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Paadha Kaanikkai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unathu Malar

From Paadha Kaanikkai · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Paadha Kaanikkai
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
16 Aug 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hoo oo oo hoo oo
Hoo oo oo oo hoo
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar madiyilae
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar madiyilae
Unadhu nilaa vinnilae
Enadhu nilaa kannilae
Unadhu nilaa vinnilae
Enadhu nilaa kannilae
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar madiyilae
Hnmm mm mm hmm mm mm
Hoo oo oo oo hoo
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar kaiyile
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar kaiyile
Unadhu nilaa vannilae
Enadhu nilaa arugile
Unadhu nilaa vannilae
Enadhu nilaa arugile
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar kaiyile
Kan mayangip payanam pogum
Unadhu thonii kadalilae
Kan mayangip payanam pogum
Unadhu thonii kadalilae
Kaalam paarththu vandhu serum
Enadhu thoni karaiyilae
Kaalam paarththu vandhu serum
Enadhu thoni karaiyilae
Kaatrinaalum mazaiyinaalum
Enadhu sondham maarumaa
Kaayumaa kaniyumaa
Kaiyil vandhu serumaa
Kaiyil vandhu serumaa
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar madiyilae
Unadhu nilaa vinnilae
Enadhu nilaa kannilae
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar madiyilae
Pirandhapodhu pirandha sondham
Inaindhadhamaa ninaivilae
Valarndhapodhu valarndha sondham
Malarndhadhamaa manadhilae
Aatru vellam thadaiyai meeri
Paayndhu sellum avaridam
Aasaiyaa.. innumaa…
Andha nenjam ennidam
Andha nenjam ennidam
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar madiyilae
Unadhu nilaa vinnilae
Enadhu nilaa kannilae
Unadhu malar kodiyilae
Enadhu malar madiyilae
Hoo oo oo hoo oo
Hoo oo oo oo hoo
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my lap
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my lap
Your moon is in the sky
My moon is in my eyes
Your moon is in the sky
My moon is in my eyes
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my lap
Hmmm mm mm hmmm mm mm
Hoo oo oo oo hoo
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my hand
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my hand
Your moon is in the sky
My moon is right beside me
Your moon is in the sky
My moon is right beside me
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my hand
Dazed and lost on its journey,
your boat drifts across the sea
Dazed and lost on its journey,
your boat drifts across the sea
Waiting for the right time,
my boat will reach the shore
Waiting for the right time,
my boat will reach the shore
Through the wind and through the rain,
will my bond ever change?
Will it stay unripe or sweeten into fruit?
Will it come into my hands?
Will it come into my hands?
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my lap
Your moon is in the sky
My moon is in my eyes
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my lap
The bond born when we were born,
united in our memories
The bond that grew as we grew,
has blossomed in our hearts
Like a river flooding past every barrier,
it rushes toward him
Is it longing? Still more?
That heart belongs to me
That heart belongs to me
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my lap
Your moon is in the sky
My moon is in my eyes
Your flower is on the vine
My flower is in my lap
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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