Moonu Vela Soru
From Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal · 1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Moonu velai soru podalaam | You can feed me three meals a day |
| Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam | You can treat me like a queen |
| Female | |
| Moonu velai soru podalaam | You can feed me three meals a day |
| Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam | You can treat me like a queen |
| Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa | But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle |
| Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa | Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle |
| Alli thara unnaalathaan aaguma | Can you give that to me in abundance? |
| Female | |
| Moonu velai soru podalaam | You can feed me three meals a day |
| Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam | You can treat me like a queen |
| Female | |
| Veliyila sikkikittu | Getting trapped outside |
| Vaedhanaiya pattukitten | I suffered endless pain |
| Thaali illa pottum illa | Without a sacred thali or a bindi on my forehead |
| Pullakooda peththukittaen | I even gave birth to a child |
| Female | |
| Veliyila sikkikittu | Getting trapped outside |
| Vaedhanaiya pattukitten | I suffered endless pain |
| Thaali illa pottum illa | Without a sacred thali or a bindi on my forehead |
| Pullakooda peththukittaen | I even gave birth to a child |
| Female | |
| Ooru sanam kaaladiyil | Underneath the feet of village folks |
| En pozhapputhaan mithikkum | My life gets trampled upon |
| Oorukulla kaaththadichchaa | Whenever the wind blows in the village |
| Enga kadhaithaan parakkum | Only our story spreads around |
| Female | |
| England rani enna | Be it the Queen of England |
| Amman aana saami enna | Or a Goddess worshiped in a temple |
| Aambalaiyin kaiyil avalum | In a man's hands, she too |
| Adangiththaana poga venum | Has to stay subjugated |
| Ezhai ponnu ennaikooda | Even a poor girl like me |
| Raniyaaga paarkkum maamaa | You may look at as a queen, Uncle |
| Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa | But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle |
| Alli thara unnaalathaan aaguma | Can you give that to me in abundance? |
| Female | |
| Moonu velai soru podalaam | You can feed me three meals a day |
| Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam | You can treat me like a queen |
| Female | |
| Oora suththum kannukutti | The roaming calf |
| Saernthukitta aattukutti | And the kid goat that joined it |
| Unna ippa vittuputu | Leaving you behind now |
| Ooru maeya povathenna | Why does it go grazing across the village? |
| Female | |
| Naan pudichcha kannukutti | The calf that I caught hold of |
| adhu pudichcha aattukutti | And the kid goat that it caught hold of |
| Vattam pottu vanththathenna | Why did they circle around and come? |
| Kaiya vittu ponathenna | Why did they slip away from my hands? |
| Female | |
| Kaiththunaiyaa yaarum illa | There is no helping hand for support |
| Thaayum onnu pillaiyum onnu | Mother and child are one and the same |
| Aaththukulla poguthammaa | Going into the river |
| Kaadhu ketta parisal maela | On a damaged coracle |
| Yaar kadhai enakedhukku | Why do I need anyone else's story? |
| En kadhaiya kettuppaaru | Listen to my story instead |
| Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa | Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle |
| Alli thara unnaalathaan aaguma | Can you give that to me in abundance? |
| Female | |
| Moonu velai soru podalaam | You can feed me three meals a day |
| Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam | You can treat me like a queen |
| Moonu velai soru podalaam | You can feed me three meals a day |
| Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam | You can treat me like a queen |
| Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa | But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle |
| Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa | Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle |
| Alli thara unnaalathaan aaguma | Can you give that to me in abundance? |
மூணு வேலை சோறு போடலாம்
ராணியாக என்னை ஆக்கலாம்
You can feed me three meals a day
You can treat me like a queen
மூணு வேலை சோறு போடலாம்
ராணியாக என்னை ஆக்கலாம்
நெஞ்சத்தில நிம்மதிய மாமா
நெஞ்சத்தில நிம்மதிய மாமா
அள்ளி தர உன்னாலதான் ஆகுமா
You can feed me three meals a day
You can treat me like a queen
But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Can you give that to me in abundance?
மூணு வேலை சோறு போடலாம்
ராணியாக என்னை ஆக்கலாம்
You can feed me three meals a day
You can treat me like a queen
வேலியில சிக்கிக்கிட்டு
வேதனைய பட்டுக்கிட்டேன்
தாலி இல்ல பொட்டும் இல்ல
புள்ள கூட பெத்துகிட்டேன்
Getting trapped outside
I suffered endless pain
Without a sacred thali or a bindi on my forehead
I even gave birth to a child
வேலியில சிக்கிக்கிட்டு
வேதனைய பட்டுக்கிட்டேன்
தாலி இல்ல பொட்டும் இல்ல
புள்ள கூட பெத்துகிட்டேன்
Getting trapped outside
I suffered endless pain
Without a sacred thali or a bindi on my forehead
I even gave birth to a child
ஊரு சனம் காலடியில்
என் பொழப்பதான் மிதிக்கும்
ஊருக்குள்ள காத்தடிச்சா
எங்க கதைதான் பறக்கும்
Underneath the feet of village folks
My life gets trampled upon
Whenever the wind blows in the village
Only our story spreads around
இங்கிலாந்து ராணி என்ன
அம்மன் ஆன சாமி என்ன
ஆம்பளையின் கையில் அவளும்
அடங்கித்தான போக வேணும்
ஏழை பொண்ணு என்னைகூட
ராணியாக பார்க்கும் மாமா
நெஞ்சத்தில நிம்மதிய மாமா
அள்ளி தர உன்னாலதான் ஆகுமா
Be it the Queen of England
Or a Goddess worshiped in a temple
In a man's hands, she too
Has to stay subjugated
Even a poor girl like me
You may look at as a queen, Uncle
But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Can you give that to me in abundance?
மூணு வேலை சோறு போடலாம்
ராணியாக என்னை ஆக்கலாம்
You can feed me three meals a day
You can treat me like a queen
ஊர சுத்தும் கன்னுக்குட்டி
சேர்ந்துகிட்ட ஆட்டுக்குட்டி
உன்ன இப்ப விட்டுபுட்டு
ஊரு மேய போவதென்ன
The roaming calf
And the kid goat that joined it
Leaving you behind now
Why does it go grazing across the village?
ஊர சுத்தும் கன்னுக்குட்டி
சேர்ந்துகிட்ட ஆட்டுக்குட்டி
உன்ன இப்ப விட்டுபுட்டு
ஊரு மேய போவதென்ன
The calf that I caught hold of
And the kid goat that it caught hold of
Why did they circle around and come?
Why did they slip away from my hands?
நான் புடிச்ச கன்னுக்குட்டி
அது புடிச்ச ஆட்டுக்குட்டி
வட்டம் போட்டு வந்ததென்ன
கைய விட்டு போனதென்ன
There is no helping hand for support
Mother and child are one and the same
Going into the river
On a damaged coracle
Why do I need anyone else's story?
Listen to my story instead
Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Can you give that to me in abundance?
கைத்துணையா யாரும் இல்ல
தாயும் ஒன்னு பிள்ளையும் ஒன்னு
ஆத்துக்குள்ள போகுதம்மா
காது கெட்ட பரிசல் மேல
யாரு கதை எனக்கெதுக்கு
என் கதைய கேட்டுப்பாரு
நெஞ்சத்தில நிம்மதிய மாமா
அள்ளி தர உன்னாலதான் ஆகுமா
You can feed me three meals a day
You can treat me like a queen
You can feed me three meals a day
You can treat me like a queen
But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Can you give that to me in abundance?
மூணு வேலை சோறு போடலாம்
ராணியாக என்னை ஆக்கலாம்
மூணு வேலை சோறு போடலாம்
ராணியாக என்னை ஆக்கலாம்
நெஞ்சத்தில நிம்மதிய மாமா
நெஞ்சத்தில நிம்மதிய மாமா
அள்ளி தர உன்னாலதான் ஆகுமா
Moonu velai soru podalaam
You can feed me three meals a day
Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam
You can treat me like a queen
Moonu velai soru podalaam
You can feed me three meals a day
Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam
You can treat me like a queen
Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa
But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa
Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Alli thara unnaalathaan aaguma
Can you give that to me in abundance?
Moonu velai soru podalaam
You can feed me three meals a day
Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam
You can treat me like a queen
Veliyila sikkikittu
Getting trapped outside
Vaedhanaiya pattukitten
I suffered endless pain
Thaali illa pottum illa
Without a sacred thali or a bindi on my forehead
Pullakooda peththukittaen
I even gave birth to a child
Veliyila sikkikittu
Getting trapped outside
Vaedhanaiya pattukitten
I suffered endless pain
Thaali illa pottum illa
Without a sacred thali or a bindi on my forehead
Pullakooda peththukittaen
I even gave birth to a child
Ooru sanam kaaladiyil
Underneath the feet of village folks
En pozhapputhaan mithikkum
My life gets trampled upon
Oorukulla kaaththadichchaa
Whenever the wind blows in the village
Enga kadhaithaan parakkum
Only our story spreads around
England rani enna
Be it the Queen of England
Amman aana saami enna
Or a Goddess worshiped in a temple
Aambalaiyin kaiyil avalum
In a man's hands, she too
Adangiththaana poga venum
Has to stay subjugated
Ezhai ponnu ennaikooda
Even a poor girl like me
Raniyaaga paarkkum maamaa
You may look at as a queen, Uncle
Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa
But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Alli thara unnaalathaan aaguma
Can you give that to me in abundance?
Moonu velai soru podalaam
You can feed me three meals a day
Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam
You can treat me like a queen
Oora suththum kannukutti
The roaming calf
Saernthukitta aattukutti
And the kid goat that joined it
Unna ippa vittuputu
Leaving you behind now
Ooru maeya povathenna
Why does it go grazing across the village?
Naan pudichcha kannukutti
The calf that I caught hold of
adhu pudichcha aattukutti
And the kid goat that it caught hold of
Vattam pottu vanththathenna
Why did they circle around and come?
Kaiya vittu ponathenna
Why did they slip away from my hands?
Kaiththunaiyaa yaarum illa
There is no helping hand for support
Thaayum onnu pillaiyum onnu
Mother and child are one and the same
Aaththukulla poguthammaa
Going into the river
Kaadhu ketta parisal maela
On a damaged coracle
Yaar kadhai enakedhukku
Why do I need anyone else's story?
En kadhaiya kettuppaaru
Listen to my story instead
Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa
Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Alli thara unnaalathaan aaguma
Can you give that to me in abundance?
Moonu velai soru podalaam
You can feed me three meals a day
Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam
You can treat me like a queen
Moonu velai soru podalaam
You can feed me three meals a day
Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam
You can treat me like a queen
Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa
But peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Nenjaththila nimmathiya maamaa
Peace of mind in my heart, Uncle
Alli thara unnaalathaan aaguma
Can you give that to me in abundance?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song expresses the deep pain, social stigma, and existential angst of a woman living on the margins of society. Addressing an elder or uncle figure, she asserts that while material comforts like daily meals and high status can be granted, genuine inner peace cannot be gifted so easily. She laments the cruelty of societal gossip, her experience of unwed motherhood, and the lack of social protection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyebu (Rhyme) / Monorime
“Moonu velai soru podalaam / Raaniyaaga ennai aakkalam”
The line endings 'podalaam' and 'aakkalam' create a rhythmic end rhyme that reinforces the contrast between material offers and emotional reality.
Uvamaani (Metaphor)
“Oora suththum kannukutti / Saernthukitta aattukutti”
The wandering calf (kannukutti) and kid goat (aattukutti) serve as metaphors for vulnerable, lost souls drifting without stability or protection.
Contrast / Hyperbole
“England rani enna / Amman aana saami enna”
Juxtaposes high figures of authority and divinity (Queen of England, temple Goddess) to emphasize the pervasive nature of patriarchal oppression regardless of status.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal' (1985) was directed by Balu Mahendra, featuring music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by renowned poet Mu. Metha.
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