Unavu Sellavillai Sagiye (Male)
From Samsarame Saranam · 1989
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- Mano
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Samsarame Saranam1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai | I cannot get any sleep |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai | I cannot get any sleep |
| Male | |
| Manam virumbavillai sagiyae | My heart desires nothing, my friend |
| Malar pidikkavillai | Even flowers do not please me |
| Manam virumbavillai sagiyae | My heart desires nothing, my friend |
| Malar pidikkavillai….. | Even flowers do not please me... |
| Male | |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai | I cannot get any sleep |
| Chorus | |
| …………………. | |
| Male | |
| Paalum kasanthathadi sagiyae | Even milk tasted bitter, my friend |
| Padukkai nonthathadi | The bed felt painful and uncomfortable |
| Paalum kasanthathadi sagiyae | Even milk tasted bitter, my friend |
| Padukkai nonthathadi | The bed felt painful and uncomfortable |
| Kolak kili mozhiyum seviyil | Even the sweet speech of a beautiful parrot |
| Kuththal eduththathadi…ee… | Caused a piercing pain in my ears... |
| Kolak kili mozhiyum seviyil | Even the sweet speech of a beautiful parrot |
| Kuththal eduththathadi…ee… | Caused a piercing pain in my ears... |
| Male | |
| Naalu vayiththiyarum inimael | Four doctors said that from now on |
| Nambutharkillai endraar | There is no hope left |
| Paalaththu joshiyanum giragam | The astrologer at the bridge said the planets |
| Paduththum endru vittaan… | Are afflicting and causing trouble... |
| Male | |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai | I cannot get any sleep |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai | I cannot get any sleep |
| Chorus | |
| …………………. | |
| Male | |
| Kanavu kandathilae | While dreaming |
| Oru naal kannukku thondraamal | One day, without appearing physically to my eyes |
| Kanavu kandathilae | While dreaming |
| Oru naal kannukku thondraamal | One day, without appearing physically to my eyes |
| Male | |
| Inam vilangavillai evano | Someone unidentified |
| En agam thottu vittaan | Touched my inner heart and soul |
| Inam vilangavillai evano | Someone unidentified |
| En agam thottu vittaan | Touched my inner heart and soul |
| Male | |
| Vinava kann vizhiththaen sagiyae | To inquire, I opened my eyes, my friend |
| Maeni maranthu vittaan | I lost awareness of my physical self |
| Manathil mattilumae pudhithor | Yet in my mind alone, a brand new |
| Magizhchchi kandathadi | Joy was discovered and felt |
| Male | |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai | I cannot get any sleep |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai | I cannot get any sleep |
| Male | |
| Manam virumbavillai sagiyae | My heart desires nothing, my friend |
| Malar pidikkavillai | Even flowers do not please me |
| Manam virumbavillai sagiyae | My heart desires nothing, my friend |
| Malar pidikkavillai….. | Even flowers do not please me... |
| Male | |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai……hae hae | I cannot get any sleep... |
| Unavu sellavillai sagiyae | Food does not go down, my friend |
| Urakkam kollavillai….. | I cannot get any sleep... |
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை.....
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep
மணம் விரும்பவில்லை சகியே
மலர் பிடிக்க வில்லை
மணம் விரும்பவில்லை சகியே
மலர் பிடிக்க வில்லை......
My heart desires nothing, my friend
Even flowers do not please me
My heart desires nothing, my friend
Even flowers do not please me...
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை....
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep
.............................
பாலும் கசந்தடி சகியே படுக்கை நொந்ததடி....
பாலும் கசந்தடி சகியே படுக்கை நொந்ததடி.....
கோலக் கிளிமொழியும் செவியில்
குத்தலெடுத்ததடி.........ஈ......
கோலக் கிளிமொழியும் செவியில்
குத்தலெடுத்ததடி
Even milk tasted bitter, my friend
The bed felt painful and uncomfortable
Even milk tasted bitter, my friend
The bed felt painful and uncomfortable
Even the sweet speech of a beautiful parrot
Caused a piercing pain in my ears...
Even the sweet speech of a beautiful parrot
Caused a piercing pain in my ears...
நாலு வயித்தியரும் இனிமேல்
நம்புதற்கில்லை என்றார்
பாலத்துச் சோசியனும் கிரகம்
படுத்தும் என்று விட்டான்......
Four doctors said that from now on
There is no hope left
The astrologer at the bridge said the planets
Are afflicting and causing trouble...
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை......
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை..........
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep
.........................................
கனவு கண்டதிலே
ஒருநாள் கண்ணுக்குத் தோன்றாமல்
கனவு கண்டதிலே
ஒருநாள் கண்ணுக்குத் தோன்றாமல்
While dreaming
One day, without appearing physically to my eyes
While dreaming
One day, without appearing physically to my eyes
இனம் விளங்கவில்லை எவனோ
என் அகம் தொட்டு விட்டான்
இனம் விளங்கவில்லை எவனோ
என் அகம் தொட்டு விட்டான்.....
Someone unidentified
Touched my inner heart and soul
Someone unidentified
Touched my inner heart and soul
வினவக் கண் விழித்தேன் சகியே
மேனி மறைந்து விட்டான்
மனதில் மட்டிலுமே புதிதோர்
மகிழ்ச்சி கண்டதடி.....
To inquire, I opened my eyes, my friend
I lost awareness of my physical self
Yet in my mind alone, a brand new
Joy was discovered and felt
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை.....
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep
மணம் விரும்பவில்லை சகியே
மலர் பிடிக்க வில்லை
மணம் விரும்பவில்லை சகியே
மலர் பிடிக்க வில்லை
My heart desires nothing, my friend
Even flowers do not please me
My heart desires nothing, my friend
Even flowers do not please me...
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை....ஹே ஹே
உணவு செல்லவில்லை சகியே
உறக்கம் கொள்ளவில்லை.....
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep...
Food does not go down, my friend
I cannot get any sleep...
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai
I cannot get any sleep
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai
I cannot get any sleep
Manam virumbavillai sagiyae
My heart desires nothing, my friend
Malar pidikkavillai
Even flowers do not please me
Manam virumbavillai sagiyae
My heart desires nothing, my friend
Malar pidikkavillai…..
Even flowers do not please me...
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai
I cannot get any sleep
………………….
Paalum kasanthathadi sagiyae
Even milk tasted bitter, my friend
Padukkai nonthathadi
The bed felt painful and uncomfortable
Paalum kasanthathadi sagiyae
Even milk tasted bitter, my friend
Padukkai nonthathadi
The bed felt painful and uncomfortable
Kolak kili mozhiyum seviyil
Even the sweet speech of a beautiful parrot
Kuththal eduththathadi…ee…
Caused a piercing pain in my ears...
Kolak kili mozhiyum seviyil
Even the sweet speech of a beautiful parrot
Kuththal eduththathadi…ee…
Caused a piercing pain in my ears...
Naalu vayiththiyarum inimael
Four doctors said that from now on
Nambutharkillai endraar
There is no hope left
Paalaththu joshiyanum giragam
The astrologer at the bridge said the planets
Paduththum endru vittaan…
Are afflicting and causing trouble...
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai
I cannot get any sleep
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai
I cannot get any sleep
………………….
Kanavu kandathilae
While dreaming
Oru naal kannukku thondraamal
One day, without appearing physically to my eyes
Kanavu kandathilae
While dreaming
Oru naal kannukku thondraamal
One day, without appearing physically to my eyes
Inam vilangavillai evano
Someone unidentified
En agam thottu vittaan
Touched my inner heart and soul
Inam vilangavillai evano
Someone unidentified
En agam thottu vittaan
Touched my inner heart and soul
Vinava kann vizhiththaen sagiyae
To inquire, I opened my eyes, my friend
Maeni maranthu vittaan
I lost awareness of my physical self
Manathil mattilumae pudhithor
Yet in my mind alone, a brand new
Magizhchchi kandathadi
Joy was discovered and felt
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai
I cannot get any sleep
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai
I cannot get any sleep
Manam virumbavillai sagiyae
My heart desires nothing, my friend
Malar pidikkavillai
Even flowers do not please me
Manam virumbavillai sagiyae
My heart desires nothing, my friend
Malar pidikkavillai…..
Even flowers do not please me...
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai……hae hae
I cannot get any sleep...
Unavu sellavillai sagiyae
Food does not go down, my friend
Urakkam kollavillai…..
I cannot get any sleep...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song, composed by the visionary poet Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar, expresses the intense affliction and yearning of a young woman experiencing deep love (nayaki bhava). She confides in her friend ('sagi') that she has lost her appetite, sleep, and interest in pleasant things like flowers. Everyday comforts such as warm milk and a soft bed feel unbearable, and even sweet bird calls sound agonizing. Doctors find no cure and astrologers blame planetary alignments, unaware of her true state.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Unavu sellavillai sagiyae / Urakkam kollavillai”
Matching second consonant 'na'/'ra' sounds across lines like 'Unavu' / 'Urakkam' establishing standard Tamil poetic rhythm.
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Unavu sellavillai sagiyae”
Repetition of the phrase 'Unavu sellavillai sagiyae' emphasizes the heroine's persistent state of anguish.
Hyperbole & Imagery
“Paalum kasanthathadi sagiyae / Padukkai nonthathadi”
Describing sweet milk as bitter and sweet parrot chatter as piercing ear pain vividly highlights the sensory distortion caused by deep emotional yearning.
Did you know?
Trivia
This poem is part of Subramanya Bharathiyaar's famous 'Kannamma' songs where he explores Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava (the soul yearning for the Divine Krishna/Kannamma as a lover). Although adapted into various Tamil film soundtracks, including Samsarame Saranam (1989), the verse remains one of Bharathiyar's most celebrated romantic compositions.
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