Sollathan Ninaikiren
From Engal Selvi · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Engal Selvi1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to express it, but I am unable to |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to express it, but I am unable to |
| Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku | Even if I express it, to the listener |
| Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai | Even if I express it, the listener does not understand |
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to express it, but I am unable to |
| Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai | Even if I express it, the listener does not understand |
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to express it, but I am unable to |
| Female | |
| Illai illai enbavarukku | For the person who says 'I have nothing, I have nothing' |
| Kavalai illai aanaal irunthum illai | there is no worry, but for the one who has everything yet feels lacking, |
| Enbavarkku amaithi illai | there is no peace of mind |
| Female | |
| Illai illai enbavarukku | For the person who says 'I have nothing, I have nothing' |
| Kavalai illai aanaal irunthum illai | there is no worry, but for the one who has everything yet feels lacking, |
| Enbavarkku amaithi illai | there is no peace of mind |
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to express it, but I am unable to |
| Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai | Even if I express it, the listener does not understand |
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to express it, but I am unable to |
| Female | |
| Indru varum naalai varum | Wealth comes today and comes tomorrow |
| Sendraalum thirumbi varum selvam | Even if it leaves, wealth returns |
| Indru varum naalai varum | Wealth comes today and comes tomorrow |
| Sendraalum thirumbi varum selvam | Even if it leaves, wealth returns |
| Ilamai sendru mudhumai vanthaal | When youth departs and old age arrives |
| Kadhal isai paadaathu ullam | the heart will no longer sing the music of love |
| Female | |
| Idhai sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to express this, but I am unable to |
| Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai | Even if I express it, the listener does not understand |
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to express it, but I am unable to |
| Female | |
| Kadarkaraiyil piranthu vantha | Is there no relationship that was born |
| Uravumillaiyo | at the seashore? |
| Kadarkaraiyil piranthu vantha | Is there no relationship that was born |
| Uravumillaiyo | at the seashore? |
| Female | |
| Munbu kadhal sonna kadhaikalellaam | Are all the love stories spoken earlier |
| Ninaivumillaiyo | no longer remembered? |
| Munbu kadhal sonna kadhaikalellaam | Are all the love stories spoken earlier |
| Ninaivumillaiyo | no longer remembered? |
| Female | |
| Pattam pettra pinbum | Even after obtaining a degree, |
| Paadam mudiyavillaiyo | has the learning process not ended? |
| Pattam pettra pinbum | Even after obtaining a degree, |
| Paadam mudiyavillaiyo | has the learning process not ended? |
| Female | |
| Isai paadi varum kuyiln nenjam | Do you not comprehend the heart of the singing cuckoo |
| Theriyavillaiyo | that comes pouring music? |
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai…. | I wish to express it, but I am unable to.... |
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
அதை சொன்னாலும் கேட்பவருக்குப்
அதை சொன்னாலும் கேட்பவருக்குப் புரியவில்லை
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Even if I express it, to the listener
Even if I express it, the listener does not understand
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
அதை சொன்னாலும் கேட்பவருக்குப் புரியவில்லை
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Even if I express it, the listener does not understand
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
இல்லை இல்லை என்பவர்க்கு
கவலை இல்லை ஆனால்
இருந்தும் இல்லை என்பவர்க்கு அமைதி இல்லை
For the person who says 'I have nothing, I have nothing'
there is no worry, but for the one who has everything yet feels lacking,
there is no peace of mind
இல்லை இல்லை என்பவர்க்கு
கவலை இல்லை ஆனால்
இருந்தும் இல்லை என்பவர்க்கு அமைதி இல்லை
For the person who says 'I have nothing, I have nothing'
there is no worry, but for the one who has everything yet feels lacking,
there is no peace of mind
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
அதை சொன்னாலும் கேட்பவர்க்கு புரியவில்லை
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Even if I express it, the listener does not understand
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
இன்று வரும் நாளை வரும்
சென்றாலும் திரும்பி வரும் செல்வம்
இன்று வரும் நாளை வரும்
சென்றாலும் திரும்பி வரும் செல்வம்
இளமை சென்று முதுமை வந்தால்
காதல் இசை பாடாது உள்ளம்
Wealth comes today and comes tomorrow
Even if it leaves, wealth returns
Wealth comes today and comes tomorrow
Even if it leaves, wealth returns
When youth departs and old age arrives
the heart will no longer sing the music of love
இதை சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
அதை சொன்னாலும் கேட்பவர்க்கு புரியவில்லை
I wish to express this, but I am unable to
Even if I express it, the listener does not understand
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை...
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
கடற்கரையில் பிறந்து வந்த
உறவுமில்லையோ
கடற்கரையில் பிறந்து வந்த
உறவுமில்லையோ
Is there no relationship that was born
at the seashore?
Is there no relationship that was born
at the seashore?
முன்பு காதல் சொன்ன கதைகளெல்லாம்
நினைவுமில்லையோ
முன்பு காதல் சொன்ன கதைகளெல்லாம்
நினைவுமில்லையோ
Are all the love stories spoken earlier
no longer remembered?
Are all the love stories spoken earlier
no longer remembered?
பட்டம் பெற்ற பின்பும்
பாடம் முடியவில்லையோ
பட்டம் பெற்ற பின்பும்
பாடம் முடியவில்லையோ
Even after obtaining a degree,
has the learning process not ended?
Even after obtaining a degree,
has the learning process not ended?
இசை பாடி வரும் குயிலின் நெஞ்சம்
தெரியவில்லையோ.......
Do you not comprehend the heart of the singing cuckoo
that comes pouring music?
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை...
I wish to express it, but I am unable to....
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku
Even if I express it, to the listener
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Even if I express it, the listener does not understand
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Even if I express it, the listener does not understand
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Illai illai enbavarukku
For the person who says 'I have nothing, I have nothing'
Kavalai illai aanaal irunthum illai
there is no worry, but for the one who has everything yet feels lacking,
Enbavarkku amaithi illai
there is no peace of mind
Illai illai enbavarukku
For the person who says 'I have nothing, I have nothing'
Kavalai illai aanaal irunthum illai
there is no worry, but for the one who has everything yet feels lacking,
Enbavarkku amaithi illai
there is no peace of mind
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Even if I express it, the listener does not understand
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Indru varum naalai varum
Wealth comes today and comes tomorrow
Sendraalum thirumbi varum selvam
Even if it leaves, wealth returns
Indru varum naalai varum
Wealth comes today and comes tomorrow
Sendraalum thirumbi varum selvam
Even if it leaves, wealth returns
Ilamai sendru mudhumai vanthaal
When youth departs and old age arrives
Kadhal isai paadaathu ullam
the heart will no longer sing the music of love
Idhai sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to express this, but I am unable to
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Even if I express it, the listener does not understand
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to express it, but I am unable to
Kadarkaraiyil piranthu vantha
Is there no relationship that was born
Uravumillaiyo
at the seashore?
Kadarkaraiyil piranthu vantha
Is there no relationship that was born
Uravumillaiyo
at the seashore?
Munbu kadhal sonna kadhaikalellaam
Are all the love stories spoken earlier
Ninaivumillaiyo
no longer remembered?
Munbu kadhal sonna kadhaikalellaam
Are all the love stories spoken earlier
Ninaivumillaiyo
no longer remembered?
Pattam pettra pinbum
Even after obtaining a degree,
Paadam mudiyavillaiyo
has the learning process not ended?
Pattam pettra pinbum
Even after obtaining a degree,
Paadam mudiyavillaiyo
has the learning process not ended?
Isai paadi varum kuyiln nenjam
Do you not comprehend the heart of the singing cuckoo
Theriyavillaiyo
that comes pouring music?
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai….
I wish to express it, but I am unable to....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the tender frustration of a woman who is unable to effectively convey her deep love and feelings to her beloved, who fails to comprehend her hints. Through rich philosophical imagery, she reflects on human nature and life's transience. She notes that those who own nothing are free from worries, whereas those with wealth yet unsatisfied desires lack peace of mind. She cautions that while material wealth can be lost and regained, youth and romantic passion once gone never return. Recalling past memories by the seashore, she laments how education and degrees mean little if one cannot read the silent emotions of a loving heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain / Anaphora
“Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai”
The line 'Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai' repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the central theme of unspoken emotion and helplessness.
Antithesis / Paradox
“Illai illai enbavarukku Kavalai illai aanaal irunthum illai Enbavarkku amaithi illai”
Kannadasan uses paradox to contrast poverty of material with richness of peace: one with nothing has no worry, whereas one who possesses yet craves lacks peace.
Metaphor
“Isai paadi varum kuyiln nenjam Theriyavillaiyo”
Comparing the heroine's loving, expressive heart to a singing cuckoo ('kuyil').
Edhukai (Tamil Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pattam pettra pinbum Paadam mudiyavillaiyo”
The second consonant 'tt' rhymes in 'Pattam' and 'Paadam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary poet Kannadasan and set to tune by K. V. Mahadevan, this song from 'Engal Selvi' (1960) remains one of P. Susheela's finest solo performances. Kannadasan seamlessly blends romantic longing with timeless philosophical truths, a signature trait of his songwriting.
Keep listening
More from Engal Selvi
Engal Selvi
Engal Selvi
Engal Selvi
Engal Selvi
Engal Selvi
Engal Selvi