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Manimekalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Kaana Yengum

From Manimekalai · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Manimekalai
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
11 Feb 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnai kaana yengum…anbae
En kannum endru thoongum…kanne
Unnai kaana yengum…
En kannum endru thoongum…
Kannum endru thoongum…
Unnai kaana yengum…
En kannum endru thoongum…
Oli minnal maari ilang kanniyaagi
Enai kollai konda anbe
Oli minnal maari ilang kanniyaagi
Enai kollai konda anbe
Unnai kaana yengum…
En kannum endru thoongum…
Enna poigaiyil annam polave
Inbamaaga neendhi
Enna poigaiyil annam polave
Inbamaaga neendhi
Pudhu anbu paarvai yendhi
Pudhu anbu paarvai yendhi
Aanandham thandha sooryagaandhi
Thandha sooryagaandhi
Suvai kannal kenjidum un sollai kaettu
Naan kaanbathendru saanthi
Suvai kannal kenjidum un sollai kaettu
Naan kaanbathendru saanthi
Unnai kaana yengum…
En kannum endru thoongum…
Sindhu paadiyae haa..aa..aa…aa…haa..aaa..aa
Sindhu paadiye vandhu ennaiye
Sondhamaakki kondaai
Un sondhamaakki kondaai
Meikaadhal bandhathaale vendraai
Namm sondha bandhathai sindhiyaamale
Indru engu sendraai
Namm sondha bandhathai sindhiyaamale
Indru engu sendraai
Unnai kaana yengum…
En kannum endru thoongum…
Oli minnal maari ilang kanniyaagi
Enai kollai konda anbe
Longing to see you, my love,
when will my eyes ever sleep, my dearest?
Longing to see you,
when will my heart and eyes find sleep?
When will my eyes find sleep?
Longing to see you,
when will my heart and eyes find sleep?
Turning from a flash of light into a young woman,
O love who stole my heart away!
Turning from a flash of light into a young woman,
O love who stole my heart away!
Longing to see you,
when will my heart and eyes find sleep?
Like a swan in the pool of my thoughts,
swimming with pure joy,
Like a swan in the pool of my thoughts,
swimming with pure joy,
bringing a fresh look of love,
bringing a fresh look of love,
you gave me bliss, shining sunflower,
giving me bliss, shining sunflower!
Hearing your words sweeter than sugarcane,
when will I ever find peace?
Hearing your words sweeter than sugarcane,
when will I ever find peace?
Longing to see you,
when will my heart and eyes find sleep?
Singing a sweet melody, ah ah ah ah...
Singing a sweet melody, you came to me,
and made me your very own,
made me your very own!
You won me over with the bond of true love,
yet without a single thought for our bond,
where have you gone today?
Yet without a single thought for our bond,
where have you gone today?
Longing to see you,
when will my heart and eyes find sleep?
Turning from a flash of light into a young woman,
O love who stole my heart away!
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful classic from Manimekalai (1959) expresses the deep yearning and agonizing sorrow of a lover separated from his beloved. He reminisces about how she entered his life like a radiant flash of lightning, stole his heart, and brought him radiant joy akin to a blooming sunflower or a swan swimming in a pristine pond. Her sweet words and affection once brought him immense happiness, but her sudden absence leaves him restless and sleepless. In despair, he questions where she has gone, leaving behind their powerful bond of true love. The lyrics beautifully capture the tenderness of romantic devotion blended with the pain of separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Enna poigaiyil annam polave”

Compares the beloved's graceful presence to a swan swimming joyfully in a pond ('Enna poigaiyil annam polave').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Aanandham thandha sooryagaandhi”

Compares the heroine to a sunflower that bestows delight ('Aanandham thandha sooryagaandhi').

Hyperbole (Adukkuthodar / Imagative description)

“Oli minnal maari ilang kanniyaagi”

Compares the arrival of the maiden to a flash of lightning that captivated the lover's heart ('Oli minnal maariilang kanniyaagi').

Rhetorical Question

“En kannum endru thoongum…”

Expresses deep anguish and longing by asking when his eyes will finally find sleep ('En kannum endru thoongum').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Unnai Kaana Yengum' is a classic melody composed by legendary music director G. Ramanathan and sung by T. R. Mahalingam for the 1959 epic film 'Manimekalai', based on the ancient Tamil Buddhist epic of the same name. The song showcases T. R. Mahalingam's distinctive high-pitched theatrical vocal style and emotional depth.

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