Sirikka Chonnaar Sirithen
From Kavalai Illaadha Manithan · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Kavalai Illaadha Manithan1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sirikka chonnaar siriththen | They told me to smile, so I smiled |
| Paarkka chonnaar paarththen | They told me to look, so I looked |
| Sirikka chonnaar siriththen | They told me to smile, so I smiled |
| Paarkka chonnaar paarththen | They told me to look, so I looked |
| Enakkena or unarchi illai thozhi | I have no feelings of my own, my friend |
| Kaadhal innamudhae vaazhiya nee vaazhi | May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love! |
| Female | |
| Sirikka chonnaar siriththen | They told me to smile, so I smiled |
| Paarkka chonnaar paarththen | They told me to look, so I looked |
| Enakkena or unarchi illai thozhi | I have no feelings of my own, my friend |
| Kaadhal innamudhae vaazhiya nee vaazhi | May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love! |
| Female | |
| Aaa…..aaa….aaa….aaa….. | Aaa... aaa... aaa... aaa... |
| Aaaa….aaa…..aaa…..aaa……. | Aaaa... aaa... aaa... aaa... |
| Female | |
| Idhayam kaattum | Isn't the face |
| Kannaadi vadhanamillaiyaa | A mirror that displays the heart? |
| Iru vizhigal padaithirundhum | Even with two eyes bestowed, |
| Puriyavillaiyaa | Is it not understood? |
| Female | |
| Idhayam kaattum | Isn't the face |
| Kannaadi vadhanamillaiyaa | A mirror that displays the heart? |
| Iru vizhigal padaithirundhum | Even with two eyes bestowed, |
| Puriyavillaiyaa | Is it not understood? |
| Female | |
| Sidhari varum vaarthaigalil | In the scattered words that tumble out, |
| Theriyavillaiyaa | Is it not visible? |
| Sidhari varum vaarthaigalil | In the scattered words that tumble out, |
| Theriyavillaiyaa | Is it not visible? |
| Sindhaiyilae thelivudaiyor yaarumillaiyaa | Is there no one with clarity of thought? |
| Female | |
| Sirikka chonnaar siriththen | They told me to smile, so I smiled |
| Paarkka chonnaar paarththen | They told me to look, so I looked |
| Enakkena or unarchi illai thozhi | I have no feelings of my own, my friend |
| Kaadhal innamudhae vaazhiya nee vaazhi | May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love! |
| Female | |
| Aadai endru kettavudan | As soon as clothes were asked for, |
| Thanthavar thaanae | Was he not the one who gave them? |
| Animaniyaai vagai vagaiyaai | Jewelry of various kinds, |
| Seidhavar thaanae | Was he not the one who made them? |
| Female | |
| Aadai endru kettavudan | As soon as clothes were asked for, |
| Thanthavar thaanae | Was he not the one who gave them? |
| Animaniyaai vagai vagaiyaai | Jewelry of various kinds, |
| Seidhavar thaanae | Was he not the one who made them? |
| Female | |
| Azhagu magal ilamai kandu | Seeing the beautiful daughter's youth, |
| Mazhindhavar thaane | Was he not the one who rejoiced? |
| Aasai kondu serththu veikka | To lovingly unite her in marriage, |
| Marandhadhum yeno…. | Why did he forget? |
| Female | |
| Sirikka chonnaar siriththen | They told me to smile, so I smiled |
| Paarkka chonnaar paarththen | They told me to look, so I looked |
| Enakkena or unarchi illai thozhi | I have no feelings of my own, my friend |
| Kaadhal innamudhae vaazhiya nee vaazhi | May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love! |
சிரிக்க சொன்னார் சிரித்தேன்
பார்க்க சொன்னார் பார்த்தேன்
சிரிக்க சொன்னார் சிரித்தேன்
பார்க்க சொன்னார் பார்த்தேன்
எனக்கென ஓர் உணர்ச்சி இல்லை தோழி
காதல் இன்னமுதே வாழிய நீ வாழி
They told me to smile, so I smiled
They told me to look, so I looked
They told me to smile, so I smiled
They told me to look, so I looked
I have no feelings of my own, my friend
May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love!
சிரிக்க சொன்னார் சிரித்தேன்
பார்க்க சொன்னார் பார்த்தேன்
எனக்கென ஓர் உணர்ச்சி இல்லை தோழி
காதல் இன்னமுதே வாழிய நீ வாழி
They told me to smile, so I smiled
They told me to look, so I looked
I have no feelings of my own, my friend
May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love!
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
Aaa... aaa... aaa... aaa...
Aaaa... aaa... aaa... aaa...
இதயம் காட்டும்
கண்ணாடி வதனமில்லையா
இரு விழிகள் படைத்திருந்தும்
புரியவில்லையா
Isn't the face
A mirror that displays the heart?
Even with two eyes bestowed,
Is it not understood?
இதயம் காட்டும்
கண்ணாடி வதனமில்லையா
இரு விழிகள் படைத்திருந்தும்
புரியவில்லையா
Isn't the face
A mirror that displays the heart?
Even with two eyes bestowed,
Is it not understood?
சிதறி வரும் வார்த்தைகளில்
தெரியவில்லையா
சிதறி வரும் வார்த்தைகளில்
தெரியவில்லையா
சிந்தனையில் தெளிவுடையோர்
யாருமில்லையா
In the scattered words that tumble out,
Is it not visible?
In the scattered words that tumble out,
Is it not visible?
Is there no one with clarity of thought?
ஆடை என்று கேட்டவுடன்
தந்தவர்தானே
அணிமணியாய் வகைவகையாய்
செய்தவர்தானே
They told me to smile, so I smiled
They told me to look, so I looked
I have no feelings of my own, my friend
May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love!
ஆடை என்று கேட்டவுடன்
தந்தவர்தானே
அணிமணியாய் வகைவகையாய்
செய்தவர்தானே
As soon as clothes were asked for,
Was he not the one who gave them?
Jewelry of various kinds,
Was he not the one who made them?
அழகு மகள் இளமை கண்டு
மகிழ்ந்தவர்தானே
ஆசைக் கொண்டு சேர்த்து வைக்க
மறந்ததும் ஏனோ
As soon as clothes were asked for,
Was he not the one who gave them?
Jewelry of various kinds,
Was he not the one who made them?
சிரிக்க சொன்னார் சிரித்தேன்
பார்க்க சொன்னார் பார்த்தேன்
எனக்கென ஓர் உணர்ச்சி இல்லை தோழி
காதல் இன்னமுதே வாழிய நீ வாழி
Seeing the beautiful daughter's youth,
Was he not the one who rejoiced?
To lovingly unite her in marriage,
Why did he forget?
They told me to smile, so I smiled
They told me to look, so I looked
I have no feelings of my own, my friend
May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love!
Sirikka chonnaar siriththen
They told me to smile, so I smiled
Paarkka chonnaar paarththen
They told me to look, so I looked
Sirikka chonnaar siriththen
They told me to smile, so I smiled
Paarkka chonnaar paarththen
They told me to look, so I looked
Enakkena or unarchi illai thozhi
I have no feelings of my own, my friend
Kaadhal innamudhae vaazhiya nee vaazhi
May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love!
Sirikka chonnaar siriththen
They told me to smile, so I smiled
Paarkka chonnaar paarththen
They told me to look, so I looked
Enakkena or unarchi illai thozhi
I have no feelings of my own, my friend
Kaadhal innamudhae vaazhiya nee vaazhi
May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love!
Aaa…..aaa….aaa….aaa…..
Aaa... aaa... aaa... aaa...
Aaaa….aaa…..aaa…..aaa…….
Aaaa... aaa... aaa... aaa...
Idhayam kaattum
Isn't the face
Kannaadi vadhanamillaiyaa
A mirror that displays the heart?
Iru vizhigal padaithirundhum
Even with two eyes bestowed,
Puriyavillaiyaa
Is it not understood?
Idhayam kaattum
Isn't the face
Kannaadi vadhanamillaiyaa
A mirror that displays the heart?
Iru vizhigal padaithirundhum
Even with two eyes bestowed,
Puriyavillaiyaa
Is it not understood?
Sidhari varum vaarthaigalil
In the scattered words that tumble out,
Theriyavillaiyaa
Is it not visible?
Sidhari varum vaarthaigalil
In the scattered words that tumble out,
Theriyavillaiyaa
Is it not visible?
Sindhaiyilae thelivudaiyor yaarumillaiyaa
Is there no one with clarity of thought?
Sirikka chonnaar siriththen
They told me to smile, so I smiled
Paarkka chonnaar paarththen
They told me to look, so I looked
Enakkena or unarchi illai thozhi
I have no feelings of my own, my friend
Kaadhal innamudhae vaazhiya nee vaazhi
May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love!
Aadai endru kettavudan
As soon as clothes were asked for,
Thanthavar thaanae
Was he not the one who gave them?
Animaniyaai vagai vagaiyaai
Jewelry of various kinds,
Seidhavar thaanae
Was he not the one who made them?
Aadai endru kettavudan
As soon as clothes were asked for,
Thanthavar thaanae
Was he not the one who gave them?
Animaniyaai vagai vagaiyaai
Jewelry of various kinds,
Seidhavar thaanae
Was he not the one who made them?
Azhagu magal ilamai kandu
Seeing the beautiful daughter's youth,
Mazhindhavar thaane
Was he not the one who rejoiced?
Aasai kondu serththu veikka
To lovingly unite her in marriage,
Marandhadhum yeno….
Why did he forget?
Sirikka chonnaar siriththen
They told me to smile, so I smiled
Paarkka chonnaar paarththen
They told me to look, so I looked
Enakkena or unarchi illai thozhi
I have no feelings of my own, my friend
Kaadhal innamudhae vaazhiya nee vaazhi
May you live long, oh sweet nectar of love!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from 'Kavalai Illaadha Manithan' (1960) expresses a young woman's emotional helplessness and grief. She feels reduced to a puppet living according to others' expectations, dutifully smiling and looking as instructed while suppressing her inner feelings. Addressing her companion, she wonders why people cannot read the clear distress reflected on her face or hear it in her broken words, questioning if anyone around her possesses emotional clarity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Idhayam kaattum Kannaadi vadhanamillaiyaa”
Compares the face to a mirror ('Kannaadi vadhanam') that reflects the true state of the heart.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Sirikka chonnaar siriththen / Paarkka chonnaar paarththen”
Repeated parallel phrasing ('Sirikka chonnaar siriththen / Paarkka chonnaar paarththen') emphasizes mechanical obedience and loss of personal autonomy.
Monnai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aadai endru kettavudan”
Matching initial vowel sounds in consecutive lines ('Aadai', 'Animaniyaai', 'Azhagu', 'Aasai').
Rhetorical Questions
“Iru vizhigal padaithirundhum Puriyavillaiyaa”
Use of persistent questioning ('Puriyavillaiyaa', 'Theriyavillaiyaa', 'Marandhadhum yeno') to evoke despair and emotional anguish.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the music credit in the prompt is listed as unknown, the soundtrack for 'Kavalai Illaadha Manithan' (1960) was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this song was sung by P. Susheela with lyrics by Kannadasan.
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