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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Un Kann Unnai Male

From Vaazhkkai · 1949

Lyricist
K. P. Kamatchisundaram
Singer
T. R. Ramachandran
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Details
Vaazhkkai1949

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manam maevum aasai mohanaOh charming one, desired by my heart,
Maanae ikkobam nyaayamaMy deer-like love, is this anger justified?
Male
MoganaaOh beautiful one!
Un kann unnai yaemaatrinaalIf your own eyes deceive you,
En mael kobam undaavadhaenwhy show anger towards me?
Un kann unnai yaemaatrinaalIf your own eyes deceive you,
En mael kobam undaavadhaenwhy show anger towards me?
Male
Naatiyam aadiyum payanillaiEven practicing dance is of no use,
Naagareega vaazhvum payanillaiEven living a modern civilized life is of no use,
Naagareega vaazhvum payanillaiEven living a modern civilized life is of no use,
College padippum payanillaiEven a college education is useless,
Car otta therindhum payanillaiEven knowing how to drive a car is useless,
Male
Adhanaal yosithu nandraai unaranumTherefore, you must reflect well and understand,
Ulaga anubhavam undaaganumYou must gain practical world experience.
Yosithu nandraai unaranumReflect well and understand,
Ulaga anubhavam undaaganumGain practical world experience.
Male
Un kann unnai yaemaatrinaalIf your own eyes deceive you,
En mael kobam undaavadhaenwhy show anger towards me?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lighthearted comic song from the film Vaazhkkai addresses a modern woman who misinterprets a situation and gets angry at the protagonist. He playfully argues that formal college education, modern habits like car driving, and artistic skills like dance are pointless without practical world experience and common sense. He asks her why she blames him when her own vision and judgment have misled her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Epiphora (Antistrophe)

Naatiyam aadiyum payanillai / Naagareega vaazhvum payanillai / College padippum payanillai

Repetition of the phrase 'payanillai' (is useless) at the end of consecutive lines to emphasize the lack of practical value in modern accoutrements without real-world wisdom.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Maanae ikkobam nyaayama

Addressing the maiden as 'Maanae' (deer-like maiden), comparing her gentle and skittish nature to a deer.

Rhetorical Question

En mael kobam undaavadhaen

Asking questions not to get an answer but to make a point that her anger is unreasonable.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

Adhanaal yosithu nandraai unaranum / Ulaga anubhavam undaaganum

Rhyming verb endings ('unaranum' and 'undaaganum') across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vaazhkkai (1949), produced by AVM Productions, marked the legendary actress Vyjayanthimala's silver screen debut. T. R. Ramachandran played the male lead in this box-office hit, which was later remade in Telugu as Jeevitham and Hindi as Bahar.

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