Unakena Irupen
From Kaadhal · 2004
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- Haricharan
- Music director
- Joshua Sridhar
- Details
- Kaadhal2004
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unakena irupen uyirayum kodupen | I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you. |
| Unnai naan pirinthaal unaku mun irapen | If I am separated from you, I will die before you. |
| Kanmaniyae kanmaniyae azhuvathen kanmaniyae | Oh my precious, oh my precious, why are you crying, my precious? |
| Vazhi thunai naan iruka | When I am here to be your companion on this journey? |
| Male | |
| Unakena irupen uyirayum kodupen | I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you. |
| Unnai naan pirinthaal unaku mun irapen | If I am separated from you, I will die before you. |
| Male | |
| Kanneer thuligalai kangal thaangum kanmani | The eyes can bear teardrops, my precious, |
| Kaadhalin nenjam thaan thaangiduma | But can the heart of love bear it? |
| Kallarai meethuthaan pootha pookal | Do butterflies ever care if the flowers |
| Endruthaan vannathu poochigal paarthiduma | Have bloomed upon a grave? |
| Male | |
| Minsara kambigal meethu mainaakal koodukattum | Mynahs build their nests on high-voltage power lines; |
| Nam kaadhal thadaigalai thaandum | Our love will similarly overcome all obstacles. |
| Valayaamal nadhigal illai | There are no rivers without bends, |
| Valikaamal vaazhkai illai | There is no life without pain, |
| Varum kaalam kaayam aatrum | The coming time will heal every wound. |
| Male | |
| Nilavoliyai matum nambi ilai ellam vaazhvathillai | Leaves do not survive relying on moonlight alone, |
| Minminiyum oli kodukum | Even a tiny firefly provides light. |
| Male | |
| Thanthaiyum thaayayum thaandi vanthaai thozhiyae | You came to me crossing the love of your father and mother, my dear companion; |
| Irandumaai endrumae naan irupen | I will forever be both father and mother to you. |
| Tholilae neeyumae saayum pothu | When you lean your head on my shoulder, |
| Ethirvarum thuyarangal anaithayum naan ethirpen | I will confront all the sorrows coming towards us. |
| Male | |
| Venneeril nee kulika viragaagi thee kulipen | So that you can bathe in warm water, I will become firewood and burn in fire. |
| Udhirathil unnai kalapen | I will blend into your blood. |
| Vizhi moodum bothum unnai piriyaamal naan irupen | Even when eyes close in sleep or death, I will stay without parting from you. |
| Kanavukul kaaval irupen | I will stand as a guard inside your dreams. |
| Male | |
| Naan endraal naanae illai nee thaanae nanaai aanen | When I speak of 'myself', it is no longer me; you alone have become me. |
| Nee azhuthaal naan thudipen | If you cry, I will writhe in agony. |
| Male | |
| Unakena irupen uyirayum kodupen | I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you. |
| Unnai naan pirinthaal unaku mun irapen | If I am separated from you, I will die before you. |
| Kanmaniyae kanmaniyae azhuvathen kanmaniyae | Oh my precious, oh my precious, why are you crying, my precious? |
| Vazhi thunai naan iruka | When I am here to be your companion on this journey? |
உனக்கென இருப்பேன்
உயிரையும் கொடுப்பேன்
உன்னை நான் பிரிந்தால்
உனக்கு முன் இறப்பேன்
கண்மணியே கண்மணியே
அழுவதேன் கண்மணியே
வழித்துணை நான் இருக்க
I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you.
If I am separated from you, I will die before you.
Oh my precious, oh my precious, why are you crying, my precious?
When I am here to be your companion on this journey?
உனக்கென இருப்பேன்
உயிரையும் கொடுப்பேன்
உன்னை நான் பிரிந்தால்
உனக்கு முன் இறப்பேன்
I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you.
If I am separated from you, I will die before you.
கண்ணிர் துளிகளை
கண்கள்தாங்கும் கண்மணி
காதலின் நெஞ்சம் தான்
தாங்கிடுமா கல்லறை மீதுதான்
பூத்த பூக்கள் என்றுதான் வண்ணத்து
பூச்சிகள் பார்த்திடுமா
The eyes can bear teardrops, my precious,
But can the heart of love bear it?
Do butterflies ever care if the flowers
Have bloomed upon a grave?
மின்சார கம்பிகள்
மீது மைனாக்கள் கூடுகட்டும்
நம் காதல் தடைகளை தாண்டும்
வளையாமல் நதிகள் இல்லை
வலிக்காமல் வாழ்க்கை இல்லை
வருங்காலம் காயம் ஆற்றும்
Mynahs build their nests on high-voltage power lines;
Our love will similarly overcome all obstacles.
There are no rivers without bends,
There is no life without pain,
The coming time will heal every wound.
நிலவொளியை
மட்டும் நம்பி இலை எல்லாம்
வாழ்வதில்லை மின்மினியும்
ஒளிகொடுக்கும்
Leaves do not survive relying on moonlight alone,
Even a tiny firefly provides light.
தந்தையும் தாயயும்
தாண்டிவந்தாய் தோழியே
இரண்டுமாய் என்றுமே நான்
இருப்பேன் தோளிலே நீயுமே
சாயும் போது எதிர்வரும்
துயரங்கள் அனைத்தையும்
நான் எதிா்ப்பேன்
You came to me crossing the love of your father and mother, my dear companion;
I will forever be both father and mother to you.
When you lean your head on my shoulder,
I will confront all the sorrows coming towards us.
வெந்நீரில் நீ
குளிக்க விறகாகி தீ
குளிப்பேன் உதிரத்தில்
உன்னை கலப்பேன்
விழிமூடும் போதும்
உன்னை பிரியாமல்
நான் இருப்பேன் கனவுக்குள்
காவல் இருப்பேன்
So that you can bathe in warm water, I will become firewood and burn in fire.
I will blend into your blood.
Even when eyes close in sleep or death, I will stay without parting from you.
I will stand as a guard inside your dreams.
நான் என்றால்
நானே இல்லை நீ தானே
நானாய் ஆனேன் நீ அழுதால்
நான் துடிப்பேன்
When I speak of 'myself', it is no longer me; you alone have become me.
If you cry, I will writhe in agony.
உனக்கென இருப்பேன்
உயிரையும் கொடுப்பேன்
உன்னை நான் பிரிந்தால்
உனக்கு முன் இறப்பேன்
கண்மணியே கண்மணியே
அழுவதேன் கண்மணியே
வழித்துணை நான் இருக்க
I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you.
If I am separated from you, I will die before you.
Oh my precious, oh my precious, why are you crying, my precious?
When I am here to be your companion on this journey?
Unakena irupen uyirayum kodupen
I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you.
Unnai naan pirinthaal unaku mun irapen
If I am separated from you, I will die before you.
Kanmaniyae kanmaniyae azhuvathen kanmaniyae
Oh my precious, oh my precious, why are you crying, my precious?
Vazhi thunai naan iruka
When I am here to be your companion on this journey?
Unakena irupen uyirayum kodupen
I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you.
Unnai naan pirinthaal unaku mun irapen
If I am separated from you, I will die before you.
Kanneer thuligalai kangal thaangum kanmani
The eyes can bear teardrops, my precious,
Kaadhalin nenjam thaan thaangiduma
But can the heart of love bear it?
Kallarai meethuthaan pootha pookal
Do butterflies ever care if the flowers
Endruthaan vannathu poochigal paarthiduma
Have bloomed upon a grave?
Minsara kambigal meethu mainaakal koodukattum
Mynahs build their nests on high-voltage power lines;
Nam kaadhal thadaigalai thaandum
Our love will similarly overcome all obstacles.
Valayaamal nadhigal illai
There are no rivers without bends,
Valikaamal vaazhkai illai
There is no life without pain,
Varum kaalam kaayam aatrum
The coming time will heal every wound.
Nilavoliyai matum nambi ilai ellam vaazhvathillai
Leaves do not survive relying on moonlight alone,
Minminiyum oli kodukum
Even a tiny firefly provides light.
Thanthaiyum thaayayum thaandi vanthaai thozhiyae
You came to me crossing the love of your father and mother, my dear companion;
Irandumaai endrumae naan irupen
I will forever be both father and mother to you.
Tholilae neeyumae saayum pothu
When you lean your head on my shoulder,
Ethirvarum thuyarangal anaithayum naan ethirpen
I will confront all the sorrows coming towards us.
Venneeril nee kulika viragaagi thee kulipen
So that you can bathe in warm water, I will become firewood and burn in fire.
Udhirathil unnai kalapen
I will blend into your blood.
Vizhi moodum bothum unnai piriyaamal naan irupen
Even when eyes close in sleep or death, I will stay without parting from you.
Kanavukul kaaval irupen
I will stand as a guard inside your dreams.
Naan endraal naanae illai nee thaanae nanaai aanen
When I speak of 'myself', it is no longer me; you alone have become me.
Nee azhuthaal naan thudipen
If you cry, I will writhe in agony.
Unakena irupen uyirayum kodupen
I will live only for you, and I will give my life for you.
Unnai naan pirinthaal unaku mun irapen
If I am separated from you, I will die before you.
Kanmaniyae kanmaniyae azhuvathen kanmaniyae
Oh my precious, oh my precious, why are you crying, my precious?
Vazhi thunai naan iruka
When I am here to be your companion on this journey?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Unakena Irupen' is a deeply emotional love ballad from the movie Kaadhal (2004), written by Na. Muthu Kumar. The song depicts the unconditional devotion, protective comfort, and selflessness of a lover reassuring his partner amidst severe hardships and social adversity. He promises to be her emotional anchor, taking on the roles of father, mother, and guardian, reassuring her that every pain in life is temporary and that their love can overcome any barrier.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Venneeril nee kulika viragaagi thee kulipen”
Comparing himself to firewood burning to provide warm water ('viragaagi thee kulipen') highlights self-sacrificial love.
Emona / Rhyme (Monai)
“Valayaamal nadhigal illai / Valikaamal vaazhkai illai”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds like 'Valayaamal' and 'Valikaamal' creates poetic rhythm.
Imagery & Analogy
“Minsara kambigal meethu mainaakal koodukattum”
Using natural motifs like mynahs nesting on power lines to symbolize love thriving amidst extreme danger and obstacles.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic track marked the debut of singer Haricharan in Tamil cinema and earned composer Joshua Sridhar widespread acclaim. Na. Muthu Kumar's poignant lyricism for this song won high critical praise for capturing pure, raw emotion.
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