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Isaimozhi
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
Details
Laila Majnu1950

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
SonaaGold
Female :AangFemale: Huh?
Male :IllannaaMale: Or else...
Female :EnnathuFemale: What is it?
Male :LoovammaaMale: Love, madam!
Female :AppadinnaaFemale: What does that mean?
Male :Sonaa illainna loovamma konjamMale: A little bit of gold, or else love, madam.
Sonaa illainna loovammaGold, or else love, madam.
Female :Ada….ennathuFemale: Oh... what is that?
Male :SolluMale: Speak up!
Male :Ohho….ivvalavuthaanaMale: Oh-ho... is that all?
Male :Sonaa illainna loovamma konjamMale: A little bit of gold, or else love, madam.
Sonaa illainna loovammaGold, or else love, madam.
Male
Kadhal kalyaanam nallathaa illaiIs a love marriage good, or isn't it?
Kalyaanathukku pin kadhalaaOr love after marriage?
Kadhal kalyaanam nallathaa illaiIs a love marriage good, or isn't it?
Kalyaanathukku pin kadhalaaOr love after marriage?
Konjam sonaa illainna loovammaA little gold, or else love, madam.
Konjam sonaa illainna loovammaA little gold, or else love, madam.
Female
Kadhal purintha pin kalyaanam seivathuGetting married after falling in love,
Kanyamaana murai thaanaiyyaaIs indeed a dignified way, sir!
Kadhal purintha pin kalyaanam seivathuGetting married after falling in love,
Kanyamaana murai thaanaiyyaaIs indeed a dignified way, sir!
Pengal kann kalangum nilai pomaiyaaWill it eliminate the sorrowful state of women weeping?
Pengal kann kalangum nilai pomaiyaaWill it eliminate the sorrowful state of women weeping?
Male
Kadhal kalyaanam sariyendraalIf love marriage is considered correct,
Ulagil kannukzhagillaathaThen for women without facial beauty in this world,
Pengal kadhiyennaagumWhat will be their fate?
Sonaa illainna loovamma konjamA little gold, or else love, madam.
Sonaa illainna loovammaGold, or else love, madam.
Male
Kadhal purivathu endru ninaiththukkonduThinking they are practicing love,
Kannadippathumundu kannaththil palaarendruSome wink and get slapped on the cheek,
Adipatta pinnaalae kavalaipaduvathumunduOnly to worry after getting hurt!
Female :Idhu anupavamFemale: Is this experience talking?
Male :Illai aaraatchiMale: No, it is research!
Female
Kanda kanda pennaiThinking of random women in mind,
Karuththil ninaiththu konduAnd wandering around the beach, is that love?
Kadaloram suttruvathu kadhalaaWandering around the beach, is that love?
Kanda kanda pennaiThinking of random women in mind,
Karuththil ninaiththu konduAnd wandering around the beach, is that love?
Kadaloram suttruvathu kadhalaaWandering around the beach, is that love?
Female
Karuththai arinthidaamal nadaththai therinthidaamalWithout knowing their thoughts, without knowing their conduct,
Manasai pari koduththal kadhalaaIs giving away one's heart called love?
Karuththai arinthidaamal nadaththai therinthidaamalWithout knowing their thoughts, without knowing their conduct,
Manasai pari koduththal kadhalaaIs giving away one's heart called love?
Female
Sama anbu udaiyoraai tharaniyil vaazhnthidaTo live in this world with equal love,
Sariyaana nalangalil saernthidaJoining together with proper virtues,
Sariyaana vayathu tharamaana kalviRight age, quality education,
Samamaana gunaththodu koodiCombined with equal temperament,
Male :Oo….Male: Oo...
Female
Amaivaana udalulla aan pengalWhen men and women with compatible bodies and minds,
Edhirpada appothu undaavathu kadhalMeet each other, that is when true love is born!
Adhigaaram selvam adhu kondu pengalaiUsing authority and wealth to dominate,
Adimai paduththuvathu saathalEnslaving women is as terrible as death!
Male
Nallaa sonaa illainna loovammaWell said! Gold, or else love, madam.
Konjam sonaa illainna loovammaA little gold, or else love, madam.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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