Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Suttum Vizhi Sudare

From Kandukondain Kandukondain · 2000

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kandukondain Kandukondain2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Suttum vizhichchudardhaanIs the intense flame of your gazing eyes,
KannammaaOh Kannamma,
Sooriya chandhirarooThe sun and the moon?
Vatta kariyavizhi kannammaaOh Kannamma with round, black eyes,
Vaanak karumai kollooDid they take their dark hue from the sky?
Male
Pattu karuneela pudavaiA dark blue silk saree
Padhiththa nal vayiramEmbedded with fine diamonds,
Natta nadu nisiyil theriyumAre like the stars that appear
NatchaththirangaladiIn the dead of midnight, my dear.
Male
Solai malar oliyoooIs it the radiance of garden flowers,
Unadhu sundhara punnagaidhaan…aaanThat shines as your beautiful smile?
Neela kadalalaiyaeAre the waves of the blue ocean,
Unadhu nenjin alaigaladi…ee…The very waves in your heart?
Male
Kola kuyil osaiIs the song of the sweet cuckoo bird,
Unadhu kuralin inimaiyadiThe sweetness of your voice?
Vaalai kumariyadi kannammaaOh young maiden, Kannamma,
Maruva kaadhal kondenI have fallen in deep love with you.
Male
Saaththiram pesugiraaiYou speak of scriptures and social rules,
KannamaaOh Kannamma,
Saaththiram yedhukkadiWhy do we need scriptures, my dear?
Aaththiram kondavarkkae kannamaaFor those overcome with intense love, Kannamma,
Saaththiram undoodiDo scriptures really apply?
Male
Mooththavar sammadhiyilWith the consent of our elders,
VadhuvaiThe wedding
Muraigal pinbu seivomRituals, we shall perform later.
Kaaththiruppenodi idhu paarI will wait, but look here,
Kannaththu muththam ondruJust give me a kiss on the cheek!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic poem written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, set to music by A.R. Rahman in the movie Kandukondain Kandukondain, is a passionate romantic ode to his beloved, Kannamma. The poet paints vivid natural imagery to praise her beauty, comparing her glowing eyes to the sun and moon, her round black eyes to the midnight sky, her diamond-adorned saree to the stars, her smile to glowing garden flowers, and her voice to the melodious cuckoo.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Imagery / Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Pattu karuneela pudavai / Padhiththa nal vayiram / Natta nadu nisiyil theriyum / Natchaththirangaladi

Compares Kannamma's dark blue silk saree and diamonds to the star-studded night sky.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Saaththiram yedhukkadi / Aaththiram kondavarkkae kannamaa

The second consonant 'th' (த்) rhymes between 'Saaththiram' and 'Aaththiram'.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Suttum vizhichchudardhaan / Sooriya chandhiraroo

The opening consonants match in 'Suttum' and 'Sooriya'.

Rhetorical Question (Sina Vina)

Saaththiram yedhukkadi

The poet asks playful rhetorical questions to emphasize her beauty and question rigid social norms.

Did you know?

Trivia

This poem is part of Subramania Bharati's famous 'Kannamma En Kadhali' literary series. For the film Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), composer A.R. Rahman adapted this classic text into a celebrated song sung by Hariharan and Mahalaxmi Iyer, seamlessly integrating classical Tamil poetry into a modern film score.

Keep listening

More from Kandukondain Kandukondain

Song2000
Smayiyai

Kandukondain Kandukondain