Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oorengum Unnai Thedutho Duet

From Kai Naattu · 1988

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singers
P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Kai Naattu1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oorengum unnai theduthoIs the whole town searching for you,
Megangal andha vaanilaeLike the clouds up in that sky?
Mazhai naalilae kudaiaanavalShe who became an umbrella on a rainy day,
Nanaigindrathae kangalaeHer eyes are getting drenched now.
Female
Oorengum unnai theduthoIs the whole town searching for you,
Megangal andha vaanilaeLike the clouds up in that sky?
Mazhai naalilae kudaipolavaeJust like an umbrella on a rainy day,
Nanaigindrathen penmaiyaeWhy is my womanhood getting drenched?
Female
Andha naalin gnaabagamThe sweet memory of those past days,
Engal anbin thaayagamIs the true homeland of our love.
Male :Ezhai nenjil vaazhumMale: Living inside this humble heart,
Undhan poo mugamIs your flower-like face.
Female :Un veenaithaan pon veenaithaanFemale: I am your veena, indeed a golden veena,
Nee illaiyel oomai naanWithout you, I am completely mute.
Male
Oorengum unnai theduthoIs the whole town searching for you,
Megangal andha vaanilaeLike the clouds up in that sky?
Female :Mazhai naalilae kudaipolavaeFemale: Just like an umbrella on a rainy day,
Nanaigindrathen penmaiyaeWhy is my womanhood getting drenched?
Male
Koovum kaadhal gokilamThe singing cuckoo of love,
Ingu endhan gokulamMy Gokulam is right here.
Female :Kannan ennum kalvanFemale: The thief named Kannan (Krishna),
Kaiyil porkalamHolds a golden arena in his hand.
Male :Senthaamarai en verthathoMale: Why did my red lotus break into a sweat?
En thaamarai poothathoHas my lotus blossomed completely?
Female
Oorengum unnai theduthoIs the whole town searching for you,
Megangal andha vaanilaeLike the clouds up in that sky?
Mazhai naalilae kudaipolavaeJust like an umbrella on a rainy day,
Nanaigindrathen penmaiyaeWhy is my womanhood getting drenched?
Male
Oorengum unnai theduthoIs the whole town searching for you,
Megangal andha vaanilaeLike the clouds up in that sky?
Mazhai naalilae kudaiaanavalShe who became an umbrella on a rainy day,
Nanaikkindrathae kangalaeHer eyes are getting drenched now.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Oorengum Unnai Thedutho from Kai Naattu (1988) is a soulful romantic duet that beautifully expresses longing, emotional shelter, and deep romantic devotion between two lovers. Using nature and rain imagery, the song compares the restless search for a beloved to clouds wandering across the sky. The female protagonist views herself as a protective umbrella during life's downpours, yet finds her own emotions and eyes drenched in tearful devotion, feeling completely mute and incomplete without her partner.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mazhai naalilae kudaipolavae

Compares the woman's protective nature to an umbrella on a rainy day ('Kudaipolavae').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Un veenaithaan pon veenaithaan

Compares the beloved's face directly to a flower ('poo mugam') and the speaker's voice/life to a golden instrument ('pon veenaithaan').

Paronomasia / Sound Play (Edhugai)

Koovum kaadhal gokilam / Ingu endhan gokulam

Uses phonetic similarity between 'gokilam' (cuckoo bird) and 'gokulam' (pastoral sanctuary of Krishna) to build poetic harmony.

Rhetorical Question

Senthaamarai en verthatho / En thaamarai poothatho

The male protagonist poetically questions if his lotus-like lover is sweating from bashfulness or blooming in love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was composed by Chandrabose, a notable music director in 1980s Tamil cinema who crafted many memorable melodies for rural and family dramas. The lyrics were penned by renowned Tamil writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee Mu. Metha, bringing his signature literary grace to mainstream film music.

Keep listening

More from Kai Naattu