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Isaimozhi
Sangamam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sowkiyama Kanne

From Sangamam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Nithyashree Mahadevan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Sangamam
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
21 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………………………………
Thanathom tha theemtha
Thanathana thom thana thom
Thikiru thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thaghu thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Sowkkiyamaa kannae….
Sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa kannae….
Sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa…
Sowkkiyamaa kannae….
Sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa kannae….
Sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa…sowkkiyamaa
Thanathom tha theemtha
Thanathana thom thana thom
Thikiru thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thaghu thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thana thomthomtha theemtheem tha
Thomthomtha theemtheem ena
Vizhigalil nadanam ittaai pinbu
Idhayaththil irangi vittaai
Mella mella ennuyirai pariththukondaai
Manadhai thazhuvum oru ambaanaai
Manadhai thazhuvum oru ambaanaai
Paruvam koththivittu paravai aanaai
Paruvam koththivittu paravai aanaai
Janutha dheem janutha dheem
Janutha dheem salangaiyum engudhae..
Adhu kidakkattum nee…
Sowkkiyamaa kannae
Sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa kannae
Sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa
…………………………………………..
Sooriyan vandhu vaavenum podhu
Sooriyan vandhu vaavenum podhu
Sooriyan vandhu vaavenum podhu
Enna seiyum paniy thuli…eeee……
Enna seiyum paniy thuli
Kodi kaiyil ennai kollaiyidu
Kodi kaiyil ennai alli edu
Kodi kaiyil ennai kollaiyidu
Kodi kaiyil ennai alli edu
Anbu naadhanae
Nee anindha modhiram
Valaiyalagavae thurumbena ilaiththen
Andha modhiram ottiyaanamaai
Aagumunnamae anbae azhaiththen
En kaattril suvaasam illai…eee…
En kaattril suvaasam illai
En kaattril suvaasam illai
En kaattril suvaasam illai
Adhu kidakkatum vidu
Unakkenna aachchu
Sowkkiyamaa kannae
Sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa kannae
Sowkkiyamaa
Thanathom tha theemtha
Thanathana thom thana thom
Thikiru thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thaghu thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thana thomthomtha theemtheem tha
Thomthomtha theemtheem ena
Vizhigalil nadanam ittaai pinbu
Idhayaththil irangi vittaai
Mella mella ennuyirai pariththukondaai
Manadhai thazhuvum oru ambaanaai
Manadhai thazhuvum oru ambaanaai
Paruvam koththivittu paravai aanaai
Paruvam koththivittu paravai aanaai
Janutha dheem janutha dheem
Janutha dheem salangaiyum engudhae..
Adhu kidakkattum nee………….
Sowkkiyamaa kannae
Sowkkiyamaa……sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa..sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa..sowkkiyamaa
Sowkkiyamaa..sowkkiyamaaaa….
…………………………………………………….
[Music]
Thanathom tha theemtha
Thanathana thom thana thom
Thikiru thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thaghu thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well?
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well?
Are you well?
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well?
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well?
Are you well? Are you well?
Thanathom tha theemtha
Thanathana thom thana thom
Thikiru thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thaghu thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thana thomthomtha theemtheem tha
Saying thomthomtha theemtheem
You danced in my eyes, and then
You stepped down into my heart.
Slowly, gradually, you stole my life away.
You became an arrow that caresses the soul.
You became an arrow that caresses the soul.
You pecked at my youth and flew away like a bird.
You pecked at my youth and flew away like a bird.
Janutha dheem janutha dheem
Janutha dheem, even my anklets are yearning...
Let that be... but you...
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well?
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well?
Are you well?
[Music]
When the sun comes and calls out 'come',
When the sun comes and calls out 'come',
When the sun comes and calls out 'come',
What can a drop of dew do?
What can a drop of dew do?
Plunder me with a million hands!
Gather me up in a million hands!
Plunder me with a million hands!
Gather me up in a million hands!
O my beloved lord,
The ring that you once wore,
Fits me like a bangle now, so thin as a straw I have grown!
Before that ring becomes a waist-belt,
I called out to you, my love!
There is no breath in the air I breathe...
There is no breath in the air I breathe.
There is no breath in the air I breathe.
There is no breath in the air I breathe.
Let that be, leave it be.
What happened to you?
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well?
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well?
Thanathom tha theemtha
Thanathana thom thana thom
Thikiru thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thaghu thighu thana thana thom thana thom
Thana thomthomtha theemtheem tha
Saying thomthomtha theemtheem
You danced in my eyes, and then
You stepped down into my heart.
Slowly, gradually, you stole my life away.
You became an arrow that caresses the soul.
You became an arrow that caresses the soul.
You pecked at my youth and flew away like a bird.
You pecked at my youth and flew away like a bird.
Janutha dheem janutha dheem
Janutha dheem, even my anklets are yearning...
Let that be... but you...
Are you well, my darling?
Are you well? Are you well?
Are you well? Are you well?
Are you well? Are you well?
Are you well? Are you well?
[Music]
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Sowkkiyamaa Kannae from the movie Sangamam (1999) is a deeply emotional duet grounded in classical music and dance tradition, portraying tender longing and separation between two lovers. Despite enduring intense emotional and physical suffering from being apart, each lover brushes aside their own pain to prioritize inquiring about the other's health and well-being with the tender phrase 'Sowkkiyamaa' (Are you well?).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbali (Ushuyarvonavi)

“Nee anindha modhiram valaiyalagavae thurumbena ilaiththen”

The lyricist exaggerates the heroine's emaciation due to separation—stating that a ring worn on the hero's finger now fits her wrist as a bangle, and might even become a waist-belt if she thin further.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Sooriyan vandhu vaavenum podhu enna seiyum paniy thuli”

Comparing the vulnerable condition of the lover to a delicate dewdrop melting away under the warm rays of the sun.

Anaphora / Repetition (Edukku Thodar)

“Sowkkiyamaa kannae sowkkiyamaa”

Rhythmic and emotional repetition of the central phrase 'Sowkkiyamaa' to emphasize genuine care and longing.

Solkattu / Rhythm Integration

“Janutha dheem janutha dheem salangaiyum engudhae..”

Incorporation of classical Bharatanatyam dance mnemonics (Jathis) seamlessly into lyric lines to symbolize the dance theme of the film.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for the classical dance-themed drama Sangamam (1999), this song features vocals by Carnatic icon Nithyasree Mahadevan alongside Srinivas with lyrics by Vairamuthu. Set in the melancholic Raga Kapi, it won high critical acclaim for seamlessly weaving Solkattu (rhythmic syllabic recitation) into a romantic melody.

Keep listening

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