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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Imai Thotta Manivizhi

From Unakkaga Naan · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Unakkaga Naan1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ramu i love you….raja i love you….Ramu I love you... Raja I love you...
Male
Imai thotta manivizhi irandukkumBetween the two gem-like eyes touched by the eyelids,
Naduvinil thooram adhigamillaiThe distance in between is not very far.
Iru manam oru gunam iruvarum nanbargalTwo hearts, one character, two friends,
Adhuthaan anbin ellaaiThat indeed is the ultimate limit of love.
Male
Imai thotta manivizhi irandukkumBetween the two gem-like eyes touched by the eyelids,
Naduvinil thooram adhigamillaiThe distance in between is not very far.
Iru manam oru gunam iruvarum nanbargalTwo hearts, one character, two friends,
Adhuthaan anbin ellaaiThat indeed is the ultimate limit of love.
Male
Ramu i love you….raja i love you….Ramu I love you... Raja I love you...
Male
Kannanidam kushelan kanda sugamThe joy Kuchela found in Lord Krishna,
Ilai illai kambanidam chozhan kanda sugamOr the joy the Chola king found in poet Kamban,
Idhu kaaviya kaalththu anbu manamThis loving heart belongs to an epic era,
Pasumpaalaiyum neeraiyum searththa vidhamBlending together like pure cow's milk and water.
Male
Ramu i love you….raja i love you….Ramu I love you... Raja I love you...
Male
Imai thotta manivizhi irandukkumBetween the two gem-like eyes touched by the eyelids,
Nadivinil thooram adhigamillaiThe distance in between is not very far.
Iru manam oru gunam iruvarum nanbargalTwo hearts, one character, two friends,
Adhuthaan anbin ellaaiThat indeed is the ultimate limit of love.
Male
Panneer endraalum kanneer endraalumWhether it is rosewater or tears,
Unnai naanaaga ninaippenI will think of you as myself.
Pallam endraalum malaikke sendraalumWhether falling into a ditch or reaching the mountaintop,
Unnai ennodu anaippenI will embrace you as mine.
Male
Maalai kondaalum mananaal vanthaalumWhether wearing a wedding garland or when the wedding day arrives,
Vaazhvai unnodu kazhippaenI will spend my life with you.
Paadhai ondraaga paarvai ondraagaWith a single path and a single shared vision,
Vaazhvai unnodu inaippaenI will join my life with yours.
Male
Imai thotta manivizhi irandukkumBetween the two gem-like eyes touched by the eyelids,
Nadivinil thooram adhigamillaiThe distance in between is not very far.
Iru manam oru gunam iruvarum nanbargalTwo hearts, one character, two friends,
Adhuthaan anbin ellaaiThat indeed is the ultimate limit of love.
Male
Kandhan senthooril unthan per solliIn Lord Murugan's Tiruchendur, chanting your name,
Naan orr karpooram erippenI will light a piece of camphor.
Sinthum karpoora vaasam neeyendruBelieving that the wafting scent of camphor is you,
Sintham kondaadi irupenI will rejoice with delight in my mind.
Male
Antham illaamal aadhi illaamalWithout an end and without a beginning,
Avar pol naanendrum kalappenLike the Divine, I will forever merge with you.
Ennam vaazhvaaga ellaam nandraagaMay my thoughts become reality and everything turn out well,
Iraivaa naan unnai azhaithaenO Lord, I have called upon you.
Male
Imai thotta manivizhi irandukkumBetween the two gem-like eyes touched by the eyelids,
Nadivinil thooram adhigamillaiThe distance in between is not very far.
Iru manam oru gunam iruvarum nanbargalTwo hearts, one character, two friends,
Adhuthaan anbin ellaaiThat indeed is the ultimate limit of love.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic Tamil song from 'Unakkaga Naan' (1976) celebrates the deep, unbreakable bond of friendship between two friends, Ramu and Raja. Kannadasan poetically compares their relationship to the two eyes on a face, which are distinct yet sit close together with a shared vision. The lyrics draw upon legendary bonds—such as the sacred affection between Lord Krishna and Kuchela, and the patron-poet relationship of King Chola and Kamban—to illustrate how true friendship elevates the soul like milk blending seamlessly with water. The song underlines an unshakeable commitment that withstands both joy and hardship. Whether experiencing comfort ('panneer') or distress ('kanneer'), climbing peaks or enduring low points, the friends promise to walk the exact same path. It reaches a spiritual crescendo where friendship transcends mere companionship and becomes a divine, eternal bond.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Imai thotta manivizhi irandukkum Naduvinil thooram adhigamillai

Compares two close friends to two eyes separated by a minimal distance, symbolizing physical separation yet total harmony in vision.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

Kannanidam kushelan kanda sugam Ilai illai kambanidam chozhan kanda sugam

References mythological (Krishna-Kuchela) and historical (Kamban-Chola) friendships to emphasize deep mutual reverence and affection.

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

Panneer endraalum kanneer endraalum / Pallam endraalum malaikke sendraalum

Uses contrasting pairs like rosewater/tears (Panneer/Kanneer) and ditch/mountain (Pallam/Malai) to stress unconditional unity in happiness and adversity.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Panneer endraalum / Unnai naanaaga ninaippen

Repetition of the second consonant sound ('n') across lines to create internal poetic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Unakkaga Naan' (1976) features music composed by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan. Sung by the iconic duo T. M. Soundararajan and K. J. Yesudas, this song remains one of Tamil cinema's definitive male-bonding friendship anthems.

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