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Isaimozhi
Ratchagan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sonia Sonia

From Ratchagan · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Udit Narayan, P. Unnikrishnan, Harini
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Ratchagan
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
30 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Soniya soniya soniya soniya soniya
Soniya soniya soka vaikum soniya
Kaadhalil nee endha vagai kooru
Hey soniya soniya soka vaikum soniya
Kaadhalil nee endha vagai kooru
Kaadhalilae rendu vagai
Saivam undu asaivam undu
Rendil nee yendha vagai kooru
Silanaal saivam undu
Silanaal asaivam undu
Pennin kangalai kandu
Sevai seivadhu nandru
Soniya soniya soka vaikum soniya
Kaadhalil nee endha vagai kooru
Kaadhalilae rendu vagai
Saivam undu asaivam undu
Rendil nee yendha vagai kooru
Silanaal saivam undu
Silanaal asaivam undu
Pennin kangalai kandu
Sevai seivadhu nandru
………………………………………….
……………………………………………………
Poovodu urasum poongaatrai polae
Seerodu anaithaal athu saivam
Verodu valaikum puyal kaatrai polae
Maarbodu ezhuthaal adhu asaivam
Pullil vandhu vizhum thooralai pol
Oru pennin meethu kai
Theenduvadhu saivam
Karaiyai meerugindra vellathai pol
Oru pennai sernthu ellai
Thanduvadhu asaivam
Pen koonthal meedhu poovaagata
Un koonthal kalaithu vilaiyaadata
Melidhaana muthathil sathae illai
Methai mel saivathil artham illai
Perinbam kaanadha pen ondrum pen illai
Soniya soniya soka vaikum soniya
Kaadhalil nee endha vagai kooru
Ull nenjum thudikum ullukul vedikum
Poo polae anaika porumai illai
Pen ondru pudhumai kannadi padhumai
Kaiyaala therindhaal kavalai illai
Kaadhal cricketil sattam illai
Oru saasthiram illai
Runs yedupadhu thaan velai
Penmai baarangal thaanguvadhillai
Kan thoonguvadhillai
Pen malligai poo maalai
Thattaamal ponaal thangam illai
Ottaamal ponaal mogam illai
Kamathin vaathathil nyayam illai
Kannathin kaayangal kaadhal illai
Penthevai yedhuvendru arigindra aanillai
Soniya soniya soka vaikum soniya
Kaadhalil nee endha vagai kooru
Kaadhalilae rendu vagai
Saivam undu asaivam undu
Rendil nee yendha vagai kooru
Silanaal saivam undu
Silanaal asaivam undu
Pennin kangalai kandu
Sevai seivadhu nandru
Soniya soniya soniya
Sonia, Sonia, Sonia, Sonia, Sonia!
Sonia, Sonia, enchanting Sonia!
Tell me, which type are you in love?
Hey Sonia, Sonia, enchanting Sonia!
Tell me, which type are you in love?
In love, there are two types:
There is vegetarian, and there is non-vegetarian!
Tell me, which of the two are you?
Some days it is vegetarian,
some days it is non-vegetarian!
Looking into a woman's eyes,
it is best to serve her desires.
Sonia, Sonia, enchanting Sonia!
Tell me, which type are you in love?
In love, there are two types:
There is vegetarian, and there is non-vegetarian!
Tell me, which of the two are you?
Some days it is vegetarian,
some days it is non-vegetarian!
Looking into a woman's eyes,
it is best to serve her desires.
...
...
Like a gentle breeze brushing against a flower,
if you embrace her tenderly, that is vegetarian.
Like a storm wind bending trees to their roots,
if you pull her to your chest, that is non-vegetarian!
Like a light drizzle falling upon the grass,
a hand resting on a woman
with a gentle touch is vegetarian.
Like a raging flood breaching its banks,
uniting with a woman and
crossing every limit is non-vegetarian!
Shall I become a flower in a woman's hair?
Or shall I tousle your hair and play?
A faint kiss has no real punch in it!
On the bed, being vegetarian makes no sense!
A woman who hasn't felt supreme bliss is no woman at all!
Sonia, Sonia, enchanting Sonia!
Tell me, which type are you in love?
The heart inside pounds and bursts within,
there is no patience left to hold you softly like a flower!
A woman is a delicate marvel, a doll made of glass;
if you know how to handle her, there is no worry!
In the cricket match of love, there are no fixed rules,
there are no ancient codes;
scoring runs is the only goal!
A woman's tender heart cannot bear heavy burdens,
her eyes cannot find sleep;
a woman is a garland of sweet jasmine flowers.
If it is not beaten into shape, it is not pure gold;
if you do not cling close, there is no passion!
There is no justice in the arguments of lust,
bruises left on the cheek are not true love!
There is no man who truly understands what a woman needs!
Sonia, Sonia, enchanting Sonia!
Tell me, which type are you in love?
In love, there are two types:
There is vegetarian, and there is non-vegetarian!
Tell me, which of the two are you?
Some days it is vegetarian,
some days it is non-vegetarian!
Looking into a woman's eyes,
it is best to serve her desires.
Sonia, Sonia, Sonia!
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Soniya Soniya' from Ratchagan is a playful, sensual romantic track where the leads debate the nature of romance and physical intimacy. Vairamuthu uses food preferences as a humorous metaphor, dividing love into 'Saivam' (vegetarian/gentle, tender affection) and 'Asaivam' (non-vegetarian/intense, wild passion). Through poetic allegories of gentle breezes vs. stormy gales, and quiet drizzles vs. overflowing floods, the song explores the dynamic between tender romance and intense desire, ultimately celebrating mutual understanding and emotional connection in love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Saivam undu asaivam undu

Comparing gentle tender love to 'Saivam' (vegetarian) and wild passionate love to 'Asaivam' (non-vegetarian).

Simile (Uvamai)

Poovodu urasum poongaatrai polae

Comparing gentle affection to a soft breeze brushing against a flower.

Simile (Uvamai)

Verodu valaikum puyal kaatrai polae

Comparing intense passion to a tempestuous storm that uproots trees.

Extended Metaphor

Kaadhal cricketil sattam illai

Comparing the unpredictable and rule-free nature of romance to playing a game of cricket.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Silanaal saivam undu

Repetition of starting sounds in 'Silanaal saivam undu' and 'Silanaal asaivam undu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Soniya Soniya' was composed by A. R. Rahman for the 1997 action-romantic film Ratchagan, starring Nagarjuna and Sushmita Sen. Sung by Udit Narayan, Unnikrishnan, and Kavita Krishnamurthy, the song became a chartbuster known for its unique blend of contemporary rhythm and Vairamuthu's quirky metaphorical lyrics.

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