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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ungal Paadhathil Indha Nerathil

From Kalyana Kalam · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Kalyana Kalam1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ungal paadhaththil intha neraththilAt your feet at this moment
Kanneer vizhugindrathaeTears are falling
Anbu yaenguthaeLonging for love
Idhil thalaimurai idaiveli illaiyaeIs there no generation gap in this?
Female
Aa….aa…aa…..aah….Aa....aa...aa.....aah....
Ungal paadhaththil intha neraththilAt your feet at this moment
Kanneer vizhugindrathaeTears are falling
Anbu yaenguthaeLonging for love
Idhil thalaimurai idaiveli illaiyaeIs there no generation gap in this?
Female
Aa….aa…aa…..aah….Aa....aa...aa.....aah....
Ungal paadhaththil intha neraththilAt your feet at this moment
Kanneer vizhugindrathaeTears are falling
Female
Thalai saaigiraal sagunthalaiSakunthala rests her head
Aval kangalil mazhaiThere is rain in her eyes
Thalai saaigiraal sagunthalaiSakunthala rests her head
Aval kangalil mazhaiThere is rain in her eyes
Female
Than siragenna paravaikku sumaiyaagumaaIs a bird's wing a burden to itself?
Pengal azhugindra avathaaramaaAre women incarnated only to cry?
Than siragenna paravaikku sumaiyaagumaaIs a bird's wing a burden to itself?
Pengal azhugindra avathaaramaaAre women incarnated only to cry?
Female
Manitha inam perum kaagithamThe human race is a large piece of paper
Uravugalae adhil oviyamRelationships are the paintings upon it
Manitha inam perum kaagithamThe human race is a large piece of paper
Uravugalae adhil oviyamRelationships are the paintings upon it
Female
Ungal paadhaththil intha neraththilAt your feet at this moment
Kanneer vizhugindrathaeTears are falling
Anbu yaenguthaeLonging for love
Idhil thalaimurai idaiveli illaiyaeIs there no generation gap in this?
Female
Aa….aa…aa…..aah….Aa....aa...aa.....aah....
Ungal paadhaththil intha neraththilAt your feet at this moment
Kanneer vizhugindrathaeTears are falling
Female
Oru poongodi sabhai varumA floral vine enters the court
Adhan punnagai sudumIts smile burns
Oru poongodi sabhai varumA floral vine enters the court
Adhan punnagai sudumIts smile burns
Female
Idhu thirai pottu arangerum oru naadagamThis is a play staged behind a curtain
Endrum theeraatha pazham bharatamAn endless old tradition of grief
Idhu thirai pottu arangerum oru naadagamThis is a play staged behind a curtain
Endrum theeraatha pazham bharatamAn endless old tradition of grief
Female
Mana muraiyae poliyaanathuThe custom of marriage has turned fake
Idhuvaraiyil veliyaanathuThat is what has come out so far
Mana muraiyae poliyaanathuThe custom of marriage has turned fake
Idhuvaraiyil veliyaanathuThat is what has come out so far
Female
Ungal paadhaththil intha neraththilAt your feet at this moment
Kanneer vizhugindrathaeTears are falling
Anbu yaenguthaeLonging for love
Idhil thalaimurai idaiveli illaiyaeIs there no generation gap in this?
Female
Aa….aa…aa…..aah….Aa....aa...aa.....aah....
Ungal paadhaththil intha neraththilAt your feet at this moment
Kanneer vizhugindrathaeTears are falling

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ungal Paadhaththil from the movie Kalyana Kalam (1982) is a deeply emotional song rendered by Vani Jairam, with music composed by Shankar Ganesh and lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song expresses immense emotional vulnerability, grief, and poignant reflections on societal expectations placed on women. Comparing human life to a blank canvas where relationships form the artwork, the lyrics lament how genuine human affection is burdened by artificial traditions and painful circumstances. The mythological allusion to Sakunthala and the vivid metaphor of a bird carrying its own wings emphasize the helpless sorrow and endurance of women in a rigid society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Manitha inam perum kaagitham / Uravugalae adhil oviyam

Comparing the human race to paper and relationships to paintings drawn on it.

Metaphor

Aval kangalil mazhai

Comparing tears flowing from eyes to rain.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa)

Than siragenna paravaikku sumaiyaagumaa / Pengal azhugindra avathaaramaa

Posing rhetorical questions to highlight the tragedy of womanhood and burden.

Second Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Mana muraiyae poliyaanathu / Idhuvaraiyil veliyaanathu

Rhyming pattern matching the second consonant sounds across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Kalyana Kalam (1982) featured music by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh and showcased lyrical work by Vairamuthu during his early rise in Tamil cinema. Vani Jairam's expressive vocal delivery brought tragic weight to the poignant lyrics.

Keep listening

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