Onnum Thonalaiye
From Paartha Gnabagam Illayo · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Paartha Gnabagam Illayo1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thanni kettaen colour-nnu sonnaaga | I asked for water, but they called it liquor. |
| Madakkunnu kudichchuputtaen | I gulped it down in one go. |
| Yov yov yov yov | Hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man! |
| Female | |
| Onnum thonalaiyae | I feel nothing at all. |
| Naanum naanalaiyae | Nor have I turned bashful. |
| Onnum thonalaiyae | I feel nothing at all. |
| Naanum naanalaiyae | Nor have I turned bashful. |
| Vaarannu solli ponavanthaanae | He was the one who left saying he would come back, right? |
| Vaaraamal ponaal vaaduthu maanae | If he does not come, this deer-like girl wilts. |
| Female | |
| Onnum thonalaiyae | I feel nothing at all. |
| Naanum naanalaiyae | Nor have I turned bashful. |
| Female | |
| Chee…maaraappu pottu maasangal pochchu | Shame... months have passed since I started wearing the saree pallu. |
| Padhinaaru thaandi padhinaezhu aachchu | I crossed sixteen and turned seventeen. |
| Maaraappu pottu maasangal pochchu | Months have passed since I started wearing the saree pallu. |
| Padhinaaru thaandi padhinaezhu aachchu | I crossed sixteen and turned seventeen. |
| Kalyaanam kaatchi kanaatha pulla | I am a girl who hasn't witnessed her own wedding. |
| Poomaalai poda mamavum illa | There is no maternal uncle to place a flower garland. |
| Female | |
| Onnum thonalaiyae | I feel nothing at all. |
| Naanum naanalaiyae | Nor have I turned bashful. |
| Female | |
| Kaveri meenai kadan kettu vaangi | Having borrowed eyes like the fish of the Kaveri river, |
| Kann konda naanthaan naalaachchu thoongi | It has been four days since I, with these eyes, last slept. |
| Kaveri meenai kadan kettu vaangi | Having borrowed eyes like the fish of the Kaveri river, |
| Kann konda naanthaan naalaachchu thoongi | It has been four days since I, with these eyes, last slept. |
| Yaenunnu ketta aalingu illai | There is no person here to ask me why. |
| Yaroda solla naan konda thollai | To whom can I express the plight I am enduring? |
| Female | |
| Onnum thonalaiyae | I feel nothing at all. |
| Naanum naanalaiyae | Nor have I turned bashful. |
| Female | |
| Ellaarum vaangum pollaachchi santhai | Like the Pollachi market where everyone trades, |
| En pola penthaan vellaattu manthai | A girl like me is treated like a herd of goats. |
| Ellaarum vaangum pollaachchi santhai | Like the Pollachi market where everyone trades, |
| En pola penthaan vellaattu manthai | A girl like me is treated like a herd of goats. |
| Naan podum maalai yaar tholai serum | Whose shoulders will the garland I place eventually reach? |
| Edhirkaalamthaanae padhil solla vendum | Only the future must give the answer. |
| Female | |
| Onnum thonalaiyae | I feel nothing at all. |
| Naanum naanalaiyae | Nor have I turned bashful. |
| Vaarannu solli ponavanthaanae | He was the one who left saying he would come back, right? |
| Vaaraamal ponaal vaaduthu maanae | If he does not come, this deer-like girl wilts. |
| Female | |
| Onnum thonalaiyae | I feel nothing at all. |
| Thonalaiyae thonalaiyae thonalaiyae | Feel nothing, feel nothing, feel nothing! |
தண்ணி கேட்டேன் கலருன்னு சொன்னாக
மடக்குன்னு குடிச்சுப்புட்டேன்
யோவ் யோவ் யோவ் யோவ்......
I asked for water, but they called it liquor.
I gulped it down in one go.
Hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man!
ஒண்ணும் தோணலையே
நானும் நாணலையே
ஒண்ணும் தோணலையே
நானும் நாணலையே
வாரேன்னு சொல்லி போனவன்தானே
வாராமல் போனால் வாடுது மானே
I feel nothing at all.
Nor have I turned bashful.
I feel nothing at all.
Nor have I turned bashful.
He was the one who left saying he would come back, right?
If he does not come, this deer-like girl wilts.
ஒண்ணும் தோணலையே
நானும் நாணலையே
I feel nothing at all.
Nor have I turned bashful.
ச்சீ.....மாராப்பு போட்டு மாசங்கள் போச்சு
பதினாறு தாண்டி பதினேழு ஆச்சு
மாராப்பு போட்டு மாசங்கள் போச்சு
பதினாறு தாண்டி பதினேழு ஆச்சு
கல்யாணம் காட்சி காணாத புள்ள
பூமாலை போட மாமாவும் இல்ல
Shame... months have passed since I started wearing the saree pallu.
I crossed sixteen and turned seventeen.
Months have passed since I started wearing the saree pallu.
I crossed sixteen and turned seventeen.
I am a girl who hasn't witnessed her own wedding.
There is no maternal uncle to place a flower garland.
ஒண்ணும் தோணலையே
நானும் நாணலையே
I feel nothing at all.
Nor have I turned bashful.
காவேரி மீனை கடன் கேட்டு வாங்கி
கண் கொண்ட நான்தான் நாளாச்சு தூங்கி
காவேரி மீன கடன் கேட்டு வாங்கி
கண் கொண்ட நான்தான் நாளாச்சு தூங்கி
ஏனுன்னு கேட்ட ஆளிங்கு இல்லை
யாரோட சொல்ல நான் கொண்ட தொல்லை
Having borrowed eyes like the fish of the Kaveri river,
It has been four days since I, with these eyes, last slept.
Having borrowed eyes like the fish of the Kaveri river,
It has been four days since I, with these eyes, last slept.
There is no person here to ask me why.
To whom can I express the plight I am enduring?
ஒண்ணும் தோணலையே
நானும் நாணலையே
I feel nothing at all.
Nor have I turned bashful.
எல்லாரும் வாங்கும் பொள்ளாச்சி சந்தை
என் போல பெண் தான் வெள்ளாட்டு மந்தை
எல்லாரும் வாங்கும் பொள்ளாச்சி சந்தை
என் போல பெண் தான் வெள்ளாட்டு மந்தை
நான் போடும் மாலை யார் தோளை சேரும்
எதிர்காலம் தானே பதில் சொல்ல வேண்டும்
Like the Pollachi market where everyone trades,
A girl like me is treated like a herd of goats.
Like the Pollachi market where everyone trades,
A girl like me is treated like a herd of goats.
Whose shoulders will the garland I place eventually reach?
Only the future must give the answer.
ஒண்ணும் தோணலையே
நானும் நாணலையே
வாரேன்னு சொல்லி போனவன்தானே
வாராமல் போனால் வாடுது மானே
I feel nothing at all.
Nor have I turned bashful.
He was the one who left saying he would come back, right?
If he does not come, this deer-like girl wilts.
ஒண்ணும் தோணலையே
தோணலையே தோணலையே தோணலையே
I feel nothing at all.
Feel nothing, feel nothing, feel nothing!
Thanni kettaen colour-nnu sonnaaga
I asked for water, but they called it liquor.
Madakkunnu kudichchuputtaen
I gulped it down in one go.
Yov yov yov yov
Hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man!
Onnum thonalaiyae
I feel nothing at all.
Naanum naanalaiyae
Nor have I turned bashful.
Onnum thonalaiyae
I feel nothing at all.
Naanum naanalaiyae
Nor have I turned bashful.
Vaarannu solli ponavanthaanae
He was the one who left saying he would come back, right?
Vaaraamal ponaal vaaduthu maanae
If he does not come, this deer-like girl wilts.
Onnum thonalaiyae
I feel nothing at all.
Naanum naanalaiyae
Nor have I turned bashful.
Chee…maaraappu pottu maasangal pochchu
Shame... months have passed since I started wearing the saree pallu.
Padhinaaru thaandi padhinaezhu aachchu
I crossed sixteen and turned seventeen.
Maaraappu pottu maasangal pochchu
Months have passed since I started wearing the saree pallu.
Padhinaaru thaandi padhinaezhu aachchu
I crossed sixteen and turned seventeen.
Kalyaanam kaatchi kanaatha pulla
I am a girl who hasn't witnessed her own wedding.
Poomaalai poda mamavum illa
There is no maternal uncle to place a flower garland.
Onnum thonalaiyae
I feel nothing at all.
Naanum naanalaiyae
Nor have I turned bashful.
Kaveri meenai kadan kettu vaangi
Having borrowed eyes like the fish of the Kaveri river,
Kann konda naanthaan naalaachchu thoongi
It has been four days since I, with these eyes, last slept.
Kaveri meenai kadan kettu vaangi
Having borrowed eyes like the fish of the Kaveri river,
Kann konda naanthaan naalaachchu thoongi
It has been four days since I, with these eyes, last slept.
Yaenunnu ketta aalingu illai
There is no person here to ask me why.
Yaroda solla naan konda thollai
To whom can I express the plight I am enduring?
Onnum thonalaiyae
I feel nothing at all.
Naanum naanalaiyae
Nor have I turned bashful.
Ellaarum vaangum pollaachchi santhai
Like the Pollachi market where everyone trades,
En pola penthaan vellaattu manthai
A girl like me is treated like a herd of goats.
Ellaarum vaangum pollaachchi santhai
Like the Pollachi market where everyone trades,
En pola penthaan vellaattu manthai
A girl like me is treated like a herd of goats.
Naan podum maalai yaar tholai serum
Whose shoulders will the garland I place eventually reach?
Edhirkaalamthaanae padhil solla vendum
Only the future must give the answer.
Onnum thonalaiyae
I feel nothing at all.
Naanum naanalaiyae
Nor have I turned bashful.
Vaarannu solli ponavanthaanae
He was the one who left saying he would come back, right?
Vaaraamal ponaal vaaduthu maanae
If he does not come, this deer-like girl wilts.
Onnum thonalaiyae
I feel nothing at all.
Thonalaiyae thonalaiyae thonalaiyae
Feel nothing, feel nothing, feel nothing!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful yet poignant Tamil folk song expresses the raw emotions of a young woman coming of age and longing for her lover. In an innocent opening, she describes consuming alcohol mistaking it for water, yet feeling unaffected and devoid of expected bashfulness. Through vivid rural imagery, she contemplates turning seventeen, her unmarried status, and the agony of waiting for a beloved who promised to return.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Kaveri meenai kadan kettu vaangi”
Compares the beauty and movement of her eyes to fish from the Kaveri river.
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“En pola penthaan vellaattu manthai”
Compares young women in society to a herd of goats in the busy Pollachi market.
Monai (Initial Rhyme)
“Ellaarum vaangum pollaachchi santhai / En pola penthaan vellaattu manthai”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'E' in 'Ellaarum' and 'En pola'.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Vaarannu solli ponavanthaanae / Vaaraamal ponaal vaaduthu maanae”
Rhyming ending words 'ponavanthaanae' and 'maanae'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, this song highlights S. Janaki's masterful vocal modulation, seamlessly blending playful innocence with subtle emotional yearning.
Keep listening
More from Paartha Gnabagam Illayo
Paartha Gnabagam Illayo
Paartha Gnabagam Illayo
Paartha Gnabagam Illayo
Paartha Gnabagam Illayo