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Nenjil Or Aalayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sonnathu Neethana

From Nenjil Or Aalayam · 1962

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Nenjil Or Aalayam
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
11 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Sonnadhu
Needhaana } (2)
Sol sol sol ennuyirae
Sonnadhu
Needhaana sol sol
Sol ennuyirae
{ Sammadham
Thaanaa } (2)
{ Yen yen yen
Ennuyirae } (2)
Sonnadhu
Needhaana sol sol
Sol ennuyirae
Innoru
Kaigalilae yaar
Yaar naanaa
Enai marandhayaa
Yen yen yen en uyirae
Sonnadhu
Needhaana sol sol
Sol ennuyirae
{ Mangala
Maalai kungumam
Yaavum thandhadhellam
Needhaanae
Manamagalai
Thirumagalai ninaithadhellam
Needhaanae }(2)
En
Manadhil un
Manadhai inaithadhum
Needhaanae
Irudhi
Varai thunaiyirupen
Endradhum needhaanae
Indru sonnadhu
Needhaana sol sol
Sol ennuyirae
{ Deivathin
Maarbil soodiya
Maalai theruvinilae
Vizhalamaa
Theruvinilae
Vizhundhalum veroar
Kai thodalaamaa } (2)
Oru
Kodiyil oru
Muraidhaan
Malarum malarallavaa
Oru
Manadhil oru
Muraidhaan
Valarum uravallavaa
Innoru Kaigalilae
Was it really you
who said this?
Tell me, tell me, tell me, my life...
Was it really you
who said this? Tell me, tell me,
tell me, my life.
Is this truly
your consent?
Why, oh why,
my life?
Was it really you
who said this? Tell me, tell me,
tell me, my life.
In someone else's
hands... who,
who, me?
Have you forgotten me?
Why, oh why, my life?
Was it really you
who said this? Tell me, tell me,
tell me, my life.
The wedding
garland and sacred kumkum,
weren't you the one who gave
all of them to me?
Looking at your bride,
seeing a goddess of fortune in her,
wasn't that you?
My
heart with your
heart, uniting them as one,
wasn't that you?
"Until the very
end, I will stay by your side,"
wasn't it you who said that?
Today, was it really you
who said this? Tell me, tell me,
tell me, my life.
The garland worn
on the chest of God,
can that garland
fall onto the street?
Even if on the street
it falls, can another
hand ever touch it?
On a single
vine, only
once
does a flower blossom, doesn't it?
In a single
heart, only
once
does a true bond grow, doesn't it?
In someone else's hands...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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