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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Kaanadhu Naan

From Vishwaroopam · 2012

Lyricist
Kamal Haasan
Singers
Kamal Haasan, Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Movie name
Vishwaroopam
Movie release year
2012
Lyrics added on
7 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Dhaga dhaga dhaga
Dhina dhina dhina
Naga naga naga
Thikita dhaana dhaana dhaana
Thikkita thikkita thakinna dhaana
Thaakudu dhaana
Thikkitu thakkata dhi dhi dhi
Dhaanu dhaanu genthanana
Dhaanu dhaanu genthanana
Dhaanu dhaanu genthanana
Athinavaneetha abhinayaraja
Gokulabaala kotiprakasha
Viraga naraga shree rakshakka maala
Ethanaimurai naan yengi saavaen
Ithavanai ennai aatkolvayaa
Soodiya vaadalai soodiya vaa
Kalavadiya sinthai thirumbatha
Bhoothagiyaaga panithiduvaaya
Paavai viragam parugiduvaaya
Aayardham maaya nee vaa
Chorus :Maaya maaya
Male :Aayardham maaya nee vaa
Chorus :Maaya maaya
Male :Aayardham maaya nee vaa
Chorus :Maaya maaya…haan
Unnai kaanadhu
Naan indru naan illaiyae
Vidhai ilaamal verillaiyae
Unnai kaanadhu
Naan indru naan illaiyae
Vidhai ilaamal verillaiyae
Maayaththirudan kannaa kannaa
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaaa
Maayaththirudan kannaa kannaa
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaaa
Krishna…aaa…..
Unnai kaanadhu
Naan indru naan illaiyae
Vidhai ilaamal verillaiyae
Nidham kaankindra vaan kooda nijamalla
Idham serkkum kanaa kooda sugam alla
Nee illaamal naan illaiyae
Unnai kaanaamal
Unnnai kannamal….
Unnai kaanaamal
Unnnai kannamal….
Kamathanisa nitha pama
Gama nigarisa
Unnai kaanaamal
Pen nenju thadumaaruthae
Vidhai illaamal verillaiyae
Nalina mogana shyaamala ranga
Chorus :Dheem dheem kadathaga dhinna
Male :Nadana baava sruthilaya ganga
Chorus :Kadathagathin dheem dheenna
Male :Sarivara thoongaathu vaadum
Anudhinam unakaaga yengum
Raadha naan unakkena
Raadha thaan unakoru
Radhaa thaan
Avvaaru nokkinaal
Evaaru naanuven
Kannadi mun nindru
Paarthu konden
Ondraaga seithida
Oru nooru naadagam
Othigaigal seidhu
Edhir paarthu irunthen
Edhirpaaraamalae avan
Edhir paaraamalae avan
Ohoo pin irunthu vandhu ennai
Bambaramaai sulatri vittu
Ulagunda peru vaayil endhan
Vaayodu vaai pathithaan
Ingu bhoologam endru oru porul ullathai
Indha poongothai maranthaal adi
Udalanindha aadai pol
Enai anindhu kolvaayaa
Ini nee ini nee..ee kannaa
Thoongaadha en kannin
Thuyiluritha kannan thaan
Ini nee ini nee…..eee…
Idhu neraamalae naan
Unnai paaraamalae naan
Indha mulujenmam poi irundhaal
Endru adhai enni
Veen yekkam yengaamalae
Unnai moochaaki vazhvenada
…………………………………..
Maayathirudan kannaa kannaa
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaa
Maayathirudan kannaa kannaa
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaa
Maayathirudan kannaa kannaa
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaa
Dhaga dhaga dhaga
Dhina dhina dhina
Naga naga naga
Thikita dhaana dhaana dhaana
Thikkita thikkita thakinna dhaana
Thaakudu dhaana
Thikkitu thakkata dhi dhi dhi
Dhaanu dhaanu genthanana
Dhaanu dhaanu genthanana
Dhaanu dhaanu genthanana
O ultimate master of dance and fresh butter lover,
Child of Gokulam, shining with the brilliance of ten million suns,
Garland of protection against the hellish fire of separation,
How many times will I yearn and die inside?
Will you now come and claim me as yours?
Come, wear the worn garland that was offered to you,
Will you not return the heart you stole away?
Will you subdue me as you did Pootana?
Will you drink away this maiden's sorrow of separation?
O mysterious lord of the cowherds, come!
Chorus: O elusive Krishna! O Krishna!
Male: O mysterious lord of the cowherds, come!
Chorus: O elusive Krishna! O Krishna!
Male: O mysterious lord of the cowherds, come!
Chorus: O elusive Krishna! O Krishna... ah!
Without seeing you,
I am not myself today.
There is no root without a seed.
Without seeing you,
I am not myself today.
There is no root without a seed.
O magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Master of the arts of love, Krishna, Krishna!
O magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Master of the arts of love, Krishna, Krishna!
O Krishna...
Without seeing you,
I am not myself today.
There is no root without a seed.
Even the sky seen every day is not real;
Even a comforting dream brings no true joy.
Without you, I do not exist.
Without seeing you...
Without seeing you...
Without seeing you...
Without seeing you...
Ga Ma Dha Ni Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma
Ga Ma Ni Ga Ri Sa
Without seeing you,
This woman's heart stumbles and falters.
There is no root without a seed.
Graceful, enchanting dark-hued Ranga,
Chorus: Dheem dheem kadathaga dhinna
Male: River Ganges of dance, emotion, pitch, and rhythm,
Chorus: Kadathagathin dheem dheenna
Male: Unable to sleep properly, wilting away,
Longing for you every single day,
I am Radha, made for you...
Radha is your only...
...Radha alone.
If he looks at me like that,
How bashful I would feel!
Standing before the mirror,
I looked at myself.
To enact together,
A hundred plays,
Rehearsing them over and over,
I stood waiting.
Unspokenly and unexpectedly, he...
Unspokenly and unexpectedly, he...
Oh, coming from behind me,
Spun me around like a top,
And in that great mouth that swallowed the universe,
Pressed his lips against mine!
That there is a place called Earth in this cosmos,
This flower-like maiden completely forgot!
Like the garment worn on the body,
Will you wear me close to you?
From now on, you... from now on, you, Krishna!
Of my sleepless eyes,
You are the Krishna who stole away sleep!
From now on, you... from now on, you...
Without this happening,
Without seeing you,
If this entire life had passed away as a falsehood,
Thinking of that,
Without yearning in futile longing,
I will live making you my very breath, my lord!
...
O magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Master of the arts of love, Krishna, Krishna!
O magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Master of the arts of love, Krishna, Krishna!
O magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Master of the arts of love, Krishna, Krishna!
Male
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Chorus
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Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Unnai Kaanadhu Naan' is a semi-classical Kathak dance song from the movie Vishwaroopam (2012). Composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and rendered by Kamal Haasan along with Shankar Mahadevan, the song expresses Nayaka-Nayaki bhava (soul longing for the Divine) centered around Radha's devotion for Krishna. The lyrics blend classical imagery from Vaishnavite traditions with romantic yearning, comparing Krishna to a magical thief who steals hearts and bestows bliss. The character portrays Radha rehearsing love plays in front of a mirror, longing for Krishna's arrival. She describes the divine encounter where Krishna spins her like a top and kisses her with the mouth that holds the universe, erasing her awareness of the earthly world. The song resolves in complete surrender, declaring Krishna to be her very breath and existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

Vidhai ilaamal verillaiyae

Comparing the dependence of existence to a root needing a seed ('Vidhai ilaamal verillaiyae') to emphasize that she cannot exist without Krishna.

Anaphora / Repetition (இரட்டைக்கிளவி / அடுக்குத்தொடர்)

Maayaththirudan kannaa kannaa

Repeated invocation of 'Maayaththirudan kannaa kannaa' and 'Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaaa' to heighten emotional and rhythmic intensity in classical abhinaya.

Mythological Allusion (புராணக் குறிப்பு)

Ulagunda peru vaayil endhan

References the famous mythological story where Krishna opens his mouth to show the entire universe to Yashoda ('Ulagunda peru vaayil').

Simile (உவமையணி)

Bambaramaai sulatri vittu

Compares spinning around out of overwhelmed passion to a top ('Bambaramaai sulatri vittu').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was choreographed by Birju Maharaj, the legendary Kathak maestro, who won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for this song. Kamal Haasan trained rigorously in Kathak for months to perform the complex abhinaya and chakkars live in one continuous classical performance sequence.

Keep listening

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