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Manapanthal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unakku Mattum Unakku

From Manapanthal · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Manapanthal
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
10 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unakku mattum unakku mattum
Ragasiyam solven andha ragasiyathai
Oruvarukkum sollividaathae
Unakku mattum unakku mattum
Ragasiyam solven andha ragasiyathai
Oruvarukkum sollividaathae
Enakku mattum enakku mattum
Sondhamallavaa engal iruvarukkum
Iyarkai thandha bandhamallavaa
Unakku mattum unakku mattum
Ragasiyam solven andha ragasiyathai
Oruvarukkum sollividaathae
Vandhu nindraar vandhu nindraar
Vaasalin melae
Kandu konden kandu konden
Kangalinaalae
Oho…oo…oo…oho…oo…oo…oho…oo…oo oo ooo
Vandhu nindraar vandhu nindraar
Vaasalin melae
Kandu konden kandu konden
Kangalinaalae
Poo mudithaen poo mudithaen
Koondhalin melae
Pottu vaithaen pottu vaithaen
Aasaiyinaalae
Unakku mattum unakku mattum
Ragasiyam solven andha ragasiyathai
Oruvarukkum sollividaathae
Manavaraiyil kanavaraaga
Maalai soottuvaen
Avar maarbinilae kaalam ellaam
Nadanamaaduvaen
Aa… manavaraiyil kanavaraaga
Maalai soottuven
Avar maarbinilae kaalam ellaam
Nadanamaaduven
Kanivudanae thanimaiyilae enna kooruven
Andha kaalam varum vandha udan
Unakkum kooruven
Unakku mattum unakku mattum
Ragasiyam solven andha ragasiyathai
Oruvarukkum sollividaathae
Enakku mattum enakku mattum
Sondhamallavaa engal iruvarukkum
Iyarkai thandha bandhamallavaa
Unakku mattum unakku mattum
Ragasiyam solven andha ragasiyathai
Oruvarukkum sollividaathae
Only to you, only to you,
I will tell a secret; that secret,
do not tell anyone!
Only to you, only to you,
I will tell a secret; that secret,
do not tell anyone!
Only to me, only to me,
doesn't he belong? Between us both,
isn't it a bond given by nature?
Only to you, only to you,
I will tell a secret; that secret,
do not tell anyone!
He came and stood, he came and stood
right at the doorway.
I saw him, I saw him
with my own eyes.
Oho... oh... oh... oho... oh... oh... oho... oh... oh... oh...
He came and stood, he came and stood
right at the doorway.
I saw him, I saw him
with my own eyes.
I wore flowers, I wore flowers
in my hair.
I put on a bindi, put on a bindi
with eager longing.
Only to you, only to you,
I will tell a secret; that secret,
do not tell anyone!
At the wedding stage, as my husband,
I will garland him.
Resting on his chest, for all my life,
I will dance with joy.
Ah... at the wedding stage, as my husband,
I will garland him.
Resting on his chest, for all my life,
I will dance with joy.
What I will say with tenderness in private,
when that time comes, as soon as it does,
I will tell you.
Only to you, only to you,
I have shared a secret; that secret,
do not tell anyone!
Only to me, only to me,
doesn't he belong? Between us both,
isn't it a bond given by nature?
Only to you, only to you,
I have shared a secret; that secret,
do not tell anyone!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses the playful, coy, and heartfelt excitement of a young woman sharing a romantic secret with her close companion. She confides that her bond with her beloved is a natural, destiny-bound connection and reminisces about seeing him arrive at her doorstep and decking herself in flowers and a vermilion mark out of affection. She envisions her upcoming wedding, dreaming of garlanding him on the alter and spending a lifetime of joy in his company, while playfully promising to tell her friend more details once the right moment arrives.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Unakku mattum unakku mattum

Emphatic repetition of words like 'Unakku mattum', 'Vandhu nindraar', 'Kandu konden', and 'Poo mudithaen' to highlight intimacy, enthusiasm, and emotion.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edukai)

Vandhu nindraar / Kandu konden

The second consonants in consecutive lines rhyme (e.g., 'Vandhu' and 'Kandu', or 'Poo' and 'Pottu').

Rhetorical Question

Iyarkai thandha bandhamallavaa

The speaker asks whether their bond isn't a natural relationship ordained for both of them, asserting her conviction through a poetic question.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1961 Tamil film 'Manapanthal', this song features lyrics by the legendary poet Kannadasan and music composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. Sung softly by P. Susheela, it remains one of the most popular retro Tamil melodies celebrating bashful romantic excitement and bridal anticipation.

Keep listening

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