Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Samaiyalkaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unakkoru Vishayam

From Samaiyalkaran · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Samaiyalkaran
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
4 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavo
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavo
Ha ullaththin aasaiyai arivikkavo
Sollavo ennendru sollavo
Oooooooh oooooooh
Pallaakku en maeni
Pattaththu raja nee
Pakkam vanthaadavo
Pon manjam en nenjam
Poongannam thaen kinnam
Sontham kondaadavo vaa vaa
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavo
Ha ullaththin aasaiyai arivikkavo
Sollavo ennendru sollavo
Oooooooh oooooooh
En vaazhvukku neethaan vennilavu
Male :Vennilavukku vaanamthaan uravu
Female :Intha thaamarai poovithazh malaraatho
Male :Antha sooriyan sudar vanthu thazhuvaatho
Udal kodhikkuthu kulirnthida vazhi sollu
Male :Kulir nadhiyinil poe konjam neeraadu
Female :Nee aasaiyillaatha aan magano
Male :Un aasaikku kaaranam naanthaano
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavo
Ha ullaththin aasaiyai arivikkavo
Sollavo ennendru sollavo
Oooooooh
Maanikkam vaidooriyam aanipon
Ellaam un angam endraanatho
Pavalaththin pettikkul thavazhum nal muththukkal
Parkkal endraanatho
Intha maivizhi pandiyan meen kodiyo
Female :Ilam meen vanthu mugaththinil mithappathundo
Male :Intha puruvangal serananin vil kodiyo
Female :Idhai veerargal kaigalil valaippathundo
Un ezhil nadai sozhanin pulikkodiyo
Female :En inaththaval puliyaiyum virattalaiyo
Male :Nee aasaiyillaatha penn magalo
Female :Un aasaikku kaaranam en azhago
Unakkoru vishayam therivikkavo
Female :Ha ullaththin aasaiyai arivikkavo
Both :Sollavo ennendru sollavo
Shall I tell you something?
Shall I tell you something?
Ah, shall I reveal what my heart desires?
Shall I tell you? Tell you what it is?
Oh... Oh...
My body is a palanquin,
you are the crowned king,
shall I come near and sway with you?
My heart is a golden bed,
my cheeks are cups of honey,
shall we celebrate our love? Come, come!
Shall I tell you something?
Ah, shall I reveal what my heart desires?
Shall I tell you? Tell you what it is?
Oh... Oh...
You are the bright moon in my life.
Male: But the sky is the only companion for the bright moon.
Female: Won't these lotus petals blossom?
Male: Won't the sun's warm rays come and embrace them?
My body is burning—tell me a way to cool it down.
Male: Go and take a bath in a cool river.
Female: Are you a man without any desire?
Male: Am I really the reason for your desire?
Shall I tell you something?
Ah, shall I reveal what my heart desires?
Shall I tell you? Tell you what it is?
Oh...
Rubies, precious gems, and pure gold—
did they all come together to become your body?
Fine pearls resting inside a coral box—
have they become your teeth?
Are these kohl-lined eyes the fish emblem of the Pandya king?
Female: Can young fish ever float upon a face?
Male: Are these eyebrows the bow emblem of the Chera king?
Female: Can warriors bend these with their hands?
Is your graceful walk the tiger emblem of the Chola king?
Female: Didn't a woman of my clan chase even a tiger away?
Male: Are you a woman without any desire?
Female: Is my beauty the reason for your desire?
Shall I tell you something?
Female: Ah, shall I reveal what my heart desires?
Both: Shall I tell you? Tell you what it is?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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).

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Paruvathil Konjam1965
Panam PadaithavanAttractionDesire
Manjakkili Vanjikkodi1987
Ivargal IndiyargalAttractionPlayful
Vetkapadavo Chellakili1981
Lorry Driver RajakannuAttractionPlayful Romance
Vannakili Sonna1964
Dheiva ThaaiPlayful RomanceAttraction
Radhe En Radhe1985
Japanil KalyanaramanAttractionDesire
Anbe Nee Mayila1999
Ninaivirukkum VaraiAttractionBeauty

From the same album

More songs from Samaiyalkaran

View album
Ungalil Naan Oruvan1974
SamaiyalkaranWarm
Sonthakaranga Enakku1974
SamaiyalkaranProud
Naan Paadidum1974
SamaiyalkaranRomantic
Indha Pennodu Piranthathu1974
SamaiyalkaranCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.