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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unakkum Enakkum Uravu Kaatti

From Illara Jothi · 1954

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Jikki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Illara Jothi1954

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Unakkum enakkum uravu kaattiShowing a relationship between you and me,
Ulagam sonnathu kadhaiyaaIs what the world told merely a story?
Unakkum enakkum uravu kaattiShowing a relationship between you and me,
Ulagam sonnathu kadhaiyaaIs what the world told merely a story?
Ninaithu ninaithu magizhum vidhathilIn a way that brings joy upon thinking again and again,
Ninaithu ninaithu magizhum vidhathilIn a way that brings joy upon thinking again and again,
Nesam kondathu kanavaaWas the love we cherished just a dream?
Female
Unakkum enakkum uravu kaattiShowing a relationship between you and me,
Ulagam sonnathu kadhaiyaaIs what the world told merely a story?
Female
Inikka inikka kavidhai pesiSpeaking poetry delightfully sweet,
Inikka inikka kavidhai pesiSpeaking poetry delightfully sweet,
Irundhadhellam kadhaiyaaWas everything that existed just a story?
Inikka inikka kavidhai pesiSpeaking poetry delightfully sweet,
Irundhadhellam kadhaiyaaWas everything that existed just a story?
Edukka edukka kuraivillaamalWithout diminishing no matter how much was taken,
Edukka edukka kuraivillaamalWithout diminishing no matter how much was taken,
Valarnthathellam kanavaaWas everything that grew just a dream?
Valarnthathellam kanavaaWas everything that grew just a dream?
Female
Unakkum enakkum uravu kaattiShowing a relationship between you and me,
Ulagam sonnathu kadhaiyaaIs what the world told merely a story?
Female
Sirithu sirithu malarntha mugathaiThe face that blossomed with gentle smiles,
Sirithu sirithu malarntha mugathaiThe face that blossomed with gentle smiles,
Sivakka veithathum kadhaiyaaWas making it turn red with grief just a story?
Sirithu sirithu malarntha mugathaiThe face that blossomed with gentle smiles,
Sivakka veithathum kadhaiyaaWas making it turn red with grief just a story?
Vadithu vadithu kodutha yaavumEverything poured out and given with love,
Vadithu vadithu kodutha yaavumEverything poured out and given with love,
Vaai pugandrathum kanavaaWas the oral praise spoken just a dream?
Vaai pugandrathum kanavaaWas the oral praise spoken just a dream?
Female
Unakkum enakkum uravu kaattiShowing a relationship between you and me,
Ulagam sonnathu kadhaiyaaIs what the world told merely a story?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses profound heartbreak and disbelief over a fading or broken relationship. The protagonist questions whether the deep affection, sweet poetic words, and boundless joy shared in the past were real or merely an illusion. Through rhetorical questions, the lyrics mourn the transience of love, wondering if the bond acknowledged by the world was just a story ('kadhaiyaa') or a fleeting dream ('kanavaa').

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Reduplication)

Ninaithu ninaithu magizhum vidhathil

Repetition of words like 'Ninaithu ninaithu', 'Inikka inikka', 'Edukka edukka', 'Sirithu sirithu', and 'Vadithu vadithu' to emphasize the continuity and intensity of feelings.

Rhetorical Questioning (Vina)

Ulagam sonnathu kadhaiyaa

Repeated use of the questioning suffix '-aa' in 'kadhaiyaa' (a story?) and 'kanavaa' (a dream?) underscores the speaker's emotional despair and disbelief.

Refrain (Anaphora)

Unakkum enakkum uravu kaatti

The signature opening refrain recurs throughout the song to anchor the central theme of questioned reality and sorrow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Illara Jothi (1954) featured music composed by G. Ramanathan, with lyrics written by Kaviarasu Kannadasan during the early phase of his legendary career in Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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