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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unakkenna Unakkenna

From Attagasam · 2004

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Tippu
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Attagasam2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Imayamalyil en kodi paranthaalIf my flag flies atop the Himalayas
Unakkenna ….What is it to you...
(Unakkenna unakkenna unakkenna)(What is it to you, what is it to you, what is it to you)
Ezhu kadalum en peyar sonnalIf all seven seas speak my name
Unakkenna ….What is it to you...
(Unakkenna unakkenna unakkenna)(What is it to you, what is it to you, what is it to you)
Male
Erindhu pona saambalil irundhuFrom the burnt down ashes
Elundhu parakkum phenix polaLike a phoenix that rises and flies
Meendum meendum parappenI will fly again and again
Unakkenna ….What is it to you...
Naan vaaznthaal unakkennaIf I live my life, what is it to you?
Male
Unakkenna ….aaa…What is it to you... ah...
Unakkenna unakkennaWhat is it to you, what is it to you
Unakkenna ….aaa…What is it to you... ah...
Unakkenna unakkennaWhat is it to you, what is it to you
Male
Unakkenna unakkennaWhat is it to you, what is it to you
Unakkenna unakkennaWhat is it to you, what is it to you
Unakkenna unakkenna thambhiWhat is it to you, my brother?
Unakkenna….What is it to you...
Male
Imayamalyil en kodi paranthaalIf my flag flies atop the Himalayas
Unakkenna…ahaa….What is it to you... aha...
Chorus
…………………………..........................
Male
Yetri vidavum thandhaiyum illaiThere was no father to lift me up
Yenthi kolla thaai madi illaiThere was no mother's lap to hold me
Ennai naanae sigarathil vaithenI placed myself at the peak on my own
Adhanaal unakkennaSo what is it to you?
Chorus
Thath thara raa raaThath thara raa raa
Thaara raa raa thaaaThaara raa raa thaaa
Male
Thaayin karuvil valarum kuzhanthaiA child growing inside a mother's womb
Ezhaam maadham idhayam thudikkumIts heart beats in the seventh month
Ainthae maadhathil idhayam thudippenI will make my heart beat in the fifth month itself
Adhanaal unakkennaSo what is it to you?
Male
Ivan konda neruppoThe fire this man possesses
KuraiyavillaiHas not diminished
Neruppendrum thalai keezhaaiFire never burns upside down
ErivadhillaiIt always flames upward
Male
Malaigalin thalaiyoThe heads of mountains
KunivadhillaiNever bow down
Manam ulla manidhanA man with a resilient heart
AzhivadhillaiNever perishes
Male
Nee enna urugum panimalaiWhat are you? A melting iceberg!
Naan thaanae erimalai erimalaiAm I not a volcano, a volcano!
Male
Unakkenna unakkennaWhat is it to you, what is it to you
Unakkenna unakkennaWhat is it to you, what is it to you
Unakkenna unakkenna thambhiWhat is it to you, my brother?
Unakkenna….What is it to you...
Male
Imayamalyil en kodi paranthaalIf my flag flies atop the Himalayas
Unakkenna..What is it to you..
(Unakkenna unakkenna unakkenna)(What is it to you, what is it to you, what is it to you)
Chorus
Hoo hoo hooo hoo hooHoo hoo hooo hoo hoo
Hoo hoo hooo hoo hooHoo hoo hooo hoo hoo
Male
Hitleraaga vaazhvathu kodithuLiving like Hitler is cruel
Buththanaaga vaazhvathum kadithuLiving like Buddha is difficult
Hitler buththan iruvarumaaiAs both Hitler and Buddha combined
Naan irunthaal unakkennaIf I exist, what is it to you?
Chorus
Thath thara raa raaThath thara raa raa
Thaara raa raa thaaaThaara raa raa thaaa
Male
Vetri enbathu pattaampochchiVictory is a butterfly
Maatri maatri malargalil amarumIt sits on flowers, shifting from one to another
Unakku mattum niranththaramIf you think it belongs permanently to you alone
Endru ninaiththaal sariyallaThat thought is not right
Male
Enakkoru nanban endruTo become a friend to me
AmaivatharkkuTo be suited as one
Thanippatta thaguthigalNo special qualifications
Yethuvum illaiAre needed at all
Male
Enakkoru ethiriyaaiTo be an enemy to me
IruppatharkkuTo stand as one
Unakkoru unakkoruFor you, yes for you
ThaguthiyillaiYou don't even have the qualification!
Male
Nee enna urugum panimalaiWhat are you? A melting iceberg!
Naan thaanae erimalai erimalaiAm I not a volcano, a volcano!
Male
Unakkenna unakkennaWhat is it to you, what is it to you
Unakkenna unakkennaWhat is it to you, what is it to you
Unakkenna unakkenna thambhiWhat is it to you, my brother?
Unakkenna….What is it to you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Unakkenna Unakkenna is a high-octane mass anthem from the 2004 Tamil film Attagasam, starring Ajith Kumar. Lyricist Vairamuthu pens a fiercely independent protagonist who proclaims his self-made success, resilience, and stoic pride in the face of envious detractors. Without relying on parental privilege or external help, he rose to the peak on his own strength. He draws parallels between himself and a rising phoenix, an unbending mountain, and an active volcano, while dismissing his opponents as fragile melting icebergs. Throughout the song, the central rhetorical refrain 'Unakkenna?' ('What is it to you?') acts as a bold slap against haters who question his rise.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Elundhu parakkum phenix pola

Compares the protagonist's resurrection and drive to a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nee enna urugum panimalai Naan thaanae erimalai erimalai

Directly equates the opponent to a melting iceberg and himself to an erupting volcano.

Antithesis (Maranpatta Porul)

Hitler buththan iruvarumaai Naan irunthaal unakkenna

Contrasts two extreme personality archetypes—Hitler (ruthlessness) and Buddha (peace)—to highlight his complex dual nature.

Refrain / Anaphora

Unakkenna unakkenna thambhi Unakkenna….

Repetition of 'Unakkenna' at the end of stanzas to emphasize defiance and unbothered self-assurance.

Did you know?

Trivia

Attagasam (2004) featured Ajith Kumar in a dual role and was directed by Saran, featuring popular music composed by Bharadwaj. The song 'Unakkenna Unakkenna' became an iconic anthem for Ajith Kumar's real-life image as a self-made actor who achieved stardom without a film background.

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