Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sonnapadi Kelu

From Singaravelan · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Kamal Haasan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Singaravelan1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhaListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Ethainai velai irukkuThere is so much work to do
Athanaiyum ungappana seivaanWill your father do all of that?
Naanthana seiyanumShouldn't I be the one doing it?
Kaalaila thoppu poituI have to go to the grove in the morning
Ponathu vanthathu pakkanumCheck what came and what went
Apram inga vanthu thavudu vaikkanumThen I have to come here and feed the bran
Thanni kattanumWater the plants
Apram vayalu vaaikaa onna rendaaAnd then are the farm fields and canals just one or two?
Po po olunga sonnatha kelu (Dialogue)Go, go, listen properly to what I say (Dialogue)
Male
Sonnapadi kelu ahListen as told, ah
Appdi athilla pulla (Dialogue)Not like that, girl (Dialogue)
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhaeListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Cha cha cha cha cha cha chiTsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Male
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhaeListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Ennudaiya aalu idanjal pannadhaeMy darling, do not cause disturbance
Araicha paruthi kotta punnaku naan thaarenI will give you ground cotton seed oilcake
Ahathi keera kattu avukkama naan thaarenI will give you a bundle of Agathi leaves without untying it
Ada rama rama rama rama oh oh oh deiOh Lord Rama Rama Rama Rama, oh oh oh hey
Male
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhaeListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Ennudaiya aalu idanjal pannadhaeMy darling, do not cause disturbance
Araicha paruthi kotta punnaku naan thaarenI will give you ground cotton seed oilcake
Ahathi keera kattu avukkama naan thaarenI will give you a bundle of Agathi leaves without untying it
Ada rama rama rama rama dei dei dei heyOh Lord Rama Rama Rama Rama, hey hey hey
Male
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhaeListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Ennudaiya aalu idanjal pannadhae..My darling, do not cause disturbance..
Hey hey hey hey…Hey hey hey hey…
Chorus
Maa…maaa..maaaMaa…maaa..maaa
Lala la lalal lala la la lala lala la la aaaaaaa….Lala la lalal lala la la lala lala la la aaaaaaa….
Lala la lalal lala la la lala lala la la aaaaaaa….Lala la lalal lala la la lala lala la la aaaaaaa….
Singara vela ..singaravela…aaaa….Singara vela ..singaravela…aaaa….
Singara vela ..singaravela…aaaa….Singara vela ..singaravela…aaaa….
Male
Endi en vellaimmaHey white cow, Vellaimma
Muttai munpola illayaemaAren't you laying eggs like before?
Chorus :Bamm bamm bamm bamm bamm aaaa..Chorus :Bamm bamm bamm bamm bamm aaaa..
Male :Oyyara seval kitta otti ottama poriyaemaMale :Why are you running away closely from the proud rooster?
Chorus :Bamm bamm bamm bamm bamm aaaa..Chorus :Bamm bamm bamm bamm bamm aaaa..
Male
Seval kitta neeyum konji kulava venumYou should cuddle and play with the rooster
Konjaama neeyum pona kunjugal enga thonum (Dialogue)If you leave without affectionate cuddling, where will the chicks come from? (Dialogue)
Male
Seval kitta neeyum konji kulava venumYou should cuddle and play with the rooster
Konjaama neeyum pona kunjugal enga thonumIf you leave without affectionate cuddling, where will the chicks come from?
Sola kathiru kathiru nalla varuthu varuthuThe corn stalk is growing very well
Adei maruthu maruthu atha meinja thavaruHey Maruthu Maruthu, it is a mistake if it gets grazed upon
En saatai kambu neelam paathirukka neeyumHave you seen the length of my whip stick?
Ada da da da chiOh dear dear dear, tsk
Sonnapadi kelu….Listen to what I say….
Male
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhaeListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Ennudaiya aalu idanjal pannadhaeMy darling, do not cause disturbance
Araicha paruthi kotta punnaku naan thaarenI will give you ground cotton seed oilcake
Ahathi keera kattu avukkama naan thaarenI will give you a bundle of Agathi leaves without untying it
Ada rama rama rama rama hey hey hey deiOh Lord Rama Rama Rama Rama, hey hey hey hey
Male
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhaeListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Ennudaiya aalu idanjal pannadhaeMy darling, do not cause disturbance
Dei dei hey heyHey hey hey hey
Chorus
Baa bambam baa bam bam baaaBaa bambam baa bam bam baaa
Ooooo….oooooooOoooo….ooooooo
Baa bambam baa bam bam baaaBaa bambam baa bam bam baaa
Ooooo….oooooooOoooo….ooooooo
Maaaaa…..maaa..deii..Maaaaa…..maaa..hey..
Maaaa…aaa…Maaaa…aaa…
Male
Ullooru kaalai ellam nee venaanu sollalaiyaDidn't you reject all the local bulls?
Chorus :Eeeya eeya eeya eeeyaa…Chorus :Eeeya eeya eeya eeeyaa…
Nellore kaalaikitta unna naan kondu sekkalaiyaDidn't I unite you with the bull from Nellore?
Chorus :Eeeya eeya eeya eeeyaa…Chorus :Eeeya eeya eeya eeeyaa…
Male
Un vaadipatti vamsam thaadikombuku pochuYour Vadipatti lineage went to Thadikombu
Un kannukutty amsam kannungapadalaachu (Dialogue)Your calf-like beauty became subject to envy (Dialogue)
Male
Un vaadipatti vamsam thaadikombuku pochuYour Vadipatti lineage went to Thadikombu
Un kannukutty amsam kannungapadalaachuYour calf-like beauty became subject to envy
Adi sarasu sarasu peru perusu perusuHey Sarasu Sarasu, your name is big and grand
Antha palasu palasu atha maranthaa thavaruIf you forget the old bond, it is a mistake
En saatai kambu neelam paathirukka neeyumHave you seen the length of my whip stick?
Ada da da da chiOh dear dear dear, tsk
Sonnapadi kelu….Listen to what I say….
Male
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhaeListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Ennudaiya aalu idanjal pannadhaeMy darling, do not cause disturbance
Araichu paruthi kota punnaku hmmm…mmm..Ground cotton seed oilcake, hmmm... mmm..
Ahathi keera kattu hmmm..mmm.mmm..Bundle of Agathi leaves, hmmm.. mmm. mmm..
Ada rama rama rama rama dei dei dei deiOh Lord Rama Rama Rama Rama, hey hey hey hey
Male
Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadheListen to what I say, do not create trouble
Ennudaiya aalu idanjal pannadhaeMy darling, do not cause disturbance
hey hey hey hey heyhey hey hey hey hey
Sonnapadi kelu…ha ha… makkar pannadhaeListen to what I say... ha ha... do not create trouble
Ennudaiya aalu idanjal pannadhae…heyy..My darling, do not cause disturbance... hey..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Sonnapadi Kelu' is a humorous, rustic song from the 1992 Tamil film Singaravelan, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali. The song features rural comedy and banter between the protagonist and farm animals (a cow named Vellaimma, roosters, and bulls), served as an allegory for romantic affection and playful threats. Kamal Haasan's comical delivery and spoken dialogues add a theatrical charm to the track. Throughout the song, the singer negotiates with his stubborn farm animals using tempting treats like cotton seed oilcake and Agathi leaves, warning them playfully while expressing affection through metaphoric, rural village anecdotes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Sonnapadi kelu makkar pannadhae

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'S' in 'Sonnapadi' and 'Seval' across lines.

Edugai (Rhyming Second Letter)

Araicha paruthi kotta punnaku naan thaaren

Rhyming of second consonant 'ra' in 'Araicha' and 'Ahathi'.

Metaphor

Un vaadipatti vamsam thaadikombuku pochu

Comparing human romantic antics and village relationships to farm animals like bulls and hens.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt lists music and singers as unknown, 'Sonnapadi Kelu' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung primarily by Kamal Haasan along with Mano and chorus. The song stands out for Kamal Haasan's incredible vocal modulation and improvisational comedic dialogues.

Keep listening

More from Singaravelan