Un Aasaiyaa
From Unarchigal · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Shyam
- Music director
- Shyam
- Details
- Unarchigal1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa | Is it desire for food, desire for women, |
| Mannaasaiyaa manithan aasaigal | or desire for land—what are human desires? |
| Sannaasiyum thavarum idam | The place where even a saint falters |
| Pennaasaiyaalaethaan | is solely because of the desire for women. |
| Unarchi poiyaagumaa | Can true human emotion ever be false? |
| Male | |
| Unnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa | Is it desire for food, desire for women, |
| Mannaasaiyaa manithan aasaigal | or desire for land—what are human desires? |
| Male | |
| Malarai izhanthaalo | Did she merely lose a flower, |
| Aval manathai izhanthaalaa | or did she lose her very mind and heart? |
| Manathai keduththaanae | He corrupted her heart, |
| Avan manaththa koduththaanaa | but did he give his own heart in return? |
| Male | |
| Kallaaga aanaal | If one turns into a cold stone, |
| Kadhal varuvathillai | love never blossoms within. |
| Pennaaga piranthaal | When born as a woman, |
| Ullam seiyyum thollai | the heart creates endless hardship. |
| Male | |
| Unarchchigal seiyyum siru ooththu | Emotions act like a small bubbling spring, |
| Ovvoru ullamamum verum kooththu | making every human heart a mere dramatic show. |
| Udalai padaiththavanae unathu leelai idhu | Oh Creator of the body, this is all your divine game! |
| Male | |
| Unnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa | Is it desire for food, desire for women, |
| Mannaasaiyaa manithan aasaigal | or desire for land—what are human desires? |
உன்னாசையா...பெண்ணாசையா
மண்ணாசையா....மனிதன் ஆசைகள்
சன்யாசியும் தவறும் இடம்
பெண்ணாசையாலேதான்
உணர்ச்சி பொய்யாகுமா.....
Is it desire for food, desire for women,
or desire for land—what are human desires?
The place where even a saint falters
is solely because of the desire for women.
Can true human emotion ever be false?
உன்னாசையா...பெண்ணாசையா
மண்ணாசையா....மனிதன் ஆசைகள்
Is it desire for food, desire for women,
or desire for land—what are human desires?
மலரை இழந்தாளே
அவள் மனதை இழந்தாளா
மனதை கெடுத்தானே
அவன் மணத்தை கொடுத்தானா
Did she merely lose a flower,
or did she lose her very mind and heart?
He corrupted her heart,
but did he give his own heart in return?
கல்லாக ஆனால்
காதல் வருவதில்லை
பெண்ணாக பிறந்தாள்
உள்ளம் செய்யும் தொல்லை
If one turns into a cold stone,
love never blossoms within.
When born as a woman,
the heart creates endless hardship.
உணர்ச்சிகள் செய்யும் சிறு ஊத்து
ஒவ்வொரு உள்ளமும் வெறும் கூத்து
உடலை படைத்தவனே உனது லீலை இது
Emotions act like a small bubbling spring,
making every human heart a mere dramatic show.
Oh Creator of the body, this is all your divine game!
உன்னாசையா...பெண்ணாசையா
மண்ணாசையா....மனிதன் ஆசைகள்
Is it desire for food, desire for women,
or desire for land—what are human desires?
Unnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa
Is it desire for food, desire for women,
Mannaasaiyaa manithan aasaigal
or desire for land—what are human desires?
Sannaasiyum thavarum idam
The place where even a saint falters
Pennaasaiyaalaethaan
is solely because of the desire for women.
Unarchi poiyaagumaa
Can true human emotion ever be false?
Unnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa
Is it desire for food, desire for women,
Mannaasaiyaa manithan aasaigal
or desire for land—what are human desires?
Malarai izhanthaalo
Did she merely lose a flower,
Aval manathai izhanthaalaa
or did she lose her very mind and heart?
Manathai keduththaanae
He corrupted her heart,
Avan manaththa koduththaanaa
but did he give his own heart in return?
Kallaaga aanaal
If one turns into a cold stone,
Kadhal varuvathillai
love never blossoms within.
Pennaaga piranthaal
When born as a woman,
Ullam seiyyum thollai
the heart creates endless hardship.
Unarchchigal seiyyum siru ooththu
Emotions act like a small bubbling spring,
Ovvoru ullamamum verum kooththu
making every human heart a mere dramatic show.
Udalai padaiththavanae unathu leelai idhu
Oh Creator of the body, this is all your divine game!
Unnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa
Is it desire for food, desire for women,
Mannaasaiyaa manithan aasaigal
or desire for land—what are human desires?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This contemplative song explores the classic triad of human desires highlighted in Tamil philosophy: Mannaasai (desire for land), Pennaasai (desire for women), and Unnaasai (desire for food/material sustenance). Penned by Kannadasan, the lyrics emphasize that emotional and physical desires are so deeply embedded in human nature that even revered ascetics succumb to them, questioning whether such innate feelings can ever be categorized as unnatural or wrong. The song further delves into the pain of love and vulnerability, particularly from a woman's perspective. It highlights how a woman often surrenders her mind and purity, while men may exploit those emotions without offering genuine devotion in return. Ultimately, the song concludes with a philosophical resignation, addressing God as the ultimate architect who crafted human bodies and emotions, reducing all human drama and desire to a divine game (leelai).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-Letter Rhyming)
“Unnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa / Mannaasaiyaa manithan aasaigal”
Metaphor (Uruvagamaai)
“Unarchchigal seiyyum siru ooththu”
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Porul)
“Unarchi poiyaagumaa”
Eyalbu Navirtchi (Poetic Contrast)
“Manathai keduththaanae / Avan manaththa koduththaanaa”
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Unarchigal (1976) was an early career milestone associated with Kamal Haasan and director R. C. Sakthi, tackling bold and unconventional themes around human desires and psychology. Lyricist Kannadasan cleverly incorporates classical Tamil philosophical concepts regarding the three main worldly attachments (Mannaasai, Pennaasai, Poraasai/Unnaasai) into contemporary film music.
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