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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Unnai Serndha

From Kalaikoil · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Kalaikoil1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan unnai serndha selvamI am the treasure that reached you
Nee ennai aalum deivamYou are the deity ruling over me
Ini enna solla vendumWhat more needs to be said now?
Namm ilamai vaazha vendumMay our youth thrive and live on!
Male
Naan unnai serndha selvamI am the treasure that reached you
Nee ennai aalum deivamYou are the deity ruling over me
Ini enna solla vendumWhat more needs to be said now?
Namm ilamai vaazha vendumMay our youth thrive and live on!
Female
Nam kaadhal ullam kalaikoyilOur loving heart is a temple of art
Iru kangal koyilukku vaasalTwo eyes are the entrance to this temple
Nam kaadhal ullam kalaikoyilOur loving heart is a temple of art
Iru kangal koyilukku vaasalTwo eyes are the entrance to this temple
Namadhaasai koyil mani oosaiOur desire is the ringing temple bell
Adhil anbu vanna malar poojaiIn it, love is the worship with colorful flowers
Adhil anbu vanna malar poojaiIn it, love is the worship with colorful flowers
Female
Naan unnai serndha selvamI am the treasure that reached you
Nee ennai aalum deivamYou are the deity ruling over me
Ini enna solla vendumWhat more needs to be said now?
Namm ilamai vaazha vendumMay our youth thrive and live on!
Male
Sreeraman nenjil nindra seethaiSeetha who resides in Sri Rama's heart
Malar kannan thedi konda raadhaiRadha whom flower-like Krishna sought out
Sreeraman nenjil nindra seethaiSeetha who resides in Sri Rama's heart
Malar kannan thedi konda raadhaiRadha whom flower-like Krishna sought out
Manam urughi soosdi konda kodhaiKodhai (Andal) who offered garlands with a melting heart
Ondru serndhu vandhadhindha paavaiThis maiden has arrived as a combination of all three
Female
Un viralgal en azhgai meetumYour fingers pluck the music of my beauty
Un vizhigal en uyirai vaattumYour eyes torment my soul in love
Un viralgal en azhgai meetumYour fingers pluck the music of my beauty
Un vizhigal en uyirai vaattumYour eyes torment my soul in love
Un kuralum en peyarai koottumYour voice calls out my name
Adhu kodi kodi inbam kaattumIt bestows millions upon millions of joys
Adhu kodi kodi inbam kaattumIt bestows millions upon millions of joys
Female
Naan unnai serndha selvamI am the treasure that reached you
Nee ennai aalum deivamYou are the deity ruling over me
Ini enna solla vendumWhat more needs to be said now?
Namm ilamai vaazha vendumMay our youth thrive and live on!
Male
Un acham naanm endra naalumEven the day when fear and shyness held back
En arugil vandhavudan anjumOnce near me, it yields to love
Idhazh parugum bodhu nenjam aarumWhen sipping lips, the heart finds solace
Adhu paadum inba swaram ezhumIt sings, and seven sweet musical notes arise
Adhu paadum inba swaram ezhumIt sings, and seven sweet musical notes arise

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Naan Unnai Serndha Selvam' from the 1964 film Kalaikoil is a timeless romantic duet written by Kannadasan and set to music by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. The song portrays two lovers expressing their deep emotional and spiritual devotion to each other. They view their mutual love as a temple of art where their eyes serve as the entrance and their inner desires chime like temple bells. The female protagonist is beautifully described as embodying the devotion of Seetha, Radha, and Kodhai (Andal) all in one. Through poetic metaphors of music, touch, and divine adoration, the song captures the essence of youthful romance blossoming into eternal companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai / Metaphor

Nam kaadhal ullam kalaikoyil / Iru kangal koyilukku vaasal

Comparing the loving heart to a temple of art ('kalaikoyil') and the eyes to the temple entrance ('koyilukku vaasal').

Allusion / Pura Sanrugal

Sreeraman nenjil nindra seethai / Malar kannan thedi konda raadhai / Manam urughi soosdi konda kodhai

Referencing mythological and devotional figures like Sita, Radha, and Kodhai (Andal) to elevate the heroine's romantic devotion.

Eukai / Rhyme & Alliteration

Un viralgal en azhgai meetum / Un vizhigal en uyirai vaattum

Use of internal rhyme (Ethukai / Munaip) with 'viralgal', 'vizhigal', and 'kuralum' emphasizing the musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kalaikoil (1964) was directed by C. V. Sridhar and featured music composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. The song 'Naan Unnai Serndha Selvam' remains one of the finest classical-based romantic duets in Tamil cinema history, celebrated for Kannadasan's sublime blend of devotional iconography and romantic poetry.

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