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Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Idhukku Thaanaa Um Mela

From Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan · 1987

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
31 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oo….ooo….ooo…..oo…..ooo….
Oo….ooo….ooo…..oo…..ooo….
Oo….hooo….ooo…..hoo…..
Oo….hooo….ooo…..hoo…..
Idhukku thaanaa
Um mela aasa patten
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvil
Kaadhalichen
Idhukku thaanaa
Um mela aasa patten
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvil
Kaadhalichen
Manasu ingae thudikkum podhu
Mayanga vandha uravum engae
Idhukku thaanaa
Um mela aasa patten
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvil
Kaadhalichen
Thunai seraamal sondham illai
Unai kaanaamal inbam illai
Thunai seraamal sondham illai
Unai kaanaamal inbam illai
Ponnaana ennangalae
Punnaaga kandenammaa
Ponnaana ennangalae
Punnaaga kandenammaa
Unakku naanum enakku neeyum
Nenachadhellaam kanavu thaanaa
Nenjodu vandhaayae
Ippodhu maanae nee engae
Idhukku thaanaa
Um mela aasa patten
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvil
Kaadhalichen
Oru poo poola pennai kanden
Adhu vaadaamal nenjil vaithen
Oru poo poola pennai kanden
Adhu vaadaamal nenjil vaithen
Aasaikku vetkam illai
Nee thaan en pakkam illai
Aasaikku vetkam illai
Nee thaan en pakkam illai
Valarndha sondham marandhu ponaal
Vaazhum kaalam enna laabam
Ennaalum ondraaga
Ippodhu maanae nee engae
Idhukku thaanaa
Um mela aasa patten
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvil
Kaadhalichen
Manasu ingae thudikkum podhu
Mayanga vandha uravum engae
Idhukku thaanaa
Um mela aasa patten
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvil
Kaadhalichen
Idhukku thaanaa
Um mela aasa patten
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvil
Kaadhalichen
Oh... oh-oh... oh-oh... oh... oh-oh...
Oh... oh-oh... oh-oh... oh... oh-oh...
Oh... ho... oh-oh... ho...
Oh... ho... oh-oh... ho...
Was it only for this...
...that I longed for you?
Why did I, in vain,
fall in love in my life?
Was it only for this...
...that I longed for you?
Why did I, in vain,
fall in love in my life?
While my heart aches here in pain,
where is the love that came to enchant me?
Was it only for this...
...that I longed for you?
Why did I, in vain,
fall in love in my life?
Without a partner, there is no real bond,
without seeing you, there is no joy.
Without a partner, there is no real bond,
without seeing you, there is no joy.
All those golden dreams of mine,
I have seen them turn into painful wounds.
All those golden dreams of mine,
I have seen them turn into painful wounds.
You for me and I for you—
was everything we imagined just a dream?
You came and touched my heart,
where are you now, my gentle deer?
Was it only for this...
...that I longed for you?
Why did I, in vain,
fall in love in my life?
I saw a girl as delicate as a flower,
and kept her in my heart so she wouldn't wither.
I saw a girl as delicate as a flower,
and kept her in my heart so she wouldn't wither.
Longing knows no shame,
yet you are not here by my side.
Longing knows no shame,
yet you are not here by my side.
If the bond we built is forgotten,
what is the point of living this life?
We were meant to be together forever,
where are you now, my gentle deer?
Was it only for this...
...that I longed for you?
Why did I, in vain,
fall in love in my life?
While my heart aches here in pain,
where is the love that came to enchant me?
Was it only for this...
...that I longed for you?
Why did I, in vain,
fall in love in my life?
Was it only for this...
...that I longed for you?
Why did I, in vain,
fall in love in my life?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses the deep anguish and sorrow of a lover grieving over the loss or separation from their beloved. The protagonist laments having fallen in love, questioning whether their devotion was meant to end in such heartbreak and loneliness. Reflecting on past golden dreams and tender affection, the speaker compares the beloved to a delicate flower sheltered carefully within the heart, emphasizing how meaningless life feels without companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Oru poo poola pennai kanden

Compares the beloved woman to a delicate flower ('Oru poo poola pennai kanden').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Ponnaana ennangalae / Punnaaga kandenammaa

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words in the same line, such as 'Ponnaana' and 'Punnaaga'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thunai seraamal sondham illai / Unai kaanaamal inbam illai

Agreement of the second letter in successive lines, as seen in 'Thunai' and 'Unai'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ippodhu maanae nee engae

Refers to the beloved affectionately as a gentle deer ('maane').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by veteran lyricist Panchu Arunachalam for the 1987 Tamil film 'Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan', this track illustrates his signature conversational yet deeply emotional lyricism, blending rhetorical questions with vivid poetic imagery.

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