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Lyrics & meaning

Unakkaga Unnai

From Neeya Naana – 1962 Film · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Neeya Naana – 1962 Film1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Unakkaga unnaiFor your sake, you
Indru marakkindrenI forget today
Un uyir kakka unnaiTo protect your life, from you
Indru pirikkindrenI separate today
Female
Enakkendru ivvuagil yedhum illaiI have nothing for myself in this world
Neeyirundhaal podhum endrae ninaikkindrenI think that if you live, it is enough
Female
Unakkaga unnaiFor your sake, you
Indru marakkindrenI forget today
Un uyir kakka unnaiTo protect your life, from you
Indru pirikkindrenI separate today
Female
Enakkendru ivvuagil yedhum illaiI have nothing for myself in this world
Neeyirundhaal podhum endrae ninaikkindrenI think that if you live, it is enough
Female
Kanna unnaiOh Kanna, about you
Kadaisiyaaga ninaikkindrenI think for the last time
Kaadhal kadhaigalaiStories of our love
Indru mudhal marakkirenI forget from today onwards
Female
Kanna unnaiOh Kanna, about you
Kadaisiyaaga ninaikkindrenI think for the last time
Kaadhal kadhaigalaiStories of our love
Indru mudhal marakkirenI forget from today onwards
Female
Thannandhani paadhaiyil nadakkindrenI walk along an all-alone path
Nee thazhaithirundhaal podhum endru pirikkindrenI separate thinking it is enough if you flourish
Female
Unakkaga unnaiFor your sake, you
Indru marakkindrenI forget today
Un uyir kakka unnaiTo protect your life, from you
Indru pirikkindrenI separate today
Female
Soodi vaitha malaraiThe flower I adorned in my hair
Indru edukkindrenI take off today
Andha thogaiyidamTo that peacock-like maiden
Manamuvandhu kodukkindrenI gladly give it away
Female
Soodi vaitha malaraiThe flower I adorned in my hair
Indru edukkindrenI take off today
Andha thogaiyidamTo that peacock-like maiden
Manamuvandhu kodukkindrenI gladly give it away
Female
Vaadi veezhndha kodiyai pol pirikkindrenLike a withered and fallen creeper, I separate
Vaazhndhirundhaal unnai vaazhtha varugindrenIf I remain alive, I will come to bless you
Female
Unakkaga unnaiFor your sake, you
Indru marakkindrenI forget today
Un uyir kakka unnaiTo protect your life, from you
Indru pirikkindrenI separate today
Female
Enakkendru ivvuagil yedhum illaiI have nothing for myself in this world
Neeyirundhaal podhum endrae ninaikkindrenI think that if you live, it is enough

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses a woman's supreme sacrifice for the sake of her beloved. She chooses to separate from him and forget their romantic past solely to preserve his life and ensure his prosperity. Sacrificing her own happiness, she willingly steps aside and hands over her cherished place to another woman, comparing herself to a withered creeper walking down a lonely path, desiring nothing more than her lover's well-being and long life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Unakkaga unnai / Enakkendru ivvuagil

The second letter 'na' rhymes across lines in 'Unakkaga' and 'Enakkendru'.

Upamai (Simile)

Vaadi veezhndha kodiyai pol pirikkindren

The speaker compares her plight of separation to a withered and fallen creeper using the explicit comparison word 'pol'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Soodi vaitha malarai indru edukkindren

The flower worn in the hair symbolizes conjugal love and status, which she willingly removes and passes on.

Did you know?

Trivia

Penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan and composed by K. V. Mahadevan, this song highlights P. Susheela's mastery in delivering deep emotional nuance in Tamil cinema soundtrack history.

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