Sonnalthaan Kadhala
From Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala · 2001
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singers
- K. S. Chitra, Hariharan
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa….aah….aa….aa…aa…. | Aa... aah... aa... aa... aa... |
| Male | |
| Sonnaalthaan | Only if expressed... |
| Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa | Is it love only if expressed? |
| Female :Kadhalaa | Female: Is it love? |
| Male: Sollaamalae | Male: Without being sung... |
| Sollaamalae oru paadalaa | Is it a song without being sung? |
| Female :Padalaa | Female: A song? |
| Male | |
| Kaadal meedhu alai kadhalaa | Is the wave upon the ocean a love affair? |
| Male :Aah | Male: Aah |
| Male :Maram meedhu izhai kadhalaa | Male: Is the leaf upon the tree a love affair? |
| Female | |
| Malarodu thendral kadhalaa | Is the gentle breeze with the flower a love affair? |
| Manathodu manam kadhalaa | Is the union of heart with heart a love affair? |
| Male | |
| Engum engum kadhal | Love is everywhere, everywhere |
| Edhil illai kadhal | In what is love not present? |
| Ullam engum kadhal | Love is inside every heart |
| Ulagengum kadhal | Love is throughout the world |
| Male | |
| Engum engum kadhal | Love is everywhere, everywhere |
| Edhil illai kadhal | In what is love not present? |
| Ullam engum kadhal | Love is inside every heart |
| Ulagengum kadhal | Love is throughout the world |
| Male | |
| Illaatha idamillai | There is no place where love does not exist |
| Adhu nuzhaiyaatha manam illai | There is no mind that love does not enter |
| Female :Aa…aah….aa…aa…. | Female: Aa... aah... aa... aa... |
| Male | |
| Sonnaalthaan | Only if expressed... |
| Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa | Is it love only if expressed? |
| Female | |
| Mm….mm…..mmmm….. | Mm... mm... mmmm... |
| Male | |
| Silarathu kadhal pesum kadhal | Some people's love is a spoken love |
| Silarathu kadhal mounam kadhal | Some people's love is a silent love |
| Female :Silarathu kadhal saernthidum kadhal | Female: Some people's love unites them |
| Silarathu kadhal pirinthidum kadhal | Some people's love separates them |
| Male | |
| Soozhnizhai thaduththaal silarathu kadhal | If circumstances obstruct, some people's love... |
| Oruthalai kadhal andro…oo…. | Becomes a one-sided love, doesn't it? |
| Yogam irunthaal silarathu kadhal | If good fortune shines, some people's love... |
| Iruthala kadhal andro | Becomes a two-sided mutual love, doesn't it? |
| Female | |
| Sollaatha kadhal | An unspoken love... |
| Sollaatha kaasai | An unexpressed desire... |
| Aadhamaal maname sollividu | Therefore, oh heart, express it! |
| Male | |
| Sonnaalthaan | Only if expressed... |
| Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa | Is it love only if expressed? |
| Female :Sollaamalae | Female: Without being sung... |
| Sollaamalae oru paadalaa | Is it a song without being sung? |
| Female | |
| Aa…aa…aah…. | Aa... aa... aah... |
| Female | |
| Jaathi madham vedham kadhalukku illai | Caste, religion, and scriptures do not exist for love |
| Yaezhai panakkaaran viththiyaasam illai | There is no distinction between the poor and the rich |
| Male | |
| Anthasthu padippu kadhal paarppathillai | Love does not look at status or education |
| Azhago asingamo adhu ninaippathillai | It does not think about beauty or ugliness |
| Female | |
| Ullaththil kadhal unmaiyaai | When love truly arises... |
| Udhiththaal mattravai maranthuvidum | In the heart, all other differences are forgotten |
| Aa…aa…aa…aah….aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aah... aa... |
| Female | |
| Ulagamae koodi aliththida ninaiththaal | Even if the whole world gathers to destroy it |
| Uyiraiyum thoranthuvidum | It will even relinquish life itself |
| Male | |
| Udal kattai vegum | The physical body will burn to ashes |
| Uyir koodal thaavum | The soul will leap into union |
| Kadhal mattum saagaathu | Only love will never die |
| Female | |
| Sonnaalthaan | Only if expressed... |
| Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa kadhalaa | Is it love only if expressed, my love? |
| Male :Sollaamalae | Male: Without being sung... |
| Sollaamalae oru paadalaa paadalaa | Is it a song without being sung, a song? |
| Female | |
| Kadal meethu alai kadhalaa | Is the wave upon the sea a love affair? |
| Maram meethu ilai kadhalaa | Is the leaf upon the tree a love affair? |
| Male :Malarodu thendral kadhalaa | Male: Is the breeze with the flower a love affair? |
| Manathodu manam kadhalaa | Is the union of mind with mind a love affair? |
| Female | |
| Engum engum kadhal | Love is everywhere, everywhere |
| Edhil illai kadhal | In what is love not present? |
| Ullam engum kadhal | Love is inside every heart |
| Ulagengum kadhal | Love is throughout the world |
| Male | |
| Engum engum kadhal | Love is everywhere, everywhere |
| Edhil illai kadhal | In what is love not present? |
| Ullam engum kadhal | Love is inside every heart |
| Ulagengum kadhal | Love is throughout the world |
| Male | |
| Illaatha idamillai | There is no place where love does not exist |
| Adhu nuzhaiyaatha | Which love does not enter... |
| Both :Manam illai….aa…aa…. | Both: There is no mind... aa... aa... |
| Male | |
| Sonnaalthaan | Only if expressed... |
| Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa | Is it love only if expressed? |
| Female :Kadhalaa | Female: Is it love? |
| Male :Sollamalae | Male: Without being sung... |
| Sollaamalae oru paadalaa | Is it a song without being sung? |
| Female :Paadalaa | Female: A song? |
ஆ....ஆஹ்....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ....
Aa... aah... aa... aa... aa...
சொன்னால்தான்
சொன்னால்தான் காதலா
காதலா
சொல்லாமலே
சொல்லாமலே ஒரு பாடலா
பாடலா
Only if expressed...
Is it love only if expressed?
Female: Is it love?
Male: Without being sung...
Is it a song without being sung?
Female: A song?
கடல் மீது அலை காதலா
ஆஹ்....
மரம் மீது இழை காதலா
Is the wave upon the ocean a love affair?
Male: Aah
Male: Is the leaf upon the tree a love affair?
மலரோடு தென்றல் காதலா
மனதோடு மனம் காதலா
Is the gentle breeze with the flower a love affair?
Is the union of heart with heart a love affair?
எங்கும் எங்கும் காதல்
எதில் இல்லை காதல்
உள்ளம் எங்கும் காதல்
உலகெங்கும் காதல்
Love is everywhere, everywhere
In what is love not present?
Love is inside every heart
Love is throughout the world
எங்கும் எங்கும் காதல்
எதில் இல்லை காதல்
உள்ளம் எங்கும் காதல்
உலகெங்கும் காதல்
Love is everywhere, everywhere
In what is love not present?
Love is inside every heart
Love is throughout the world
இல்லாத இடமில்லை
அது நுழையாத மனம் இல்லை
ஆ....ஆஹ்...ஆ.....ஆ.....
There is no place where love does not exist
There is no mind that love does not enter
Female: Aa... aah... aa... aa...
சொன்னால்தான்
சொன்னால்தான் காதலா
Only if expressed...
Is it love only if expressed?
ம்ம்....ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்ம்.....
Mm... mm... mmmm...
சிலரது காதல் பேசும் காதல்
சிலரது காதல் மௌனம் காதல்
சிலரது காதல் சேர்ந்திடும் காதல்
சிலரது காதல் பிரிந்திடும் காதல்
Some people's love is a spoken love
Some people's love is a silent love
Female: Some people's love unites them
Some people's love separates them
சூழ்நிலை தடுத்தால் சிலரது காதல்
ஒருதலை காதல் அன்றோ......ஓ.....
யோகம் இருந்தால் சிலரது காதல்
இருதல காதல் அன்றோ
If circumstances obstruct, some people's love...
Becomes a one-sided love, doesn't it?
If good fortune shines, some people's love...
Becomes a two-sided mutual love, doesn't it?
சொல்லாத காதல்
செல்லாத காசை
ஆதமால் மனமே சொல்லிவிடு
An unspoken love...
An unexpressed desire...
Therefore, oh heart, express it!
சொன்னால்தான்
சொன்னால்தான் காதலா
சொல்லாமலே
சொல்லாமலே ஒரு பாடலா
Only if expressed...
Is it love only if expressed?
Female: Without being sung...
Is it a song without being sung?
ஆ....ஆ....ஆஹ்....
Aa... aa... aah...
ஜாதி மதம் வேதம் காதலுக்கு இல்லை
ஏழை பணக்காரன் வித்தியாசம் இல்லை
Caste, religion, and scriptures do not exist for love
There is no distinction between the poor and the rich
அந்தஸ்து படிப்பு காதல் பார்ப்பதில்லை
அழகோ அசிங்கமோ அது நினைப்பதில்லை
Love does not look at status or education
It does not think about beauty or ugliness
உள்ளத்தில் காதல் உண்மையாய்
உதித்தாள் மற்றவை மறந்துவிடும்
ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆஹ்......ஆ....
When love truly arises...
In the heart, all other differences are forgotten
Aa... aa... aa... aah... aa...
உலகமே கூடி அளித்திட நினைத்தாள்
உயிரையும் தொறந்துவிடும்
Even if the whole world gathers to destroy it
It will even relinquish life itself
உடல் கட்டைவேகும்
உயிர் கூடல் தாவும்
காதல் மட்டும் சாகாது
The physical body will burn to ashes
The soul will leap into union
Only love will never die
சொன்னால்தான் சொன்னால்தான்
காதலா காதலா
சொல்லாமலே சொல்லாமலே
ஒரு பாடலா பாடலா
Only if expressed...
Is it love only if expressed, my love?
Male: Without being sung...
Is it a song without being sung, a song?
கடல் மீது அலை காதலா
மரம் மீது இலை காதலா
மலரோடு தென்றல் காதலா
மனதோடு மனம் காதலா
Is the wave upon the sea a love affair?
Is the leaf upon the tree a love affair?
Male: Is the breeze with the flower a love affair?
Is the union of mind with mind a love affair?
எங்கும் எங்கும் காதல்
எதில் இல்லை காதல்
உள்ளம் எங்கும் காதல்
உலகெங்கும் காதல்
Love is everywhere, everywhere
In what is love not present?
Love is inside every heart
Love is throughout the world
எங்கும் எங்கும் காதல்
எதில் இல்லை காதல்
உள்ளம் எங்கும் காதல்
உலகெங்கும் காதல்
Love is everywhere, everywhere
In what is love not present?
Love is inside every heart
Love is throughout the world
இல்லாத இடம் இல்லை
அது நுழையாத
இருவர் :
மனம்மில்லை ஆ....ஆ....
There is no place where love does not exist
Which love does not enter...
Both: There is no mind... aa... aa...
சொன்னால்தான்
சொன்னால்தான் காதலா
காதலா
சொல்லாமலே
சொல்லாமலே ஒரு பாடலா
பாடலா
Only if expressed...
Is it love only if expressed?
Female: Is it love?
Male: Without being sung...
Is it a song without being sung?
Female: A song?
Aa….aah….aa….aa…aa….
Aa... aah... aa... aa... aa...
Sonnaalthaan
Only if expressed...
Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa
Is it love only if expressed?
Female :Kadhalaa
Female: Is it love?
Male: Sollaamalae
Male: Without being sung...
Sollaamalae oru paadalaa
Is it a song without being sung?
Female :Padalaa
Female: A song?
Kaadal meedhu alai kadhalaa
Is the wave upon the ocean a love affair?
Male :Aah
Male: Aah
Male :Maram meedhu izhai kadhalaa
Male: Is the leaf upon the tree a love affair?
Malarodu thendral kadhalaa
Is the gentle breeze with the flower a love affair?
Manathodu manam kadhalaa
Is the union of heart with heart a love affair?
Engum engum kadhal
Love is everywhere, everywhere
Edhil illai kadhal
In what is love not present?
Ullam engum kadhal
Love is inside every heart
Ulagengum kadhal
Love is throughout the world
Engum engum kadhal
Love is everywhere, everywhere
Edhil illai kadhal
In what is love not present?
Ullam engum kadhal
Love is inside every heart
Ulagengum kadhal
Love is throughout the world
Illaatha idamillai
There is no place where love does not exist
Adhu nuzhaiyaatha manam illai
There is no mind that love does not enter
Female :Aa…aah….aa…aa….
Female: Aa... aah... aa... aa...
Sonnaalthaan
Only if expressed...
Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa
Is it love only if expressed?
Mm….mm…..mmmm…..
Mm... mm... mmmm...
Silarathu kadhal pesum kadhal
Some people's love is a spoken love
Silarathu kadhal mounam kadhal
Some people's love is a silent love
Female :Silarathu kadhal saernthidum kadhal
Female: Some people's love unites them
Silarathu kadhal pirinthidum kadhal
Some people's love separates them
Soozhnizhai thaduththaal silarathu kadhal
If circumstances obstruct, some people's love...
Oruthalai kadhal andro…oo….
Becomes a one-sided love, doesn't it?
Yogam irunthaal silarathu kadhal
If good fortune shines, some people's love...
Iruthala kadhal andro
Becomes a two-sided mutual love, doesn't it?
Sollaatha kadhal
An unspoken love...
Sollaatha kaasai
An unexpressed desire...
Aadhamaal maname sollividu
Therefore, oh heart, express it!
Sonnaalthaan
Only if expressed...
Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa
Is it love only if expressed?
Female :Sollaamalae
Female: Without being sung...
Sollaamalae oru paadalaa
Is it a song without being sung?
Aa…aa…aah….
Aa... aa... aah...
Jaathi madham vedham kadhalukku illai
Caste, religion, and scriptures do not exist for love
Yaezhai panakkaaran viththiyaasam illai
There is no distinction between the poor and the rich
Anthasthu padippu kadhal paarppathillai
Love does not look at status or education
Azhago asingamo adhu ninaippathillai
It does not think about beauty or ugliness
Ullaththil kadhal unmaiyaai
When love truly arises...
Udhiththaal mattravai maranthuvidum
In the heart, all other differences are forgotten
Aa…aa…aa…aah….aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aah... aa...
Ulagamae koodi aliththida ninaiththaal
Even if the whole world gathers to destroy it
Uyiraiyum thoranthuvidum
It will even relinquish life itself
Udal kattai vegum
The physical body will burn to ashes
Uyir koodal thaavum
The soul will leap into union
Kadhal mattum saagaathu
Only love will never die
Sonnaalthaan
Only if expressed...
Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa kadhalaa
Is it love only if expressed, my love?
Male :Sollaamalae
Male: Without being sung...
Sollaamalae oru paadalaa paadalaa
Is it a song without being sung, a song?
Kadal meethu alai kadhalaa
Is the wave upon the sea a love affair?
Maram meethu ilai kadhalaa
Is the leaf upon the tree a love affair?
Male :Malarodu thendral kadhalaa
Male: Is the breeze with the flower a love affair?
Manathodu manam kadhalaa
Is the union of mind with mind a love affair?
Engum engum kadhal
Love is everywhere, everywhere
Edhil illai kadhal
In what is love not present?
Ullam engum kadhal
Love is inside every heart
Ulagengum kadhal
Love is throughout the world
Engum engum kadhal
Love is everywhere, everywhere
Edhil illai kadhal
In what is love not present?
Ullam engum kadhal
Love is inside every heart
Ulagengum kadhal
Love is throughout the world
Illaatha idamillai
There is no place where love does not exist
Adhu nuzhaiyaatha
Which love does not enter...
Both :Manam illai….aa…aa….
Both: There is no mind... aa... aa...
Sonnaalthaan
Only if expressed...
Sonnaalthaan kadhalaa
Is it love only if expressed?
Female :Kadhalaa
Female: Is it love?
Male :Sollamalae
Male: Without being sung...
Sollaamalae oru paadalaa
Is it a song without being sung?
Female :Paadalaa
Female: A song?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Sonnaal Thaan Kaadhala explores the philosophical essence of love, questioning whether love requires explicit verbal expression to exist or if it is an innate, unspoken force of nature. By comparing love to organic pairings in nature—waves on the sea, leaves on trees, and gentle breezes touching flowers—the song illustrates that connection manifests even without words. It examines the various expressions of love, including silent devotion, unrequited love, and mutual affection blessed by fate. Furthermore, the track highlights love's power to demolish artificial human barriers like caste, religion, wealth, status, and physical appearance. Ultimately, the song proclaims that while mortal bodies crumble and fade, genuine love remains immortal, indestructible, and omnipresent across the universe.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monorhyme and Alliteration (Emonai / Iyaibu)
“Ullaththil kadhal unmaiyaai / Udhiththaal mattravai maranthuvidum”
T. Rajendar uses repetitive starting phonemes ('U') across multiple lines ('Ullaththil', 'Udhiththaal', 'Ulagamae', 'Uyiraiyum', 'Udal', 'Uyir') to build rhythmic momentum.
Analogy / Natural Imagery
“Kadal meethu alai kadhalaa / Maram meethu ilai kadhalaa”
Compares human love to natural, effortless pairings like ocean waves, leaves on trees, and breeze touching flowers.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Silarathu kadhal pesum kadhal / Silarathu kadhal mounam kadhal”
Repeats 'Silarathu kadhal' at the start of consecutive lines to emphasize the different manifestations of love across human experiences.
Juxtaposition / Antithesis
“Oruthalai kadhal andro... / Iruthala kadhal andro”
Contrasts opposing concepts like spoken/silent, union/separation, one-sided/mutual, and body/soul to accentuate the duality of romantic journeys.
Did you know?
Trivia
This is the title track of the 2001 Tamil movie 'Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala', entirely written, directed, composed, and starred in by T. Rajendar. T. Rajendar is legendary in Tamil cinema for his distinctive style of rhyming lyricism and high-energy music composition.
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