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Isaimozhi
Saaho album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unmai Edhu Poy Edhu

From Saaho · 2019

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singers
Shweta Mohan, Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Movie name
Saaho
Movie release year
2019
Lyrics added on
1 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aah.ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah…haa..hah
Oru paadhi mei enbadha
Maru paadhi poi enbadha
Avai rendum ondrae yena…
En kangal poi solludha
Kanavellam mei enbadha
Nijamellam poi enbadha
Avai rendum ondrae yena…
En nenjam mei solludha
Unmai edhu poi edhu
Sollidu anbae
Unmai edhu poi edhu…
Unmai edhu poi edhu
Sollidu anbae
Unmai edhu poi edhu…
Aah.ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah…haa..hah
Idhan munnae kaana vizha
Tholaigindren yen kaadhala
Poi ennum vaan meedhilae…ae
Mei endra thondrum nilaa
Izha oodha vinnin ozhi
Vizhi rendil en kaadhali
Mei ennum kaar ondrilae…
Poi endra keechum kili
Unmai edhu poi edhu
Sollidu anbae
Unmai edhu poi edhu…
Unmai edhu poi edhu
Sollidu anbae
Unmai edhu poi edhu…
Aah.ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah…haa..hah
Aa... ha... aa...
Aa... ha... aa...
Aa... ha... aa... ha... ha...
Should I say one half is real?
Should I say the other half is a lie?
Saying that both are one and the same...
Are my eyes telling a lie?
Should I say all dreams are real?
Should I say all reality is a lie?
Saying that both are one and the same...
Is my heart speaking the truth?
What is real and what is a lie?
Tell me, my love,
What is real and what is a lie?
What is real and what is a lie?
Tell me, my love,
What is real and what is a lie?
Aa... ha... aa...
Aa... ha... aa...
Aa... ha... aa... ha... ha...
A celebration never seen before this,
Why am I losing myself, my love?
Across the sky of lies...
Does the moon appear as the truth?
The light of the pale violet sky,
In both my eyes and in my love,
Inside the dark cloud of truth...
Is that a parrot chirping lies?
What is real and what is a lie?
Tell me, my love,
What is real and what is a lie?
What is real and what is a lie?
Tell me, my love,
What is real and what is a lie?
Aa... ha... aa...
Aa... ha... aa...
Aa... ha... aa... ha... ha...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This lyrical piece explores the blurring lines between truth and illusion, reality and dream, driven by the overwhelming emotion of love. The protagonist grapples with dualities—wondering if what their eyes see is a lie or if what their heart feels is the ultimate truth, portraying love as a captivating mix of perception and reality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Muran / முரண்)

Oru paadhi mei enbadha / Maru paadhi poi enbadha

Contrast of opposing concepts such as 'mei' (truth) and 'poi' (lie), as well as 'kanavu' (dream) and 'nijam' (reality).

Metaphor (Uruvagam / உருவகம்)

Poi ennum vaan meedhilae...ae / Mei endra thondrum nilaa

Metaphorically linking 'van' (sky) to illusion ('poi') and 'nilaa' (moon) to truth ('mei').

Anaphora / Repetition

Unmai edhu poi edhu / Sollidu anbae

Rhythmic repetition of the questioning phrase 'Unmai edhu poi edhu' to emphasize confusion and longing.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by acclaimed lyricist Madhan Karky for the Tamil version of the mega-budget film 'Saaho' (2019), this track uses philosophical Tamil wordplay centering around 'mei' (body/truth) and 'poi' (falsehood/illusion).

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