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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Avala Sonnaal

From Selvam · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Selvam1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Avalaa sonnaal irukkaadhuDid she really say that? It cannot be.
Appadi yedhuvum nadakkaadhuNothing like that could ever happen.
Nadakkavum koodaadhuIt shouldn't happen either.
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…I cannot believe it... no... no...
Male
Avalaa sonnaal irukkaadhuDid she really say that? It cannot be.
Appadi yedhuvum nadakkaadhuNothing like that could ever happen.
Nadakkavum koodaadhuIt shouldn't happen either.
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…I cannot believe it... no... no...
Male
{Ullathil ulladhu udhattilaeDid what was in the heart come to the lips?
VandhadhaaDid it come?
Udhattilae vandhadhu ullamaeDid the heart really mean what came to the lips?
Ninaithadhaa} (2)Did it think so?
Male
Avalaa sonnaal irukkaadhuDid what was in the heart come to the lips?
Appadi yedhuvum nadakkaadhuDid it come?
Nadakkavum koodaadhuDid the heart really mean what came to the lips?
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…Did it think so?
Male
Uppu kadal neerum sarkkarai aagalaamDid she really say that? It cannot be.
Muppadhu naalilum nilavai paarkkalaamNothing like that could ever happen.
Uppu kadal neerum sarkkarai aagalaamIt shouldn't happen either.
Muppadhu naalilum nilavai paarkkalaamI cannot believe it... no... no...
Sutta udal kooda ezhundhu nadakkalaamSalty ocean water might turn into sugar.
Sutta udal kooda ezhundhu nadakkalaamOne might see the moon on all thirty days of a month.
Nee sonnadhu eppadi unmai aagalaam…Salty ocean water might turn into sugar.
Male
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…One might see the moon on all thirty days of a month.
Male
Annai thandha paal vishamum aagalaamEven a burnt body might rise and walk.
Ennai pettra thaai ennai kollalaamEven a burnt body might rise and walk.
Annai thandha paal vishamum aagalaamHow could what you said ever be true?
Ennai pettra thaai ennai kollalaamI cannot believe it... no... no...
Unnai marandhu naan uyirai thaangalaamThe milk given by a mother might turn into poison.
Unnai marandhu naan uyirai thaangalaamThe mother who gave birth to me might kill me.
Nee sonnadhu eppadi unmai aagalaam…The milk given by a mother might turn into poison.
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…The mother who gave birth to me might kill me.
Male
Avalaa sonnaal irukkaadhuI might manage to live even after forgetting you.
Appadi yedhuvum nadakkaadhuI might manage to live even after forgetting you.
Nadakkavum koodaadhuHow could what you said ever be true?
Namba mudiyavillai… illai… illai…I cannot believe it... no... no...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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).

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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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