa irundhaalum | Whoever you might be, |
| Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu | Drinking Chembarambakkam water, |
| Chennaiyil valaravenum aamaa | One must grow up in Chennai, yes! |
| Female | |
| Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu | Drinking Chembarambakkam water, |
| Chennaiyil valaravenum | One must grow up in Chennai. |
| Male :Durrrr…. | Male: Durrrr…. |
| Male & Female : | Male & Female : |
| Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu | Drinking Chembarambakkam water, |
| Chennaiyil valaravenum…hae….ae | One must grow up in Chennai…hae….ae |
| Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu | Drinking Chembarambakkam water, |
| Chennaiyil valaravenum… | One must grow up in Chennai… |
| Dhum dhumtha dhum | Dhum dhumtha dhum |
சிறுவாணி தண்ணி குடிச்சு
நான் பவானியில் குளிச்சி வளந்தவ...
Drinking the water of Siruvani,
I grew up bathing in Bhavani.
தாமிரபரணி தண்ணி குடிச்சி
நானும் வைகையில் குளிச்சி வளந்தவ...
Drinking the water of Thamirabarani,
I too grew up bathing in Vaigai.
காவேரியில் நான் குளிச்சேன்
பாலாத்துல நீந்தி வந்தேன்
யாரா இருந்தாலும்
செம்பரபாக்கம் தண்ணி குடிச்சி
சென்னையில் வளரவேணும்
I bathed in Kaveri,
I swam across the Palar river.
No matter who you are,
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
One must grow up in Chennai.
Male & Female :
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
One must grow up in Chennai.
ஆண் மற்றும் பெண் :
செம்பரபாக்கம் தண்ணி குடிச்சி
சென்னையில் வளரவேணும்
Drinking Siruvani water,
I grew up bathing in Bhavani.
சிறுவாணி தண்ணி குடிச்சு
நான் பவானியில் குளிச்சி வளந்தவ....
A girl who bathed in the Vaigai river,
She gets up early at dawn.
She sprinkles water outside and draws a kolam pattern,
And worships the deity devoutly.
வைகை தண்ணி
குடிச்ச பொண்ணு
வைகறையில் எழுந்திடுவா
வாசப்பெருக்கி கோலம் போட்டு
சாமியத்தான் கும்பிடுவா
The girl who drank Siruvani water,
She won't get up so quickly.
Even if the sun rises,
She won't even turn to look.
சிறுவாணி தண்ணி குடிச்சா
சீக்கிரமா எழும்ப மாட்டா
சூரியனும் வந்தாக்கூட
திரும்பி அவ பாக்கமாட்டா
She acts stubbornly,
Male: Pababbababbababaa
Female: Like a bullock cart bull,
Male: Pababbababbababaa
Female: A sway in the hair bun,
Why have a fight here?
Male: Only co-wives,
Fight each other; why should we fight?
சண்டித்தனம் பண்ணும்
பப பபம் பபபம்
வண்டிமாடு போல
பப பபம் பபபம்
கொண்டையில
குளுக்கு சண்டை இங்கு எதுக்கு
சக்களத்திதான் சண்டை
போடுவா நமக்கெதுக்கு
Drinking Siruvani water,
I grew up bathing in Bhavani, haa!
சிறுவாணி தண்ணி குடிச்சு
நான் பவானியில் குளிச்சி வளந்தவ ஹே
Drinking Thamirabarani water,
I too grew up bathing in Vaigai, haa!
தாமிரபரணி தண்ணி குடிச்சி
நானும் வைகையில் குளிச்சி வளந்தவ ஹே
Water itself has no discrimination,
It doesn't even have any color.
Just like the land it flows into,
Its color changes right here.
No matter how much water,
We scooped up and drank,
That good nature did not come to us,
Nor did God grant it to us.
தண்ணியிலே பேதமில்லை
அதுக்கு நிறம் ஏதுமில்லை
சேருகின்ற நிலத்தைப் போல
மாறும் அந்த நிறமும் இங்கே
எவ்வளவு தண்ணியத்தான்
அள்ளி அள்ளி குடிச்சு
பார்த்தும் அந்த குணம் வரவுமில்லை
ஆண்டவனும் கொடுக்கவில்லை
Being blind despite having eyes,
Female: Rambambambam bambam bam
Male: Oh human walking along,
Female: Rambambambam bambam bam
Male: Being blind despite having eyes,
Oh human walking along,
You ought to live properly on this earth,
Understand this, friend!
கண்ணிருந்து குருடா
ரம்பம் பபம்பம்
நடந்திடும் மனிதா
ரம்பம் பபம்பம்
Drinking Siruvani water,
I grew up bathing in Bhavani, haa!
கண்ணிருந்து குருடா
நடந்திடும் மனிதா
மண்ணு மேலதான்
நீயிருக்கணும் புரிஞ்சிக்கடா
Drinking Thamirabarani water,
I too grew up bathing in Vaigai, haa!
சிறுவாணி தண்ணி குடிச்சு
நான் பவானியில் குளிச்சி வளந்தவ...ஹே
Hae hae
I bathed in Kaveri,
I swam across Palar,
Whoever you might be,
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
One must grow up in Chennai, yes!
தாமிரபரணி தண்ணி குடிச்சி
நானும் வைகையில குளிச்சி வளந்தவ...ஹே
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
One must grow up in Chennai.
Male: Durrrr….
Male & Female :
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
One must grow up in Chennai…hae….ae
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
One must grow up in Chennai…
Dhum dhumtha dhum
ஹே ஹே காவேரியில்
நான் குளிச்சேன்
பாலாத்துல நீந்தி வந்தேன்
யாரா இருந்தாலும்
செம்பரபாக்கம் தண்ணி குடிச்சி
சென்னையில் வளரவேணும்
ஆமா
பெண் குழு :
செம்பரபாக்கம் தண்ணி
குடிச்சி சென்னையில் வளரவேணும்
டுர்ர்ர்டுர்ர்டுர்ர்ர்ர்
ஆண் மற்றும் பெண் :
செம்பரபாக்கம் தண்ணி குடிச்சி
சென்னையில் வளரவேணும்
ஏஹே....செம்பரபாக்கம் தண்ணி குடிச்சி
சென்னையில் வளரவேணும்
தம் தம்தம்
Siruvaani thanni kudichchu
Drinking the water of Siruvani,
Naan bhavaniyil kulichchu valandhava
I grew up bathing in Bhavani.
Thaamaribarani thanni kudichchu
Drinking the water of Thamirabarani,
Naanum vaigaiyila kulichchu valandhava
I too grew up bathing in Vaigai.
Kaveriyil naan kulichchen
I bathed in Kaveri,
Paal aaththula neendhi vandhen
I swam across the Palar river.
Yaaraa irundhaalum
No matter who you are,
Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
Chennaiyil valaravenum
One must grow up in Chennai.
Male & Female :
Male & Female :
Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
Chennaiyil valaravenum
One must grow up in Chennai.
Siruvaani thanni kudichchu
Drinking Siruvani water,
Naan bhavaniyil kulichchu valandhava
I grew up bathing in Bhavani.
Vaigaiyila kulichcha ponnu
A girl who bathed in the Vaigai river,
Vaigaraiyil ezhundhiduva
She gets up early at dawn.
Vaasal thelichchu kolam pottu
She sprinkles water outside and draws a kolam pattern,
Saamiyaththaan kumbiduva
And worships the deity devoutly.
Siruvaani thanni kudichcha
The girl who drank Siruvani water,
Seekkiramaa ezhumbamaatta
She won't get up so quickly.
Sooriyanum vandhaa kooda
Even if the sun rises,
Thirumbi ava paakka maatta
She won't even turn to look.
Sandiththanam pannum
She acts stubbornly,
Male :Pababbababbababaa
Male: Pababbababbababaa
Female :Vandi maadu pola
Female: Like a bullock cart bull,
Male: Pababbababbababaa
Male: Pababbababbababaa
Female :Kondaiyila kulukku
Female: A sway in the hair bun,
Sandai ingu edhukku
Why have a fight here?
Male :Sakkalaththi thaan
Male: Only co-wives,
Sandai poduvaa namakkedhukku
Fight each other; why should we fight?
Siruvaani thanni kudichchu
Drinking Siruvani water,
Naan bhavaniyil kulichchu valandhava haa
I grew up bathing in Bhavani, haa!
Thaamaribarani thanni kudichchu
Drinking Thamirabarani water,
Naanum vaigaiyila kulichchu valandhava haa
I too grew up bathing in Vaigai, haa!
Thanniyila baedhamillae
Water itself has no discrimination,
Adhukku oru niramum illae
It doesn't even have any color.
Serugindra nilaththappolae
Just like the land it flows into,
Maarum andha niramum ingae
Its color changes right here.
Evvalavu thanniyaththaan
No matter how much water,
Alli alli kudichchu paaththom
We scooped up and drank,
Andha gunam varavum illa
That good nature did not come to us,
Aandavanum kodukka villa
Nor did God grant it to us.
Kannirundhum kurudaa
Being blind despite having eyes,
Female :Rambambambam bambam bam
Female: Rambambambam bambam bam
Male :Nadandhidum manidha
Male: Oh human walking along,
Female :Rambambambam bambam bam
Female: Rambambambam bambam bam
Male :Kannirundhum kurudaa
Male: Being blind despite having eyes,
Nadandhidum manidha
Oh human walking along,
Mannumeladhaan neeyirukkanum
You ought to live properly on this earth,
Purinjikkadaa
Understand this, friend!
Siruvaani thanni kudichchu
Drinking Siruvani water,
Naan bhavaniyil kulichchu valandhava haa
I grew up bathing in Bhavani, haa!
Thaamaribarani thanni kudichchu
Drinking Thamirabarani water,
Naanum vaigaiyila kulichchu valandhava haa
I too grew up bathing in Vaigai, haa!
Hae hae
Hae hae
Kaveriyil naan kulichchen
I bathed in Kaveri,
Paal aaththula neendhi vandhen
I swam across Palar,
Yaaraa irundhaalum
Whoever you might be,
Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
Chennaiyil valaravenum aamaa
One must grow up in Chennai, yes!
Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
Chennaiyil valaravenum
One must grow up in Chennai.
Male :Durrrr….
Male: Durrrr….
Male & Female :
Male & Female :
Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
Chennaiyil valaravenum…hae….ae
One must grow up in Chennai…hae….ae
Chembarambaakkam thanni kudichchu
Drinking Chembarambakkam water,
Chennaiyil valaravenum…
One must grow up in Chennai…
Dhum dhumtha dhum
Dhum dhumtha dhum
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This lively duet uses Tamil Nadu's iconic rivers—Siruvani, Bhavani, Thamirabarani, Vaigai, Kaveri, Palar, and Chembarambakkam—as metaphors for regional roots, personal habits, and cultural unity. The characters playfully banter about how the waters of different regions shape people's daily routines and attitudes, such as early-morning devotion versus stubborn laziness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Vaigaiyila kulichcha ponnu / Vaigaraiyil ezhundhiduva”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds in words across lines ('Vaigaiyila' and 'Vaigaraiyil').
Upamai (Simile)
“Female :Vandi maadu pola”
Comparing stubborn behavior directly to a bullock cart animal ('Vandi maadu pola').
Uruvagaim (Metaphor & Allegory)
“Thanniyila baedhamillae / Adhukku oru niramum illae”
Water taking the color of the soil it flows on is used as an allegory for human adaptability and lack of innate discrimination.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song playfully lists major Tamil Nadu rivers (Siruvani, Bhavani, Thamirabarani, Vaigai, Kaveri, Palar) alongside Chembarambakkam lake in Chennai, celebrating Tamil geography through folk rhythms.
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