Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unakkaga Unnai

From Neeya Naana – 1962 Film · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Neeya Naana – 1962 Film
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
3 Aug 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unakkaga unnai
Indru marakkindren
Un uyir kakka unnai
Indru pirikkindren
Enakkendru ivvuagil yedhum illai
Neeyirundhaal podhum endrae ninaikkindren
Unakkaga unnai
Indru marakkindren
Un uyir kakka unnai
Indru pirikkindren
Enakkendru ivvuagil yedhum illai
Neeyirundhaal podhum endrae ninaikkindren
Kanna unnai
Kadaisiyaaga ninaikkindren
Kaadhal kadhaigalai
Indru mudhal marakkiren
Kanna unnai
Kadaisiyaaga ninaikkindren
Kaadhal kadhaigalai
Indru mudhal marakkiren
Thannandhani paadhaiyil nadakkindren
Nee thazhaithirundhaal podhum endru pirikkindren
Unakkaga unnai
Indru marakkindren
Un uyir kakka unnai
Indru pirikkindren
Soodi vaitha malarai
Indru edukkindren
Andha thogaiyidam
Manamuvandhu kodukkindren
Soodi vaitha malarai
Indru edukkindren
Andha thogaiyidam
Manamuvandhu kodukkindren
Vaadi veezhndha kodiyai pol pirikkindren
Vaazhndhirundhaal unnai vaazhtha varugindren
Unakkaga unnai
Indru marakkindren
Un uyir kakka unnai
Indru pirikkindren
Enakkendru ivvuagil yedhum illai
Neeyirundhaal podhum endrae ninaikkindren
For your sake,
I am forgetting you today.
To save your life,
I am parting from you today.
I have nothing of my own in this world;
I only feel it is enough if you are there.
For your sake,
I am forgetting you today.
To save your life,
I am parting from you today.
I have nothing of my own in this world;
I only feel it is enough if you are there.
Kanna, my love,
I think of you one last time.
All our stories of love,
I will forget from this day on.
Kanna, my love,
I think of you one last time.
All our stories of love,
I will forget from this day on.
I walk away on a lonely path,
leaving only so that you may thrive.
For your sake,
I am forgetting you today.
To save your life,
I am parting from you today.
The flower I wore in my hair,
I take off today,
and to that other woman,
I give it with a willing heart.
The flower I wore in my hair,
I take off today,
and to that other woman,
I give it with a willing heart.
Like a withered vine falling away, I leave;
if I am still alive, I will come to bless you.
For your sake,
I am forgetting you today.
To save your life,
I am parting from you today.
I have nothing of my own in this world;
I only feel it is enough if you are there.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Neeya Naana – 1962 Film

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.