Sonnalum Ketkadha
From Aada Vantha Deivam · 1960
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Aada Vantha Deivam1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga | This is a world that does not listen even when told. |
| Sollaama ponaalum puriyaathunga | Yet it does not understand if left unsaid. |
| Idhil munnaalum pogaama pinnaalum pogaama | In this, without moving forward or going backward, |
| Muzhikkira kumbal yaeraalanga | There are endless crowds staring in confusion. |
| Female | |
| Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga | This is a world that does not listen even when told. |
| Sollaama ponaalum puriyaathunga | Yet it does not understand if left unsaid. |
| Idhil munnaalum pogaama pinnaalum pogaama | In this, without moving forward or going backward, |
| Muzhikkira kumbal yaeraalanga | There are endless crowds staring in confusion. |
| Female | |
| Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga | This is a world that does not listen even when told. |
| Female | |
| Somberi aaguthunga | Some people become lazy. |
| Silathu thoongaama thoonguthunga | Some pretend to sleep without actually sleeping. |
| Somberi aaguthunga | Some people become lazy. |
| Silathu thoongaama thoonguthunga | Some pretend to sleep without actually sleeping. |
| Female | |
| Pudhu tholilai thubakki | Instead of starting new industries, |
| Pala thuyaraththai theerkkaama | And relieving many sorrows, |
| Thuttukkalai pettiyil poottuthunga | They lock away their money in boxes. |
| Female | |
| Pudhu tholilai thubakki | Instead of starting new industries, |
| Pala thuyaraththai theerkkaama | And relieving many sorrows, |
| Thuttukkalai pettiyil poottuthunga | They lock away their money in boxes. |
| Female | |
| Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagamunga | This is a world that does not listen even when told. |
| Female | |
| Paadupadum yaezhaigalum | The hardworking poor people, |
| Panam ullavarum saernthidunga | And the rich people should come together. |
| Paadupadum yaezhaigalum | The hardworking poor people, |
| Panam ullavarum saernthidunga | And the rich people should come together. |
| Female | |
| Pudhu paathaiyai vaguththidunga | Carve out a new path. |
| Pangu pottu saappidunga | Share and eat together. |
| Paarapatcham illaama vaazhnthidunga endru | Live without partiality or discrimination—even when told this, |
| Female | |
| Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga | This is a world that does not listen even when told. |
| Sollaama ponaalum puriyaathunga | Yet it does not understand if left unsaid. |
| Idhil munnaalum pogaama pinnaalum pogaama | In this, without moving forward or going backward, |
| Muzhikkira kumbal yaeraalanga | There are endless crowds staring in confusion. |
| Female | |
| Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga… | This is a world that does not listen even when told... |
சொன்னாலும் கேட்காத உலகமுங்க
சொல்லாம போனாலும் புரியாதுங்க
இதில் முன்னாலும் போகாம பின்னாலும் போகாம
முழிக்கிற கும்பல் ஏராளங்க
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
Yet it does not understand if left unsaid.
In this, without moving forward or going backward,
There are endless crowds staring in confusion.
சொன்னாலும் கேட்காத உலகமுங்க
சொல்லாம போனாலும் புரியாதுங்க
இதில் முன்னாலும் போகாம பின்னாலும் போகாம
முழிக்கிற கும்பல் ஏராளங்க
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
Yet it does not understand if left unsaid.
In this, without moving forward or going backward,
There are endless crowds staring in confusion.
சொன்னாலும் கேட்காத உலகமுங்க
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
சோம்பேறி ஆகுதுங்க
சிலது தூங்காம தூங்குதுங்க
சோம்பேறி ஆகுதுங்க
சிலது தூங்காம தூங்குதுங்க
Some people become lazy.
Some pretend to sleep without actually sleeping.
Some people become lazy.
Some pretend to sleep without actually sleeping.
புதுத் தொழிலைத் துவக்கி
பலர் துயரத்தை தீர்க்காம
துட்டுகளை பெட்டியில் பூட்டுதுங்க
Instead of starting new industries,
And relieving many sorrows,
They lock away their money in boxes.
புதுத் தொழிலைத் துவக்கி
பலர் துயரத்தை தீர்க்காம
துட்டுகளை பெட்டியில் பூட்டுதுங்க
Instead of starting new industries,
And relieving many sorrows,
They lock away their money in boxes.
சொன்னாலும் கேட்காத உலகமுங்க
சொல்லாம போனாலும் புரியாதுங்க
இதில் முன்னாலும் போகாம பின்னாலும் போகாம
முழிக்கிற கும்பல் ஏராளங்க
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
சொன்னாலும் கேட்காத உலகமுங்க
The hardworking poor people,
And the rich people should come together.
The hardworking poor people,
And the rich people should come together.
பாடுபடும் ஏழைகளும்
பணம் உள்ளவரும் சேர்ந்திடுங்க
பாடுபடும் ஏழைகளும்
பணம் உள்ளவரும் சேர்ந்திடுங்க
Carve out a new path.
Share and eat together.
Live without partiality or discrimination—even when told this,
புது பாதையை வகுத்திடுங்க
பங்குப் போட்டு சாப்பிடுங்க
பாரபட்சம் இல்லாம வாழ்ந்திடுங்க என்று
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
Yet it does not understand if left unsaid.
In this, without moving forward or going backward,
There are endless crowds staring in confusion.
சொன்னாலும் கேட்காத உலகமுங்க
சொல்லாம போனாலும் புரியாதுங்க இதில்
முன்னாலும் போகாம பின்னாலும் போகாம
முழிக்கிற கும்பல் ஏராளங்க
This is a world that does not listen even when told...
சொன்னாலும் கேட்காத உலகமுங்க...
Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
Sollaama ponaalum puriyaathunga
Yet it does not understand if left unsaid.
Idhil munnaalum pogaama pinnaalum pogaama
In this, without moving forward or going backward,
Muzhikkira kumbal yaeraalanga
There are endless crowds staring in confusion.
Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
Sollaama ponaalum puriyaathunga
Yet it does not understand if left unsaid.
Idhil munnaalum pogaama pinnaalum pogaama
In this, without moving forward or going backward,
Muzhikkira kumbal yaeraalanga
There are endless crowds staring in confusion.
Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
Somberi aaguthunga
Some people become lazy.
Silathu thoongaama thoonguthunga
Some pretend to sleep without actually sleeping.
Somberi aaguthunga
Some people become lazy.
Silathu thoongaama thoonguthunga
Some pretend to sleep without actually sleeping.
Pudhu tholilai thubakki
Instead of starting new industries,
Pala thuyaraththai theerkkaama
And relieving many sorrows,
Thuttukkalai pettiyil poottuthunga
They lock away their money in boxes.
Pudhu tholilai thubakki
Instead of starting new industries,
Pala thuyaraththai theerkkaama
And relieving many sorrows,
Thuttukkalai pettiyil poottuthunga
They lock away their money in boxes.
Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagamunga
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
Paadupadum yaezhaigalum
The hardworking poor people,
Panam ullavarum saernthidunga
And the rich people should come together.
Paadupadum yaezhaigalum
The hardworking poor people,
Panam ullavarum saernthidunga
And the rich people should come together.
Pudhu paathaiyai vaguththidunga
Carve out a new path.
Pangu pottu saappidunga
Share and eat together.
Paarapatcham illaama vaazhnthidunga endru
Live without partiality or discrimination—even when told this,
Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga
This is a world that does not listen even when told.
Sollaama ponaalum puriyaathunga
Yet it does not understand if left unsaid.
Idhil munnaalum pogaama pinnaalum pogaama
In this, without moving forward or going backward,
Muzhikkira kumbal yaeraalanga
There are endless crowds staring in confusion.
Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga…
This is a world that does not listen even when told...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Sonnaalum Ketkaatha Ulagam from the movie Aada Vantha Deivam (1960) is a philosophical and socially conscious song composed by K. V. Mahadevan and written by A. Maruthakasi. Sung with expressiveness by P. Susheela, the song offers a sharp critique of societal obstinacy, noting that people stubbornly ignore good advice while remaining ignorant when unguided. It highlights how indecision keeps the masses stagnant while wealthy individuals hoard money instead of establishing industries to solve unemployment and poverty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga / Sollaama ponaalum puriyaathunga”
Repetition of the initial sound 'So' in consecutive lines ('Sonnaalum' / 'Sollaama').
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Sonnaalum ketkaatha ulagumunga / Sollaama ponaalum puriyaathunga”
Repetition of the honorific end-suffix '-unga' across lines to create rhythmic flow.
Paradox / Oxymoron
“Silathu thoongaama thoonguthunga”
The phrase 'thoongaama thoonguthunga' (sleeping without sleeping) paradoxically describes people feigning ignorance or pretending to be asleep to evade responsibility.
Antithesis
“Idhil munnaalum pogaama pinnaalum pogaama”
Contrast between moving forward ('munnaalum') and going backward ('pinnaalum') to depict social stagnation.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song reflects the socio-economic and reformist themes common in Tamil cinema during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi frequently embedded practical socialist philosophy and calls for economic equality into lighthearted, folk-inspired tunes crafted by K. V. Mahadevan.
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