Thirukoyil Sirpam Vanthal
From Thendral Thodatha Malar · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Thendral Thodatha Malar1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal | If a holy temple sculpture came walking by, |
| Devaara paadal sonnaal | If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn, |
| Oru paarvai ennai paarththaal | If she looked at me with a single glance, |
| Vilai ennai kettaal | And asked me my price... |
| Male | |
| Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal | If a holy temple sculpture came walking by, |
| Devaara paadal sonnaal | If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn, |
| Oru paarvai ennai paarththaal | If she looked at me with a single glance, |
| Vilai ennai kettaal | And asked me my price... |
| Male | |
| Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal | If a holy temple sculpture came walking by, |
| Male | |
| Innum pillaithamizh sollum | She still recites sweet Tamil tender nursery poetry, |
| Penmai ezhil maan maan ivalae | She is a deer-like woman of exquisite feminine grace. |
| Innum pillaithamizh sollum | She still recites sweet Tamil tender nursery poetry, |
| Penmai ezhil maan maan ivalae | She is a deer-like woman of exquisite feminine grace. |
| Male | |
| Ival kannil naanooru | In her eyes, four hundred |
| Minnal nindraadum kadhal dheepavali | Lightnings dance in a festival of love's Deepavali. |
| Sontham thanthaal nalla santham sonnaal | She gave affection and spoke beautiful poetic rhythm, |
| Indru sangeetham naanisaikka ingae | For me to compose music here today. |
| Male | |
| Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal | If a holy temple sculpture came walking by, |
| Devaara paadal sonnaal | If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn, |
| Oru paarvai ennai paarththaal | If she looked at me with a single glance, |
| Vilai ennai kettaal | And asked me my price... |
| Male | |
| Nenjin nilaa ival thendral | She is the moon of the heart, a soft breeze, |
| Thodaa malar thaen thaen tharuval | An untouched flower who bestows sweet honey. |
| Nenjin nilaa ival tendral | She is the moon of the heart, a soft breeze, |
| Thodaa malar thaen thaen tharuval | An untouched flower who bestows sweet honey. |
| Male | |
| Idai ennai thaalaattum | Her swaying waist lulls me to sleep, |
| Vanna themmaanguu paadum neelaampari | A colourful folk song sung in the soothing ragam Neelambari. |
| Munnum pinnum vizhi thullum thaththai kili | A lisping parrot whose eyes dart back and forth, |
| Tholodu naan thazhuvaa ingae | For me to embrace shoulder to shoulder here. |
| Male | |
| Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal | If a holy temple sculpture came walking by, |
| Devaara paadal sonnaal | If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn, |
| Oru paarvai ennai paarththaal | If she looked at me with a single glance, |
| Vilai ennai kettaal | And asked me my price... |
| Male | |
| Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal…… | If a holy temple sculpture came walking by... |
திருக்கோயில் சிற்பம் வந்தாள்
தேவாரப் பாடல் சொன்னாள்
ஒரு பார்வை என்னை பார்த்தாள்
விலை என்னை கேட்டாள்...
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn,
If she looked at me with a single glance,
And asked me my price...
திருக்கோயில் சிற்பம் வந்தாள்
தேவாரப் பாடல் சொன்னாள்
ஒரு பார்வை என்னை பார்த்தாள்
விலை என்னை கேட்டாள்...
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn,
If she looked at me with a single glance,
And asked me my price...
திருக்கோயில் சிற்பம் வந்தாள்
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
இன்னும் பிள்ளைத்தமிழ் சொல்லும்
பெண்மை எழில் மான் மான் இவளே
இன்னும் பிள்ளைத்தமிழ் சொல்லும்
பெண்மை எழில் மான் மான் இவளே
She still recites sweet Tamil tender nursery poetry,
She is a deer-like woman of exquisite feminine grace.
She still recites sweet Tamil tender nursery poetry,
She is a deer-like woman of exquisite feminine grace.
இவள் கண்ணில் நானூறு
மின்னல் நின்றாடும் காதல் தீபாவளி
சொந்தம் தந்தாள் நல்ல சந்தம் சொன்னாள்
இன்று சங்கீதம் நானிசைக்க இங்கே..
In her eyes, four hundred
Lightnings dance in a festival of love's Deepavali.
She gave affection and spoke beautiful poetic rhythm,
For me to compose music here today.
திருக்கோயில் சிற்பம் வந்தாள்
தேவாரப் பாடல் சொன்னாள்
ஒரு பார்வை என்னை பார்த்தாள்
விலை என்னை கேட்டாள்...
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn,
If she looked at me with a single glance,
And asked me my price...
நெஞ்சின் நிலா இவள் தென்றல்
தொடா மலர் தேன் தேன் தருவாள்
நெஞ்சின் நிலா இவள் தென்றல்
தொடா மலர் தேன் தேன் தருவாள்
She is the moon of the heart, a soft breeze,
An untouched flower who bestows sweet honey.
She is the moon of the heart, a soft breeze,
An untouched flower who bestows sweet honey.
இடை என்னைத் தாலாட்டும்
வண்ண தெம்மாங்கு பாடும் நீலாம்பரி
முன்னும் பின்னும் விழி துள்ளும் தத்தை கிளி
தோளோடு நான் தழுவ இங்கே....
Her swaying waist lulls me to sleep,
A colourful folk song sung in the soothing ragam Neelambari.
A lisping parrot whose eyes dart back and forth,
For me to embrace shoulder to shoulder here.
திருக்கோயில் சிற்பம் வந்தாள்
தேவாரப் பாடல் சொன்னாள்
ஒரு பார்வை என்னை பார்த்தாள்
விலை என்னை கேட்டாள்...
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn,
If she looked at me with a single glance,
And asked me my price...
திருக்கோயில் சிற்பம் வந்தாள்......
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by...
Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
Devaara paadal sonnaal
If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn,
Oru paarvai ennai paarththaal
If she looked at me with a single glance,
Vilai ennai kettaal
And asked me my price...
Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
Devaara paadal sonnaal
If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn,
Oru paarvai ennai paarththaal
If she looked at me with a single glance,
Vilai ennai kettaal
And asked me my price...
Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
Innum pillaithamizh sollum
She still recites sweet Tamil tender nursery poetry,
Penmai ezhil maan maan ivalae
She is a deer-like woman of exquisite feminine grace.
Innum pillaithamizh sollum
She still recites sweet Tamil tender nursery poetry,
Penmai ezhil maan maan ivalae
She is a deer-like woman of exquisite feminine grace.
Ival kannil naanooru
In her eyes, four hundred
Minnal nindraadum kadhal dheepavali
Lightnings dance in a festival of love's Deepavali.
Sontham thanthaal nalla santham sonnaal
She gave affection and spoke beautiful poetic rhythm,
Indru sangeetham naanisaikka ingae
For me to compose music here today.
Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
Devaara paadal sonnaal
If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn,
Oru paarvai ennai paarththaal
If she looked at me with a single glance,
Vilai ennai kettaal
And asked me my price...
Nenjin nilaa ival thendral
She is the moon of the heart, a soft breeze,
Thodaa malar thaen thaen tharuval
An untouched flower who bestows sweet honey.
Nenjin nilaa ival tendral
She is the moon of the heart, a soft breeze,
Thodaa malar thaen thaen tharuval
An untouched flower who bestows sweet honey.
Idai ennai thaalaattum
Her swaying waist lulls me to sleep,
Vanna themmaanguu paadum neelaampari
A colourful folk song sung in the soothing ragam Neelambari.
Munnum pinnum vizhi thullum thaththai kili
A lisping parrot whose eyes dart back and forth,
Tholodu naan thazhuvaa ingae
For me to embrace shoulder to shoulder here.
Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by,
Devaara paadal sonnaal
If she recited a sacred Tevaram hymn,
Oru paarvai ennai paarththaal
If she looked at me with a single glance,
Vilai ennai kettaal
And asked me my price...
Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal……
If a holy temple sculpture came walking by...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a classical romantic expression where the protagonist marvels at the surreal beauty and innocence of his beloved. He compares her divine grace to a temple sculpture brought to life and her captivating voice to the sacred hymns of Tevaram. Her playful glances create a festive radiance akin to Deepavali, inspiring him to express his devotion through music. Throughout the track, rich Tamil literary motifs are woven together—comparing her speech to Pillaithamizh (tender, child-like poetry) and her soothing presence to ragam Neelambari. She is depicted as an untouched flower full of sweetness, captivating the lover with her childlike delight and timeless elegance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Thirukoyil sirpam vanthaal”
Compares the beloved directly to a living temple sculpture ('Thirukoyil sirpam') and divine hymns ('Devaara paadal') to highlight her pristine, sacred beauty.
Visual Imagery
“Minnal nindraadum kadhal dheepavali”
Creates a vivid visual image of light and celebration within her eyes by describing lightning dancing like a festival of Deepavali.
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Sontham thanthaal nalla santham sonnaal”
Repetition of the 'Sa/S' sound in 'Sontham' and 'Santham' creates melodic harmony in the line.
Literary Reference / Classical Motifs
“Innum pillaithamizh sollum”
Refers to classical Tamil literary forms ('Pillaithamizh') and musical ragas ('Neelambari') to elevate the romantic tone.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh for the 1985 movie 'Thendral Thodatha Malar', this song features lyrics by Vairamuthu and rich classical vocals by K. J. Yesudas. It is celebrated for its seamless blend of devotional Tamil imagery (Tevaram, Pillaithamizh) with romantic poetry.
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