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Avar Enakke Sontham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Surangani Surangani

From Avar Enakke Sontham · 1977

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Renuka
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Avar Enakke Sontham
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
11 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Suraangani
Suraangani suraangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaa
Maalu maalu maalu
Suraanganikka maalu
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaa
Kootathilae chinna ponnu
Maatikittaalaam
Kooda vantha chinna paiyan
Idichi paarthaanam
Maatikitta chinna kutty
Morachi paarthaalam
Idichi ninna chinna paiyan
Ilichi ninaanaam
Ootiyila maamanukku
Malaiyila veedu
Veetukulla kulir adicha
Whisky a podu
Soodu konjam yerichinnaa
Sudhiyila paadu
Jodikkoru ponnirukku
Duet paadu
Suraangani
Male :Suraangani
Male & Female :
Suraangani suraangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaa
Maalu maalu maalu
Suraanganikka maalu
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaa
Maadi veettu machaanukku
Oru maadhiriyaa aasai
Madhurai veeran saamipola
Aattukkadaa meesai
Vayasu vantha ponna paathu
Yenguraaru pesa
Vambu seira maamanukku
Kaaththirukku poosai
Arisirukku paruppirukku
Aakka mudiyalae
Aduppirukku neruppirukku
Serkka mudiyalae
Aasa patta ellaaththaiyum
Kekka mudiyalae
Adutha veettu aththa magalai
Paakka mudiyalae
Suraangani
Male :Suraangani
Male & Female :
Suraangani suraangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaa
Maalu maalu maalu
Suraanganikka maalu
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaa
Surangani
Surangani, Surangani
I brought fish for Surangani!
Fish, fish, fish!
Fish for Surangani
I brought fish for Surangani!
In the crowd, a young girl
got trapped, they say.
The young boy who came with her
bumped into her on purpose, they say.
The trapped young girl
glared right back at him, they say.
The young boy who bumped into her
just stood there grinning sheepishly, they say.
For uncle up in Ooty,
there is a house on the hill.
If the cold chills the house,
pour a glass of whisky!
When the warmth kicks in,
sing in pitch and tune!
There is a girl to be your partner,
so sing a duet!
Surangani
Male: Surangani
Male & Female:
Surangani, Surangani
I brought fish for Surangani!
Fish, fish, fish!
Fish for Surangani
I brought fish for Surangani!
The cousin in the upstairs house
has got quite a strange desire!
Just like the deity Madurai Veeran,
he sports a curved, thick moustache!
Looking at the young girl,
he longs to talk to her.
For this uncle stirring up trouble,
a good thrashing awaits!
There is rice and there are lentils,
yet I cannot cook.
There is a stove and there is fire,
yet I cannot bring them together.
Everything my heart desires,
I cannot even ask for.
My aunt's daughter next door,
I cannot even get a glimpse of her!
Surangani
Male: Surangani
Male & Female:
Surangani, Surangani
I brought fish for Surangani!
Fish, fish, fish!
Fish for Surangani
I brought fish for Surangani!
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song is a joyful, fast-paced dance number built around playful narrative verses and an energetic Sinhala Baila-inspired chorus. The lyrics narrate funny, relatable romantic situations and lighthearted everyday struggles—from a boy teasing a girl in a crowd to a man pining for his neighbor's daughter while having all the ingredients for a meal but no ability to cook it.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Chorus Repetition

Suraanganikka maalu gennavaa

The catchy Sinhala line 'Suranganikka maalu gennavaa' is repeated periodically as a structural chorus, giving the song its iconic energetic rhythm.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Arisirukku paruppirukku / Aduppirukku neruppirukku

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, creating a bouncy rhythmic cadence typical of folk poetry.

Hyperbole / Simile

Madhurai veeran saamipola / Aattukkadaa meesai

Comparing a ordinary man's facial hair to the imposing mustache of the guardian deity Madurai Veeran for comedic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track is an official Tamil adaptation of the legendary Sri Lankan Sinhala Baila song 'Surangani', popularised across South Asia by A.E. Manoharan in the 1970s. Panchu Arunachalam adapted the lyrics into Tamil while retaining the original Sinhala hook 'Suranganita mal genava' (adapted phonetically here as fish/malu), making it an instant pop hit across Tamil Nadu.

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