Sundari Siriya Rettai Vaal
From Kannathil Muthamittal · 2002
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kannathil Muthamittal2002
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Aanikondu megaththai | Can you nail down a cloud with an iron pin? |
| Adikka mudiyuma | Can you beat and pin down a cloud? |
| Amudhavai pooti kullae | Can you lock up nectar inside a lock? |
| Adaikka mudiyuma | Can you shut it down inside? |
| Male | |
| Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2) | Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2) |
| Female :Hae.. nacharikum chittu kuruvi..hae | Hey.. the nagging, chirping little sparrow.. hey |
| Male :Hae.. rekkai katti parakum aruvi.. | Hey.. a flying waterfall with wings attached.. |
| Hey hey hey hey…hey hey | Hey hey hey hey…hey hey |
| Chorus :Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2) | Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2) |
| Female :Hae..hae….. | Hey..hae….. |
| Chorus :Kallai kooda kanniya vaiththu | She turns even a stone into a gentle girl, |
| Pallai kaatti sirrikka vaikkum | And makes it show its teeth and laugh! |
| Chorus | |
| {Aanikondu megaththai | Can you nail down a cloud with an iron pin? |
| Adikka mudiyuma | Can you beat and pin down a cloud? |
| Amudhavai pooti kullae | Can you lock up nectar inside a lock? |
| Adaikka mudiyuma} (2) | Can you shut it down inside? (2) |
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna kurumbugal | Small, tiny playful mischiefs, |
| Thittamittu purigiral | She plans out and executes with intent. |
| Pongi varum kovathai | The anger that wells up inside, |
| Punnagaiyil thodakiral | She wipes away with just a smile. |
| Female :Kanna kuzhiyil | In her dimpled cheeks, |
| Kavalai pudhaipal | She buries away all worries. |
| Jadayil aagayam ilupaal | With her braided hair, she pulls down the sky. |
| Male | |
| Inbangallin ellayum avalae | She is the ultimate boundary of all joys, |
| Chorus :Thollaitharum pillaiyum avalae | And she is also the child who causes playful trouble. |
| Female :Narumana thendralum avaldhanae | She herself is the fragrant gentle breeze. |
| Chorus | |
| Alaiya pidiththu kayiril kayiril | Catching a ocean wave with a rope, with a rope, |
| Kattuvathu nadakkamudindha seyala | Is tying it down a possible thing to do? |
| Female :Ivalum kooda aada pirandha | Isn't she also born to dance endlessly, |
| Alaiyallavaaaaa…ha hahaha… | Just like an ocean wave... ha hahaha... |
| Chorus | |
| Hae.. nacharikum chittu kuruvi..hae | Hey.. the nagging, chirping little sparrow.. hey |
| Hae.. rekkai katti parakum aruvi.. | Hey.. a flying waterfall with wings attached.. |
| Hey hey hey hey…hey hey | Hey hey hey hey…hey hey |
| Male | |
| Pal mulaitha pattampoochi | A butterfly that has grown teeth, |
| Kannaththai kadikumae | Will playfully bite your cheek! |
| Male :Paasa thodu muththam thandhu | With affection, giving a tender kiss, |
| Parisum kodukumae | She will also present a gift! |
| Female | |
| Annai annai avalukku | Mother, oh mother! To her mother, |
| Annai kooda ivalthaanae | She herself acts like a mother too! |
| Magalendru vaiththirukkum | Treating her like a daughter, |
| Mamiyarum ivaldhanae | She is even the mother-in-law to her! |
| Chorus | |
| Palli vagupill villi ivallae | In the school classroom, she is the villain, |
| Female :Padipil heroine ivallae | In studies, she is the heroine! |
| Male | |
| Aayiram kelvigal yerival | She hurls a thousand questions at you, |
| Male :Aval mattum vidaigalai arival | And she alone knows all the answers! |
| Female :Teacherukku veetil vagupedupal | At home, she takes classes even for her teacher! |
| Male | |
| Ivallai naalai manakkapogum asadu | The fool who is going to marry her tomorrow, |
| Enna paadu paduvaan | Oh, what trouble will he suffer! |
| Chorus :Ival paadham kazhuvum neeril samayal | In the water used to wash her feet, cooking, |
| Seyivanoo..oohooo | Will he cook food in that water? Oohooo... |
| Male :No no no no no | No no no no no! |
| Chorus | |
| Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2) | Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2) |
| Male & Female :Hae..hae….. | Hey..hae….. |
| Chorus :Kallai kooda kanniya vaiththu | She turns even a stone into a gentle girl, |
| Pallai kaatti sirrikka vaikkum | And makes it show its teeth and laugh! |
ஆணி கொண்டு
மேகத்தை அடிக்க முடியுமா
அமுதாவை பூட்டி குள்ளே
அடைக்க முடியுமா
Can you nail down a cloud with an iron pin?
Can you beat and pin down a cloud?
Can you lock up nectar inside a lock?
Can you shut it down inside?
சுந்தரி சிறிய
ரெட்டை வால் சுந்தரி (2)
ஹே நச்சரிக்கும்
சிட்டு குருவி ஹே
ஹே ரெக்கை கட்டி
பறக்கும் அருவி ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹே
குழு :
சுந்தரி சிறிய
ரெட்டை வால் சுந்தரி (2)
ஹே ஹே
குழு :
கல்லை கூட கன்னியா
வைத்து பல்லை காட்டி சிரிக்க
வைக்கும்
Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2)
Hey.. the nagging, chirping little sparrow.. hey
Hey.. a flying waterfall with wings attached..
Hey hey hey hey…hey hey
Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2)
Hey..hae…..
She turns even a stone into a gentle girl,
And makes it show its teeth and laugh!
{ ஆணி கொண்டு
மேகத்தை அடிக்க முடியுமா
அமுதாவை பூட்டி குள்ளே
அடைக்க முடியுமா } (2)
Can you nail down a cloud with an iron pin?
Can you beat and pin down a cloud?
Can you lock up nectar inside a lock?
Can you shut it down inside? (2)
சின்ன சின்ன குறும்புகள்
திட்ட மிட்டு புரிகிறாள் பொங்கி
வரும் கோவத்தை புன்னகையில்
தொடைக்கிறாள்
கன்ன குழியில் கவலை
புதைப்பாள் ஜடையில் ஆகாயம்
இழுப்பாள்
Small, tiny playful mischiefs,
She plans out and executes with intent.
The anger that wells up inside,
She wipes away with just a smile.
In her dimpled cheeks,
She buries away all worries.
With her braided hair, she pulls down the sky.
இன்பங்களின்
எல்லையும் அவளே
குழு :
தொல்லை தரும்
பிள்ளையும் அவளே
நறுமண தென்றலும்
அவள் தானே
She is the ultimate boundary of all joys,
And she is also the child who causes playful trouble.
She herself is the fragrant gentle breeze.
அலைய பிடித்து
கயிறில் கயிறில் கட்டுவது
நடக்க முடிந்த செயலா
இவளும் கூட ஆட
பிறந்த அலையல்லவா ஹா
ஹாஹாஹா
Catching a ocean wave with a rope, with a rope,
Is tying it down a possible thing to do?
Isn't she also born to dance endlessly,
Just like an ocean wave... ha hahaha...
ஆண் & பெண் :
சுந்தரி சிறிய
ரெட்டை வால் சுந்தரி
குழு :
சுந்தரி சிறிய
ரெட்டை வால் சுந்தரி
Hey.. the nagging, chirping little sparrow.. hey
Hey.. a flying waterfall with wings attached..
Hey hey hey hey…hey hey
ஹே நச்சரிக்கும் சிட்டு
குருவி ஹே ஹே ரெக்கை கட்டி
பறக்கும் அருவி ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
A butterfly that has grown teeth,
Will playfully bite your cheek!
With affection, giving a tender kiss,
She will also present a gift!
பல் முளைத்த
பட்டாம்பூச்சி கன்னத்தை
கடிக்குமே
பாச தோடு முத்தம்
தந்து பரிசும் கொடுக்குமே
Mother, oh mother! To her mother,
She herself acts like a mother too!
Treating her like a daughter,
She is even the mother-in-law to her!
அன்னை அன்னை
அவளுக்கு அன்னை கூட
இவள் தானே மகள் என்று
வைத்திருக்கும் மாமியாரும்
இவள் தானே
In the school classroom, she is the villain,
In studies, she is the heroine!
பள்ளி வகுப்பில்
வில்லி இவளே
படிப்பில்
ஹீரோயின் இவளே
She hurls a thousand questions at you,
And she alone knows all the answers!
At home, she takes classes even for her teacher!
ஆயிரம்
கேள்விகள் எரிவாள்
அவள் மட்டும்
விடைகளை அறிவாள்
டீச்சர்க்கு வீட்டில்
வகுப்பெடுப்பாள்
The fool who is going to marry her tomorrow,
Oh, what trouble will he suffer!
In the water used to wash her feet, cooking,
Will he cook food in that water? Oohooo...
No no no no no!
இவளை நாளை
மணக்க போகும் அசடு
என்ன பாடு படுவான்
குழு :
இவள் பாதம் கழுவும்
நீரில் சமையல் செய்வானோ
ஓ ஹோ
நோ நோ
நோ நோ நோ
Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2)
Hey..hae…..
She turns even a stone into a gentle girl,
And makes it show its teeth and laugh!
சுந்தரி சிறிய
ரெட்டை வால் சுந்தரி (2)
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஹே ஹே
குழு :
கல்லை கூட கன்னியா
வைத்து பல்லை காட்டி சிரிக்க
வைக்கும்
Aanikondu megaththai
Can you nail down a cloud with an iron pin?
Adikka mudiyuma
Can you beat and pin down a cloud?
Amudhavai pooti kullae
Can you lock up nectar inside a lock?
Adaikka mudiyuma
Can you shut it down inside?
Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2)
Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2)
Female :Hae.. nacharikum chittu kuruvi..hae
Hey.. the nagging, chirping little sparrow.. hey
Male :Hae.. rekkai katti parakum aruvi..
Hey.. a flying waterfall with wings attached..
Hey hey hey hey…hey hey
Hey hey hey hey…hey hey
Chorus :Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2)
Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2)
Female :Hae..hae…..
Hey..hae…..
Chorus :Kallai kooda kanniya vaiththu
She turns even a stone into a gentle girl,
Pallai kaatti sirrikka vaikkum
And makes it show its teeth and laugh!
{Aanikondu megaththai
Can you nail down a cloud with an iron pin?
Adikka mudiyuma
Can you beat and pin down a cloud?
Amudhavai pooti kullae
Can you lock up nectar inside a lock?
Adaikka mudiyuma} (2)
Can you shut it down inside? (2)
Chinna chinna kurumbugal
Small, tiny playful mischiefs,
Thittamittu purigiral
She plans out and executes with intent.
Pongi varum kovathai
The anger that wells up inside,
Punnagaiyil thodakiral
She wipes away with just a smile.
Female :Kanna kuzhiyil
In her dimpled cheeks,
Kavalai pudhaipal
She buries away all worries.
Jadayil aagayam ilupaal
With her braided hair, she pulls down the sky.
Inbangallin ellayum avalae
She is the ultimate boundary of all joys,
Chorus :Thollaitharum pillaiyum avalae
And she is also the child who causes playful trouble.
Female :Narumana thendralum avaldhanae
She herself is the fragrant gentle breeze.
Alaiya pidiththu kayiril kayiril
Catching a ocean wave with a rope, with a rope,
Kattuvathu nadakkamudindha seyala
Is tying it down a possible thing to do?
Female :Ivalum kooda aada pirandha
Isn't she also born to dance endlessly,
Alaiyallavaaaaa…ha hahaha…
Just like an ocean wave... ha hahaha...
Hae.. nacharikum chittu kuruvi..hae
Hey.. the nagging, chirping little sparrow.. hey
Hae.. rekkai katti parakum aruvi..
Hey.. a flying waterfall with wings attached..
Hey hey hey hey…hey hey
Hey hey hey hey…hey hey
Pal mulaitha pattampoochi
A butterfly that has grown teeth,
Kannaththai kadikumae
Will playfully bite your cheek!
Male :Paasa thodu muththam thandhu
With affection, giving a tender kiss,
Parisum kodukumae
She will also present a gift!
Annai annai avalukku
Mother, oh mother! To her mother,
Annai kooda ivalthaanae
She herself acts like a mother too!
Magalendru vaiththirukkum
Treating her like a daughter,
Mamiyarum ivaldhanae
She is even the mother-in-law to her!
Palli vagupill villi ivallae
In the school classroom, she is the villain,
Female :Padipil heroine ivallae
In studies, she is the heroine!
Aayiram kelvigal yerival
She hurls a thousand questions at you,
Male :Aval mattum vidaigalai arival
And she alone knows all the answers!
Female :Teacherukku veetil vagupedupal
At home, she takes classes even for her teacher!
Ivallai naalai manakkapogum asadu
The fool who is going to marry her tomorrow,
Enna paadu paduvaan
Oh, what trouble will he suffer!
Chorus :Ival paadham kazhuvum neeril samayal
In the water used to wash her feet, cooking,
Seyivanoo..oohooo
Will he cook food in that water? Oohooo...
Male :No no no no no
No no no no no!
Sundari siriya rettai vaal sundari (2)
Sundari, the little girl with twin pigtails (2)
Male & Female :Hae..hae…..
Hey..hae…..
Chorus :Kallai kooda kanniya vaiththu
She turns even a stone into a gentle girl,
Pallai kaatti sirrikka vaikkum
And makes it show its teeth and laugh!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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