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Lyrics & meaning

Sundari Kannal Oru

From Thalapathi · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thalapathi1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sundari kannal oru seithiOh beautiful girl, convey a message with your eyes
Solladi innaal nalla thaethiTell me, is today an auspicious date?
Female
Ennaiyae thanthen unakkaagaI gave myself up entirely for you
Jenmamae konden atharkaagaI took this birth solely for that reason
Male
Naan unnai neenga maattenI will never separate from you
Neenginaal thoonga maattenIf separated, I will not be able to sleep
Sernthathae naam jeevanaeOur lives have merged as one
Sundari kannaal oru seithiOh beautiful girl, convey a message with your eyes
Solladi innaal nalla thaethiTell me, is today an auspicious date?
Female
Ennaiyae thanthen unakkaagaI gave myself up entirely for you
Jenmamae konden atharkaagaI took this birth solely for that reason
Female
Vaai mozhintha vaarthai yaavum kaatril ponaal GnaayamaaIs it fair if all spoken promises vanish into the wind?
Paai virithu paavai paartha kaadhal inbam maayamaaIs the romantic joy envisioned by a maiden just an illusion?
Female
Thaenilavu naan vaazha enn intha sothanaiWhy this trial when I am meant to live a blissful honeymoon?
Male
Vaan nilavai nee kelu koorum en vethanaiAsk the celestial moon, it will speak of my agony
Female
Ennai thaan anbae maranthaayoMy love, have you forgotten me?
Male
Marappen endrae ninaithaayoDid you think that I would forget you?
Female
Ennaiyae thanthen unakkaagaI gave myself up entirely for you
Jenmamae konden atharkaagaI took this birth solely for that reason
Male
Sundari kannal oru seithiOh beautiful girl, convey a message with your eyes
Solladi innaal nalla thaethiTell me, is today an auspicious date?
Female
Naan unnai neenga maattenI will never separate from you
Neenginaal thoonga maattenIf separated, I will not be able to sleep
Sernthathae naam jeevanaeOur lives have merged as one
Male
Sundari kannal oru seithiOh beautiful girl, convey a message with your eyes
Solladi innaal nalla thaethiTell me, is today an auspicious date?
Female
Ennaiyae thanthen unakkaagaI gave myself up entirely for you
Jenmamae konden atharkaagaI took this birth solely for that reason
Female
Solaiyilum mutkal thondrum naanum neeyum neenginaalEven in a flower garden, thorns will appear if you and I separate
Paalaiyilum pookkal pookkum naan un maarbil thoonginaalEven in a desert, flowers will bloom if I sleep on your chest
Male
Aaah.. mathangalum vaaram aagum naanum neeyum KoodinaalAh, months will pass like a week if you and I unite
Varangalum maatham aagum paathai maari oodinaalYears will stretch long like months if we stray onto separate paths
Female
Kodi sugam vaaraatho nee ennai theendinaalWould not endless bliss arrive if you touch me?
Female
Udanae vanthaal uyir vaazhumIf you come immediately, my soul will live on
Male
Varuven annaal varakkoodumI will come, that day might arrive soon
Male
Sundari kannal oru seithiOh beautiful girl, convey a message with your eyes
Solladi innaal nalla thaethiTell me, is today an auspicious date?
Female
Ennaiyae thanthen unakkaagaI gave myself up entirely for you
Jenmamae konden atharkaagaI took this birth solely for that reason
Male
Naan unnai neenga maattenI will never separate from you
Neenginaal thoonga maattenIf separated, I will not be able to sleep
Sernthathae naam jeevanaeOur lives have merged as one
Male
Sundari kannal oru seithiOh beautiful girl, convey a message with your eyes
Solladi innaal nalla thaethiTell me, is today an auspicious date?
Female
Ennaiyae thanthen unakkaagaI gave myself up entirely for you
Jenmamae konden atharkaagaI took this birth solely for that reason

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Sundari Kannal Oru Seithi' is a iconic romantic duet from Mani Ratnam's 1991 magnum opus 'Thalapathi'. The song portrays intense romantic devotion, yearning, and the haunting pain of impending separation between the protagonists. Vaali's lyrics express how love dramatically alters perception—making lush gardens feel like fields of thorns when lovers part, and arid deserts bloom with flowers when they are together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)

Sundari kannal oru seithi / Solladi innaal nalla thaethi

The second consonant 'nn' repeats across consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic harmony in Tamil poetry.

Antithesis / Contrast

Solaiyilum mutkal thondrum naanum neeyum neenginaal / Paalaiyilum pookkal pookkum naan un maarbil thoonginaal

Juxtaposes contrasting imagery of a lush garden turning into thorns versus a desert blooming into flowers to highlight the intensity of love and separation.

Personification / Hyperbole

Vaan nilavai nee kelu koorum en vethanai

Attributes speech to the moon to poetically emphasize the depth of agonizing sorrow felt in love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, this classic visual spectacle was shot at the UNESCO World Heritage site in Pattadakal and Badami, Karnataka. It features elaborate traditional warrior aesthetic and grand classical orchestration.

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