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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sivakami Ninaipinilae

From Kilipetchu Ketkava · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kilipetchu Ketkava1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sivagaami nenappinilae paadam solla marandhuvittenThinking of Sivagami, I forgot to teach the lesson.
Male
Sivagaami nenappinilae paadam solla marandhuvittenThinking of Sivagami, I forgot to teach the lesson.
Female
Adiyaaththi vaathiyaaru paadam sollaOh my goodness, teacher, why did you forget
MarandhadhennaTo teach the lesson?
Male
Mukkaniyae sakkaraiyaeOh sweet trio of fruits! Oh pure sugar!
Oththaiyilae nikkiriyaeYou stand all alone here!
Female
Vandhu ottikko ottikko ottikkoCome, stick close to me, stick to me, stick to me!
Enna kattikko kattikko kattikkoEmbrace me, embrace me, embrace me!
Male
Sivagaami nenappinilae paadam solla marandhuvittenThinking of Sivagami, I forgot to teach the lesson.
Female
Adiyaaththi vaathiyaaru paadam sollaOh my goodness, teacher, why did you forget
MarandhadhennaTo teach the lesson?
Male
Aalamarakkili annaadam ennoduWill the banyan tree parrot speak with me every day,
Paesuma illa yaesumaOr will she scold me?
Aaththangaraiyinil aththaanum muthaadaFor the cousin to kiss on the riverbank,
Koodumaa vittu odumaaWill it be possible or will she run away?
Female
Kolakkili pecha kattaayam thattaamaWithout failing to obey the sweet parrot's words,
Ketkkava enna paarkkavaaShould I listen or should I look at myself?
Kaalam kadathaamal kaiyyodu kaiyaagaWithout delaying time, joining hand in hand,
Saerkkavaa maiyyal theerkkavaaShall I unite and satisfy this passionate love?
Male
Poodhum idhu podhumThis is enough, this is enough,
Indha piraviyil vaerondrum vendamaeIn this lifetime, nothing else is needed.
Female
Modhum alai modhumWaves crash, waves crash,
Nenja kadalil aasaigal oyaamaIn the ocean of the heart, desires surge ceaselessly.
Male
Vandhu ottikko ottikko ottikkoCome, stick close to me, stick to me, stick to me!
Enna kattikko kattikko kattikkoEmbrace me, embrace me, embrace me!
Female
Adiyaaththi vaathiyaaru paadam sollaOh my goodness, teacher, why did you forget
MarandhadhennaTo teach the lesson?
Male
Sivagaami nenappinilae paadam solla marandhuvittenThinking of Sivagami, I forgot to teach the lesson.
Female
En mansa otturiyae mamutti pol vetturiyaeYou capture my heart, yet dig into it like a hoe!
Male
Vandhu ottikko ottikko ottikkoCome, stick close to me, stick to me, stick to me!
Enna kattikko kattikko kattikkoEmbrace me, embrace me, embrace me!
Female
Kaadhal kaduthaasi kannaala innaeramA love letter sent through your eyes right now
Pottathu vandhu serndhadhuHas arrived and reached me.
Koodikkalandhida kummaalam ippodhuTo mingle together, excitement now
Thonudhu ponnu naanudhuArises, and the girl feels shy.
Male
Thaenum thinaimaavum thinnaama ninnaalaeWithout eating honey and millet flour,
Thaangumaa pasi neengumaaCan one endure it? Will hunger go away?
Thaedakkidaikkaadha ponnaaram enkaiyyilA rare golden ornament in my hand,
Serumaa sugam meerumaaWill it join me? Will joy overflow?
Female
Paesi valai veesiBy talking and casting a net,
Indha manasila bodhaiya yethaadhaeDo not intoxicate this heart.
Male
Raasi nalla raasi namma poruthaththaiOur astrological match is a fine match,
Nee endrum maathaathaeDo not ever change our destiny!
Female
Ippa yennavo yennavo yennavoNow something, something, something
Enna pannudhae pannudhae pannudhaeIs happening, happening, happening to me!
Male
Sivagaami nenappinilae paadam solla MarandhuvittenThinking of Sivagami, I forgot to teach the lesson.
Female
Adiyaaththi vaathiyaaru paadam sollaOh my goodness, teacher, why did you forget
MarandhadhennaTo teach the lesson?
Female
En mansa otturiyae mamutti pol vetturiyaeYou capture my heart, yet dig into it like a hoe!
Male
Vandhu ottikko ottikko ottikkoCome, stick close to me, stick to me, stick to me!
Female :Enna kattikko kattikko kattikkoFemale: Embrace me, embrace me, embrace me!
Male
Sivagaami nenappinilae paadam solla MarandhuvittenThinking of Sivagami, I forgot to teach the lesson.
Female
Adiyaaththi vaathiyaaru paadam sollaOh my goodness, teacher, why did you forget
MarandhadhennaTo teach the lesson?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sivagaami Nenappinilae is a cheerful and romantic duet from the 1993 Tamil film Kilipetchu Ketkava. The song features a schoolteacher protagonist who playfully admits that thoughts of his beloved Sivagami consume his mind so completely that he forgets his teaching responsibilities. His lover playfully teases him back, creating a lighthearted banter between the two. The lyrics use vibrant rural Tamil imagery, comparing love to sweet honey, millet flour, ocean waves, and playful metaphors of nature. Through affectionate exchanges, rhythmic repetitions, and romantic confessions, the song conveys the innocence and overwhelming joy of falling deeply in love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Vandhu ottikko ottikko ottikko

Words like 'ottikko', 'kattikko', 'yennavo', and 'pannudhae' are repeated sequentially to emphasize rhythmic energy and intense emotion.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Mukkaniyae sakkaraiyae

The speaker addresses the beloved as 'Mukkaniyae' (the three sacred fruits: mango, banana, jackfruit) and 'sakkaraiyae' (sugar), representing absolute sweetness.

Simile (Uvamai)

En mansa otturiyae mamutti pol vetturiyae

The lyricist compares the emotional impact on the mind to digging with a spade ('mamutti pol vetturiyae').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nenja kadalil aasaigal oyaama

Desires surging in the heart are metaphorically framed as crashing ocean waves ('Nenja kadalil aasaigal').

Did you know?

Trivia

Sivagaami Nenappinilae was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by the iconic duo S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, with lyrics penned by Vaali. The film Kilipetchu Ketkava stars Vijayakanth and Kanaka in lead roles, where Vijayakanth plays a village schoolmaster.

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