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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Swasame Swasame

From Thenali · 2000

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sadhana Sargam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Thenali
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
18 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Enna solli ennai cholla
Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla } (2)
Idhayam thaan sarindhadhae
Unnidam mella
Swaasamae swaasamae
{ Jannal kaatraagi vaa
Jarigai poovaagi vaa
Minnal mazhayaagi vaa
Uyirin moochaagi vaa } (2)
{ Swaasamae swaasamae } (2)
{ Enna solli ennai cholla
Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla } (2)
Idhayam thaan sarindhadhae
Unnidam mella
{ Vaasamae vaasamae } (2)
Enna solli ennai cholla
Kangal rendil kangal sella
Siragugal mulaikudhae manasukul mella
Jannal kaatraagi vaa
Jarigai poovaagi vaa
Minnal mazhayaagi vaa
Uyirin moochaagi vaa
{ Idadhu kannaalae ahimsaigal seidhaai
Valadhu kannaalae vanmurai seidhaai } (2)
Aararivodu uyir adhu konden
Ezhaam arivaaga kaadhal vara kanden
Iyarkayin kolaaril iyangiya ennai
Seyarkai kolaaga unnai sutra vaithaai
Anusakthi paarvayil uyirsakthi thandhaai …
Anusakthi paarvayil uyirsakthi thandhaai …
Swaasamae swaasamae
Isai thattu polae irundha en nenjai
Parakum thattaaga parandhida seidhaai
Nadhigal illaadha arabu dhesam naan
Nile nadhiyaaga enakullae vanthaai
Nilavu illaadha puthan gragam naanae
Muzhu nilavaaga ennudan serndhaai
Enakaaga nee kidaithaai vidindhu vittenae …
Vaasamae vaasamaeFemale :Enna solli
Enna solli ennai cholla
Kaadhal ennai kaiyaal thalla
{ Jannal kaatraagi vaa
Jarigai poovaagi vaa
Minnal mazhayaagi vaa
Uyirin moochaagi vaa } (2)
Jannal kaatraagi vaaFemale :Swaasamae swaasamae
Jarigai poovaagi vaa
Minnal mazhayaagi vaa
Uyirin moochaagi vaa
What words can I use to describe myself,
as love gently pushes me forward?
My heart has truly surrendered,
slipping slowly toward you.
Oh my breath, my very breath!
Come as a breeze through the window,
come as a delicate embroidered flower,
come as rain accompanied by lightning,
come as the very breath of my life!
Oh my breath, my very breath!
What words can I use to describe myself,
as love gently pushes me forward?
My heart has truly surrendered,
slipping slowly toward you.
Oh sweet fragrance, sweet fragrance!
What words can I use to describe myself?
As my eyes gaze deep into yours,
wings begin to sprout slowly inside my heart.
Come as a breeze through the window,
come as a delicate embroidered flower,
come as rain accompanied by lightning,
come as the very breath of my life!
With your left eye, you showed non-violence,
with your right eye, you waged sweet violence!
I was living with only six senses,
until I saw love arrive as the seventh sense!
I was wandering flawed by nature,
yet you made me orbit you like a satellite!
With your powerful gaze, you gave me the energy of life...
With your powerful gaze, you gave me the energy of life...
Oh my breath, my very breath!
My heart, which once lay flat like a music record,
you made soar away like a flying saucer!
I was an Arabian land with no rivers,
and you flowed into me like the River Nile!
I was the planet Mercury without a single moon,
and you joined me as a radiant full moon!
I have found you for myself, and my dawn has arrived...
Oh sweet fragrance, sweet fragrance! What words can I say...
What words can I use to describe myself,
as love gently pushes me forward?
Come as a breeze through the window,
come as a delicate embroidered flower,
come as rain accompanied by lightning,
come as the very breath of my life!
Come as a breeze through the window... Oh my breath, my breath!
Come as a delicate embroidered flower,
come as rain accompanied by lightning,
come as the very breath of my life!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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