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Isaimozhi
En Selvame album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sonnalum Nallaa illa

From En Selvame · 1985

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
En Selvame
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
1 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sonnaalum nallaa illa neeyum pennaa
Sonnaalum nallaa illa neeyum pennaa
Kondaadum pillaikku veli enna
Inba thaalaatta anbu paaraatta
Oru thaayaaga vendum needhaanae
Sonnaalum nallaa illa neeyum pennaa
Kondaadum pillaikku veli enna
Nallaaththaan kettaenga naanum pennthaan
Kondaadum pillaikku aasai undu
Konjam naal sendru pinbu thaayaaga
Naanaasai kondaen yaen kobam
Nallaaththaan kettaenga naanum pennthaan
Kondaadum pillaikku aasai undu
Kaalaththilae seithaal nalla payir valarum enbaar
Kanmaniyai pettru kodu thaayae
Kaalaththilae seithaal nalla payir valarum enbaar
Kanmaniyai pettru kodu thaayae….
Pinbu ondrirundu pothum
Adhil enakku manam undu
Aarambaththil karuvai nee azhippathenna urimai
Mudhalil peruvom piragu pothum enbom
Sonnaalum nallaa illa neeyum pennaa
Kondaadum pillaikku veli enna
Paruvaththilae petra pillai aringan aavathillai
Maruththuvaththil naan arintha paadam
Paruvaththilae petra pillai aringan aavathillai
Maruththuvaththil naan arintha paadam
Konjam anupavangal saernthu
Nalla mudhirntha pinbu pettraal
Peraringan pirappaan ena naanirunthaen thavaraa
Mudhalil peruvom ungal aasai arinthaen
Nallaaththaan kettaenga naanum pennthaan
Male :Kondaadum pillaikku veli enna
Konjam naal sendru pinbu thaayaaga
Naanaasai kondaen yaen kobam
Nallaaththaan kettaenga naanum pennthaan
Male :Kondaadum pillaikku veli enna
It doesn't sound right to say it, but are you really a woman?
It doesn't sound right to say it, but are you really a woman?
Why put up barriers to having a child we can celebrate?
To sing sweet lullabies and shower tender love,
Shouldn't you be the one to become a mother?
It doesn't sound right to say it, but are you really a woman?
Why put up barriers to having a child we can celebrate?
You asked nicely, but I am a woman too!
I too long for a child we can cherish!
To become a mother after a little time has passed,
I only wished for that, so why the anger?
You asked nicely, but I am a woman too!
I too long for a child we can cherish!
They say crops flourish when planted at the right time,
So give birth to our precious child, my love!
They say crops flourish when planted at the right time,
So give birth to our precious child, my love...
Having just one or two later will be plenty,
I agree with that completely.
What right do you have to end a life at the very beginning?
Let us have our first child, and then we can say that is enough!
It doesn't sound right to say it, but are you really a woman?
Why put up barriers to having a child we can celebrate?
A child born too early does not grow into a scholar,
That is the lesson I learned in medicine.
A child born too early does not grow into a scholar,
That is the lesson I learned in medicine.
Once we have gathered some life experience,
and have a baby after we are fully mature,
I thought a great genius would be born—was I wrong?
Let us have our first child now, I understand your wish.
You asked nicely, but I am a woman too!
Why put up barriers to having a child we can celebrate?
To become a mother after a little time has passed,
I only wished for that, so why the anger?
You asked nicely, but I am a woman too!
Why put up barriers to having a child we can celebrate?
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Female
Female
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song presents a musical dialogue between a husband and wife regarding family planning, timing of pregnancy, and parenthood. The husband passionately argues for having a child immediately, comparing timely childbearing to planting crops during the proper season to yield a good harvest. He questions her willingness to delay motherhood and highlights the joy of holding a newborn.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor/Analogy)

Kaalaththilae seithaal nalla payir valarum enbaar

Comparing raising a child at the right time to farming crops in the correct season ('Kaalaththilae seithaal nalla payir valarum').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Paruvaththilae petra pillai aringan aavathillai / Maruththuvaththil naan arintha paadam

Rhyming of the second letter 'ru' in 'Paruvaththilae' and 'Maruththuvaththil'.

Monai (Initial Rhyming/Alliteration)

Paruvaththilae petra pillai aringan aavathillai

Repetition of the initial sound 'P' in 'Paruvaththilae' and 'petra'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Panchu Arunachalam, this song uniquely integrates themes of medical advice and family planning into a romantic duet format, contrasting emotional attachment with rational health awareness.

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