Unakku Naan Paadum
From Mudhal Udhayam · 1995
- Lyricist
- Piraisoodan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Mudhal Udhayam1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unakku naan paadum paattu | The song I sing for you |
| Odi vaa kadhil kettu | Run and come, listening to it with your ears |
| Udalo ennodu uyiro unnodu | My body is with me, but my life force is with you |
| Idhuthaan paasa dheepam | This is the lamp of pure affection |
| Ooo idhuthaan paasa dheepam | Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection |
| Male | |
| Unakku naan paadum paattu | The song I sing for you |
| Odi vaa kadhil kettu | Run and come, listening to it with your ears |
| Udalo ennodu uyiro unnodu | My body is with me, but my life force is with you |
| Idhuthaan paasa dheepam | This is the lamp of pure affection |
| Ooo idhuthaan paasa dheepam | Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection |
| Male | |
| Paalukkaaga naanum yaengi | When I longed for milk |
| Thavikkum pothilae | And was suffering in helplessness |
| Amutham ootti neeyum kaaththaai | You fed me nectar and protected me |
| Thaayai polavae | Just like a loving mother |
| Male | |
| Uruguthae ullam unnaalae | My heart melts because of you |
| Peruguthae kanneer thannaalae | Tears flow continuously on their own |
| Naan vaazha neeyum vendum | For me to live, I need you too |
| Varuvaayo vaazhvil meendum | Will you return to my life again? |
| Male | |
| Unakku naan paadum paattu | The song I sing for you |
| Odi vaa kadhil kettu | Run and come, listening to it with your ears |
| Udalo ennodu uyiro unnodu | My body is with me, but my life force is with you |
| Idhuthaan paasa dheepam | This is the lamp of pure affection |
| Ooo idhuthaan paasa dheepam | Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection |
| Male | |
| Maraththai pola nizhalai thanthu | Giving shade like a great tree |
| Maraintha dheivamae | Oh deity who has disappeared! |
| Vizhuthu ondru unnai enni | Like an aerial root thinking of you |
| Vaadum kaalamae | This is a time of wilting away |
| Male | |
| Mazhaiththuli illaa kulam polae | Like a pond without a drop of rain |
| Mara nizhal illaa vanam polae | Like a forest without the shade of trees |
| Thuyaraalae oonjal aadi | Swinging in the swing of sorrow |
| Thudikkindraen naalum vaadi | I throb in agony, wilting every single day |
உனக்கு நான் பாடும் பாட்டு
ஓடி வா காதில் கேட்டு
உடலோ என்னோடு உயிரோ உன்னோடு
இதுதான் பாச தீபம் ஓஓ இதுதான் பாச தீபம்...
The song I sing for you
Run and come, listening to it with your ears
My body is with me, but my life force is with you
This is the lamp of pure affection
Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection
உனக்கு நான் பாடும் பாட்டு
ஓடி வா காதில் கேட்டு
உடலோ என்னோடு உயிரோ உன்னோடு
இதுதான் பாச தீபம்
ஓஒ இதுதான் பாச தீபம்...
The song I sing for you
Run and come, listening to it with your ears
My body is with me, but my life force is with you
This is the lamp of pure affection
Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection
பாலுக்காக நானும் ஏங்கி
தவிக்கும் போதிலே
அமுதம் ஊட்டி நீயும் காத்தாய்
தாயை போலவே
When I longed for milk
And was suffering in helplessness
You fed me nectar and protected me
Just like a loving mother
உருகுதே உள்ளம் உன்னாலே
பெருகுதே கண்ணீர் தன்னாலே
நான் வாழ நீயும் வேண்டும்
வருவாயோ வாழ்வில் மீண்டும்
My heart melts because of you
Tears flow continuously on their own
For me to live, I need you too
Will you return to my life again?
உனக்கு நான் பாடும் பாட்டு
ஓடி வா காதில் கேட்டு
உடலோ என்னோடு உயிரோ உன்னோடு
இதுதான் பாச தீபம்
ஓஒ இதுதான் பாச தீபம்...
The song I sing for you
Run and come, listening to it with your ears
My body is with me, but my life force is with you
This is the lamp of pure affection
Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection
மரத்தை போல நிழலை தந்து
மறைந்த தெய்வமே
விழுது ஒன்று உன்னை எண்ணி
வாடும் காலமே
Giving shade like a great tree
Oh deity who has disappeared!
Like an aerial root thinking of you
This is a time of wilting away
மழைத்துளி இல்லா குளம் போலே
மர நிழல் இல்லா வனம் போலே
துயராலே ஊஞ்சல் ஆடி
துடிக்கின்றேன் நாளும் வாடி
Like a pond without a drop of rain
Like a forest without the shade of trees
Swinging in the swing of sorrow
I throb in agony, wilting every single day
உனக்கு நான் பாடும் பாட்டு
ஓடி வா காதில் கேட்டு
உடலோ என்னோடு உயிரோ உன்னோடு
இதுதான் பாச தீபம்
ஓஒ இதுதான் பாச தீபம்...
Unakku naan paadum paattu
The song I sing for you
Odi vaa kadhil kettu
Run and come, listening to it with your ears
Udalo ennodu uyiro unnodu
My body is with me, but my life force is with you
Idhuthaan paasa dheepam
This is the lamp of pure affection
Ooo idhuthaan paasa dheepam
Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection
Unakku naan paadum paattu
The song I sing for you
Odi vaa kadhil kettu
Run and come, listening to it with your ears
Udalo ennodu uyiro unnodu
My body is with me, but my life force is with you
Idhuthaan paasa dheepam
This is the lamp of pure affection
Ooo idhuthaan paasa dheepam
Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection
Paalukkaaga naanum yaengi
When I longed for milk
Thavikkum pothilae
And was suffering in helplessness
Amutham ootti neeyum kaaththaai
You fed me nectar and protected me
Thaayai polavae
Just like a loving mother
Uruguthae ullam unnaalae
My heart melts because of you
Peruguthae kanneer thannaalae
Tears flow continuously on their own
Naan vaazha neeyum vendum
For me to live, I need you too
Varuvaayo vaazhvil meendum
Will you return to my life again?
Unakku naan paadum paattu
The song I sing for you
Odi vaa kadhil kettu
Run and come, listening to it with your ears
Udalo ennodu uyiro unnodu
My body is with me, but my life force is with you
Idhuthaan paasa dheepam
This is the lamp of pure affection
Ooo idhuthaan paasa dheepam
Ooo, this is the lamp of pure affection
Maraththai pola nizhalai thanthu
Giving shade like a great tree
Maraintha dheivamae
Oh deity who has disappeared!
Vizhuthu ondru unnai enni
Like an aerial root thinking of you
Vaadum kaalamae
This is a time of wilting away
Mazhaiththuli illaa kulam polae
Like a pond without a drop of rain
Mara nizhal illaa vanam polae
Like a forest without the shade of trees
Thuyaraalae oonjal aadi
Swinging in the swing of sorrow
Thudikkindraen naalum vaadi
I throb in agony, wilting every single day
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses profound grief, gratitude, and yearning for a motherly figure or benefactor who provided tender care and protection. The singer laments that while their physical shell remains, their soul is inextricably linked with the beloved person who has now departed. They reminisce about how this guardian nurtured them like a mother during moments of distress and sheltered them like a massive shade-giving tree. Left in complete desolation—compared to a rainless pond and a shade-less forest—the singer suffers immensely in solitude. The composition acts as an emotional plea calling out for their return to light up their life once again with love and affection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Thaayai polavae”
Compares the guardian's care to that of a mother using 'polavae' (like/as).
Upamai (Simile)
“Maraththai pola nizhalai thanthu”
Compares the guardian's comforting and protective presence to a shade-giving tree.
Upamai (Simile)
“Mazhaiththuli illaa kulam polae”
Uses 'polae' to compare despair to a dry, rainless pond and a treeless forest.
Urvagam (Metaphor)
“Idhuthaan paasa dheepam”
Metaphorically refers to affection as a glowing lamp ('paasa dheepam').
Anaphora / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Udalo ennodu uyiro unnodu”
Repetition of the initial vowel 'U' sound in 'Udalo' and 'uyiro' creating rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the legendary duo Shankar-Ganesh and rendered in the soulful voice of K. J. Yesudas, this song from Mudhal Udhayam (1995) features emotionally evocative lyrics by Piraisoodan, capturing deep filial or protective affection.
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