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Kannathil Muthamittal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sundari Siriya Rettai Vaal

From Kannathil Muthamittal · 2002

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, Tippu, Sujatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Kannathil Muthamittal
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
13 Nov 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aanikondu megaththai
Adikka mudiyuma
Amudhavai pooti kullae
Adaikka mudiyuma
Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2)
Female :Hae.. nacharikum chittu kuruvi..hae
Male :Hae.. rekkai katti parakum aruvi..
Hey hey hey hey…hey hey
Chorus :Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2)
Female :Hae..hae…..
Chorus :Kallai kooda kanniya vaiththu
Pallai kaatti sirrikka vaikkum
{Aanikondu megaththai
Adikka mudiyuma
Amudhavai pooti kullae
Adaikka mudiyuma} (2)
Chinna chinna kurumbugal
Thittamittu purigiral
Pongi varum kovathai
Punnagaiyil thodakiral
Female :Kanna kuzhiyil
Kavalai pudhaipal
Jadayil aagayam ilupaal
Inbangallin ellayum avalae
Chorus :Thollaitharum pillaiyum avalae
Female :Narumana thendralum avaldhanae
Alaiya pidiththu kayiril kayiril
Kattuvathu nadakkamudindha seyala
Female :Ivalum kooda aada pirandha
Alaiyallavaaaaa…ha hahaha…
Hae.. nacharikum chittu kuruvi..hae
Hae.. rekkai katti parakum aruvi..
Hey hey hey hey…hey hey
Pal mulaitha pattampoochi
Kannaththai kadikumae
Male :Paasa thodu muththam thandhu
Parisum kodukumae
Annai annai avalukku
Annai kooda ivalthaanae
Magalendru vaiththirukkum
Mamiyarum ivaldhanae
Palli vagupill villi ivallae
Female :Padipil heroine ivallae
Aayiram kelvigal yerival
Male :Aval mattum vidaigalai arival
Female :Teacherukku veetil vagupedupal
Ivallai naalai manakkapogum asadu
Enna paadu paduvaan
Chorus :Ival paadham kazhuvum neeril samayal
Seyivanoo..oohooo
Male :No no no no no
Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2)
Male & Female :Hae..hae…..
Chorus :Kallai kooda kanniya vaiththu
Pallai kaatti sirrikka vaikkum
Can you take a nail to a cloud
and hammer it down?
Can you lock sweet nectar in a box
and trap it inside?
Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails, Sundari!
Female: Hey, a chirpy, pestering little sparrow, hey!
Male: Hey, a waterfall with wings, flying high!
Hey hey hey hey... hey hey
Chorus: Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails, Sundari!
Female: Hey... hey...
Chorus: She can dress up even a stone like a little girl,
and make it flash a bright smile!
Can you take a nail to a cloud
and hammer it down?
Can you lock sweet nectar in a box
and trap it inside?
Every tiny bit of mischief,
she plans and carries out!
Any surging wave of anger,
she wipes away with a smile!
Female: In her sweet dimple,
she buries every worry,
and with her braids, she pulls down the sky!
She is the very peak of joy,
Chorus: yet she is also a troublesome child!
Female: And she is a fragrant gentle breeze too, isn't she?
Catching an ocean wave and tying it
with a rope—can that ever be done?
Female: Isn't she also a restless wave
born only to dance... ha hahaha...
Hey, a chirpy, pestering little sparrow, hey!
Hey, a waterfall with wings, flying high!
Hey hey hey hey... hey hey
A milk-toothed butterfly,
she playfully nibbles on your cheek!
Male: Giving an affectionate, loving kiss,
she hands you a sweet gift!
To her very own mother,
she acts like a mother too, doesn't she?
Though raised as a daughter,
she bosses around like a mother-in-law!
In the classroom, she is the naughty troublemaker,
Female: but in her studies, she is the star heroine!
She will throw a thousand questions at you,
Male: and only she will know the answers!
Female: At home, she gives lessons to her teacher mother!
The poor fool who will marry her one day,
oh, what an ordeal he will face!
Chorus: Will he end up cooking his food
in the water used to wash her feet? Oh...
Male: No, no, no, no, no!
Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails, Sundari!
Male & Female: Hey... hey...
Chorus: She can dress up even a stone like a little girl,
and make it flash a bright smile!
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Sundari' (also known as 'Signore Signore') from Mani Ratnam's 2002 film 'Kannathil Muthamittal' is a joyful, energetic celebration of the protagonist child, Amudha. Her adoptive parents and family members affectionately describe her playful nature, her sharpness, and her irresistible charm. The lyrics compare her spirited, uncontrollable innocence to untamable elements of nature like clouds, nectar, flowing waterfalls, and ocean waves. Through playful banter, the family lightheartedly sings about her mischievous antics, her intellect, and how she brings boundless joy and lively energy into their household.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagamb)

“Pal mulaitha pattampoochi / Kannaththai kadikumae”

Describing the young girl as a 'pattampoochi' (butterfly) with teeth, a 'chittu kuruvi' (sparrow), and a 'parakum aruvi' (flying waterfall).

Rhetorical Question (Santhaeha Alangaram)

“Aanikondu megaththai / Adikka mudiyuma”

Poetic questioning asking if impossible physical feats (nailing a cloud, locking nectar, tying ocean waves) can ever be done, highlighting her untamable spirit.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Aanikondu megaththai / Adikka mudiyuma”

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words within the line or across consecutive lines (e.g., 'Aanikondu' and 'Adikka', 'Amudhavai' and 'Adaikka').

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Chinna chinna kurumbugal / Thittamittu purigiral”

Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('Aanikondu' / 'Amudhavai' - 'ni'/'mu' or 'Chinna' / 'Thittamittu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu, 'Kannathil Muthamittal' won six National Film Awards. The song features a lively blend of classical Western orchestral arrangements with vibrant Tamil folk rhythms. Filmed on Keerthana (who played Amudha), R. Madhavan, and Simran, the track showcases Amudha's energetic 9th birthday celebration, establishing her central character dynamics before the emotional narrative unfolds.

Keep listening

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Maharaja1967
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Amma Pillaiya Nee1994
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