Solli Theriyadhu
From Kalyaniyin Kanavan · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- A. L. Raghavan, Kausalya
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Kalyaniyin Kanavan1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aaa…..aahaa…..haa…aaa….. | Aaa... aahaa... haa... aaa... |
| Aaa…..aaa…..aa….. | Aaa... aaa... aa... |
| Male | |
| Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu | It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained |
| Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu | It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained |
| Ullaththil iruppathu edhu | What is that which resides within the heart? |
| Varum urakkaththai keduppathu edhu | What is that which destroys incoming sleep? |
| Female | |
| Ullam thadumaara ulagam urumaara | As the heart stumbles and the world transforms |
| Ullam thadumaara ulagam urumaara | As the heart stumbles and the world transforms |
| Vellaththil midhappathu adhu | That is what floats on a surging flood |
| Mana vaegaththil pirappathu adhu | That is what is born at the speed of thought |
| Male | |
| Kollum madhiyaaga kodhikkum nadhiyaaga | As a deadly moon, as a boiling river |
| Kollum madhiyaaga kodhikkum nadhiyaaga | As a deadly moon, as a boiling river |
| Kannil vizhuvathu edhu | What is that which falls into the eyes? |
| Nenjil kavalai tharuvathu edhu | What is that which brings anxiety to the mind? |
| Female | |
| Anji nadamaadum pinju udalaadum | Moving fearfully, a delicate tender body sways |
| Anji nadamaadum pinju udalaadum | Moving fearfully, a delicate tender body sways |
| Konji vilaiyaadumaa adhu | Will that prattle and play playfully? |
| Iru kuvalai vizhiyaagum adhu | That is those two water-lily eyes |
| Male | |
| Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu | It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained |
| Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu | It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained |
| Ullaththil iruppathu edhu | What is that which resides within the heart? |
| Varum urakkaththai keduppathu edhu | What is that which destroys incoming sleep? |
| Male | |
| Vandu nilai pola manathu thadumaara | As the mind wanders falteringly like a honeybee |
| Vandu nilai pola manathu thadumaara | As the mind wanders falteringly like a honeybee |
| Undu suvaippathu madhu | Nectar is consumed and tasted |
| Kannil kandu suvaippathu edhu | What is that which is savored merely by looking with the eyes? |
| Female | |
| Kandu kalippaaga kaatchi sezhipaaga | Delighting the viewer and making the sight rich |
| Kandu kalippaaga kaatchi sezhipaaga | Delighting the viewer and making the sight rich |
| kondu varuvathu adhu | That is what brings joy |
| Ilam kumari enbathor madhu | That sweet nectar called a young maiden |
| Male | |
| Ondril uyiraaga ondru payiraaga | Being the life-breath in one and the crop in another |
| Ondril uyiraaga ondru payiraaga | Being the life-breath in one and the crop in another |
| Nindru nilaippathu edhu | What is that which stands firm and endures? |
| Nenjai kondru mudippathu edhu | What is that which slays and conquers the heart? |
| Female | |
| Andru mudharkondu indru varai | From that day until today |
| Ingu vanthu malarnthathu adhu | That is what came here and blossomed |
| Ini vaazhththu tharuvathu adhu | That is what shall grant blessings hereafter |
| Male | |
| Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu | It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained |
| Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu | It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained |
| Ullaththil iruppathu edhu | What is that which resides within the heart? |
| Varum urakkaththai keduppathu edhu | What is that which destroys incoming sleep? |
| Aaa……aahaa…..haa…..aaa…. | Aaa... aahaa... haa... aaa... |
| Aa……aaa…..aa…..aaa……aa…..aa…. | Aa... aaa... aa... aaa... aa... aa... |
ஆஅ......ஆஹா....ஹா....ஆஅ......
ஆஅ...ஆஅ....ஆ......
Aaa... aahaa... haa... aaa...
Aaa... aaa... aa...
சொல்லித் தெரியாது சொல்ல முடியாது
சொல்லித் தெரியாது சொல்ல முடியாது
உள்ளத்தில் இருப்பது எது
வரும் உறக்கத்தை கெடுப்பது எது
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
What is that which resides within the heart?
What is that which destroys incoming sleep?
உள்ளம் தடுமாற உலகம் உருமாற
உள்ளம் தடுமாற உலகம் உருமாற
வெள்ளத்தில் மிதப்பது அது
மன வேகத்தில் பிறப்பது அது
As the heart stumbles and the world transforms
As the heart stumbles and the world transforms
That is what floats on a surging flood
That is what is born at the speed of thought
கொல்லும் மதியாக கொதிக்கும் நதியாக
கொல்லும் மதியாக கொதிக்கும் நதியாக
கண்ணில் விழுவது எது
நெஞ்சில் கவலை தருவது எது
As a deadly moon, as a boiling river
As a deadly moon, as a boiling river
What is that which falls into the eyes?
What is that which brings anxiety to the mind?
அஞ்சி நடமாடும் பிஞ்சு உடலாடும்
அஞ்சி நடமாடும் பிஞ்சு உடலாடும்
கொஞ்சி விளையாடுமா அது
இரு குவளை விழியாகும் அது
Moving fearfully, a delicate tender body sways
Moving fearfully, a delicate tender body sways
Will that prattle and play playfully?
That is those two water-lily eyes
சொல்லித் தெரியாது சொல்ல முடியாது
சொல்லித் தெரியாது சொல்ல முடியாது
உள்ளத்தில் இருப்பது எது
வரும் உறக்கத்தை கெடுப்பது எது
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
What is that which resides within the heart?
What is that which destroys incoming sleep?
வண்டு நிலை போல மனது தடுமாற
வண்டு நிலை போல மனது தடுமாற
உண்டு சுவைப்பது மது
கண்ணில் கண்டு சுவைப்பது எது
As the mind wanders falteringly like a honeybee
As the mind wanders falteringly like a honeybee
Nectar is consumed and tasted
What is that which is savored merely by looking with the eyes?
கண்டு களிப்பாக காட்சி செழிப்பாக
கண்டு களிப்பாக காட்சி செழிப்பாக
கொண்டு வருவது அது
இளம் குமரி என்பதோர் மது
Delighting the viewer and making the sight rich
Delighting the viewer and making the sight rich
That is what brings joy
That sweet nectar called a young maiden
ஒன்றில் உயிராக ஒன்று பயிராக
ஒன்றில் உயிராக ஒன்று பயிராக
நின்று நிலைப்பது எது
நெஞ்சைக் கொன்று முடிப்பது எது
Being the life-breath in one and the crop in another
Being the life-breath in one and the crop in another
What is that which stands firm and endures?
What is that which slays and conquers the heart?
அன்று முதற்க்கொன்டு இன்று வரை
இங்கு வந்து மலர்ந்தது அது
இனி வாழ்த்து தருவது அது
From that day until today
That is what came here and blossomed
That is what shall grant blessings hereafter
சொல்லித் தெரியாது சொல்ல முடியாது
சொல்லித் தெரியாது சொல்ல முடியாது
உள்ளத்தில் இருப்பது அது
வரும் உறக்கத்தை கெடுப்பது அது
ஆஅ......ஆஹா....ஹா....ஆஅ......
ஆஅ...ஆஅ....ஆ......ஆஅ......ஆ......ஆ.....
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
What is that which resides within the heart?
What is that which destroys incoming sleep?
Aaa... aahaa... haa... aaa...
Aa... aaa... aa... aaa... aa... aa...
Aaa…..aahaa…..haa…aaa…..
Aaa... aahaa... haa... aaa...
Aaa…..aaa…..aa…..
Aaa... aaa... aa...
Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
Ullaththil iruppathu edhu
What is that which resides within the heart?
Varum urakkaththai keduppathu edhu
What is that which destroys incoming sleep?
Ullam thadumaara ulagam urumaara
As the heart stumbles and the world transforms
Ullam thadumaara ulagam urumaara
As the heart stumbles and the world transforms
Vellaththil midhappathu adhu
That is what floats on a surging flood
Mana vaegaththil pirappathu adhu
That is what is born at the speed of thought
Kollum madhiyaaga kodhikkum nadhiyaaga
As a deadly moon, as a boiling river
Kollum madhiyaaga kodhikkum nadhiyaaga
As a deadly moon, as a boiling river
Kannil vizhuvathu edhu
What is that which falls into the eyes?
Nenjil kavalai tharuvathu edhu
What is that which brings anxiety to the mind?
Anji nadamaadum pinju udalaadum
Moving fearfully, a delicate tender body sways
Anji nadamaadum pinju udalaadum
Moving fearfully, a delicate tender body sways
Konji vilaiyaadumaa adhu
Will that prattle and play playfully?
Iru kuvalai vizhiyaagum adhu
That is those two water-lily eyes
Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
Ullaththil iruppathu edhu
What is that which resides within the heart?
Varum urakkaththai keduppathu edhu
What is that which destroys incoming sleep?
Vandu nilai pola manathu thadumaara
As the mind wanders falteringly like a honeybee
Vandu nilai pola manathu thadumaara
As the mind wanders falteringly like a honeybee
Undu suvaippathu madhu
Nectar is consumed and tasted
Kannil kandu suvaippathu edhu
What is that which is savored merely by looking with the eyes?
Kandu kalippaaga kaatchi sezhipaaga
Delighting the viewer and making the sight rich
Kandu kalippaaga kaatchi sezhipaaga
Delighting the viewer and making the sight rich
kondu varuvathu adhu
That is what brings joy
Ilam kumari enbathor madhu
That sweet nectar called a young maiden
Ondril uyiraaga ondru payiraaga
Being the life-breath in one and the crop in another
Ondril uyiraaga ondru payiraaga
Being the life-breath in one and the crop in another
Nindru nilaippathu edhu
What is that which stands firm and endures?
Nenjai kondru mudippathu edhu
What is that which slays and conquers the heart?
Andru mudharkondu indru varai
From that day until today
Ingu vanthu malarnthathu adhu
That is what came here and blossomed
Ini vaazhththu tharuvathu adhu
That is what shall grant blessings hereafter
Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu
It cannot be known by words, it cannot be explained
Ullaththil iruppathu edhu
What is that which resides within the heart?
Varum urakkaththai keduppathu edhu
What is that which destroys incoming sleep?
Aaa……aahaa…..haa…..aaa….
Aaa... aahaa... haa... aaa...
Aa……aaa…..aa…..aaa……aa…..aa….
Aa... aaa... aa... aaa... aa... aa...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Written by poet Kannadasan for the 1963 film Kalyaniyin Kanavan, this song explores the mystifying and overwhelming experience of romantic love. Through a series of poetic riddles and answers, the narrator questions what mysterious force resides in the heart, disrupts sleep, and causes the world to shift. Love is portrayed as both a gentle comfort and a turbulent, consuming emotion that alters one's mind. The lyrics use evocative imagery to answer these emotional riddles, comparing love and the beloved to water-lily eyes, a blossoming flower, and an intoxicating nectar embodied by a young maiden. Kannadasan captures the duality of passion—how it can feel like a boiling river or a killing moon, yet ultimately brings deep joy, enduring vitality, and fulfillment to one's existence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Vandu nilai pola manathu thadumaara”
Compares the restless, wandering state of the human mind in love to the erratic movement of a honeybee (vandu).
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Ilam kumari enbathor madhu”
Metaphorically describes the young maiden as an intoxicating nectar or wine (madhu).
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Iru kuvalai vizhiyaagum adhu”
Compares beautiful eyes to water lilies (kuvalai).
Edukku (Second-Letter Rhyme)
“Solli theriyaathu solla mudiyaathu”
The second consonant 'l' (ll) rhymes between 'Solli' and 'Solla', establishing a musical rhythm.
Vina-Vidai Structure (Riddle and Answer)
“Ullaththil iruppathu edhu / Varum urakkaththai keduppathu edhu”
A traditional poetic motif where questions about emotional distress are posed first and answered in subsequent lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kalyaniyin Kanavan (1963) starred Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi, directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. The music for the film was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. Kannadasan's lyrical style in this song reflects classical Tamil literary traditions of using 'Vina-Vidai' (question and answer) structure to describe romantic feelings.
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