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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Avala Sonnaal

From Selvam · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Selvam
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
22 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Avalaa sonnaal irukkaadhu
Appadi yedhuvum nadakkaadhu
Nadakkavum koodaadhu
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…
Avalaa sonnaal irukkaadhu
Appadi yedhuvum nadakkaadhu
Nadakkavum koodaadhu
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…
{Ullathil ulladhu udhattilae
Vandhadhaa
Udhattilae vandhadhu ullamae
Ninaithadhaa} (2)
Avalaa sonnaal irukkaadhu
Appadi yedhuvum nadakkaadhu
Nadakkavum koodaadhu
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…
Uppu kadal neerum sarkkarai aagalaam
Muppadhu naalilum nilavai paarkkalaam
Uppu kadal neerum sarkkarai aagalaam
Muppadhu naalilum nilavai paarkkalaam
Sutta udal kooda ezhundhu nadakkalaam
Sutta udal kooda ezhundhu nadakkalaam
Nee sonnadhu eppadi unmai aagalaam…
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…
Annai thandha paal vishamum aagalaam
Ennai pettra thaai ennai kollalaam
Annai thandha paal vishamum aagalaam
Ennai pettra thaai ennai kollalaam
Unnai marandhu naan uyirai thaangalaam
Unnai marandhu naan uyirai thaangalaam
Nee sonnadhu eppadi unmai aagalaam…
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…
Avalaa sonnaal irukkaadhu
Appadi yedhuvum nadakkaadhu
Nadakkavum koodaadhu
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…
Did she say that? It cannot be.
Nothing like that could happen.
It must never happen either.
I cannot believe it... no... no.
Did she say that? It cannot be.
Nothing like that could happen.
It must never happen either.
I cannot believe it... no... no.
Did what was inside her heart
come out on her lips?
Or did her heart truly mean
what her lips spoke?
Did she say that? It cannot be.
Nothing like that could happen.
It must never happen either.
I cannot believe it... no... no.
Even salty sea water might turn to sugar,
and the moon might be seen on all thirty days.
Even salty sea water might turn to sugar,
and the moon might be seen on all thirty days.
Even a cremated body might rise and walk,
even a cremated body might rise and walk,
but how could what you said ever be true?
I cannot believe it... no... no.
Even a mother's milk might turn to poison,
and the mother who gave birth to me might kill me.
Even a mother's milk might turn to poison,
and the mother who gave birth to me might kill me.
Forgetting you, I might somehow stay alive,
forgetting you, I might somehow stay alive,
but how could what you said ever be true?
I cannot believe it... no... no.
Did she say that? It cannot be.
Nothing like that could happen.
It must never happen either.
I cannot believe it... no... no.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional song captures a lover's intense shock, denial, and grief upon hearing heartbreaking words spoken by his beloved. He finds it completely impossible to accept that she could express such sentiments, questioning whether her words genuinely reflected her true feelings. To emphasize the sheer absurdity and unacceptability of her statement, he compares it to impossible natural phenomena—like ocean water turning sweet, seeing the full moon every night of the month, a cremated corpse walking, or a mother poisoning her own child. Through these extreme hyperbole, he conveys that her words are more improbable than any impossible event in nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirtchi Ani / உயர்வு நவிற்சி அணி)

“Uppu kadal neerum sarkkarai aagalaam / Sutta udal kooda ezhundhu nadakkalaam”

Extensive use of extreme exaggeration (ocean water turning to sugar, a burnt corpse walking, seeing the moon for 30 consecutive days) to demonstrate the absolute impossibility of believing her words.

Anaphora / Repetition (Erattai Kilavi / Adukku Thodar)

“Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…”

Emphatic repetition of 'illai' (no) to accentuate the protagonist's complete denial and disbelief.

Contrast / Antithesis (Muran Ani / முரண் அணி)

“Annai thandha paal vishamum aagalaam / Ennai pettra thaai ennai kollalaam”

Contrasting the purity of a mother's milk with poison, and motherly love with murder, to highlight deep betrayal and paradox.

Alliteration (Moonaai / மோனை)

“Ullathil ulladhu udhattilae”

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds ('U' and 'Ud') creating poetic rhythm between heart (Ullathil) and lips (Udhattilae).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Selvam' (1966) stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics penned by Vaali, and this particular song was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan.

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