Sollavaa Kadhai Sollavaa
From Navarathri · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Navarathri1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell a story, shall I tell? |
| Nadandha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of what actually happened? |
| Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell a story, shall I tell? |
| Nadandha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of what actually happened? |
| Female | |
| Pirandha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of being born? |
| Valarndha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of growing up? |
| Pirandha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of being born? |
| Valarndha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of growing up? |
| Pennendru boomiyilae | On this earth, as a woman, |
| Malarndha kadhai sollavaa… | Shall I tell the story of blossoming... |
| Female | |
| Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell a story, shall I tell? |
| Nadandha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of what actually happened? |
| Female | |
| Thunaiyirukka ninaithavarkku manamillai | Those who wish to be companions lack a compassionate heart, |
| Ingae manamirukkum manidharukkor | Here, for those humans who have a good heart, |
| Thunaiyillai | There is no companion available. |
| Thunaiyirukka ninaithavarkku manamillai | Those who wish to be companions lack a compassionate heart, |
| Ingae manamirukkum manidharukkor | Here, for those humans who have a good heart, |
| Thunaiyillai | There is no companion available. |
| Avarukkendrae naanirundhen avarillai | I lived solely for him, but he is not there, |
| Avarukkendrae naanirundhen avarillai | I lived solely for him, but he is not there, |
| Ingae avalukkendrae ivar irundhum | Here, even though he lived solely for her, |
| Avalillai… | She is not there... |
| Female | |
| Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell a story, shall I tell? |
| Nadandha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of what actually happened? |
| Female | |
| Kallamillaa vellai nenju pillaiyae | Oh child with an innocent and pure heart, |
| Naan kaalamellaam | All through my life, |
| Unnai polae illaiyae | I am not blameless like you. |
| Kallamillaa vellai nenju pillaiyae | Oh child with an innocent and pure heart, |
| Naan kaalamellaam | All through my life, |
| Unnai polae illaiyae | I am not blameless like you. |
| Ullam ondru valarndhadhaal thollaiyae | Because a self-aware mind developed, trouble arose, |
| Ullam ondru valarndhadhaal thollaiyae | Because a self-aware mind developed, trouble arose, |
| Nenjil oru pozhudhum | In my heart, not for even a moment, |
| Amaidhi enbadhillaiyae | Is there any peace. |
| Female | |
| Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell a story, shall I tell? |
| Nadandha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of what actually happened? |
| Pirandha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of being born? |
| Valarndha kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell the story of growing up? |
| Pennendru boomiyilae | On this earth, as a woman, |
| Malarndha kadhai sollavaa…aa.. | Shall I tell the story of blossoming... ah.. |
| Female | |
| Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa | Shall I tell a story, shall I tell? |
| Nadandha kadhai sollavaa… | Shall I tell the story of what actually happened... |
சொல்லவா கதை சொல்லவா
நடந்த கதை சொல்லவா
சொல்லவா கதை சொல்லவா
நடந்த கதை சொல்லவா
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
பிறந்த கதை சொல்லவா
வளர்ந்த கதை சொல்லவா
பிறந்த கதை சொல்லவா
வளர்ந்த கதை சொல்லவா
பெண்ணென்று பூமியிலே
மலர்ந்த கதை சொல்லவா.....
Shall I tell the story of being born?
Shall I tell the story of growing up?
Shall I tell the story of being born?
Shall I tell the story of growing up?
On this earth, as a woman,
Shall I tell the story of blossoming...
சொல்லவா கதை சொல்லவா
நடந்த கதை சொல்லவா
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
துணையிருக்க நினைத்தவர்க்கு மனமில்லை
இங்கே மனமிருக்கும் மனிதருக்கோர்
துணையில்லை
துணையிருக்க நினைத்தவர்க்கு மனமில்லை
இங்கே மனமிருக்கும் மனிதருக்கோர்
துணையில்லை
அவருக்கென்று நானிருந்தேன் அவரில்லை
அவருக்கென்று நானிருந்தேன் அவரில்லை
இங்கே அவளுக்கென்று இவர் இருந்தும்
அவளில்லை
Those who wish to be companions lack a compassionate heart,
Here, for those humans who have a good heart,
There is no companion available.
Those who wish to be companions lack a compassionate heart,
Here, for those humans who have a good heart,
There is no companion available.
I lived solely for him, but he is not there,
I lived solely for him, but he is not there,
Here, even though he lived solely for her,
She is not there...
சொல்லவா கதை சொல்லவா
நடந்த கதை சொல்லவா
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
கள்ளமில்லா வெள்ளை நெஞ்சு பிள்ளையே
நான் காலமெல்லாம்
உன்னைப் போல இல்லையே
கள்ளமில்லா வெள்ளை நெஞ்சு பிள்ளையே
நான் காலமெல்லாம்
உன்னைப் போல இல்லையே
உள்ளமொன்று வளர்ந்ததால் தொல்லையே
உள்ளமொன்று வளர்ந்ததால் தொல்லையே
நெஞ்சில் ஒரு பொழுதும்
அமைதி என்பதில்லையே
Oh child with an innocent and pure heart,
All through my life,
I am not blameless like you.
Oh child with an innocent and pure heart,
All through my life,
I am not blameless like you.
Because a self-aware mind developed, trouble arose,
Because a self-aware mind developed, trouble arose,
In my heart, not for even a moment,
Is there any peace.
பிறந்த கதை சொல்லவா
வளர்ந்த கதை சொல்லவா
பிறந்த கதை சொல்லவா
வளர்ந்த கதை சொல்லவா
பெண்ணென்று பூமியிலே
மலர்ந்த கதை சொல்லவா.....
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
Shall I tell the story of being born?
Shall I tell the story of growing up?
On this earth, as a woman,
Shall I tell the story of blossoming... ah..
சொல்லவா கதை சொல்லவா
நடந்த கதை சொல்லவா
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened...
Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Nadandha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Nadandha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
Pirandha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of being born?
Valarndha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of growing up?
Pirandha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of being born?
Valarndha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of growing up?
Pennendru boomiyilae
On this earth, as a woman,
Malarndha kadhai sollavaa…
Shall I tell the story of blossoming...
Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Nadandha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
Thunaiyirukka ninaithavarkku manamillai
Those who wish to be companions lack a compassionate heart,
Ingae manamirukkum manidharukkor
Here, for those humans who have a good heart,
Thunaiyillai
There is no companion available.
Thunaiyirukka ninaithavarkku manamillai
Those who wish to be companions lack a compassionate heart,
Ingae manamirukkum manidharukkor
Here, for those humans who have a good heart,
Thunaiyillai
There is no companion available.
Avarukkendrae naanirundhen avarillai
I lived solely for him, but he is not there,
Avarukkendrae naanirundhen avarillai
I lived solely for him, but he is not there,
Ingae avalukkendrae ivar irundhum
Here, even though he lived solely for her,
Avalillai…
She is not there...
Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Nadandha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
Kallamillaa vellai nenju pillaiyae
Oh child with an innocent and pure heart,
Naan kaalamellaam
All through my life,
Unnai polae illaiyae
I am not blameless like you.
Kallamillaa vellai nenju pillaiyae
Oh child with an innocent and pure heart,
Naan kaalamellaam
All through my life,
Unnai polae illaiyae
I am not blameless like you.
Ullam ondru valarndhadhaal thollaiyae
Because a self-aware mind developed, trouble arose,
Ullam ondru valarndhadhaal thollaiyae
Because a self-aware mind developed, trouble arose,
Nenjil oru pozhudhum
In my heart, not for even a moment,
Amaidhi enbadhillaiyae
Is there any peace.
Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Nadandha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened?
Pirandha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of being born?
Valarndha kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell the story of growing up?
Pennendru boomiyilae
On this earth, as a woman,
Malarndha kadhai sollavaa…aa..
Shall I tell the story of blossoming... ah..
Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa
Shall I tell a story, shall I tell?
Nadandha kadhai sollavaa…
Shall I tell the story of what actually happened...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from the 1964 Tamil film Navarathri expresses the deep emotional sorrow and existential reflections of a woman looking back at her life. She narrates her journey from birth and childhood to womanhood, contrasting the innocence of a child with the painful realities and heartbreaks of adulthood. The lyrics highlight the tragedy of unfulfilled love and mismatched companionships, where those willing to love lack partners, and those who desire companionship find no one. Penned by Kannadasan, the song meditates on how emotional maturity and awareness bring trouble and inner unrest. As one grows and understands the world, peace becomes elusive, leaving behind only memories and unresolved sorrow. The singer uses the simple premise of telling a story to lay bare the deep melancholic truths of human relationship ironies.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (Rhyme / Epiphora)
“Sollavaa kadhai sollavaa / Nadandha kadhai sollavaa”
Repetition of the ending verb phrase 'sollavaa' across multiple lines creates a melodic and narrative rhythm.
Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Kallamillaa vellai nenju pillaiyae... Ullam ondru valarndhadhaal thollaiyae”
Rhyming of second consonant 'la' across 'Kallamillaa' and 'Ullam' in the stanza contrasting innocence and adult mind.
Antithesis (Irony / Contrast)
“Thunaiyirukka ninaithavarkku manamillai / Ingae manamirukkum manidharukkor Thunaiyillai”
Juxtaposition of those who want companionship lacking heart vs. those with heart lacking companionship.
Metaphor
“Pennendru boomiyilae Malarndha kadhai sollavaa”
Comparing the innocent heart of a child to a pure white entity ('vellai nenju') and womanhood to a blooming flower ('malarndha').
Did you know?
Trivia
Navarathri (1964) is a landmark Tamil movie famous for Sivaji Ganesan playing nine different roles representing nine emotions (Navarasas). The music for the film was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this specific sorrowful song was rendered by legendary playback singer P. Susheela.
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