One of the few things that everyone in my house shares a passion for is songs from old Tamil movies. Yes, there are new songs and we all listen to them too. But old songs have a charm of their own. Simple, and with music that is non-obstructive and (hence?) pleasing to the ear, these songs live on, gaining a few — if indeed, precious few — lovers each passing day!
Starting today, I’m planning to post lyrics from old songs that I love. I’ll post the lyrics in Tamil, give an English transliteration, and attempt a translation. If possible, a link to the song, and also a photo. As for the translation, may I warn you that it is only indicative — because, in addition to being a poor writer, I’m pathetic at poetry!
The first in this list is one of the most popular songs in Tamil film history. It is still sung on stage, and is one of the few songs whose fan-following transcends age groups.
Song: Senthamizh Then Mozhiyaal
Movie: Maalayitta Mangai (1958)
Singer: T.R. Mahalingam
Music Director: M.S. Viswanathan – T.K. Ramamurthy
Lyrics: Kannadasan
Listen online: MusicIndiaOnline.
சில்லென்று பூத்த சிறு நெரிஞ்சிக் காட்டினிலே
நில்லென்று கூறி நிறுத்தி வழி போனாளே
நின்றதுபோல் நின்றாள், நெடுந்தூரம் பறந்தாள்,
நிற்குமோ ஆவி? நிலைக்குமோ நெஞ்சம்?
மணம் பெறுமோ வாழ்வே?
( அவள் ) செந்தமிழ் தேன் மொழியாள்
நிலாவென சிரிக்கும் மலர்க் கொடியாள்
நிலாவென சிரிக்கும் மலர்க் கொடியாள்
பைங்கனி இதழில் பழரசம் தருவாள்
பருகிட தலைகுனிவா?
காற்றினில் பிறந்தவளோ?
புதிதாய் கற்பனை வடித்தவளோ?
சேற்றினில் மலர்ந்த செந்தாமரையோ?
செவ்வந்திப் பூச்சரமோ? ( அவள் )
கண்களில் நீலம் விளைத்தவளோ?
அதை கடலினில் கொண்டு கரைத்தவளோ?
பெண்ணுக்கு பெண்ணே பேராசை கொள்ளும்
பேரழகெல்லாம் படைத்தவளோ? ( அவள் )
The transliteration follows. For those who are new to reading the Romanized form the Tamil script: if in upper case, the vowels are pronounced elongated, and the consonants hardened. The capital E has the ‘ay’ sound.
sillendru pooththa siru nerinji kaattinilE
nillendru koori niruththi vazhi pOnaalE
ninradhu pOl ninraal nedundhooram parandhaal
nirkumO aavi nilaikkumO nenjam
maNam perumO vaazhvE
(avaL) senthamizh thEn mozhiyaaL
nilaavena sirikkum malar kodiyaaL
nilaavena sirikkum malar kodiyaaL
painkani idhazhil pazharasam tharuvaaL
parukida thalai kunivaa
kaatrinil pirandhavalO
pudhidhaay karpanai vadiththavalO
sEtrinil malarndha senthaamaraiyO
sevvandhi poocharamO (avaL)
kangalil neelam vilaiththavaLo
adhai kadalinil kondu karaithavaLO
pennukku pennE peraasai koLLum
perazhagellaam padaithavalO (avaL)
A translation follows. As noted earlier, please treat this as indicative.
In a dense forest fill with cold thorns,
She passed by me, asking me to wait
She seemed to wait, but she flew away afar
Will this dream last? Will my heart ever turn back?
Will my life ever be peaceful again?
She speaks the beautiful Tamil language
Her smile is radiant, like the moon
Her lips ooze nectar
Why hesitate to drink it?
Is she the daughter of the gentle breeze?
Or was she born from the stroke of the Master’s pen?
Is she the beautiful lotus, which flowers in the swamps?
Or is she a garland of chrysanthemum flowers?
The colour of her eyes, blue, did she create it herself?
And did she lend some of it to the high seas?
Isn’t she the possessor of such beauty
That women themselves will lust for?
I forget whom this song was pictured on. Was it T.R. Rajakumari? If so, then Kannadasan got the lyrics spot on! Even otherwise, the charm of this melodious song endures!
P.S.: If there are any errors (spelling mistakes in Tamil, translation errors), please let me know.
P.P.S.: If you would like to suggest a song, you’re welcome to do so.
(Tamil script, originally written in MylaiPlain font, converted to Unicode using Suratha’s PonguTamil editor)
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Matty on 
July 25th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Your new effort is laudable. Keep it up but with a change. Please don’t carry the verses as such as also the English Translation – for two good reasons. One, it makes the post avoidably longish ; two, there is no need really. If somebody does not know Tamil or do not have the taste, it is anyway Greek & Latin for them. Just ignore them. I would like to suggest that evergreen song of P.Suseela in Palum Pazhamum – `Mayangugiral oru Madhu’. Try.
July 25th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
I agree with Hi. Please don’t translate it.
My choice – Maalai Pozhuthin Mayakkathile (P.Susheela, Film: Bhagyalakshmi)
July 25th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
I stand corrected. `Mayngugiral Oru Madhu’ is actually from Pasamalar. But if given a choice to go only for one song ever, I would choose eyes closed ` Amaidhiyana Nadhiyiniley Odam ‘ from the film `Andavan Kattalai’. Soulful & unforgettable indeed.
July 25th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
@Hi & Anu: Thanks for the song tips. I love the songs you’ve mentioned. As for the translation, I’m providing it just in case someone wishes to know. I’ll relook at it in future posts.
July 26th, 2006 at 8:26 am
Awesome translation… keep up the good work..
July 26th, 2006 at 8:30 am
Thanks, Anand. Unga kavidhai thiranukku edhire, idhellaam… summa!
July 26th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
I feel the undying fervor for these golden hits is ever increasing simply cuz, they are not bound by place, time or for that matter the mood of the person, meaning u can listen to them in ur car while racing along the ECR with ur friends or in ur MP3 Player while riding ur bike or even as ur Mobile ringtone or a caller tune(Incidentally a friend of mine has the song in discussion as his caller tone and i keep calling him up just to listen to it)!!!
i feel all you people will endorse my view when i say that these songs still manage to rope in a small curve across ur face whether ur a teenager or a person in ur “second stint” at teenage…
well as for my nomination… i got 2… a) Ninaipadellam nadanthuvittal sung by PBS from nenchil orr aalayam and b) deivam thanda vedu by Dr.KJ Yesudas from aval oru thodarkadai which happens to be a fav of my big bro
July 28th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
Awesome Translation Vijay… Very well done…
August 2nd, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Machi,
Please try to be a bit more regular. You have attracted me with awesome lyrics, I am visiting ur blog almost daily looking for the next classic lyric – I am getting disappointed. One suggestion: Have the post on this topic posted every sunday (or mon, tues..), before starting the first post, u cud have had a buffer of few more posts with lyrics, so that u dont disappoint ur readers. hope u dont mind!
August 2nd, 2006 at 7:17 pm
I agree with Selva. Even I was expecting you to add at least one song-a-week. Otherwise your original post becomes meaningless. For Heaven’s sake – no translations please.
December 18th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Good translation. You missed the third charanam. Here it goes:
Maegathai koondhalil mudindhavalo – vin
meengalai malaraai anindhavalo
mogathile indha ulagam yaavayum
moozhgidach cheyyum mohiniyo ?
December 21st, 2006 at 10:28 pm
And,
The female lead in the song is not TR Rajakumari but mynavati (if I am right) – she is pandaribai’s sister i am told.
March 11th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Can you try to translate some songs of Era?
thnx
April 7th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
U rock…… i wondered where i could get de lyrics of tat song…….! I REALLY APPRECIATE U FOR TRANSLATING IT IN ENGLISH ALSO….., as it brings out de feel of de romantic tamil poet’s pen….. hats off…..
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:24 am
hi
mudhalil nanri
naan thediyadhu kidaithadharku
December 16th, 2009 at 4:08 am
“பைங்கனி இதழில் பழரசம் தருவாள்
பருகிட தலைகுனிவா?”
I feel there is a better translation for “பருகிட தலைகுனிவா?” keeping the context of the song in mind. Its a first person narrative. The question is obviously rhetorical and less obviously self-directed. So,
“To drink from it, should I be embarrassed?”
“Am I embarrassed to drink?”
“Am I too proud to drink from HER?”
Or something along those lines.
Btw, You have done a fantastic job with this song yourself. You will probably be able to come up with a better translation for the afore-mentioned.
Regards
Kaushik