Sollap Pona
From Aasai Alaigal · 1963
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- S. V. Ponnusami
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Aasai Alaigal1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Solla ponaa kobikkiraan | If you tell the truth, he gets angry, |
| Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan | If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble. |
| Solla ponaa kobikkiraan | If you tell the truth, he gets angry, |
| Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan | If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble. |
| Male | |
| Nallatha pesi nallatha kettu | Speaking good things and listening to good things, |
| Nallatha senjaath thappaa | Is it wrong to do good deeds? |
| Konjam nallatha senjaath thappaa | Is it wrong to do a little bit of good? |
| Male | |
| Nallatha pesi nallatha kettu | Speaking good things and listening to good things, |
| Nallatha senjaath thappaa | Is it wrong to do good deeds? |
| Konjam nallatha senjaath thappaa | Is it wrong to do a little bit of good? |
| Male | |
| Kallaththanaththaiyum kalanthu pesa | Only if you learn to blend deceit into your speech, |
| Kaththu kittaathaan madhippaa | Will you earn respect in this world? |
| Kallaththanaththaiyum kalanthu pesa | Only if you learn to blend deceit into your speech, |
| Kaththu kittaathaan madhippaa | Will you earn respect in this world? |
| Male | |
| Solla ponaa kobikkiraan | If you tell the truth, he gets angry, |
| Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan | If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble. |
| Male | |
| Kumbidum kaiyil kaththiyirukkum | There could be a hidden knife within folded hands, |
| Maranthidaatahe thambi | Do not forget this, my brother, |
| Idhai maranthidaathae thambi | Do not forget this, my brother. |
| Male | |
| Kumbidum kaiyil kaththiyirukkum | There could be a hidden knife within folded hands, |
| Maranthidaatahe thambi | Do not forget this, my brother, |
| Idhai maranthidaathae thambi | Do not forget this, my brother. |
| Male | |
| Unnai vaazhththum sollil vanjamirukkum | There is malice behind words praising you, |
| Vizhunthidaathae nambi | Do not fall into the trap by believing them, |
| Unnai vaazhththum sollil vanjamirukkum | There is malice behind words praising you, |
| Vizhunthidaathae nambi….nambi….nambi…. | Do not fall into the trap by believing them... believing... believing... |
| Male | |
| Solla ponaa kobikkiraan | If you tell the truth, he gets angry, |
| Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan | If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble. |
| Male | |
| Naalu kaasu vachchirunthaaththaan | Only if you possess a few coins, |
| Ulagam unnai madhikkum | This world will show respect to you, |
| Intha ulagam unnai madhikkum | This world will show respect to you. |
| Male | |
| Naalu kaasu vachchirunthaaththaan | Only if you possess a few coins, |
| Ulagam unnai madhikkum | This world will show respect to you, |
| Intha ulagam unnai madhikkum | This world will show respect to you. |
| Male | |
| Nallaa vaazhnthu kettu ponaa | If you once lived well and then fell into ruin, |
| Naayum paarththu sirikkum | Even a stray dog will look at you and laugh, |
| Nallaa vaazhnthu kettu ponaa | If you once lived well and then fell into ruin, |
| Naayum paarththu sirikkum….sirikkum….sirikkum…. | Even a stray dog will look at you and laugh... laugh... laugh... |
| Male | |
| Solla ponaa kobikkiraan | If you tell the truth, he gets angry, |
| Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan | If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble. |
| Solla ponaa kobikkiraan | If you tell the truth, he gets angry, |
| Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan | If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble. |
சொல்லப் போனா கோபிக்கிறான்
சொல்லா விட்டா மாட்டிக்கிறான்
சொல்லப் போனா கோபிக்கிறான்
சொல்லா விட்டா மாட்டிக்கிறான்
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
நல்லதப் பேசி நல்லதக் கேட்டு
நல்லதச் செஞ்சாத் தப்பா
கொஞ்சம் நல்லதச் செஞ்சாத் தப்பா
Speaking good things and listening to good things,
Is it wrong to do good deeds?
Is it wrong to do a little bit of good?
நல்லதப் பேசி நல்லதக் கேட்டு
நல்லதச் செஞ்சாத் தப்பா
கொஞ்சம் நல்லதச் செஞ்சாத் தப்பா
Speaking good things and listening to good things,
Is it wrong to do good deeds?
Is it wrong to do a little bit of good?
கள்ளத்தனத்தையும் கலந்து பேசக்
கத்துக் கிட்டாதான் மதிப்பா...
கள்ளத்தனத்தையும் கலந்து பேசக்
கத்துக் கிட்டாதான் மதிப்பா...
Only if you learn to blend deceit into your speech,
Will you earn respect in this world?
Only if you learn to blend deceit into your speech,
Will you earn respect in this world?
சொல்லப் போனா கோபிக்கிறான்
சொல்லா விட்டா மாட்டிக்கிறான்
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
கும்பிடும் கையில் கத்தியிருக்கும்
மறந்திடாதே தம்பி
இதை மறந்திடாதே தம்பி
There could be a hidden knife within folded hands,
Do not forget this, my brother,
Do not forget this, my brother.
கும்பிடும் கையில் கத்தியிருக்கும்
மறந்திடாதே தம்பி
இதை மறந்திடாதே தம்பியோ
There could be a hidden knife within folded hands,
Do not forget this, my brother,
Do not forget this, my brother.
உன்னை வாழ்த்தும் சொல்லில் வஞ்சமிருக்கும்
விழுந்திடாதே நம்பி...
உன்னை வாழ்த்தும் சொல்லில் வஞ்சமிருக்கும்
விழுந்திடாதே நம்பி...நம்பி...நம்பி...
There is malice behind words praising you,
Do not fall into the trap by believing them,
There is malice behind words praising you,
Do not fall into the trap by believing them... believing... believing...
சொல்லப் போனா கோபிக்கிறான்
சொல்லா விட்டா மாட்டிக்கிறான்
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
நாலு காசு வச்சிருந்தாத்தான்
உலகம் உன்னை மதிக்கும்
இந்த உலகம் உன்னை மதிக்கும்
Only if you possess a few coins,
This world will show respect to you,
This world will show respect to you.
நாலு காசு வச்சிருந்தாத்தான்
உலகம் உன்னை மதிக்கும்
இந்த உலகம் உன்னை மதிக்கும்
Only if you possess a few coins,
This world will show respect to you,
This world will show respect to you.
நல்லா வாழ்ந்து கெட்டுப் போனா
நாயும் பார்த்துச் சிரிக்கும்......
நல்லா வாழ்ந்து கெட்டுப் போனா
நாயும் பார்த்துச் சிரிக்கும்......சிரிக்கும்......சிரிக்கும்......
If you once lived well and then fell into ruin,
Even a stray dog will look at you and laugh,
If you once lived well and then fell into ruin,
Even a stray dog will look at you and laugh... laugh... laugh...
சொல்லப் போனா கோபிக்கிறான்
சொல்லா விட்டா மாட்டிக்கிறான்
சொல்லப் போனா கோபிக்கிறான்
சொல்லா விட்டா மாட்டிக்கிறான்
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
Solla ponaa kobikkiraan
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
Solla ponaa kobikkiraan
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
Nallatha pesi nallatha kettu
Speaking good things and listening to good things,
Nallatha senjaath thappaa
Is it wrong to do good deeds?
Konjam nallatha senjaath thappaa
Is it wrong to do a little bit of good?
Nallatha pesi nallatha kettu
Speaking good things and listening to good things,
Nallatha senjaath thappaa
Is it wrong to do good deeds?
Konjam nallatha senjaath thappaa
Is it wrong to do a little bit of good?
Kallaththanaththaiyum kalanthu pesa
Only if you learn to blend deceit into your speech,
Kaththu kittaathaan madhippaa
Will you earn respect in this world?
Kallaththanaththaiyum kalanthu pesa
Only if you learn to blend deceit into your speech,
Kaththu kittaathaan madhippaa
Will you earn respect in this world?
Solla ponaa kobikkiraan
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
Kumbidum kaiyil kaththiyirukkum
There could be a hidden knife within folded hands,
Maranthidaatahe thambi
Do not forget this, my brother,
Idhai maranthidaathae thambi
Do not forget this, my brother.
Kumbidum kaiyil kaththiyirukkum
There could be a hidden knife within folded hands,
Maranthidaatahe thambi
Do not forget this, my brother,
Idhai maranthidaathae thambi
Do not forget this, my brother.
Unnai vaazhththum sollil vanjamirukkum
There is malice behind words praising you,
Vizhunthidaathae nambi
Do not fall into the trap by believing them,
Unnai vaazhththum sollil vanjamirukkum
There is malice behind words praising you,
Vizhunthidaathae nambi….nambi….nambi….
Do not fall into the trap by believing them... believing... believing...
Solla ponaa kobikkiraan
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
Naalu kaasu vachchirunthaaththaan
Only if you possess a few coins,
Ulagam unnai madhikkum
This world will show respect to you,
Intha ulagam unnai madhikkum
This world will show respect to you.
Naalu kaasu vachchirunthaaththaan
Only if you possess a few coins,
Ulagam unnai madhikkum
This world will show respect to you,
Intha ulagam unnai madhikkum
This world will show respect to you.
Nallaa vaazhnthu kettu ponaa
If you once lived well and then fell into ruin,
Naayum paarththu sirikkum
Even a stray dog will look at you and laugh,
Nallaa vaazhnthu kettu ponaa
If you once lived well and then fell into ruin,
Naayum paarththu sirikkum….sirikkum….sirikkum….
Even a stray dog will look at you and laugh... laugh... laugh...
Solla ponaa kobikkiraan
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
Solla ponaa kobikkiraan
If you tell the truth, he gets angry,
Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan
If you don't tell, he gets caught in trouble.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical Tamil film song highlights the paradoxes of social relationships and worldly moral corruption. It laments that speaking the truth often angers people, while remaining silent leads to complications. The song critiques a society where genuine goodness is disregarded unless mixed with cunningness and superficial flair. Furthermore, the lyricist warns against deceptive friends who hide treacherous intentions behind respectful greetings and flattering words. Money and status dictate respect in society, while those who fall from grace face ridicule from everyone. It serves as a stern, realistic advice to a younger brother about navigating the duplicity of the world.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Muran / Contrast)
“Solla ponaa kobikkiraan / Sollaavittaa maattikkiraan”
Contrasts the outcome of speaking versus staying silent (Solla ponaa vs Sollaavittaa) to emphasize a catch-22 dilemma.
Anaphora (Edhukai / Rhyming sound repetitions)
“Nallatha pesi nallatha kettu / Nallatha senjaath thappaa”
Repetition of 'Nallatha' across sequential phrases creates rhythm and underscores virtuous living.
Metaphor (Uruvagim)
“Kumbidum kaiyil kaththiyirukkum”
'Knife hidden in worshipping hands' metaphorically represents treachery concealed behind outward respect and piety.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Naayum paarththu sirikkum”
Exaggerates the social humiliation of losing wealth by claiming even dogs will mock a fallen rich person.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Solla Ponaa Kobikkiraan' from the 1963 film Aasai Alaigal reflects early Tamil cinema's tradition of moralistic and social commentary songs (Tathuva Paadal) popularized by legendary lyricists like Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram and Kannadasan, offering life advice through colloquial yet deep phrasing.
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