Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unmai Edhu Poy Edhu

From Saaho · 2019

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singers
Shweta Mohan, Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Details
Saaho2019

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aah.ha..aahAah..ha..aah
Aah.ha..aahAah..ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah…haa..hahAah..ha..aah...haa..hah
Female
Oru paadhi mei enbadhaShould I say one half is truth?
Maru paadhi poi enbadhaShould I say the other half is a lie?
Avai rendum ondrae yena…That both are one and the same...
En kangal poi solludhaAre my eyes telling a lie?
Male
Kanavellam mei enbadhaShould I say all dreams are reality?
Nijamellam poi enbadhaShould I say all reality is a lie?
Avai rendum ondrae yena…That both are one and the same...
En nenjam mei solludhaIs my heart telling the truth?
Female
Unmai edhu poi edhuWhat is truth, what is a lie?
Sollidu anbaeTell me, my beloved
Unmai edhu poi edhu…What is truth, what is a lie...
Male
Unmai edhu poi edhuWhat is truth, what is a lie
Sollidu anbaeTell me, my beloved
Unmai edhu poi edhu…What is truth, what is a lie...
Female
Aah.ha..aahAah..ha..aah
Aah.ha..aahAah..ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah…haa..hahAah..ha..aah...haa..hah
Female
Idhan munnae kaana vizhaA grand spectacle never seen before this
Tholaigindren yen kaadhalaAm I getting lost, my love?
Poi ennum vaan meedhilae…aeUpon the sky named illusion...
Mei endra thondrum nilaaThe moon that appears as reality
Male
Izha oodha vinnin ozhiThe glowing light of the sky
Vizhi rendil en kaadhaliMy beloved in both eyes
Mei ennum kaar ondrilae…In a dark cloud called reality...
Poi endra keechum kiliA chirping parrot called illusion
Female
Unmai edhu poi edhuWhat is truth, what is a lie
Sollidu anbaeTell me, my beloved
Unmai edhu poi edhu…What is truth, what is a lie...
Male
Unmai edhu poi edhuWhat is truth, what is a lie
Sollidu anbaeTell me, my beloved
Unmai edhu poi edhu…What is truth, what is a lie...
Female
Aah.ha..aahAah..ha..aah
Aah.ha..aahAah..ha..aah
Aah.ha..aah…haa..hahAah..ha..aah...haa..hah

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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).

Keep listening

More from Saaho