Unnai Ethanai
From Neeya · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Neeya1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Unai yethanai murai | {No matter how many times I look at you, |
| Paarthaalum salipadhillai | I never tire of it, |
| En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum | My two eyes, even for a moment, |
| Imaipadhillai} (2) | Do not blink} |
| Female | |
| Thamizh yethanai murai | No matter how many times Tamil |
| Kettaalum salipadhillai | Is heard, one never tires of it, |
| Thamizh yethanai murai | No matter how many times Tamil |
| Kettaalum salipadhillai | Is heard, one never tires of it, |
| Nam idhazh paadum | The sweet melody sung by our lips |
| Sugaragam mudivadhillai | Never comes to an end. |
| Male | |
| Unai yethanai murai | No matter how many times I look at you, |
| Paarthaalum salipadhillai | I never tire of it, |
| Female :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum | Female: My two eyes, even for a moment, |
| Imaipadhillai | Do not blink. |
| Male | |
| {Udalo adada | {This body, ah, |
| Thanga churangam | Is a gold mine, |
| Ulagam mayangum | A stage of love |
| Kaadhal arangam} (2) | That spellbinds the world} |
| Female | |
| Thaavum karangal | Reaching hands |
| Thedum sugangal | Seek pleasures, |
| Thaavum karangal | Reaching hands |
| Thedum sugangal | Seek pleasures, |
| Yedhu varai endraalum | No matter how far it goes, |
| Innum innum konjam enbenae | I will keep asking for 'just a little more', |
| Female | |
| Unai yethanai murai | No matter how many times I look at you, |
| Paarthaalum salipadhillai | I never tire of it, |
| Male :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum | Male: My two eyes, even for a moment, |
| Imaipadhillai | Do not blink. |
| Female | |
| {Kalaigal payilum | {An evening time |
| Maalai pozhudhu | When arts are practiced, |
| Vidiyum varaiyil | Until the dawn arrives, |
| Neeyum thazhuvu} (2) | Embrace me as well} |
| Male | |
| Aadi kalandhu | Dancing and intermingling, |
| Aasai kanindhu | Desire ripening, |
| Aadi kalandhu | Dancing and intermingling, |
| Aasai kanindhu | Desire ripening, |
| Padithidum inbangal | The joys we study, |
| Enna enna inum solveno | How much more can I describe? |
| Male | |
| Unai yethanai murai | No matter how many times I look at you, |
| Paarthaalum salipadhillai | I never tire of it, |
| Female :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum | Female: My two eyes, even for a moment, |
| Imaipadhillai | Do not blink. |
| Male | |
| {Ni dha ma sa ri dha | {Ni Dha Ma Sa Ri Dha |
| Kaadhal kannini | O maiden of love, |
| Kannini padhama | Step by step, |
| Kaaman kani nee} (2) | You are the fruit of Cupid} |
| Female | |
| Paadum suramo | Is it the musical note being sung? |
| Thedum sugamo | Or the pleasure being sought? |
| Paadum suramo | Is it the musical note being sung? |
| Thedum sugamo | Or the pleasure being sought? |
| Yedhuvena sonnalum inbamiInbam | Whatever it is called, it is pure bliss! |
| Female | |
| Unai yethanai murai | No matter how many times I look at you, |
| Paarthaalum salipadhillai | I never tire of it, |
| En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum | My two eyes, even for a moment, |
| Imaipadhillai | Do not blink. |
| Male | |
| Thamizh yethanai murai | No matter how many times Tamil |
| Kettaalum salipadhillai | Is heard, one never tires of it, |
| Thamizh yethanai murai | No matter how many times Tamil |
| Kettaalum salipadhillai | Is heard, one never tires of it, |
| Nam idhazh paadum | The sweet melody sung by our lips |
| Sugaragam mudivadhillai | Never comes to an end. |
| Female | |
| Unai yethanai murai | No matter how many times I look at you, |
| Paarthaalum salipadhillai | I never tire of it, |
| Male :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum | Male: My two eyes, even for a moment, |
| Imaipadhillai | Do not blink. |
{உனை எத்தனை முறை
பார்த்தாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
என் இரு விழியோ ஒரு கணமும்
இமைப்பதில்லை} (2)
{No matter how many times I look at you,
I never tire of it,
My two eyes, even for a moment,
Do not blink}
தமிழ் எத்தனை முறை
கேட்டாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
தமிழ் எத்தனை முறை
கேட்டாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
நம் இதழ் பாடும்
சுகராகம் முடிவதில்லை
No matter how many times Tamil
Is heard, one never tires of it,
No matter how many times Tamil
Is heard, one never tires of it,
The sweet melody sung by our lips
Never comes to an end.
உனை எத்தனை முறை
பார்த்தாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
என் இரு விழியோ
ஒரு கணமும் இமைப்பதில்லை
No matter how many times I look at you,
I never tire of it,
Female: My two eyes, even for a moment,
Do not blink.
{உடலோ அடடா
தங்கச் சுரங்கம்
உலகம் மயங்கும்
காதல் அரங்கம்} (2)
{This body, ah,
Is a gold mine,
A stage of love
That spellbinds the world}
தாவும் கரங்கள்
தேடும் சுகங்கள்
தாவும் கரங்கள்
தேடும் சுகங்கள்
எதுவரை என்றாலும்
இன்னும் இன்னும்
கொஞ்சம் என்பேனே
Reaching hands
Seek pleasures,
Reaching hands
Seek pleasures,
No matter how far it goes,
I will keep asking for 'just a little more',
உனை எத்தனை முறை
பார்த்தாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
என் இரு விழியோ
ஒரு கணமும் இமைப்பதில்லை
No matter how many times I look at you,
I never tire of it,
Male: My two eyes, even for a moment,
Do not blink.
{கலைகள் பயிலும்
மாலைப் பொழுது
விடியும் வரையில் நீயும் தழுவு} (2)
{An evening time
When arts are practiced,
Until the dawn arrives,
Embrace me as well}
ஆடை களைந்து
ஆசை கலந்து
ஆடை களைந்து
ஆசை கலந்து
அளித்திடும் இன்பங்கள்
என்ன என்ன
இன்னும் சொல்வேனோ
Dancing and intermingling,
Desire ripening,
Dancing and intermingling,
Desire ripening,
The joys we study,
How much more can I describe?
உனை எத்தனை முறை
பார்த்தாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
என் இரு விழியோ
ஒரு கணமும் இமைப்பதில்லை
No matter how many times I look at you,
I never tire of it,
Female: My two eyes, even for a moment,
Do not blink.
{நி த மா ச ரி தா
காதல் கனி நீ
கனி நீ பத மா
காமம் கனி நீ} (2)
{Ni Dha Ma Sa Ri Dha
O maiden of love,
Step by step,
You are the fruit of Cupid}
பாடும் சுரமோ
தேடும் சுகமோ
பாடும் சுரமோ
தேடும் சுகமோ
எதுவெனச் சொன்னாலும்
இன்பம் இன்பம்
என்னைத் தந்தேனே
Is it the musical note being sung?
Or the pleasure being sought?
Is it the musical note being sung?
Or the pleasure being sought?
Whatever it is called, it is pure bliss!
உனை எத்தனை முறை
பார்த்தாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
என் இரு விழியோ
ஒரு கணமும் இமைப்பதில்லை
No matter how many times I look at you,
I never tire of it,
My two eyes, even for a moment,
Do not blink.
தமிழ் எத்தனை முறை
கேட்டாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
தமிழ் எத்தனை முறை
கேட்டாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
நம் இதழ் பாடும்
சுகராகம் முடிவதில்லை
No matter how many times Tamil
Is heard, one never tires of it,
No matter how many times Tamil
Is heard, one never tires of it,
The sweet melody sung by our lips
Never comes to an end.
உனை எத்தனை முறை
பார்த்தாலும் சலிப்பதில்லை
என் இரு விழியோ
ஒரு கணமும் இமைப்பதில்லை
No matter how many times I look at you,
I never tire of it,
Male: My two eyes, even for a moment,
Do not blink.
{Unai yethanai murai
{No matter how many times I look at you,
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
I never tire of it,
En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
My two eyes, even for a moment,
Imaipadhillai} (2)
Do not blink}
Thamizh yethanai murai
No matter how many times Tamil
Kettaalum salipadhillai
Is heard, one never tires of it,
Thamizh yethanai murai
No matter how many times Tamil
Kettaalum salipadhillai
Is heard, one never tires of it,
Nam idhazh paadum
The sweet melody sung by our lips
Sugaragam mudivadhillai
Never comes to an end.
Unai yethanai murai
No matter how many times I look at you,
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
I never tire of it,
Female :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Female: My two eyes, even for a moment,
Imaipadhillai
Do not blink.
{Udalo adada
{This body, ah,
Thanga churangam
Is a gold mine,
Ulagam mayangum
A stage of love
Kaadhal arangam} (2)
That spellbinds the world}
Thaavum karangal
Reaching hands
Thedum sugangal
Seek pleasures,
Thaavum karangal
Reaching hands
Thedum sugangal
Seek pleasures,
Yedhu varai endraalum
No matter how far it goes,
Innum innum konjam enbenae
I will keep asking for 'just a little more',
Unai yethanai murai
No matter how many times I look at you,
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
I never tire of it,
Male :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Male: My two eyes, even for a moment,
Imaipadhillai
Do not blink.
{Kalaigal payilum
{An evening time
Maalai pozhudhu
When arts are practiced,
Vidiyum varaiyil
Until the dawn arrives,
Neeyum thazhuvu} (2)
Embrace me as well}
Aadi kalandhu
Dancing and intermingling,
Aasai kanindhu
Desire ripening,
Aadi kalandhu
Dancing and intermingling,
Aasai kanindhu
Desire ripening,
Padithidum inbangal
The joys we study,
Enna enna inum solveno
How much more can I describe?
Unai yethanai murai
No matter how many times I look at you,
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
I never tire of it,
Female :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Female: My two eyes, even for a moment,
Imaipadhillai
Do not blink.
{Ni dha ma sa ri dha
{Ni Dha Ma Sa Ri Dha
Kaadhal kannini
O maiden of love,
Kannini padhama
Step by step,
Kaaman kani nee} (2)
You are the fruit of Cupid}
Paadum suramo
Is it the musical note being sung?
Thedum sugamo
Or the pleasure being sought?
Paadum suramo
Is it the musical note being sung?
Thedum sugamo
Or the pleasure being sought?
Yedhuvena sonnalum inbamiInbam
Whatever it is called, it is pure bliss!
Unai yethanai murai
No matter how many times I look at you,
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
I never tire of it,
En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
My two eyes, even for a moment,
Imaipadhillai
Do not blink.
Thamizh yethanai murai
No matter how many times Tamil
Kettaalum salipadhillai
Is heard, one never tires of it,
Thamizh yethanai murai
No matter how many times Tamil
Kettaalum salipadhillai
Is heard, one never tires of it,
Nam idhazh paadum
The sweet melody sung by our lips
Sugaragam mudivadhillai
Never comes to an end.
Unai yethanai murai
No matter how many times I look at you,
Paarthaalum salipadhillai
I never tire of it,
Male :En iruvizhiyo oru kanamum
Male: My two eyes, even for a moment,
Imaipadhillai
Do not blink.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Keep listening