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Laila Majnu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sona Illainna Loo

From Laila Majnu · 1950

Lyricist
C. A. Lakshmana Das
Singers
N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Mathuram
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Movie name
Laila Majnu
Movie release year
1950
Lyrics added on
9 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sonaa
Female :Aang
Male :Illannaa
Female :Ennathu
Male :Loovammaa
Female :Appadinnaa
Male :Sonaa illainna loovamma konjam
Sonaa illainna loovamma
Female :Ada….ennathu
Male :Sollu
Male :Ohho….ivvalavuthaana
Male :Sonaa illainna loovamma konjam
Sonaa illainna loovamma
Kadhal kalyaanam nallathaa illai
Kalyaanathukku pin kadhalaa
Kadhal kalyaanam nallathaa illai
Kalyaanathukku pin kadhalaa
Konjam sonaa illainna loovamma
Konjam sonaa illainna loovamma
Kadhal purintha pin kalyaanam seivathu
Kanyamaana murai thaanaiyyaa
Kadhal purintha pin kalyaanam seivathu
Kanyamaana murai thaanaiyyaa
Pengal kann kalangum nilai pomaiyaa
Pengal kann kalangum nilai pomaiyaa
Kadhal kalyaanam sariyendraal
Ulagil kannukzhagillaatha
Pengal kadhiyennaagum
Sonaa illainna loovamma konjam
Sonaa illainna loovamma
Kadhal purivathu endru ninaiththukkondu
Kannadippathumundu kannaththil palaarendru
Adipatta pinnaalae kavalaipaduvathumundu
Female :Idhu anupavam
Male :Illai aaraatchi
Kanda kanda pennai
Karuththil ninaiththu kondu
Kadaloram suttruvathu kadhalaa
Kanda kanda pennai
Karuththil ninaiththu kondu
Kadaloram suttruvathu kadhalaa
Karuththai arinthidaamal nadaththai therinthidaamal
Manasai pari koduththal kadhalaa
Karuththai arinthidaamal nadaththai therinthidaamal
Manasai pari koduththal kadhalaa
Sama anbu udaiyoraai tharaniyil vaazhnthida
Sariyaana nalangalil saernthida
Sariyaana vayathu tharamaana kalvi
Samamaana gunaththodu koodi
Male :Oo….
Amaivaana udalulla aan pengal
Edhirpada appothu undaavathu kadhal
Adhigaaram selvam adhu kondu pengalai
Adimai paduththuvathu saathal
Nallaa sonaa illainna loovamma
Konjam sonaa illainna loovamma
Sona...
Female: Huh?
Male: If not...
Female: What is it?
Male: ...loovamma!
Female: What does that mean?
Male: "Sona illenna loovamma"—speak up, or listen to me!
Speak up, or listen to me!
Female: Ah... what is it?
Male: Tell me!
Male: Oh... is that all?
Male: Tell me, or at least listen to me, dear!
Tell me, or at least listen to me!
Is a love marriage better,
or falling in love after marriage?
Is a love marriage better,
or falling in love after marriage?
Tell me, or at least listen to me!
Tell me, or at least listen to me!
Marrying after falling in love
is the truly honorable way, sir!
Marrying after falling in love
is the truly honorable way, sir!
The sorrow that brings women to tears will vanish, sir!
The sorrow that brings women to tears will vanish, sir!
If love marriage is the right way,
then for women in this world who aren't pleasing to the eye,
what will become of their fate?
Tell me, or at least listen to me!
Tell me, or at least listen to me!
Thinking they are pursuing romance,
some wink, get slapped hard across the cheek,
and only after getting hit do they regret it!
Female: Is this personal experience?
Male: No, it is research!
Thinking of every woman you see,
keeping her in your mind,
and roaming the seashore—is that love?
Thinking of every woman you see,
keeping her in your mind,
and roaming the seashore—is that love?
Without knowing her mind or understanding her character,
giving your heart away—is that love?
Without knowing her mind or understanding her character,
giving your heart away—is that love?
To live in this world with mutual love,
united in true harmony,
with matching age and good education,
joined with compatible temperaments,
Male: Oh...
when a well-matched man and woman
meet face to face, what is born then is true love!
Using power and wealth to subjugate women
and enslaving them is nothing less than death!
Tell me clearly, or at least listen to me!
Tell me, or at least listen to me!
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful yet deeply philosophical musical debate features the legendary duo N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Madhuram discussing the merits and true definition of love versus arranged marriage. The song questions superficial attraction—such as roaming the beach or flirting—and contrasts love marriages with societal expectations, asking what happens to women who may not fit conventional beauty standards if love alone dictates marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

Kadaloram suttruvathu kadhalaa

The lyrics use questioning techniques to provoke critical thought about superficial romance versus true intellectual and emotional compatibility.

Emonai / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Karuththai arinthidaamal nadaththai therinthidaamal

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds creating rhythmic resonance across adjacent words.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Karuththai arinthidaamal nadaththai therinthidaamal

Rhyming endings '-idaamal' used consecutively to create a poetic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is performed by N. S. Krishnan (NSK) and T. A. Madhuram, the most celebrated comedic couple in early Tamil cinema. Known as 'Kalaivanar', NSK consistently used his songs and comedy tracks to weave reformist social values, anti-dowry messages, and rationalist ideals into mainstream popular culture.

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