Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sondham Ondrai Thedum (Sad)

From Enna Petha Raasa · 1989

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Enna Petha Raasa1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sontham ondrai thedum annakkiliThe swan-like bird searching for a kinship of its own,
Enna solli paadum intha kiliWhat song will this parrot sing now?
Male
Sontham ondrai thedum annakkiliThe swan-like bird searching for a kinship of its own,
Enna solli paadum intha kiliWhat song will this parrot sing now?
Intha kural ketkuthaaCan you hear this voice?
Thunbam thannai thoonduthaaDoes it stir up deep sorrow?
Anbu ondru serum neram yaedhuWhen is the time for love to finally unite?
Anbu ondru serum neram yaedhuWhen is the time for love to finally unite?
Male
Vaanaththu ambuliyaiThe celestial moon in the sky,
Varavazhaikka venum endruWishing to call it down to me,
Thaniyaaga thavam irunthuI performed austere penance all alone,
Vegunaalum vendi nindraenAnd prayed fervently for many long days.
Male
Vaanaththu ambuliyaiThe celestial moon in the sky,
Varavazhaikka venum endruWishing to call it down to me,
Thaniyaaga thavam irunthuI performed austere penance all alone,
Vegunaalum vendi nindraenAnd prayed fervently for many long days.
Male
Enthan thavamthaan palikkaFor my penance to bear fruit,
Dheivam varam thanthathammaaGod granted a divine boon, my dear.
Ambuliyum bhoomi thannilThe moon itself upon this earth,
Un uruvil vanthathammaaArrived taking your beautiful form, my dear.
Male
Veedhi vazhi ponaal velli rathamIf you walk along the street, you are a silver chariot,
Tharaiyil nadanthaalae thanga rathamWhen walking on the ground, a golden chariot,
Dheivam nammai yaeno piriththathuWhy did God separate the two of us?
Male
Sontham ondrai thedum annakkiliThe swan-like bird searching for a kinship of its own,
Enna solli paadum intha kiliWhat song will this parrot sing now?
Male
Siru veenai thaan eduththuTaking a delicate veena in hand,
Viralaalae adhai meettiPlucking its strings with fingers,
Urugi manam paaduthammaaMy heart melts as I sing, my dear,
Kurunagaiyum ponathammaaEven the gentle smile has vanished, my dear.
Male
Siru veenai thaan eduththuTaking a delicate veena in hand,
Viralaalae adhai meettiPlucking its strings with fingers,
Urugi manam paaduthammaaMy heart melts as I sing, my dear,
Kurunagaiyum ponathammaaEven the gentle smile has vanished, my dear.
Male
Paadal thannil nee irukkaWhile you dwell within this song,
Painkodiyumthaan ilaikkaThe tender creeper-like woman wilts,
Kuralgalilae naan thudikkaWhile I tremble through these vocal notes,
Kulangkodiyumthaan thavikkaThe noble lady suffers in pain,
Male
Eesan arul engae sendrathuWhere has the grace of Almighty God gone?
Yaenthizhaiyin manamum veruththathuThe adorned maiden's heart grew despondent.
Dheivam nammai yaeno piriththathuWhy did God separate the two of us?
Male
Sontham ondrai thedum annakkiliThe swan-like bird searching for a kinship of its own,
Enna solli paadum intha kiliWhat song will this parrot sing now?
Intha kural ketkuthaaCan you hear this voice?
Thunbam thannai thoonduthaaDoes it stir up deep sorrow?
Anbu ondru serum neram yaedhuWhen is the time for love to finally unite?
Anbu ondru serum neram yaedhuWhen is the time for love to finally unite?
Male
Sontham ondrai thedum annakkiliThe swan-like bird searching for a kinship of its own,
Enna solli paadum intha kiliWhat song will this parrot sing now?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This melancholic song portrays the deep emotional anguish of a lover yearning for reunion with his lost soulmate. Comparing himself and his beloved to birds seeking kinship and the celestial moon brought down to Earth through divine penance, the protagonist expresses how fate arbitrarily separated two souls that were destined to be together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvam (Metaphor)

Ambuliyum bhoomi thannil un uruvil vanthathammaa

Comparing the beloved to the moon ('Ambuliyum bhoomi thannil un uruvil vanthathammaa') and to a golden/silver chariot ('velli ratham', 'thanga ratham').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Intha kural ketkuthaa / Thunbam thannai thoonduthaa

Rhyming second letters in 'Vaanaththu' and 'Varavazhaikka' or 'Intha' and 'Thunbam'.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Sontham ondrai thedum annakkili

Repetition of the refrain 'Sontham ondrai thedum annakkili' to emphasize longing and isolation.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Enna Petha Raasa' (1989) features a celebrated soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Piraisoodan. The song captures classic Tamil cinema melos using traditional metaphors of nature and devotion.

Keep listening

More from Enna Petha Raasa