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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unathu Malar

From Paadha Kaanikkai · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Paadha Kaanikkai1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hoo oo oo hoo ooHoo oo oo hoo oo
Hoo oo oo oo hooHoo oo oo oo hoo
Female
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar madiyilaeMy flower is on my lap.
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar madiyilaeMy flower is on my lap.
Unadhu nilaa vinnilaeYour moon is in the sky,
Enadhu nilaa kannilaeMy moon is in my eyes.
Unadhu nilaa vinnilaeYour moon is in the sky,
Enadhu nilaa kannilaeMy moon is in my eyes.
Female
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar madiyilaeMy flower is on my lap.
Female
Hnmm mm mm hmm mm mmHnmm mm mm hmm mm mm
Hoo oo oo oo hooHoo oo oo oo hoo
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar kaiyileMy flower is in my hands.
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar kaiyileMy flower is in my hands.
Unadhu nilaa vannilaeYour moon is in the sky,
Enadhu nilaa arugileMy moon is near me.
Unadhu nilaa vannilaeYour moon is in the sky,
Enadhu nilaa arugileMy moon is near me.
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar kaiyileMy flower is in my hands.
Female
Kan mayangip payanam pogumTraveling with drowsy eyes,
Unadhu thonii kadalilaeYour boat is in the sea.
Kan mayangip payanam pogumTraveling with drowsy eyes,
Unadhu thonii kadalilaeYour boat is in the sea.
Female
Kaalam paarththu vandhu serumWaiting for the right time, it will reach,
Enadhu thoni karaiyilaeMy boat is at the shore.
Kaalam paarththu vandhu serumWaiting for the right time, it will reach,
Enadhu thoni karaiyilaeMy boat is at the shore.
Female
Kaatrinaalum mazaiyinaalumBe it wind or rain,
Enadhu sondham maarumaaWill my bond ever change?
Female
Kaayumaa kaniyumaaWill it remain an unripe fruit or ripen?
Kaiyil vandhu serumaaWill it reach my hands?
Kaiyil vandhu serumaaWill it reach my hands?
Female
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar madiyilaeMy flower is on my lap.
Unadhu nilaa vinnilaeYour moon is in the sky,
Enadhu nilaa kannilaeMy moon is in my eyes.
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar madiyilaeMy flower is on my lap.
Female
Pirandhapodhu pirandha sondhamThe bond born when born,
Inaindhadhamaa ninaivilaeHas it united in memory?
Female
Valarndhapodhu valarndha sondhamThe bond that grew as we grew,
Malarndhadhamaa manadhilaeHas it blossomed in the heart?
Female
Aatru vellam thadaiyai meeriDefying obstacles like a river flood,
Paayndhu sellum avaridamIt rushes toward him.
Female
Aasaiyaa.. innumaa…Is it desire... still...
Andha nenjam ennidamIs that heart still with me?
Andha nenjam ennidamIs that heart still with me?
Female
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar madiyilaeMy flower is on my lap.
Unadhu nilaa vinnilaeYour moon is in the sky,
Enadhu nilaa kannilaeMy moon is in my eyes.
Unadhu malar kodiyilaeYour flower is on the creeper,
Enadhu malar madiyilaeMy flower is on my lap.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Paadha Kaanikkai features two female perspectives contrasting their respective realities, desires, and emotional states through deep nature-based metaphors like flowers, creepers, boats, and the moon. While one character reflects on distant, cosmic, or elevated love (moon in the sky, flower on a creeper), the other expresses intimate, tangible, and personal affection (moon in her eyes, flower in her lap). Through poetic musings on destiny, time, and enduring bonds, the song encapsulates longing, hope, and the deep emotional turbulence of love remaining steadfast despite life's unpredictable storms.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Unadhu malar kodiyilae / Enadhu malar madiyilae

The second consonant 'na' repeats in 'Unadhu' and 'Enadhu', creating rhythmic structural symmetry across lines.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Enadhu nilaa kannilae

The beloved is poetically metaphorized as 'nilaa' (moon) reflecting inside 'kannilae' (the eyes).

Anaphora / Contrast Parallelism

Unadhu nilaa vinnilae / Enadhu nilaa kannilae

Repeated juxtaposed phrasing ('Unadhu...' vs 'Enadhu...') highlights contrasting fortunes and perspectives of the two singers.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Unadhu malar kodiyilae / Enadhu malar madiyilae

The ending suffix '-ilae' rhymes in consecutive lines ('kodiyilae', 'madiyilae', 'vinnilae', 'kannilae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Kannadasan, 'Unadhu Malar Kodiyilae' is a celebrated duet sung by P. Susheela and L. R. Eswari in the 1962 film Paadha Kaanikkai. The duet beautifully contrasts the vocal textures of both legendary singers to represent different shades of womanhood and devotion.

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