Sonnathu Neethana
From Nenjil Or Aalayam · 1962
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nenjil Or Aalayam1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Sonnadhu | Was it really you |
| Needhaana } (2) | who said those words? |
| Sol sol sol ennuyirae | Speak, speak, speak, my soul! |
| Female | |
| Sonnadhu | Was it really you |
| Needhaana sol sol | who said it? Speak, speak, |
| Sol ennuyirae | speak, my beloved soul! |
| Female | |
| { Sammadham | Was it truly |
| Thaanaa } (2) | your consent? |
| { Yen yen yen | Why, why, why, |
| Ennuyirae } (2) | my dear soul? |
| Female | |
| Sonnadhu | Was it really you |
| Needhaana sol sol | who said it? Speak, speak, |
| Sol ennuyirae | speak, my beloved soul! |
| Female | |
| Innoru | In someone else's |
| Kaigalilae yaar | hands, who is that? |
| Yaar naanaa | Is that really me? |
| Enai marandhayaa | Have you forgotten me? |
| Yen yen yen en uyirae | Why, why, why, my soul? |
| Female | |
| Sonnadhu | Was it really you |
| Needhaana sol sol | who said it? Speak, speak, |
| Sol ennuyirae | speak, my beloved soul! |
| Female | |
| { Mangala | The auspicious |
| Maalai kungumam | garland and vermillion, |
| Yaavum thandhadhellam | giving all of that, |
| Needhaanae | wasn't it you? |
| Female | |
| Manamagalai | Envisioning me as a bride |
| Thirumagalai ninaithadhellam | and as Goddess Lakshmi, |
| Needhaanae }(2) | wasn't it you? |
| Female | |
| En | In my |
| Manadhil un | heart, linking your own |
| Manadhai inaithadhum | heart and soul, |
| Needhaanae | wasn't it you? |
| Female | |
| Irudhi | Until the very |
| Varai thunaiyirupen | end, I shall remain by your side, |
| Endradhum needhaanae | wasn't it you who swore that? |
| Female | |
| Indru sonnadhu | What you said today, |
| Needhaana sol sol | was it really you? Speak, speak, |
| Sol ennuyirae | speak, my beloved soul! |
| Female | |
| { Deivathin | Adorning the very |
| Maarbil soodiya | chest of the Almighty, |
| Maalai theruvinilae | can a sacred garland fall |
| Vizhalamaa | onto the dusty street? |
| Female | |
| Theruvinilae | Even if on the street |
| Vizhundhalum veroar | it happens to fall, can another's |
| Kai thodalaamaa } (2) | hands dare to touch it? |
| Female | |
| Oru | On a single |
| Kodiyil oru | creeper, only once |
| Muraidhaan | does a true flower blossom, |
| Malarum malarallavaa | does it not? |
| Female | |
| Oru | In a single |
| Manadhil oru | heart, only once |
| Muraidhaan | does true love grow, |
| Valarum uravallavaa | is that not the nature of a sacred bond? |
| Female | |
| Innoru Kaigalilae | In someone else's hands... |
{ சொன்னது
நீதானா } (2)
சொல் சொல்
சொல் என்னுயிரே
Was it really you
who said those words?
Speak, speak, speak, my soul!
சொன்னது
நீதானா சொல் சொல்
சொல் என்னுயிரே
Was it really you
who said it? Speak, speak,
speak, my beloved soul!
{ சம்மதம்
தானா } (2)
{ ஏன் ஏன் ஏன்
என்னுயிரே } (2)
Was it truly
your consent?
Why, why, why,
my dear soul?
சொன்னது
நீதானா சொல் சொல்
சொல் என்னுயிரே
Was it really you
who said it? Speak, speak,
speak, my beloved soul!
இன்னொரு
கைகளிலே யார் யார்
நானா என்னை மறந்தாயா
ஏன் ஏன் ஏன் என் உயிரே
In someone else's
hands, who is that?
Is that really me?
Have you forgotten me?
Why, why, why, my soul?
சொன்னது
நீதானா சொல் சொல்
சொல் என்னுயிரே
Was it really you
who said it? Speak, speak,
speak, my beloved soul!
{ மங்கள மாலை
குங்குமம் யாவும்
தந்ததெல்லாம் நீதானே
The auspicious
garland and vermillion,
giving all of that,
wasn't it you?
மணமகளை
திருமகளாய்
நினைத்ததெல்லாம்
நீதானே } (2)
Envisioning me as a bride
and as Goddess Lakshmi,
wasn't it you?
என் மனதில்
உன் மனதை
இணைத்ததும் நீதானே
In my
heart, linking your own
heart and soul,
wasn't it you?
இறுதி வரை
துணையிருப்பேன்
என்றதும் நீதானே
Until the very
end, I shall remain by your side,
wasn't it you who swore that?
இன்று சொன்னது
நீதானா சொல் சொல்
சொல் என்னுயிரே
What you said today,
was it really you? Speak, speak,
speak, my beloved soul!
{ தெய்வத்தின்
மார்பில் சூடிய மாலை
தெருவினிலே விழலாமா
Adorning the very
chest of the Almighty,
can a sacred garland fall
onto the dusty street?
தெருவினிலே
விழுந்தாலும் வேறோர்
கை தொடலாமா } (2)
Even if on the street
it happens to fall, can another's
hands dare to touch it?
ஒரு கொடியில்
ஒரு முறைதான் மலரும்
மலரல்லவா
On a single
creeper, only once
does a true flower blossom,
does it not?
ஒரு மனதில்
ஒரு முறைதான்
வளரும் உறவல்லவா
In a single
heart, only once
does true love grow,
is that not the nature of a sacred bond?
இன்னொரு கைகளிலே
In someone else's hands...
{ Sonnadhu
Was it really you
Needhaana } (2)
who said those words?
Sol sol sol ennuyirae
Speak, speak, speak, my soul!
Sonnadhu
Was it really you
Needhaana sol sol
who said it? Speak, speak,
Sol ennuyirae
speak, my beloved soul!
{ Sammadham
Was it truly
Thaanaa } (2)
your consent?
{ Yen yen yen
Why, why, why,
Ennuyirae } (2)
my dear soul?
Sonnadhu
Was it really you
Needhaana sol sol
who said it? Speak, speak,
Sol ennuyirae
speak, my beloved soul!
Innoru
In someone else's
Kaigalilae yaar
hands, who is that?
Yaar naanaa
Is that really me?
Enai marandhayaa
Have you forgotten me?
Yen yen yen en uyirae
Why, why, why, my soul?
Sonnadhu
Was it really you
Needhaana sol sol
who said it? Speak, speak,
Sol ennuyirae
speak, my beloved soul!
{ Mangala
The auspicious
Maalai kungumam
garland and vermillion,
Yaavum thandhadhellam
giving all of that,
Needhaanae
wasn't it you?
Manamagalai
Envisioning me as a bride
Thirumagalai ninaithadhellam
and as Goddess Lakshmi,
Needhaanae }(2)
wasn't it you?
En
In my
Manadhil un
heart, linking your own
Manadhai inaithadhum
heart and soul,
Needhaanae
wasn't it you?
Irudhi
Until the very
Varai thunaiyirupen
end, I shall remain by your side,
Endradhum needhaanae
wasn't it you who swore that?
Indru sonnadhu
What you said today,
Needhaana sol sol
was it really you? Speak, speak,
Sol ennuyirae
speak, my beloved soul!
{ Deivathin
Adorning the very
Maarbil soodiya
chest of the Almighty,
Maalai theruvinilae
can a sacred garland fall
Vizhalamaa
onto the dusty street?
Theruvinilae
Even if on the street
Vizhundhalum veroar
it happens to fall, can another's
Kai thodalaamaa } (2)
hands dare to touch it?
Oru
On a single
Kodiyil oru
creeper, only once
Muraidhaan
does a true flower blossom,
Malarum malarallavaa
does it not?
Oru
In a single
Manadhil oru
heart, only once
Muraidhaan
does true love grow,
Valarum uravallavaa
is that not the nature of a sacred bond?
Innoru Kaigalilae
In someone else's hands...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song depicts the deep grief, shock, and existential disbelief of a heartbroken woman who confronts her beloved after he suggests or accepts her marriage to another person. She questions whether the man who once showered her with sacred promises of life-long devotion, respect, and eternal union can truly be the same person now casting her off to another.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Sol sol sol ennuyirae”
The frantic repetition of 'Sol sol sol' and 'Yen yen yen' emphasizes the heroine's intense emotional distress, desperation, and longing for an answer.
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagathin Thani-thanmai)
“Deivathin Maarbil soodiya Maalai theruvinilae Vizhalamaa”
The holy garland offered to God falling to the street serves as a poignant metaphor for a sacred love being degraded or abandoned.
Rhetorical Question
“Vizhundhalum veroar Kai thodalaamaa”
The lyrics use constant rhetorical questions ('Needhaanae?', 'Kai thodalaamaa?', 'Malarallavaa?') to highlight the absurdity and pain of her lover's betrayal.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed for the landmark film 'Nenjil Or Aalayam' (1962), directed by C. V. Sridhar, the music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics penned by Kannadasan and sung by P. Susheela. The film was shot in a record 28 days on a single set and remains one of Tamil cinema's iconic triangular romance tragedies.
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