Iraiva Unakku
From Annaiyum Pithavum · 1969
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Annaiyum Pithavum1969
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Iraiva unakoru kelvi | Oh God, I have a question for you |
| Engae ne marainthaaiyo | Where have you hidden yourself? |
| Female | |
| Iraiva unakoru kelvi | Oh God, I have a question for you |
| Engae ne marainthaaiyo | Where have you hidden yourself? |
| Varuven badhil solla vendum | I will come, you must answer me |
| Un madiyil idam thara vendum | You must give me a place in your lap |
| Female | |
| Iraiva unakoru kelvi | Oh God, I have a question for you |
| Engae ne marainthaaiyo | Where have you hidden yourself? |
| Varuven badhil solla vendum | I will come, you must answer me |
| Un madiyil idam thara vendum | You must give me a place in your lap |
| Female | |
| Thiruchendhooril deepathai paarthene | I saw the sacred lamp at Thiruchendur |
| Deepathin porulil nangal illai | Yet we are not part of the divine light's meaning |
| Thirumbum vazhiyil sogathai paarthen | On the way back, I witnessed only sorrow |
| Sogathai thadukka neeyum illai | And you were not there to prevent that sorrow |
| Thiruchendhooril deepathai paarthene | I saw the sacred lamp at Thiruchendur |
| Deepathin porulil nangal illai | Yet we are not part of the divine light's meaning |
| Thirumbum vazhiyil sogathai paarthen | On the way back, I witnessed only sorrow |
| Sogathai thadukka neeyum illai | And you were not there to prevent that sorrow |
| Female | |
| Uravum pirivum un vilaiyaatu | Union and separation are merely your cosmic game |
| Ulagam nadapathu unai kettu | The world functions according to your will |
| Ulladhai ellam pirinthadhu podhum | It is enough of separating whatever was together |
| Aiya emakoru vazhi kattu | Oh Lord, show us a way forward |
| Aiya emakoru vazhi kattu | Oh Lord, show us a way forward |
| Female | |
| Iraiva unakoru kelvi | Oh God, I have a question for you |
| Engae ne marainthaaiyo | Where have you hidden yourself? |
| Varuven badhil solla vendum | I will come, you must answer me |
| Un madiyil idam thara vendum | You must give me a place in your lap |
| Female | |
| Maganai pirinthu dhasarathan maandaan | Separated from his son, King Dasaratha perished |
| Mannavan ramam vanam sendraan | King Rama departed for the forest |
| Bharathan kanneer gangaiyil neenthi | Bharatha swam through a Ganges of tears |
| Paadhugai udane moodi kondaan | And took solace in ruling with Rama's holy sandals |
| Maganai pirinthu dhasarathan maandaan | Separated from his son, King Dasaratha perished |
| Mannavan ramam vanam sendraan | King Rama departed for the forest |
| Bharathan kanneer gangaiyil neenthi | Bharatha swam through a Ganges of tears |
| Paadhugai udane moodi kondaan | And took solace in ruling with Rama's holy sandals |
| Female | |
| Thudikkum ullam oru thai makkal | Acheing hearts belong to children born of one mother |
| Thunbam vandhaal mezhugaagum | When distress strikes, they melt like soft wax |
| Indraiya uravu naalaiyum vendum | We need today's togetherness to endure tomorrow as well |
| Iraiva tharuvaai ethir kaalam | Oh God, grant us a safe future |
| Iraiva tharuvaai ethir kaalam | Oh God, grant us a safe future |
| Female | |
| Iraiva unakoru kelvi | Oh God, I have a question for you |
| Engae ne marainthaaiyo | Where have you hidden yourself? |
| Varuven badhil solla vendum | I will come, you must answer me |
| Un madiyil idam thara vendum | You must give me a place in your lap |
இறைவா உனக்கொரு கேள்வி
எங்கே நீ மறைந்தாயோ
Oh God, I have a question for you
Where have you hidden yourself?
இறைவா உனக்கொரு கேள்வி
எங்கே நீ மறைந்தாயோ
வருவேன் பதில் சொல்ல வேண்டும்
உன் மடியில் இடந்தர வேண்டும்
Oh God, I have a question for you
Where have you hidden yourself?
I will come, you must answer me
You must give me a place in your lap
இறைவா உனக்கொரு கேள்வி
எங்கே நீ மறைந்தாயோ
வருவேன் பதில் சொல்ல வேண்டும்
உன் மடியில் இடந்தர வேண்டும்
Oh God, I have a question for you
Where have you hidden yourself?
I will come, you must answer me
You must give me a place in your lap
திருசெந்தூரில் தீபத்தைப் பார்த்தேன்
தீபத்தின் ஒளியில் நாங்கள் இல்லை
திரும்பும் வழியில் சோகத்தைப் பார்த்தேன்
சோகத்தைத் தடுக்க நீயும் இல்லை
திருசெந்தூரில் தீபத்தைப் பார்த்தேன்
தீபத்தின் ஒளியில் நாங்கள் இல்லை
திரும்பும் வழியில் சோகத்தைப் பார்த்தேன்
சோகத்தைத் தடுக்க நீயும் இல்லை
I saw the sacred lamp at Thiruchendur
Yet we are not part of the divine light's meaning
On the way back, I witnessed only sorrow
And you were not there to prevent that sorrow
I saw the sacred lamp at Thiruchendur
Yet we are not part of the divine light's meaning
On the way back, I witnessed only sorrow
And you were not there to prevent that sorrow
உறவும் பிரிவும் உன் விளையாட்டு
உலகம் நடப்பது உனைக் கேட்டு
உள்ளதை எல்லாம் பிரிந்தது போதும்
ஐயா எமக்கொரு வழிக் காட்டு
ஐயா எமக்கொரு வழிக் காட்டு
Union and separation are merely your cosmic game
The world functions according to your will
It is enough of separating whatever was together
Oh Lord, show us a way forward
Oh Lord, show us a way forward
இறைவா உனக்கொரு கேள்வி
எங்கே நீ மறைந்தாயோ
வருவேன் பதில் சொல்ல வேண்டும்
உன் மடியில் இடந்தர வேண்டும்
Oh God, I have a question for you
Where have you hidden yourself?
I will come, you must answer me
You must give me a place in your lap
மகனைப் பிரிந்து தசரதன் மாண்டான்
மன்னவன் ராமன் வனம் சென்றான்
பரதன் கண்ணீர் கங்கையில் நீந்தி
பாதுகை உடனே முடிக்கொண்டான்
மகனைப் பிரிந்து தசரதன் மாண்டான்
மன்னவன் ராமன் வனம் சென்றான்
பரதன் கண்ணீர் கங்கையில் நீந்தி
பாதுகை உடனே முடிக்கொண்டான்
Separated from his son, King Dasaratha perished
King Rama departed for the forest
Bharatha swam through a Ganges of tears
And took solace in ruling with Rama's holy sandals
Separated from his son, King Dasaratha perished
King Rama departed for the forest
Bharatha swam through a Ganges of tears
And took solace in ruling with Rama's holy sandals
துடிக்கும் உள்ளம் ஒரு தாய் மக்கள்
துன்பம் வந்தால் மெழுகாகும்
இன்றைய உறவு நாளையும் வேண்டும்
இறைவா தருவாய் எதிர்காலம்.......
இறைவா தருவாய் எதிர்காலம்.......
Acheing hearts belong to children born of one mother
When distress strikes, they melt like soft wax
We need today's togetherness to endure tomorrow as well
Oh God, grant us a safe future
Oh God, grant us a safe future
இறைஉனக்கொரு கேள்வி
எங்கே நீ மறைந்தாயோ
வருவேன் பதில் சொல்ல வேண்டும்
உன் மடியில் இடந்தர வேண்டும்
Oh God, I have a question for you
Where have you hidden yourself?
I will come, you must answer me
You must give me a place in your lap
Iraiva unakoru kelvi
Oh God, I have a question for you
Engae ne marainthaaiyo
Where have you hidden yourself?
Iraiva unakoru kelvi
Oh God, I have a question for you
Engae ne marainthaaiyo
Where have you hidden yourself?
Varuven badhil solla vendum
I will come, you must answer me
Un madiyil idam thara vendum
You must give me a place in your lap
Iraiva unakoru kelvi
Oh God, I have a question for you
Engae ne marainthaaiyo
Where have you hidden yourself?
Varuven badhil solla vendum
I will come, you must answer me
Un madiyil idam thara vendum
You must give me a place in your lap
Thiruchendhooril deepathai paarthene
I saw the sacred lamp at Thiruchendur
Deepathin porulil nangal illai
Yet we are not part of the divine light's meaning
Thirumbum vazhiyil sogathai paarthen
On the way back, I witnessed only sorrow
Sogathai thadukka neeyum illai
And you were not there to prevent that sorrow
Thiruchendhooril deepathai paarthene
I saw the sacred lamp at Thiruchendur
Deepathin porulil nangal illai
Yet we are not part of the divine light's meaning
Thirumbum vazhiyil sogathai paarthen
On the way back, I witnessed only sorrow
Sogathai thadukka neeyum illai
And you were not there to prevent that sorrow
Uravum pirivum un vilaiyaatu
Union and separation are merely your cosmic game
Ulagam nadapathu unai kettu
The world functions according to your will
Ulladhai ellam pirinthadhu podhum
It is enough of separating whatever was together
Aiya emakoru vazhi kattu
Oh Lord, show us a way forward
Aiya emakoru vazhi kattu
Oh Lord, show us a way forward
Iraiva unakoru kelvi
Oh God, I have a question for you
Engae ne marainthaaiyo
Where have you hidden yourself?
Varuven badhil solla vendum
I will come, you must answer me
Un madiyil idam thara vendum
You must give me a place in your lap
Maganai pirinthu dhasarathan maandaan
Separated from his son, King Dasaratha perished
Mannavan ramam vanam sendraan
King Rama departed for the forest
Bharathan kanneer gangaiyil neenthi
Bharatha swam through a Ganges of tears
Paadhugai udane moodi kondaan
And took solace in ruling with Rama's holy sandals
Maganai pirinthu dhasarathan maandaan
Separated from his son, King Dasaratha perished
Mannavan ramam vanam sendraan
King Rama departed for the forest
Bharathan kanneer gangaiyil neenthi
Bharatha swam through a Ganges of tears
Paadhugai udane moodi kondaan
And took solace in ruling with Rama's holy sandals
Thudikkum ullam oru thai makkal
Acheing hearts belong to children born of one mother
Thunbam vandhaal mezhugaagum
When distress strikes, they melt like soft wax
Indraiya uravu naalaiyum vendum
We need today's togetherness to endure tomorrow as well
Iraiva tharuvaai ethir kaalam
Oh God, grant us a safe future
Iraiva tharuvaai ethir kaalam
Oh God, grant us a safe future
Iraiva unakoru kelvi
Oh God, I have a question for you
Engae ne marainthaaiyo
Where have you hidden yourself?
Varuven badhil solla vendum
I will come, you must answer me
Un madiyil idam thara vendum
You must give me a place in your lap
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Iraiva Unakoru Kelvi is a deeply emotional, philosophical song from the 1969 Tamil film Annaiyum Pithavum. Penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan and set to music by M. S. Vishwanathan, the song voices a soul's anguish and direct questioning of the Almighty during times of unbearable sorrow and familial separation. The singer questions why God remains silent and absent while human beings endure grief, contrasting the outer ritualistic worship at Thiruchendur with the inner reality of suffering. To contextualize this human anguish, Kannadasan draws upon epic Ramayana references—such as King Dasaratha dying from grief over Rama's exile and Bharatha's weeping devotion. The song moves from questioning divine play to pleading for guidance and protective Grace, describing how fragile human hearts melt like wax under sorrow and praying that familial bonds remain unbroken for the future.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Thunbam vandhaal mezhugaagum”
Compares human hearts facing adversity to melting wax ('Thunbam vandhaal mezhugaagum'), vividly illustrating vulnerability to grief.
Mythological Allusion (Puranic Reference)
“Maganai pirinthu dhasarathan maandaan”
References classical Ramayana tragic events (Dasaratha's grief-stricken death, Rama's exile, and Bharatha's sorrow) to ground human pain in universal epic truth.
Contrast / Paradox
“Thiruchendhooril deepathai paarthene ... Sogathai thadukka neeyum illai”
Contrasts the divine light/grace observed in the temple ('deepathai paarthene') with the absence of divine intervention in real life ('sogathai thadukka neeyum illai').
Rhyme / Monai & Ethirai (Tamil Prosody)
“Uravum pirivum un vilaiyaatu / Ulagam nadapathu unai kettu”
Uses matching initial consonant and vowel sound patterns across poetic lines, such as 'Uravum pirivum' paired with 'Ulagam nadapathu'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This composition highlights Kannadasan's signature style of blending existential angst with deeply devotional questioning. P. Susheela's soul-stirring rendition for M. S. Vishwanathan's melody made this song one of the classic philosophical solos in Tamil cinema history.
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