Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Unnal Mudiyum Thambi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Ondru Dhaana

From Unnal Mudiyum Thambi · 1988

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
7 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee ondru dhaana
En sangeedham
Bilahari nee ondru dhaana
En sangeedham
Kuruvi tholil imayam illai
Kudathu neeril kadalum illai
Vaanin ellai jaadil illai
Nee ondru dhaana
En sangeedham
Poga poga pogum vaanam
Paada paada neelum raagam
Poga poga pogum vaanam
Paada paada neelum raagam
Samudhirathai mooda
Pandhal podava….
Ennakkul ellaam ennum
Ennam aagumaa …
Isaikku nee adakkama…
Unnakkadhu adangumaa…
Isaikku nee adakkama…
Unnakkadhu adangumaa…
Nee ondru dhaana
En sangeedham
{Isaikkul kidandhu
Mayangum sakravaaham
Manadhil neruppai valarkkum
Raaga yaagam} (2)
Naanum neeyum thandhadhalla
Yaarai paarthum vandhadhalla
Neeyindri naan undu..
Bhootham aindhu naadham kodi
Naanum andha vaanampaadi
Bhootham aindhu naadham kodi
Naanum andha vaanampaadi
Parandhu nirkkum
Andha vaanam pondradhu
Irandha pinnum
Ennai vaazha vaippadhu
Isai thamizh nirandharam
Ennakadhu varam tharum
Isai thamizh nirandharam
Ennakadhu varam tharum
Nee ondru dhaana
En sangeedham
Ma ga pa dha
Nee ondru…
Sa ri ga – ri ga pa
Ga pa dha
Nee ondru…
Sa ri ga ri ga pa
Ma ga pa da ma ga ri
Ri ga pa ga pa da
Ma ga pa da – da ri
Nee ondru…
Pa da pa ga pa da ri sa
Ri ga ri sa ni da pa da
Da sa ri ga
Pa da sa ri
Ga pa da sa
Ri ga sa ri
Sa ri ga pa da ri
Nee ondru…
Sa ri ga pa ma ga ri ga
Pa ma ga ri saa sa
Sa saa rii ri
Sa ni da
Saa nii da
Pa ma ga
Paa maa ga
Ri ga pa ma ga ri sa ni da pa sa
Ri ga ri sa ni da pa ma ga
Ga ma da
Da ni sa ni da
Ri ga pa da
Ri ga pa da sa ri
Nee ondru… dhaana
En sangeedham
Kuruvi tholil imayam illai
Kudathu neeril kadalum illai
Vaanin ellai jaadil illai
Nee ondru… dhaana
En sangeedham
Are you the only one
that is my music?
Bilahari, are you the only one
that is my music?
A sparrow's shoulders cannot carry the Himalayas,
A pot of water cannot hold the ocean,
A jar cannot contain the boundless sky.
Are you the only one
that is my music?
The further you go, the further the sky reaches,
The more you sing, the longer the melody flows.
The further you go, the further the sky reaches,
The more you sing, the longer the melody flows.
Can anyone build a canopy
to cover the ocean?
Can the thought that "everything is within me"
ever be right?
Are you contained within music?
Or does music bow to you?
Are you contained within music?
Or does music bow to you?
Are you the only one
that is my music?
Lost in music,
the Chakravakam swoons,
Kindling a sacred fire in the mind,
a sacred ritual of melody.
It was not created by you or me,
It did not come from copying anyone.
Even without you, I still exist...
Five elements, yet endless millions of sounds,
And I too am that singing skylark!
Five elements, yet endless millions of sounds,
And I too am that singing skylark!
It is like the open sky
spread out far and wide,
And even after I die,
it will keep me alive.
Musical Tamil is eternal,
It will grant me its blessing.
Musical Tamil is eternal,
It will grant me its blessing.
Are you the only one
that is my music?
Ma Ga Pa Dha
Are you the only one...
Sa Ri Ga – Ri Ga Pa
Ga Pa Dha
Are you the only one...
Sa Ri Ga Ri Ga Pa
Ma Ga Pa Dha Ma Ga Ri
Ri Ga Pa Ga Pa Dha
Ma Ga Pa Dha – Dha Ri
Are you the only one...
Pa Dha Pa Ga Pa Dha Ri Sa
Ri Ga Ri Sa Ni Dha Pa Dha
Dha Sa Ri Ga
Pa Dha Sa Ri
Ga Pa Dha Sa
Ri Ga Sa Ri
Sa Ri Ga Pa Dha Ri
Are you the only one...
Sa Ri Ga Pa Ma Ga Ri Ga
Pa Ma Ga Ri Saa Sa
Sa Saa Ree Ri
Sa Ni Dha
Saa Nee Dha
Pa Ma Ga
Paa Maa Ga
Ri Ga Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa Ni Dha Pa Sa
Ri Ga Ri Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga
Ga Ma Dha
Dha Ni Sa Ni Dha
Ri Ga Pa Dha
Ri Ga Pa Dha Sa Ri
Are you the only... one
that is my music?
A sparrow's shoulders cannot carry the Himalayas,
A pot of water cannot hold the ocean,
A jar cannot contain the boundless sky.
Are you the only... one
that is my music?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song represents a philosophical and artistic confrontation against musical elitism and egoism. The protagonist asserts that art and music are vast, boundless, and eternal entities that cannot be possessed or restricted by any single individual or rigid tradition. Using powerful natural allegories—such as a sparrow trying to lift the Himalayas or fitting the ocean in a pot—the lyrics convey that music transcends personal vanity and lives on forever as a divine gift.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai / Metaphor & Hyperbole

Kuruvi tholil imayam illai

Compares human ego attempting to master or contain music to impossible physical feats, such as a sparrow carrying Mount Everest.

Moonaigal (Initial Alliteration)

Poga poga pogum vaanam / Paada paada neelum raagam

Repetition of the initial letter/sound 'P' across parallel structures to create a rhythmic, expansive effect.

Ezhukai / Rhyme (Ethirai)

Isai thamizh nirandharam / Ennakadhu varam tharum

Rhythmic rhyming end-words ('nirandharam' and 'varam tharum') reinforcing the divine permanence of Tamil music.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for K. Balachander's 'Unnal Mudiyum Thambi' (1988), the song features vocals by K. J. Yesudas. The film explores the conflict between rigid Carnatic musical tradition embodied by a purist father and humanistic, accessible music embraced by his son.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Unnal Mudiyum Thambi

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.