Swasame Swasame
From Thenali · 2000
- Lyricist
- Pa. Vijay
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sadhana Sargam
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Thenali2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Enna solli ennai cholla | What can I say to express myself? |
| Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla } (2) | As love pushes me with its hands |
| Idhayam thaan sarindhadhae | My heart slid away |
| Unnidam mella | Gently towards you |
| Female | |
| Swaasamae swaasamae | Oh my breath, oh my breath |
| Male | |
| { Jannal kaatraagi vaa | Come as the breeze through the window |
| Jarigai poovaagi vaa | Come as a flower woven in zari |
| Minnal mazhayaagi vaa | Come as a rain of lightning |
| Uyirin moochaagi vaa } (2) | Come as the breath of my life |
| Female | |
| { Swaasamae swaasamae } (2) | Oh my breath, oh my breath |
| Female | |
| { Enna solli ennai cholla | What can I say to express myself? |
| Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla } (2) | As love pushes me with its hands |
| Idhayam thaan sarindhadhae | My heart slid away |
| Unnidam mella | Gently towards you |
| Male | |
| { Vaasamae vaasamae } (2) | Oh my fragrance, oh my fragrance |
| Enna solli ennai cholla | What can I say to express myself? |
| Kangal rendil kangal sella | As my eyes meet your eyes |
| Siragugal mulaikudhae manasukul mella | Wings sprout gently inside my heart |
| Male | |
| Jannal kaatraagi vaa | Come as the breeze through the window |
| Jarigai poovaagi vaa | Come as a flower woven in zari |
| Minnal mazhayaagi vaa | Come as a rain of lightning |
| Uyirin moochaagi vaa | Come as the breath of my life |
| Female | |
| { Idadhu kannaalae ahimsaigal seidhaai | With your left eye, you did acts of non-violence |
| Valadhu kannaalae vanmurai seidhaai } (2) | With your right eye, you committed violence |
| Male | |
| Aararivodu uyir adhu konden | I was a living being with six senses |
| Ezhaam arivaaga kaadhal vara kanden | I saw love arrive as the seventh sense |
| Female | |
| Iyarkayin kolaaril iyangiya ennai | I who functioned like a natural anomaly |
| Seyarkai kolaaga unnai sutra vaithaai | You made me orbit around you like a satellite |
| Male | |
| Anusakthi paarvayil uyirsakthi thandhaai … | In your atomic gaze, you gave me vitality... |
| Female | |
| Anusakthi paarvayil uyirsakthi thandhaai … | In your atomic gaze, you gave lightweight life-energy... |
| Swaasamae swaasamae | Oh my breath, oh my breath |
| Male | |
| Isai thattu polae irundha en nenjai | My heart, which was like a music record |
| Parakum thattaaga parandhida seidhaai | You made it fly away like a flying saucer |
| Female | |
| Nadhigal illaadha arabu dhesam naan | I was an Arabian desert without rivers |
| Nile nadhiyaaga enakullae vanthaai | You flowed into me like the River Nile |
| Male | |
| Nilavu illaadha puthan gragam naanae | I was like planet Mercury without a moon |
| Muzhu nilavaaga ennudan serndhaai | You joined me as the radiant full moon |
| Female | |
| Enakaaga nee kidaithaai vidindhu vittenae … | I found you for myself, and my dawn has arrived... |
| Male | |
| Vaasamae vaasamaeFemale :Enna solli | Fragrance... Female: What to say |
| Male | |
| Enna solli ennai cholla | What can I say to express myself |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla | Love pushes me with its hands |
| Male | |
| { Jannal kaatraagi vaa | Come as the breeze through the window |
| Jarigai poovaagi vaa | Come as a flower woven in zari |
| Minnal mazhayaagi vaa | Come as a rain of lightning |
| Uyirin moochaagi vaa } (2) | Come as the breath of my life |
| Male | |
| Jannal kaatraagi vaaFemale :Swaasamae swaasamae | Come as the breeze... Female: Oh my breath |
| Jarigai poovaagi vaa | Come as a flower woven in zari |
| Minnal mazhayaagi vaa | Come as a rain of lightning |
| Uyirin moochaagi vaa | Come as the breath of my life |
{ என்ன சொல்லி
என்னைச் சொல்ல
காதல் என்னைக்
கையால் தள்ள } (2)
இதயம்தான் சரிந்ததே
உன்னிடம் மெல்ல
What can I say to express myself?
As love pushes me with its hands
My heart slid away
Gently towards you
ஸ்வாசமே
ஸ்வாசமே
Oh my breath, oh my breath
{ ஜன்னல்
காற்றாகி வா ஜரிகைப்
பூவாகி வா மின்னல்
மழையாகி வா உயிரின்
மூச்சாகி வா } (2)
Come as the breeze through the window
Come as a flower woven in zari
Come as a rain of lightning
Come as the breath of my life
{ ஸ்வாசமே
ஸ்வாசமே } (2)
Oh my breath, oh my breath
{ என்ன சொல்லி
என்னைச் சொல்ல
காதல் என்னைக்
கையால் தள்ள } (2)
இதயம்தான் சரிந்ததே
உன்னிடம் மெல்ல
What can I say to express myself?
As love pushes me with its hands
My heart slid away
Gently towards you
வாசமே வாசமே
வாசமே வாசமே என்ன்
சொல்லி என்னைச் சொல்ல
கண்கள் ரெண்டில் கண்கள்
செல்ல சிறகுகள் முளைக்குதே
மனசுக்குள் மெல்ல
Oh my fragrance, oh my fragrance
What can I say to express myself?
As my eyes meet your eyes
Wings sprout gently inside my heart
ஜன்னல்
காற்றாகி வா ஜரிகைப்
பூவாகி வா மின்னல்
மழையாகி வா உயிரின்
மூச்சாகி வா
Come as the breeze through the window
Come as a flower woven in zari
Come as a rain of lightning
Come as the breath of my life
{ இடது கண்ணாலே
அகிம்சைகள் செய்தாய்
வலது கண்ணாலே
வன்முறை செய்தாய் } (2)
With your left eye, you did acts of non-violence
With your right eye, you committed violence
ஆறறிவோடு
உயிரது கொண்டேன்
ஏழாம் அறிவாக காதல்
வரக் கண்டேன்
I was a living being with six senses
I saw love arrive as the seventh sense
இயற்கையின்
கோளாறில் இயங்கிய
என்னை செயற்கைக்
கோளாக உன்னைச்
சுற்றச் வைத்தாய்
I who functioned like a natural anomaly
You made me orbit around you like a satellite
அணுசக்திப்
பார்வையில் உயிர்சக்தி
தந்தாய்
In your atomic gaze, you gave me vitality...
அணுசக்திப்
பார்வையில் உயிர்சக்தி
தந்தாய் ஸ்வாசமே ஸ்வாசமே
In your atomic gaze, you gave lightweight life-energy...
Oh my breath, oh my breath
இசைத்தட்டு
போலே இருந்த என்
நெஞ்சை பறக்கும்
தட்டாக பறந்திடச்
செய்தாய்
My heart, which was like a music record
You made it fly away like a flying saucer
நதிகளில்லாத
அரபு தேசம் நான் நைல்
நதியாக எனக்குள்ளே
வந்தாய்
I was an Arabian desert without rivers
You flowed into me like the River Nile
நிலவு இல்லாத
புதன் கிரகம் நானே
முழு நிலவாக என்னுடன்
சேர்ந்தாய்
I was like planet Mercury without a moon
You joined me as the radiant full moon
எனக்காக நீ
கிடைத்தாய் விடிந்து
விட்டேனே
I found you for myself, and my dawn has arrived...
வாசமே வாசமே
என்ன சொல்லி
என்ன சொல்லி
என்னைச் சொல்ல
காதல் என்னை
கையால் தள்ள
Fragrance... Female: What to say
{ ஜன்னல்
காற்றாகி வா ஜரிகைப்
பூவாகி வா மின்னல்
மழையாகி வா உயிரின்
மூச்சாகி வா } (2)
What can I say to express myself
ஜன்னல்
காற்றாகி வா
ஸ்வாசமே
ஸ்வாசமே
ஜரிகைப் பூவாகி வா
மின்னல் மழையாகி
வா உயிரின்
மூச்சாகி வா
Love pushes me with its hands
Come as the breeze through the window
Come as a flower woven in zari
Come as a rain of lightning
Come as the breath of my life
Come as the breeze... Female: Oh my breath
Come as a flower woven in zari
Come as a rain of lightning
Come as the breath of my life
{ Enna solli ennai cholla
What can I say to express myself?
Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla } (2)
As love pushes me with its hands
Idhayam thaan sarindhadhae
My heart slid away
Unnidam mella
Gently towards you
Swaasamae swaasamae
Oh my breath, oh my breath
{ Jannal kaatraagi vaa
Come as the breeze through the window
Jarigai poovaagi vaa
Come as a flower woven in zari
Minnal mazhayaagi vaa
Come as a rain of lightning
Uyirin moochaagi vaa } (2)
Come as the breath of my life
{ Swaasamae swaasamae } (2)
Oh my breath, oh my breath
{ Enna solli ennai cholla
What can I say to express myself?
Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla } (2)
As love pushes me with its hands
Idhayam thaan sarindhadhae
My heart slid away
Unnidam mella
Gently towards you
{ Vaasamae vaasamae } (2)
Oh my fragrance, oh my fragrance
Enna solli ennai cholla
What can I say to express myself?
Kangal rendil kangal sella
As my eyes meet your eyes
Siragugal mulaikudhae manasukul mella
Wings sprout gently inside my heart
Jannal kaatraagi vaa
Come as the breeze through the window
Jarigai poovaagi vaa
Come as a flower woven in zari
Minnal mazhayaagi vaa
Come as a rain of lightning
Uyirin moochaagi vaa
Come as the breath of my life
{ Idadhu kannaalae ahimsaigal seidhaai
With your left eye, you did acts of non-violence
Valadhu kannaalae vanmurai seidhaai } (2)
With your right eye, you committed violence
Aararivodu uyir adhu konden
I was a living being with six senses
Ezhaam arivaaga kaadhal vara kanden
I saw love arrive as the seventh sense
Iyarkayin kolaaril iyangiya ennai
I who functioned like a natural anomaly
Seyarkai kolaaga unnai sutra vaithaai
You made me orbit around you like a satellite
Anusakthi paarvayil uyirsakthi thandhaai …
In your atomic gaze, you gave me vitality...
Anusakthi paarvayil uyirsakthi thandhaai …
In your atomic gaze, you gave lightweight life-energy...
Swaasamae swaasamae
Oh my breath, oh my breath
Isai thattu polae irundha en nenjai
My heart, which was like a music record
Parakum thattaaga parandhida seidhaai
You made it fly away like a flying saucer
Nadhigal illaadha arabu dhesam naan
I was an Arabian desert without rivers
Nile nadhiyaaga enakullae vanthaai
You flowed into me like the River Nile
Nilavu illaadha puthan gragam naanae
I was like planet Mercury without a moon
Muzhu nilavaaga ennudan serndhaai
You joined me as the radiant full moon
Enakaaga nee kidaithaai vidindhu vittenae …
I found you for myself, and my dawn has arrived...
Vaasamae vaasamaeFemale :Enna solli
Fragrance... Female: What to say
Enna solli ennai cholla
What can I say to express myself
Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla
Love pushes me with its hands
{ Jannal kaatraagi vaa
Come as the breeze through the window
Jarigai poovaagi vaa
Come as a flower woven in zari
Minnal mazhayaagi vaa
Come as a rain of lightning
Uyirin moochaagi vaa } (2)
Come as the breath of my life
Jannal kaatraagi vaaFemale :Swaasamae swaasamae
Come as the breeze... Female: Oh my breath
Jarigai poovaagi vaa
Come as a flower woven in zari
Minnal mazhayaagi vaa
Come as a rain of lightning
Uyirin moochaagi vaa
Come as the breath of my life
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Swaasamae' (or 'Enna Solli') is a romantic track expressing intense, transformative love. The protagonist describes how love unexpectedly sweeps them off their feet, making their heart lean towards their beloved. Love is personified as essential elements—breeze, rain, zari flower, and the very breath of life itself. In the verses, the lyricist uses vivid scientific and geographical metaphors to describe the emotional awakening caused by the beloved. The protagonist compares themselves to a riverless desert receiving the Nile, a moonless planet Mercury receiving a full moon, and an ordinary gramophone record taking flight like a flying saucer. Overall, love is portrayed as the ultimate 'seventh sense' that breathes vitality and order into a once-aimless existence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Jannal kaatraagi vaa / Jarigai poovaagi vaa”
Matching second consonants across lines: 'Jannal' (nn) and 'Jarigai' (r/n sound cadence), or 'Enna' and 'Kaadhal' in traditional rhythmic stanzas.
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Isai thattu polae irundha en nenjai / Parakum thattaaga parandhida seidhaai”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds: 'Isai' and 'Parakum' paired with 'Thattu' to maintain cadence.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Isai thattu polae irundha en nenjai / Parakum thattaaga parandhida seidhaai”
Comparing the protagonist's heart to a gramophone record (isai thattu) turned into a flying saucer (parakum thattu).
Contrast / Antithesis
“Idadhu kannaalae ahimsaigal seidhaai / Valadhu kannaalae vanmurai seidhaai”
Contrasting 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) with 'Vanmurai' (violence) conveyed through the gaze of the left and right eyes.
Hyperbole / Scientific Metaphor
“Aararivodu uyir adhu konden / Ezhaam arivaaga kaadhal vara kanden”
Using scientific concepts like atomic power ('Anusakthi'), six senses elevated to a seventh sense, and artificial satellites orbiting a planet.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A.R. Rahman for the 2000 romantic comedy 'Thenali' directed by K.S. Ravikumar, starring Kamal Haasan and Jyothika. The track is sung by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Sadhana Sargam with lyrics penned by Pa. Vijay. It is famous for Rahman's intricate arrangements and Pa. Vijay's playful usage of modern scientific metaphors (like atomic energy, satellites, and planet Mercury).
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