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Isaimozhi
Subrabatham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unmai Therinthirukkum

From Subrabatham · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Subrabatham
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
9 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unmai therinthirukkum oruvanaiyaa kannaa nee
Ullangalai purintha iraivanaiyaa
Unmai therinthirukkum oruvanaiyaa kannaa nee
Ullangalai purintha iraivanaiyaa
Vennei thirudiya un kangalukku
Un veettil thirudiyavan inam theriyum
Vennei thirudiya un kangalukku
Un veettil thirudiyavan inam theriyum
Unmai therinthirukkum oruvanaiyaa kannaa nee
Ullangalai purintha iraivanaiyaa
Selai thiruda mattum therinthavano
Illai thirudargalai pidikka mudinthavano
Selai thiruda mattum therinthavano
Illai thirudargalai pidikka mudinthavano
Paandavar thamakku mattum thoodhuvano
Illai bakdhargal yaavrkkum naayagano
Paandavar thamakku mattum thoodhuvano
Illai bakdhargal yaavrkkum naayagano
Unmai therinthirukkum oruvanaiyaa kannaa nee
Ullangalai purintha iraivanaiyaa
Ullangalai purintha iraivanaiyaa
Bhoomiyai paayaaga suruttiyavan
Vaazhvil purushaarththam ennavendru kooriyavan
Bhoomiyai paayaaga suruttiyavan
Vaazhvil purushaarththam ennavendru kooriyavan
Saamikku theriyaatha thirudanillai
Nee sakthi izhanthuvitta gurudanillai
Saamikku theriyaatha thirudanillai
Nee sakthi izhanthuvitta gurudanillai
Kai kodukkavillaiyendraal kangal edharkku
Nee kavalukku illaiyendraal kovil edharkku
Vaadikkaiyaai kodppaen kaigal unakku
En kanavarai thanthu vidu mangai enakku
Unmai therinthirukkum oruvanaiyaa kannaa nee
Ullangalai purintha iraivanaiyaa
Krishna, are you the one who knows the truth,
The Lord who understands every heart?
Krishna, are you the one who knows the truth,
The Lord who understands every heart?
To your eyes that once stole butter,
The identity of the thief who robbed your house is surely known...
To your eyes that once stole butter,
The identity of the thief who robbed your house is surely known...
Krishna, are you the one who knows the truth,
The Lord who understands every heart?
Did you know only how to steal clothes,
Or are you also able to catch thieves?
Did you know only how to steal clothes,
Or are you also able to catch thieves?
Were you a messenger only for the Pandavas,
Or are you the Lord of every devotee?
Were you a messenger only for the Pandavas,
Or are you the Lord of every devotee?
Krishna, are you the one who knows the truth,
The Lord who understands every heart?
The Lord who understands every heart?
You are the one who rolled the earth like a mat,
And explained the true purpose of life.
You are the one who rolled the earth like a mat,
And explained the true purpose of life.
There is no thief unknown to God,
And you are not blind or powerless.
There is no thief unknown to God,
And you are not blind or powerless.
If you will not lend a helping hand, what are eyes for?
If you are not there to protect us, why have a temple?
I will always offer my folded hands in prayer to you,
Just give my husband back to this woman.
Krishna, are you the one who knows the truth,
The Lord who understands every heart?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is an emotionally charged prayer addressed to Lord Krishna by a distressed woman demanding divine justice and the safe return of her husband. She invokes Krishna's famous mythological feats—such as stealing butter and clothes, serving as a messenger for the Pandavas, taking the Varaha avatar to rescue the Earth, and expounding the supreme philosophy of life (Bhagavad Gita)—to question whether he is truly omniscient and compassionate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Unmai therinthirukkum oruvanaiyaa kannaa nee / Ullangalai purintha iraivanaiyaa

Matching initial vowel sounds across consecutive lines ('Unmai' and 'Ullangalai').

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vennei thirudiya un kangalukku / Un veettil thirudiyavan inam theriyum

Matching second consonants across lines ('Vennei' and 'Un veettil' share 'n' sound patterns).

Rhetorical Questioning (Vinaa Aani)

Kai kodukkavillaiyendraal kangal edharkku / Nee kavalukku illaiyendraal kovil edharkku

Using provocative questions to challenge Krishna's justice and role as a deity.

Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippu)

Bhoomiyai paayaaga suruttiyavan / Vaazhvil purushaarththam ennavendru kooriyavan

Alluding to Krishna/Vishnu's Varaha avatar ('rolling earth like a mat') and the teaching of Bhagavad Gita ('purushaarththam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this track showcases Vani Jairam's expressive classical vocal delivery, blending devotional fervor with dramatic tension in the 1977 film Subrabatham.

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