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Lyrics & meaning

Unakkena Thaanae

From Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu · 1979

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Ilayaraja, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Unakkena thaanae inneramaaWas it for you all this time,
Naanum kaathirundhaenThat I too was waiting?
Ragasiyam paesa manasirukkuMy heart longs to whisper secrets,
Raathiri neram nilavirukkuIt is nighttime, and the moon is shining bright.
Unakkena thaanae inneramaaWas it for you all this time,
Naanum kaathirundhaenThat I too was waiting?
Ragasiyam paesa manasirukkuMy heart longs to whisper secrets,
Raathiri neram nilavirukkuIt is nighttime, and the moon is shining bright.
Female
Ingae naama irandaa illaAre we two distinct souls here? Not at all,
Endha kadhavu therakkaa ennaSo what if no door opens for us?
Ennum bodhu thaedum nenjamAs it counts the moments, the searching heart,
Eduthu pogavaeSeeks to carry memories away.
Male
Pirichaalum piriyaadhammaaEven if separated physically, our bond will not break,
Marachaalum kuraiyaadhammaaEven if hidden away, our love will not diminish.
Kadhavu dhaan thadukkudhuIt is only a physical door that obstructs us,
ThelivaagummaaEverything will soon become clear.
Female
Unakkena thaanae inneramaaWas it for you all this time?
Male
Veenaa pozhudhu pogudhu ingaeTime is going to waste here,
Viricha paayum thoongudhu angaeThe spread mat lies waiting idly there.
Unna enni perugudhu mogamThinking of you, desire swells within me,
Romba vegamaaExtremely fast and intense.
Female
Nadusaamam naamum thaniIn the dead of midnight, we are alone,
Nedu neram vaasam thaniFor a long duration, the sweet fragrance remains unique.
Poluthadhu vidinjadha kadhavoramaaHas the day already dawned by the doorway?
Male
Unakkena thaanae inneramaaWas it for you all this time?
Male
Dhevaaram thottam vazhiAlong the path through the Devaram garden,
Thaenikinnu pora vandiThe bullock cart heads towards Theni.
Bodi vazhi poganum naaIf one has to travel via Bodinayakanur,
Roadu romba mosammadaaThe road is terribly rough, my friend,
Roadu romba mosammadaaThe road is terribly rough, my friend.
Male
Oi vandha paadhaiya maathaadheengadaaHey, do not alter the route you came by!
Appadiyae ottungadaa deiJust drive it as it is, hey guys!
Male
Odambuvali theriyaama odungadaa kaalaigalaaRun forward without feeling body strain, my bulls!
Bhathiramaa kondu ponaaIf you deliver us safely to the destination,
Paruthi kotta vaangi thaarenI will buy you delicious cottonseed feed,
Chorus
Paruthi kotta vaangi thaarenI will buy you delicious cottonseed feed.
Male
Aiyanaaru saathum nammaOur sacred deity Ayyanar who blesses us,
Aathaa maari koduppaal nammaWill give generously just like a mother.
Bhayam unakku venaam kannuYou need not have any fear, my dear,
Konjam poruthiruJust hold on and wait a little while.
Female
Nee irukka bayamaa ennaWith you by my side, why should I fear?
Nilavirukka irulaa ennaWith the moon in the sky, how can there be darkness?
Enakku nee unakku naan thonadhaanaiyaaYou are for me, and I am for you as a constant companion, my love.
Male
Unakkena thaanae inneramaaWas it for you all this time,
Naanum kaathirundhaenThat I too was waiting?
Female
Ragasiyam paesa manasirukkuMy heart longs to whisper secrets,
Raathiri neram nilavirukkuIt is nighttime, and the moon is shining bright.
Male
Unakkena thaanae inneramaaWas it for you all this time?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film 'Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu' (1979) depicts a romantic late-night journey intertwined with intimate conversations between lovers and local folk flavor. The couple expresses their deep longing, desire, and emotional connection under the moonlight, disregarding physical barriers like doors and long distances. Interspersed within the romantic dialogue are rustic folk calls to bullock cart drivers navigating bumpy roads from Devaram and Bodi to Theni, offering simple rustic rewards like cottonseed feed to the cattle for a safe trip.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Veenaa pozhudhu pogudhu ingae / Viricha paayum thoongudhu angae

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythmic flow, e.g., 'Ragasiyam' and 'Raathiri' or 'Veenaa' and 'Viricha'.

Metaphor & Personification

Viricha paayum thoongudhu angae

'Viricha paayum thoongudhu angae' personifies the spread mat as 'sleeping', symbolizing an empty bed waiting for love.

Rhetorical Question

Nilavirukka irulaa enna

Asking questions to emphasize certainty of love and comfort, such as asking if darkness exists when the moon is present.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam, 'Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu' is known for introducing authentic rural Tamil folk tunes into mainstream Tamil film music. The song 'Unakkena Thaane Innerama' blends romantic melody with rustic bullock-cart driver chants, capturing the regional geography of the Thenmarani region (Theni, Bodi, Devaram).

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