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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
Details
Vishwaroopam2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Dhaga dhaga dhagaDhaga dhaga dhaga (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Dhina dhina dhinaDhina dhina dhina (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Naga naga nagaNaga naga naga (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Thikita dhaana dhaana dhaanaThikita dhaana dhaana dhaana (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Thikkita thikkita thakinna dhaanaThikkita thikkita thakinna dhaana (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Thaakudu dhaanaThaakudu dhaana (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Thikkitu thakkata dhi dhi dhiThikkitu thakkata dhi dhi dhi (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Dhaanu dhaanu genthananaDhaanu dhaanu genthanana (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Dhaanu dhaanu genthananaDhaanu dhaanu genthanana (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Dhaanu dhaanu genthananaDhaanu dhaanu genthanana (Rhythmic solkattu syllables)
Male
Athinavaneetha abhinayarajaOh King of artistic expressions who loves fresh butter!
Gokulabaala kotiprakashaChild of Gokulam, radiant like ten million lights!
Viraga naraga shree rakshakka maalaThe protective garland against the hellish pain of separation,
Ethanaimurai naan yengi saavaenHow many times must I yearn and die inside?
Ithavanai ennai aatkolvayaaWill you take possession of me this time?
Soodiya vaadalai soodiya vaaCome wearing the garland that was already worn and faded!
Kalavadiya sinthai thirumbathaWon't you return my stolen mind?
Bhoothagiyaaga panithiduvaayaWill you bless me and give me liberation as you did for Putana?
Paavai viragam parugiduvaayaWill you consume this maiden's deep longing of separation?
Male
Aayardham maaya nee vaaOh magician of the cowherds, come!
Chorus :Maaya maayaChorus: Magical illusionist, magical illusionist...
Male :Aayardham maaya nee vaaMale: Oh magician of the cowherds, come!
Chorus :Maaya maayaChorus: Magical illusionist, magical illusionist...
Male :Aayardham maaya nee vaaMale: Oh magician of the cowherds, come!
Chorus :Maaya maaya…haanChorus: Magical illusionist, magical illusionist... haan
Male
Unnai kaanadhuWithout seeing you,
Naan indru naan illaiyaeToday, I am not myself.
Vidhai ilaamal verillaiyaeThere can be no root without a seed.
Unnai kaanadhuWithout seeing you,
Naan indru naan illaiyaeToday, I am not myself.
Vidhai ilaamal verillaiyaeThere can be no root without a seed.
Chorus
Maayaththirudan kannaa kannaaOh magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaaaOh master of love and art, Krishna, Krishna!
Maayaththirudan kannaa kannaaOh magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaaaOh master of love and art, Krishna, Krishna!
Male
Krishna…aaa…..Krishna...
Unnai kaanadhuWithout seeing you,
Naan indru naan illaiyaeToday, I am not myself.
Vidhai ilaamal verillaiyaeThere can be no root without a seed.
Nidham kaankindra vaan kooda nijamallaEven the daily sky I behold is not real,
Idham serkkum kanaa kooda sugam allaEven comforting dreams bring no sweet delight,
Nee illaamal naan illaiyaeWithout you, I do not exist.
Unnai kaanaamalWithout seeing you,
Unnnai kannamal….Without seeing you...
Unnai kaanaamalWithout seeing you,
Unnnai kannamal….Without seeing you...
Male
Kamathanisa nitha pamaGa Ma Tha Ni Sa Ni Tha Pa Ma (Swaras / Musical notes)
Gama nigarisaGa Ma Ni Ga Ri Sa (Swaras / Musical notes)
Unnai kaanaamalWithout seeing you,
Pen nenju thadumaaruthaeA woman's heart stumbles.
Vidhai illaamal verillaiyaeThere can be no root without a seed.
Male
Nalina mogana shyaamala rangaOh graceful, enchanting, dark-complexioned Ranga!
Chorus :Dheem dheem kadathaga dhinnaChorus: Dheem dheem kadathaga dhinna (Rhythmic syllables)
Male :Nadana baava sruthilaya gangaMale: River of dance, emotion, pitch, and rhythm!
Chorus :Kadathagathin dheem dheennaChorus: Kadathagathin dheem dheenna (Rhythmic syllables)
Male :Sarivara thoongaathu vaadumMale: Withered without proper sleep,
Anudhinam unakaaga yengumLonging for you each passing day,
Raadha naan unakkenaI am Radha, meant only for you,
Raadha thaan unakoruRadha is indeed made for you,
Radhaa thaanOnly Radha...
Male
Avvaaru nokkinaalIf he looks at me in that manner,
Evaaru naanuvenHow deeply shy I will become!
Kannadi mun nindruStanding in front of the mirror,
Paarthu kondenI kept watching myself,
Ondraaga seithidaTo enact together,
Oru nooru naadagamA hundred dramatic plays,
Othigaigal seidhuRehearsing them over and over,
Edhir paarthu irunthenI stood waiting in anticipation.
Male
Edhirpaaraamalae avanWithout expecting it,
Edhir paaraamalae avanWithout expecting it,
Ohoo pin irunthu vandhu ennaiOh, coming from behind me,
Bambaramaai sulatri vittuSpinning me like a top,
Ulagunda peru vaayil endhanWith his vast mouth that swallowed the universe,
Vaayodu vaai pathithaanHe pressed his lips onto mine!
Ingu bhoologam endru oru porul ullathaiThat a world called Earth exists here,
Indha poongothai maranthaal adiThis flower-like maiden completely forgot!
Male
Udalanindha aadai polLike the clothes worn upon the body,
Enai anindhu kolvaayaaWill you wear me as your attire?
Ini nee ini nee..ee kannaaFrom now on you, from now on you... oh Krishna!
Male
Thoongaadha en kanninFrom my sleepless eyes,
Thuyiluritha kannan thaanIt is Krishna who stole my sleep away,
Ini nee ini nee…..eee…From now on you, from now on you...
Male
Idhu neraamalae naanWithout this having happened,
Unnai paaraamalae naanWithout having seen you,
Indha mulujenmam poi irundhaalIf this entire life had passed away in vain,
Endru adhai enniThinking about that now,
Veen yekkam yengaamalaeWithout yearning in useless despair,
Unnai moochaaki vazhvenadaI will turn you into my breath and live, my beloved!
Male
………………………………….................................
Chorus
Maayathirudan kannaa kannaaOh magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaaOh master of love and art, Krishna, Krishna!
Maayathirudan kannaa kannaaOh magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaaOh master of love and art, Krishna, Krishna!
Maayathirudan kannaa kannaaOh magical thief, Krishna, Krishna!
Kaama kalaignan kannaa kannaaOh master of love and art, Krishna, Krishna!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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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