Unnai Kaanaadha
From Idhaya Kamalam · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Idhaya Kamalam1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla… | An eye that does not see you is no eye at all... |
| Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla… | A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all... |
| Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa | A word not spoken by you is no word at all... |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Female | |
| Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla… | An eye that does not see you is no eye at all... |
| Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla… | A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all... |
| Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa | A word not spoken by you is no word at all... |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Female | |
| Ingu nee oru paadhi naan oru paadhi | Here, you are one half and I am the other half, |
| Idhil yaar pirindhaalum vedhanai paadhi | In this, if either separates, the pain is shared equally. |
| Ingu nee oru paadhi naan oru paadhi | Here, you are one half and I am the other half, |
| Idhil yaar pirindhaalum vedhanai paadhi | In this, if either separates, the pain is shared equally. |
| Kaalangal maarum kaatchigal maarum | Times will change, sights will change, |
| Kaadhalin munnae neeyum naanum ver alla | Before love, you and I are not different. |
| Female | |
| Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla… | An eye that does not see you is no eye at all... |
| Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla… | A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all... |
| Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa | A word not spoken by you is no word at all... |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Female | |
| Oru dheivam illaamal kovilum illai | Without a deity, there is no temple, |
| Oru kovil illaamal dheebamum illai | Without a temple, there is no lamp. |
| Oru dheivam illaamal kovilum illai | Without a deity, there is no temple, |
| Oru kovil illaamal dheebamum illai | Without a temple, there is no lamp. |
| Nee endhan kovil naan angu dheebam | You are my temple, and I am the lamp there, |
| Dheivathin munnae neeyum naanum ver alla | Before God, you and I are not different. |
| Female | |
| Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla… | An eye that does not see you is no eye at all... |
| Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla… | A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all... |
| Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa | A word not spoken by you is no word at all... |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Female | |
| En maeniyil unnai pillaiyai polae | Upon my body, like a child, |
| Naan vaari anaippen aasaiyinaalae | I will embrace you fondly out of desire. |
| En maeniyil unnai pillaiyai polae | Upon my body, like a child, |
| Naan vaari anaippen aasaiyinaalae | I will embrace you fondly out of desire. |
| Nee tharuvaayo naan tharuveno | Will you give, or will I give? |
| Yaar thandha podhum neeyum naanum ver alla | No matter who gives, you and I are not different. |
| Female | |
| Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla… | An eye that does not see you is no eye at all... |
| Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla… | A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all... |
| Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa | A word not spoken by you is no word at all... |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
| Nee illaamal naanum naanalla | Without you, I am not myself. |
உன்னை காணாத கண்ணும் கண்ணல்ல...
உன்னை எண்ணாத நெஞ்சும் நெஞ்சல்ல......
நீ சொல்லாத சொல்லும் சொல்லல்ல...
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Without you, I am not myself.
Without you, I am not myself.
உன்னை காணாத கண்ணும் கண்ணல்ல...
உன்னை எண்ணாத நெஞ்சும் நெஞ்சல்ல......
நீ சொல்லாத சொல்லும் சொல்லல்ல...
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Without you, I am not myself.
Without you, I am not myself.
இங்கு நீயொரு பாதி நானொரு பாதி
இதில் யார் பிரிந்தாலும் வேதனை பாதி
இங்கு நீயொரு பாதி நானொரு பாதி
இதில் யார் பிரிந்தாலும் வேதனை பாதி
காலங்கள் மாறும் காட்சிகள் மாறும்
காதலின் முன்னே நீயும் நானும் வேறல்ல
Here, you are one half and I am the other half,
In this, if either separates, the pain is shared equally.
Here, you are one half and I am the other half,
In this, if either separates, the pain is shared equally.
Times will change, sights will change,
Before love, you and I are not different.
உன்னை காணாத கண்ணும் கண்ணல்ல...
உன்னை எண்ணாத நெஞ்சும் நெஞ்சல்ல......
நீ சொல்லாத சொல்லும் சொல்லல்ல...
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Without you, I am not myself.
Without you, I am not myself.
ஒரு தெய்வம் இல்லாமல் கோவிலும் இல்லை
ஒரு கோவில் இல்லாமல் தீபமும் இல்லை
ஒரு தெய்வம் இல்லாமல் கோவிலும் இல்லை
ஒரு கோவில் இல்லாமல் தீபமும் இல்லை
நீ எந்தன் கோவில் நானங்கு தீபம்
தெய்வத்தின் முன்னே நீயும் நானும் வேறல்ல
Without a deity, there is no temple,
Without a temple, there is no lamp.
Without a deity, there is no temple,
Without a temple, there is no lamp.
You are my temple, and I am the lamp there,
Before God, you and I are not different.
உன்னை காணாத கண்ணும் கண்ணல்ல...
உன்னை எண்ணாத நெஞ்சும் நெஞ்சல்ல......
நீ சொல்லாத சொல்லும் சொல்லல்ல...
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Without you, I am not myself.
Without you, I am not myself.
என் மேனியில் உன்னை பிள்ளையை போலே
நான் வாரி அணைப்பேன் ஆசையினாலே
என் மேனியில் உன்னை பிள்ளையை போலே
நான் வாரி அணைப்பேன் ஆசையினாலே
நீ தருவாயோ நான் தருவேனோ
யார் தந்த போதும் நீயும் நானும் வேறல்ல
Upon my body, like a child,
I will embrace you fondly out of desire.
Upon my body, like a child,
I will embrace you fondly out of desire.
Will you give, or will I give?
No matter who gives, you and I are not different.
உன்னை காணாத கண்ணும் கண்ணல்ல...
உன்னை எண்ணாத நெஞ்சும் நெஞ்சல்ல......
நீ சொல்லாத சொல்லும் சொல்லல்ல.....ஆஅ.....
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
நீ இல்லாமல் நானும் நானல்ல
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Without you, I am not myself.
Without you, I am not myself.
Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla…
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla…
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla…
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla…
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Ingu nee oru paadhi naan oru paadhi
Here, you are one half and I am the other half,
Idhil yaar pirindhaalum vedhanai paadhi
In this, if either separates, the pain is shared equally.
Ingu nee oru paadhi naan oru paadhi
Here, you are one half and I am the other half,
Idhil yaar pirindhaalum vedhanai paadhi
In this, if either separates, the pain is shared equally.
Kaalangal maarum kaatchigal maarum
Times will change, sights will change,
Kaadhalin munnae neeyum naanum ver alla
Before love, you and I are not different.
Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla…
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla…
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Oru dheivam illaamal kovilum illai
Without a deity, there is no temple,
Oru kovil illaamal dheebamum illai
Without a temple, there is no lamp.
Oru dheivam illaamal kovilum illai
Without a deity, there is no temple,
Oru kovil illaamal dheebamum illai
Without a temple, there is no lamp.
Nee endhan kovil naan angu dheebam
You are my temple, and I am the lamp there,
Dheivathin munnae neeyum naanum ver alla
Before God, you and I are not different.
Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla…
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla…
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
En maeniyil unnai pillaiyai polae
Upon my body, like a child,
Naan vaari anaippen aasaiyinaalae
I will embrace you fondly out of desire.
En maeniyil unnai pillaiyai polae
Upon my body, like a child,
Naan vaari anaippen aasaiyinaalae
I will embrace you fondly out of desire.
Nee tharuvaayo naan tharuveno
Will you give, or will I give?
Yaar thandha podhum neeyum naanum ver alla
No matter who gives, you and I are not different.
Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla…
An eye that does not see you is no eye at all...
Unnai ennaadha nenjum nenjalla…
A heart that does not think of you is no heart at all...
Nee sollaadha sollum sollalla…aaaa
A word not spoken by you is no word at all...
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Nee illaamal naanum naanalla
Without you, I am not myself.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unnai Kaanadha Kannum Kannalla is an iconic Tamil romantic track from the 1965 movie Idhaya Kamalam, penned by Kannadasan. The lyrics articulate the sentiment of ultimate emotional integration and romantic devotion, expressing that one's senses, thoughts, and identity hold no value without the presence and companionship of the beloved. The song portrays two lovers as inseparable components of a single existence. Through rich spiritual and maternal imagery—such as comparing the partner to a temple, oneself to the lamp within, and love to embracing a child—the lyricist highlights that true love transcends individual identity, rendering two souls completely indistinguishable and unified before the divine.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora and Litotes
“Unnai kaanaadha kannum kannalla…”
Repeated negation structure ('X-aadha X-um X-alla') emphasizes total emotional dependence by denying the very utility of eyes, hearts, and words if disconnected from the beloved.
Metaphor
“Ingu nee oru paadhi naan oru paadhi”
Compares the two lovers to two complementary halves of a whole entity, sharing both existence and grief equally.
Metaphor
“Nee endhan kovil naan angu dheebam”
Equates the partner to a sacred temple and oneself to the sanctified lamp inside it to convey absolute devotion.
Simile
“En maeniyil unnai pillaiyai polae”
Uses 'pillaiyai polae' (like a child) to compare romantic embrace to maternal affection, elevating love to a pure, protective, and tender plane.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and sung by P. Susheela, this song from 'Idhaya Kamalam' (1965) starring Ravichandran and K. R. Vijaya remains one of the most celebrated golden-era melodies in Tamil cinema, renowned for Kannadasan's lyrical depth.
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