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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen

From Apoorva Sagodharargal · 1989

Lyricist: Vaali
Singer: Balasubrahmanyam
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Apoorva Sagodharargal
Movie release year: 1989
Lyrics added on: 6 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Unna nenachen pattu padichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Unna nenachen pattu padichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Enna nenachen naanum sirichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

: Andha vaanam azhutha than

Intha bhoomiyae sirikkum

Vaanam pol sila per

Sontha vaazhkaiyum irukkum

Unarnthen naan….

Unna nenachen pattu padichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Enna nenachen naanum sirichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Aasai vanthu ennai aatti vaitha paavam

Matravarai naan yen kutram solla venum

Kottum mazhai kaalam uppu vikka ponen

Kaatradikkum neram maavu vikka ponen

Thappu kanaakkai pottu thavithen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Patta piragae budhi thelinthen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Nalam purinthai enakku

Nandri uraippen unakku

Naan thaan….

Unna nenachen pattu padichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Enna nenachen naanum sirichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Kannirrandil naan thaan kaadhal enum kottai

Katti vaithu paarthen athanaiyum ottai

Ullabadi yogam ullavarkku naalum

Natta vidhai yaavum nalla maram aagum

Aadum varaikkum aadi iruppom

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Aattam mudinthaal ottam eduppom

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Nalam purinthaai enakku

Nandri uraippen unakku

Naan thaan….

Unna nenachen pattu padichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Enna nenachen naanum sirichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Andha vaanam azhutha than

Intha bhoomiyae sirikkum

Vaanam pol sila per

Sontha vaazhkaiyum irukkum

Unarnthen naan….

Unna nenachen pattu padichen

Thangamae nyaana thangamae

Enna nenachen… naanum sirichen

Thangamae…nyaana thangamae..

I thought of you and sang a song,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

I thought of you and sang a song,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

I thought of myself and laughed,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

Only when the sky weeps

will this earth smile.

Just like the sky, some people's

own lives turn out to be.

I have realized this now...

I thought of you and sang a song,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

I thought of myself and laughed,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

Desire came and controlled me, that was my own fault;

why should I put the blame on anyone else?

I went to sell salt in the pouring rain,

I went to sell flour when the strong winds blew.

I made wrong calculations and suffered,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

Only after getting hurt did I come to my senses,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

You did what was good for me,

and I will only offer my thanks to you,

it is only me...

I thought of you and sang a song,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

I thought of myself and laughed,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

In my two eyes, a castle of love

I tried to build, only to see it was full of holes.

For those who truly have good fortune,

every seed they sow grows into a fine tree.

Let us play our part as long as the game goes on,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

When the game is over, we will run away,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

You did what was good for me,

and I will only offer my thanks to you,

it is only me...

I thought of you and sang a song,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

I thought of myself and laughed,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

Only when the sky weeps

will this earth smile.

Just like the sky, some people's

own lives turn out to be.

I have realized this now...

I thought of you and sang a song,

my precious gold, my wise gold.

I thought of myself... and I laughed,

my precious gold... my wise gold...

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen' is a poignant, philosophical song from the 1989 landmark Tamil film 'Apoorva Sagodharargal'. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, the song captures the heartbreaking grief of Appu (Kamal Haasan), a dwarf circus clown who discovers that the woman he loves only views him with pity and affection as a friend, not as a romantic partner. Rather than expressing anger, the protagonist responds with self-deprecating humor and profound stoicism. He draws parallels between his tears and the rain that makes the earth blossom, realizing that his suffering brings joy to others in his role as a clown. The lyrics blend traditional folk rhythm with deep philosophical reflections on fate, bad timing, and the illusion of romantic dreams.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Andha vaanam azhutha than / Intha bhoomiyae sirikkum”

The sky crying (rain) to bring joy to the earth serves as a metaphor for the protagonist's silent heartbreak creating entertainment and happiness for others.

Proverbial Analogy (Pazhamozhi)

“Kottum mazhai kaalam uppu vikka ponen / Kaatradikkum neram maavu vikka ponen”

Refers to classic Tamil folk adages describing ultimate bad luck—selling salt in rain causes it to dissolve, and selling flour in wind blows it away.

Metaphor

“Kannirrandil naan thaan kaadhal enum kottai / Katti vaithu paarthen athanaiyum ottai”

Compares his romantic aspirations to a fort built with eyes that ultimately proved structurally flawed and full of holes.

Refrain (Madakku / Anaphora)

“Thangamae nyaana thangamae”

The line 'Thangamae nyaana thangamae' is repeated rhythmically throughout the song, echoing traditional Siddhar philosophical folk poetry (Nattupura Paattu).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali, this iconic track won S. P. Balasubrahmanyam the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1989. The song is famed for Kamal Haasan's emotional performance as a dwarf, achieved entirely through physical body posture, creative camera angles, and special shoes without modern digital VFX.

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