Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Smayiyai

From Kandukondain Kandukondain · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Devan Ekambaram, Clinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kandukondain Kandukondain2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Oooh oooh ooh ooh oohOooh oooh ooh ooh ooh
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Oooh oooh ooh ooh oohOooh oooh ooh ooh ooh
Male
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Magnet vizhiyaalWith magnetic eyes
Manathai thirudi vittaaiYou stole my heart
Oru centimetreWith a one-centimeter
Pootha punnagayilBlossomed smile
Jeevan alandhu vittaaiYou measured my life force
Male
Pathinaalil poo aanenAt fourteen, I became a flower
Pathinezhil thaen aanenAt seventeen, I became honey
Intha vaaku moolam edharkuWhy this confession now?
Male
Pull veliyin thaagam naanI am the thirst of the grassy field
Poonj saaral megam neeYou are the cloud of soft drizzle
Ennai nanaithu poganum konjamDrench me a little before you go
Enthan veril uyir konjam minjumA little life will linger in my roots
Male
Oru thooral poduShower a little rain
Illai saaral poduOr send a gentle drizzle
Enthan naanam nanaiyattumaeLet my shyness get soaked
Male
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Oooh oooh ooh ooh oohOooh oooh ooh ooh ooh
Chorus
……………………….....
Male
Thirantha vaanamOpen sky
Thirantha bhoomiOpen earth
Thirantha vaazhkaiOpen life
Va va va vaazha vaaCome, come, come live life
Male
Olitha kaadhalHidden love
OlirpadhillaiDoes not shine
UyirpadhillaiDoes not come alive
Va va va vaaCome, come, come
Male
Kannilae yei yei yei sorpanamDreams in the eyes
Karaiyudhae yei yei yei evvanumYouth dissolves
Yen thaamadhamWhy delay?
Nilavil paal konduTaking milk from the moon
Seitha tholu kanduSeeing skin made from it
Neringi vaa indruCome closer today
Yai yai yai yaiYai yai yai yai
Male
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai yai yai
Male
Nerupai thindralIf you eat fire
Innika vendumIt should taste sweet
Atharku per thaanThat is what is called
Ka ka kaadhalaeL-l-love
Male
Irakka sonnaalIf asked to die
Sirikka vendumOne should smile
Atharku per thaanThat is what is called
Ka ka kaadhalaeL-l-love
Male
Koondhalin hae hae hae karaiyilaeOn the shore of tresses
Koodithanam hoe hoe hoe kollavaShall we set up house together?
Poo vaangi vaaBuy and bring flowers
Thookam kalaindhaalumEven if sleep is broken
Kanavu kalaiyadhaWhere dreams do not shatter
Vazhkai vaalgindrenI live a life
Yai yai yai yaiYai yai yai yai
Male
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Magnet vizhiyaalWith magnetic eyes
Manathai thirudi vittaaiYou stole my heart
Oru centimetreWith a one-centimeter
Pootha punnagayilBlossomed smile
Jeevan alandhu vittaaiYou measured my life force
Male
Pathinaalil poo aanenAt fourteen, I became a flower
Pathinezhil thaen aanenAt seventeen, I became honey
Intha vaaku moolam edharkuWhy this confession now?
Male
Pull vezhiyin thaagam naanI am the thirst of the grassy field
Poon saaral megam neeYou are the cloud of soft drizzle
Ennai nanaithu poganum konjamDrench me a little before you go
Enthan veril uyir konjam minjumA little life will linger in my roots
Male
Oru thooral poduShower a little rain
Illai saaral poduOr send a gentle drizzle
Enthan naanam nanaiyattumaeLet my shyness get soaked
Male
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Smiyai yai yaiSmiyai yai yai
Oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh….Oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Smayiyai' from the film Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) is a vibrant, youthful song capturing the dizzying euphoria of romance and blossoming love. Through vivid imagery of rain-kissed fields, moonlit skin, and playful romantic confessions, the song celebrates the intensity of passion that turns impossible feats into sweet surrender. The lyrical narrative emphasizes uninhibited love under open skies, where dreams seamlessly merge with real life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Pull veliyin thaagam naan / Poonj saaral megam nee

Compares the speaker's craving for love to a thirsty grassy lawn and the beloved to a soothing drizzle of rain.

Anaphora (Monaai)

Thirantha vaanam / Thirantha bhoomi / Thirantha vaazhkai

Repetition of the word 'Thirantha' (Open) at the start of successive phrases for poetic rhythm and emphasis on freedom.

Paradox

Nerupai thindral innika vendum

Describes the paradoxical nature of love where even consuming burning fire tastes sweet.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for Rajiv Menon's directoral 'Kandukondain Kandukondain' (an adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility'), 'Smayiyai' features contemporary Western pop harmonies sung by Devan Ekambaram, Clinton Cerejo, and Dominique Cerejo set against Vairamuthu's poetic Tamil verses.

Keep listening

More from Kandukondain Kandukondain