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Lyrics & meaning

Sugam Tharum Nila

From Sattam Oru Vilaiyattu · 1987

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Sattam Oru Vilaiyattu1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sugam tharum nilaa ennaiOh moon that brings joy, hating me
Kanal endru veruppathu sariyallaas fire is not right.
Male :Haahhaa manam tharum malae unnaiMale: Ha-ha, oh fragrant flower, for a thorn's hand to embrace you
Mullin karam anaippathu muraiyallais not proper.
Female
Sugam tharum nilaa ennaiOh moon that brings joy, hating me
Kanal endru veruppathu sariyallaas fire is not right.
Male :Manam tharum malae unnaiMale: Oh fragrant flower, for a thorn's hand to embrace you
Mullin karam anaippathu muraiyallais not proper.
Female
Ilamanam thudikkirathaeMy young heart is throbbing,
Unai enni thavikkirathaeand yearning thinking of you.
Male :Iruvarum iru thuruvamMale: We two are two opposite poles,
Idhil engu uravu varumhow can a relationship blossom here?
Female
Sugam tharum nilaa ennaiOh moon that brings joy, hating me
Kanal endru veruppathu sariyallaas fire is not right.
Male :Manam tharum malae unnaiMale: Oh fragrant flower, for a thorn's hand to embrace you
Mullin karam anaippathu muraiyallais not proper.
Male
Mogaththai azhiththu vidu enum'Destroy passion', saying so,
Paattondru naan indru kettaenI heard a song today.
Female :Aasaikku siragu katti naanFemale: Giving wings to my desires,
Aagaayam engengum ponaenI flew across the sky.
Male
Mogaththai azhiththu vidu enum'Destroy passion', saying so,
Paattondru naan indru kettaenI heard a song today.
Female :Aasaikku siragu katti naanFemale: Giving wings to my desires,
Aagaayam engengum ponaenI flew across the sky.
Male
Kandatho minminiWhat was seen was a firefly,
Adhu kayil vilakkaagumaacan that become a lamp in hand?
Female :Vanthatho pournamiFemale: Full moon has arrived,
Enthan vaanam irulaagumaawill my sky turn dark?
Female
Sugam tharum nilaa ennaiOh moon that brings joy, hating me
Kanal endru veruppathu sariyallaas fire is not right.
Male :Manam tharum malae unnaiMale: Oh fragrant flower, for a thorn's hand to embrace you
Mullin karam anaippathu muraiyallais not proper.
Female
Koottukkul kuyil irunthuThe cuckoo inside the cage
Dhinam un kadhal raagangal paadumwill sing your love melodies daily.
Male :Vettaikku varum vazhiyilMale: On the path coming for a hunt,
Intha raagangal yaarukku vendumwho needs these melodies?
Female
Unnaiththaan enniththaanThinking only of you,
Intha jeevan thudikkindrathuthis life throbs within.
Male :Thannaiyae maranthuMale: Forgetting itself,
Oru vaazhkkai nadakkindrathua life goes on.
Female
Sugam tharum nilaa ennaiOh moon that brings joy, hating me
Kanal endru veruppathu sariyallaas fire is not right.
Male :Manam tharum malae unnaiMale: Oh fragrant flower, for a thorn's hand to embrace you
Mullin karam anaippathu muraiyallais not proper.
Female
Ilamanam thudikkirathaeMy young heart is throbbing,
Unai enni thavikkirathaeand yearning thinking of you.
Male :Iruvarum iru thuruvamMale: We two are two opposite poles,
Idhil engu uravu varumhow can a relationship blossom here?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional duet from Sattam Oru Vilaiyattu captures the romantic tension between two lovers facing social and personal boundaries. The female lead portrays herself as a soothing moon and a delicate flower, pleading with her lover not to reject her affection or mistake her warmth for destructive fire. In response, the male lead views himself as a rough thorn and a hunter, arguing that their lives represent two opposite poles that should not intersect for her own safety and well-being. Through classic Tamil metaphors—such as caged cuckoos, fireflies versus lamps, and thorns versus flowers—the song builds a narrative of bittersweet yearning. While she dares to dream and fly across the sky, he remains guarded and pragmatic about the harsh realities of his world, making their love a heartbreaking struggle between deep desire and inevitable distance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Metaphor)

Male :Manam tharum malae unnai / Mullin karam anaippathu muraiyalla

The male protagonist refers to himself metaphorically as 'mullin karam' (hand of a thorn) and the female protagonist as 'manam tharum malar' (fragrant flower), contrasting his rough nature with her delicate beauty.

Ethirsol (Antithesis / Contrast)

Sugam tharum nilaa ennai / Kanal endru veruppathu sariyalla

Contrasts soothing, comforting imagery 'sugam tharum nilaa' (joy-giving moon) with destructive imagery 'kanal' (fire) to show how her love is being misunderstood.

Monnai (Initial Alliteration)

Kandatho minmini / Adhu kayil vilakkaagumaa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across consecutive lines ('Kandatho' and 'Kayil') creating rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Sattam Oru Vilaiyattu' (1987) was directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar and starred Vijayakanth and Radha. Featuring music by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, this track stands out for its rich poetic imagery and expressive vocal performances by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.

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