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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sonnalthane Theriyum

From Ranuva Veeran · 1981

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Ranuva Veeran1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sonnaalthaanae theriyumOnly if spoken will it be known
Ennai kannaal paaru puriyumLook at me with your eyes and you will understand
Azhagi unakku kobam edharkkuBeautiful girl, why are you angry?
Aasai athigam nenjil irukkuThere is immense desire in my heart
Male
Sonnaalthaanae theriyumOnly if spoken will it be known
Ennai kannaal paaru puriyumLook at me with your eyes and you will understand
Azhagi unakku kobam edharkkuBeautiful girl, why are you angry?
Aasai athigam nenjil irukkuThere is immense desire in my heart
Female
Maan vizhi thangai manamagalaagaFor the deer-eyed younger sister to become a bride
Maappillai paarththaayaaHave you looked for a groom?
Thaenmozhi mangai thirumanam kaanaTo see the marriage of the sweet-voiced maiden
Sinthaiyil maranthaayaeDid you forget in your thoughts?
Female
Maan vizhi thangai manamagalaagaFor the deer-eyed younger sister to become a bride
Maappillai paarththaayaaHave you looked for a groom?
Thaenmozhi mangai thirumanam kaanaTo see the marriage of the sweet-voiced maiden
Sinthaiyil maranthaayaeDid you forget in your thoughts?
Male
Poomazhai vaan megam bhoomiyai marakkaathuThe sky cloud raining flowers will not forget the earth
Kaalangal kaninthaalaeWhen the right time ripens
Inbamum malarnthidum theriyaathoHappiness will bloom, don't you know?
Inbamum malarnthidum theriyaathoHappiness will bloom, don't you know?
Female
Kannaa unnai theriyumDarling, I know who you are
Un kadhal vesham puriyumI understand your disguise of love
Unathu sirippu manathil thudippuYour smile brings a thump in the heart
Indru arinthen unthan nadippuToday I discovered your act
Female
Kozhiyumingae sevalumingaeHere is a hen, here is a rooster
Kudumpaththai paaringaeLook at their family here
Jodigalindri paravaigal koodaEven birds, without being paired
Vaazhvathuthaan engaeWhere do they ever live?
Female
Kozhiyumingae sevalumingaeHere is a hen, here is a rooster
Kudumpaththai paaringaeLook at their family here
Jodigalindri paravaigal koodaEven birds, without being paired
Vaazhvathuthaan engaeWhere do they ever live?
Male
Paravaiyin nilai veruThe nature of a bird is different
Manithanin kadhai veruThe story of a human is different
Paravaiyin nilai veruThe nature of a bird is different
Manithanin kadhai veruThe story of a human is different
Manithargalinam polaeUnlike mankind
Paravaigal kadamaiyai ariyaathuBirds do not understand duty
Paravaigal kadamaiyai ariyaathuBirds do not understand duty
Male
Sonnaalthaanae theriyumOnly if spoken will it be known
Ennai kannaal paaru puriyumLook at me with your eyes and you will understand
Male
Nadhiyinil vellaam varugira pothuWhen floods rush down the river
Naanalai nee paaruLook at the reed
Naanalai polae vaazhavum therinthaalIf one knows how to live like a flexible reed
Vaazhkkaiyil thuyaraethuWhere is sorrow in life?
Vaazhkkaiyil thuyaraethuWhere is sorrow in life?
Female
Naanalum naanillaiI am not a reed
Naanoru penpillaiI am a young woman
Vaalipam ponaalaeOnce youth passes away
Vaazhkkaiyil vasanthamum vaaraathuThe spring of life will not return
Vaazhkkaiyil vasanthamum vaaraathuThe spring of life will not return
Male
Sonnaalthaanae theriyumOnly if spoken will it be known
Ennai kannaal paaru puriyumLook at me with your eyes and you will understand
Azhagi unakku kobam edharkkuBeautiful girl, why are you angry?
Aasai athigam nenjil irukkuThere is immense desire in my heart

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sonnaalthaanae Theriyum from Ranuva Veeran (1981) is a playful and philosophical duet between the lead couple. The male protagonist reassures his lover that his affection is genuine, asking her not to be angry. He tries to temper her urgency by reminding her of family duties, such as arranging her sister's wedding, and urges patience by drawing parallels with nature—like rain clouds waiting to bless the earth and reeds yielding flexibly to river floods. The female protagonist playfully counters his idealism, pointing out that birds live happily in pairs without overthinking duty. She emphasizes that youth is temporary and love shouldn't be endlessly delayed for societal duties, creating a charming clash between patience and youthful longing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Maan vizhi thangai manamagalaaga / Maappillai paarththaayaa

Matching starting consonant sounds across words in the same line, such as 'Maan' and 'Maappillai'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kozhiyumingae sevalumingae / Kudumpaththai paaringae

Matching second-consonant sounds between consecutive lines, seen in 'Kozhiyumingae' and 'Kudumpaththai' (the 'zha/da' rhyming sound group).

Metaphor & Simile (Uvamai)

Naanalai polae vaazhavum therinthaal

Comparing human adaptability to river reeds ('Naanalai polae') bending with the flood instead of breaking.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ranuva Veeran (1981) stars Rajinikanth and Sridevi with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. Uniquely, this romantic song features the playback singing duet between real-life brother and sister, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. P. Sailaja, who bring an energetic and playful vocal dynamic to the musical composition.

Keep listening

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