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Malaikkallan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Azhaithathu Yaaro

From Malaikkallan · 1954

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. Bhanumathi
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Malaikkallan
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
18 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnai azhaiththathu yaaro
Avar oor edhuvo per edhuvo
Unnai azhaiththathu yaaro
Avar oor edhuvo per edhuvo
Chinna vayathinilae
Naan enniya ennangalae
Chinna vayathinilae
Naan enniya ennangalae
Thinnam adainthu sidharidum munnae
Unnai azhaiththathu yaaro
Avar oor edhuvo per edhuvo
Vatta vadiva nilaavilae
Oli vanthu ulaginil paayuthae
Vatta vadiva nilaavilae
Oli vanthu ulaginil paayuthae
Antha azhaginai kaanavae….ae…ae…ae…
Antha azhaginai kaanavae…
Nee vanthu amarnthitta pothilae
Unnai azhaiththathu yaaro
Avar oor edhuvo per edhuvo
Paayum puyalathin vaegaththilae
Angu paainthu varugindra minnalilae
Paayum puyalathin vaegaththilae
Angu paainthu varugindra minnalilae
Neeyum payanthu olinthidum pothinilae
Ingu vaavena kuyil koovuthal polae
Unnai azhaiththathu yaaro
Avar oor edhuvo per edhuvo
Unnai azhaiththathu yaaro
Avar oor edhuvo per edhuvo….oo….oo..oo…
Who was it that called you?
Where is he from, and what is his name?
Who was it that called you?
Where is he from, and what is his name?
In the days of my youth,
All the dreams and thoughts I had,
In the days of my youth,
All the dreams and thoughts I had,
Before they could take shape and shatter,
Who was it that called you?
Where is he from, and what is his name?
From the round moon in the sky,
Light comes pouring over the world.
From the round moon in the sky,
Light comes pouring over the world.
Just to gaze upon that beauty...
Just to gaze upon that beauty...
As you came and sat down,
Who was it that called you?
Where is he from, and what is his name?
In the rush of a raging storm,
In the flash of striking lightning,
In the rush of a raging storm,
In the flash of striking lightning,
As you hid away in fear,
Calling "come here" like a cuckoo's song,
Who was it that called you?
Where is he from, and what is his name?
Who was it that called you?
Where is he from, and what is his name... oh...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Unnai Azhaiththathu Yaaro is a romantic and reflective song from the 1954 classic film Malaikkallan. The lyrics evoke a sense of curiosity, nostalgia, and longing as the speaker wonders who called out to their beloved. Nostalgic reflections on childhood dreams are intertwined with vivid descriptions of nature, such as the glowing circular moon, stormy winds, and flashing lightning. Through these nature metaphors, the song portrays the gentle call of love—soft and inviting like a cuckoo's song amidst life's frightening storms.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Ingu vaavena kuyil koovuthal polae

Compares the inviting call of the beloved to the sweet cooing of a cuckoo bird.

Visual Imagery

Vatta vadiva nilaavilae / Oli vanthu ulaginil paayuthae

Creates a vivid visual scene of moonlight flooding the entire earth from a round moon.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Paayum puyalathin vaegaththilae / Angu paainthu varugindra minnalilae

The repetition of the 'Pa' sound at the beginning of words in adjacent lines.

Refrain (Anaphora)

Unnai azhaiththathu yaaro / Avar oor edhuvo per edhuvo

The repeated chorus highlighting mystery and longing throughout the composition.

Did you know?

Trivia

Malaikkallan (1954), starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi, was a landmark film in Tamil cinema history. It was the first Tamil film to win the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 2nd National Film Awards, and its massive success led to it being remade in five other Indian languages, including the hit Hindi movie Azad starring Dilip Kumar.

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