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Isaimozhi
Neeya album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Ethanai

From Neeya · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Neeya
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
22 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Unai yethanai murai
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Imaipadhillai} (2)
Thamizh yethanai murai
Kettaalum salipadhillai
Thamizh yethanai murai
Kettaalum salipadhillai
Nam idhazh paadum
Sugaragam mudivadhillai
Unai yethanai murai
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
Female :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Imaipadhillai
{Udalo adada
Thanga churangam
Ulagam mayangum
Kaadhal arangam} (2)
Thaavum karangal
Thedum sugangal
Thaavum karangal
Thedum sugangal
Yedhu varai endraalum
Innum innum konjam enbenae
Unai yethanai murai
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
Male :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Imaipadhillai
{Kalaigal payilum
Maalai pozhudhu
Vidiyum varaiyil
Neeyum thazhuvu} (2)
Aadi kalandhu
Aasai kanindhu
Aadi kalandhu
Aasai kanindhu
Padithidum inbangal
Enna enna inum solveno
Unai yethanai murai
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
Female :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Imaipadhillai
{Ni dha ma sa ri dha
Kaadhal kannini
Kannini padhama
Kaaman kani nee} (2)
Paadum suramo
Thedum sugamo
Paadum suramo
Thedum sugamo
Yedhuvena sonnalum inbamiInbam
Unai yethanai murai
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Imaipadhillai
Thamizh yethanai murai
Kettaalum salipadhillai
Thamizh yethanai murai
Kettaalum salipadhillai
Nam idhazh paadum
Sugaragam mudivadhillai
Unai yethanai murai
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
Male :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Imaipadhillai
No matter how many times
I look at you, I never grow tired of it.
My two eyes do not blink,
even for a single moment.
No matter how many times
one listens to Tamil, one never grows tired of it.
No matter how many times
one listens to Tamil, one never grows tired of it.
The sweet melody our lips sing
never comes to an end.
No matter how many times
I look at you, I never grow tired of it.
Female: My two eyes do not blink,
even for a single moment.
Oh, this body of yours
is a mine of gold!
A stage of love
that charms the whole world.
Eager hands reaching out,
seeking sweet pleasures...
Eager hands reaching out,
seeking sweet pleasures...
No matter how far it goes,
I will always ask for a little more and more.
No matter how many times
I look at you, I never grow tired of it.
Male: My two eyes do not blink,
even for a single moment.
In these evening hours
when we learn the arts of love,
hold me in your embrace
until the break of dawn.
Dancing together and uniting,
as our desires ripen,
dancing together and uniting,
as our desires ripen,
the pleasures we experience—
how many more can I put into words?
No matter how many times
I look at you, I never grow tired of it.
Female: My two eyes do not blink,
even for a single moment.
Ni Dha Ma Sa Ri Dha (musical notes),
a lovely girl made of love!
Kannini Pa Dha Ma (musical notes),
you are the sweet fruit of the god of love!
Is it the song of musical notes,
or the pleasure we long for?
Is it the song of musical notes,
or the pleasure we long for?
Whatever you call it, it is pure joy!
No matter how many times
I look at you, I never grow tired of it.
My two eyes do not blink,
even for a single moment.
No matter how many times
one listens to Tamil, one never grows tired of it.
No matter how many times
one listens to Tamil, one never grows tired of it.
The sweet melody our lips sing
never comes to an end.
No matter how many times
I look at you, I never grow tired of it.
Male: My two eyes do not blink,
even for a single moment.
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Unai Yethanai Murai is a romantic duet from the 1979 cult movie Neeya. The lovers express that looking at each other is an experience that never grows monotonous, drawing a classic poetical parallel to the Tamil language itself—which never loses its charm no matter how often it is heard.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Analogy (Uvamai)

Thamizh yethanai murai kettaalum salipadhillai

Compares gazing upon the beloved to listening to the Tamil language, emphasizing timeless sweetness.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Udalo adada thanga churangam ulagam mayangum kaadhal arangam

Refers to the human form as a gold mine ('thanga churangam') and an arena of love ('kaadhal arangam').

Rhyme & Assonance (Etukai / Monai)

Aadi kalandhu aasai kanindhu

Rhythmic pairing of words starting with similar consonantal or vowel sounds like 'Aadi kalandhu' / 'Aasai kanindhu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from the 1979 film Neeya was composed by the duo Sankar-Ganesh and penned by Kannadasan, sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela. Kannadasan's lyricism comparing love to the timeless beauty of the Tamil language remains one of its most memorable highlights.

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