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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iru Vizhi Unathu

From Minnale · 2001

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singer
Devan
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Minnale2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Iru vizhi unathu.. imaigalum unathu..Both eyes are yours, and the eyelids are yours as well..
Kanavugal mattum.. enathae enathu..Only the dreams remain entirely, completely mine..
Iru vizhi unathu.. imaigalum unathu..Both eyes are yours, and the eyelids are yours as well..
Kanavugal mattum.. enathae enathu..Only the dreams remain entirely, completely mine..
Male
Iru vizhi unathu.. imaigalum unathu..Both eyes are yours, and the eyelids are yours as well..
Kanavugal mattum.. enathae enathu..Only the dreams remain entirely, completely mine..
Naatkal neeluthae nee engo ponathumThe days stretch endlessly ever since you went away somewhere,
Aen thandanai naan ingae vaazhvathumWhy has my continued living here become a painful punishment?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

These poignant lines portray the overwhelming heartache and feelings of alienation experienced during separation from a loved one. The speaker acknowledges that while the physical eyes and gaze belong to the beloved, the intimate dreams cherished within belong exclusively to the speaker. The absence of the partner turns time into an unbearable stretch, making daily existence feel like an unwarranted punishment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Muran)

Iru vizhi unathu.. imaigalum unathu.. / Kanavugal mattum.. enathae enathu..

Juxtaposes 'unathu' (yours) with 'enathae enathu' (mine alone) to highlight the emotional divide between physical reality and inner world.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Naatkal neeluthae nee engo ponathum / Aen thandanai naan ingae vaazhvathum

The matching rhyming suffixes '-ponathum' and '-vaazhvathum' create a rhythmic harmony emphasizing the despair of lingering life after abandonment.

Refrain / Repetition (Anaphora)

Iru vizhi unathu.. imaigalum unathu.. / Kanavugal mattum.. enathae enathu..

Repetition of the couplet reinforces the deep fixation on the lover's memory and the speaker's isolation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Thamarai for the movie Minnale (2001), which marked the blockbuster debut of composer Harris Jayaraj and director Gautham Vasudev Menon. Thamarai's poetic contribution to Minnale set a benchmark for romantic Tamil cinema poetry in the early 2000s.

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