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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unakkoru Vishayam

From Samaiyalkaran · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Samaiyalkaran1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavoShall I inform you of a secret message?
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavoShall I inform you of a secret message?
Ha ullaththin aasaiyai arivikkavoAha, shall I declare the desire of my heart?
Sollavo ennendru sollavoShall I speak, shall I tell you what it is?
Oooooooh ooooooohOooooooh oooooooh
Female
Pallaakku en maeniMy body is like a palanquin
Pattaththu raja neeYou are the crowned king
Pakkam vanthaadavoShall I come close and dance with you?
Pon manjam en nenjamMy heart is a golden couch
Poongannam thaen kinnamMy soft cheeks are cupfuls of honey
Sontham kondaadavo vaa vaaCome, come, shall we celebrate our belonging?
Female
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavoShall I inform you of a secret message?
Ha ullaththin aasaiyai arivikkavoAha, shall I declare the desire of my heart?
Sollavo ennendru sollavoShall I speak, shall I tell you what it is?
Oooooooh ooooooohOooooooh oooooooh
Female
En vaazhvukku neethaan vennilavuYou are the bright full moon to my life
Male :Vennilavukku vaanamthaan uravuMale: The sky alone is the rightful kin to the moon
Female :Intha thaamarai poovithazh malaraathoFemale: Won't the petals of this lotus flower blossom?
Male :Antha sooriyan sudar vanthu thazhuvaathoMale: Won't the rays of that sun come and embrace it?
Female
Udal kodhikkuthu kulirnthida vazhi solluMy body is burning; tell me a way to cool down
Male :Kulir nadhiyinil poe konjam neeraaduMale: Go and bathe for a while in a cold river
Female :Nee aasaiyillaatha aan maganoFemale: Are you a man devoid of any desire?
Male :Un aasaikku kaaranam naanthaanoMale: Am I truly the reason behind your desire?
Male
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavoShall I inform you of a secret message?
Ha ullaththin aasaiyai arivikkavoAha, shall I declare the desire of my heart?
Sollavo ennendru sollavoShall I speak, shall I tell you what it is?
OoooooohOooooooh
Male
Maanikkam vaidooriyam aaniponRubies, cat's eye gems, and pure gold,
Ellaam un angam endraanathoDid they all become your limbs?
Pavalaththin pettikkul thavazhum nal muththukkalFine pearls resting inside a box of corals,
Parkkal endraanathoDid they become your teeth?
Male
Intha maivizhi pandiyan meen kodiyoAre these kohl-rimmed eyes the fish flag of the Pandya king?
Female :Ilam meen vanthu mugaththinil mithappathundoFemale: Does a young fish come and float on a face?
Male :Intha puruvangal serananin vil kodiyoMale: Are these eyebrows the bow flag of the Chera king?
Female :Idhai veerargal kaigalil valaippathundoFemale: Do warriors bend these with their hands?
Male
Un ezhil nadai sozhanin pulikkodiyoIs your graceful walk the tiger flag of the Chola king?
Female :En inaththaval puliyaiyum virattalaiyoFemale: Didn't a woman of my clan chase away a tiger?
Male :Nee aasaiyillaatha penn magaloMale: Are you a woman devoid of any desire?
Female :Un aasaikku kaaranam en azhagoFemale: Is my beauty the cause of your desire?
Male
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavoShall I inform you of a secret message?
Female :Ha ullaththin aasaiyai arivikkavoFemale: Aha, shall I declare the desire of my heart?
Both :Sollavo ennendru sollavoBoth: Shall I speak, shall I tell you what it is?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic playful duet from the film Samaiyalkaran (1974) features dynamic banter between the lovers. The heroine initiates the song expressing her romantic yearning and affection, comparing her body and features to treasures, and teasingly asking if her lover is devoid of desire. The hero playfully responds, countering her poetic metaphors with clever observations about nature and history, including references to the great Tamil dynasties (Pandya, Chera, and Chola) and traditional lore.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile

Pallaakku en maeni / Pattaththu raja nee

Compares bodily features to majestic royal palanquins (Pallaakku en maeni) and golden couches (Pon manjam en nenjam) to accentuate beauty and longing.

Historical Allusion (Muvendhar References)

Intha maivizhi pandiyan meen kodiyo

Incorporates historical emblems of the three Tamil dynasties: Pandya's fish flag (Meen kodiyo), Chera's bow flag (Vil kodiyo), and Chola's tiger flag (Pulikkodiyo).

Emoni / Rhyme (Amona & Ethirukai)

Maanikkam vaidooriyam aanipon

Usage of Tamil rhyming schemes across lines such as 'Maanikkam', 'Pavalaththin', 'Intha', enhancing rhythm and musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali. It famously features poetic wordplay referencing the iconic Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam (Chera, Chola, and Pandya dynasties) and historical bravery legends such as the Tamil woman who chased away a tiger with a winnowing fan (Muram).

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