Unnai Kandu Naan Vaada
From Kalyana Parisu · 1959
- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- A. M. Rajah
- Music director
- A. M. Rajah
- Details
- Kalyana Parisu1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unnai kandu naan vaada | As I wither upon seeing you, |
| Ennai kandu nee vaada | And you wither upon seeing me, |
| Kaaneerum kathai | A story told in tears, |
| Sollum deepavali | This Deepavali tells. |
| Male | |
| Oorengum manakkum | The bliss that fragrance the whole town, |
| Anantham namakku | Is for us, |
| Kaanaatha dhooramada | At an unreachable distance, my friend, |
| Kaanaatha dhooramada | At an unreachable distance. |
| Male | |
| {Nenjamum kanalaagi | {When the heart turns to embers |
| Neeraagum pothu | And melts into water, |
| Nimmathi en vaazhvil | Where is peace in my life |
| Ini yedhu} (2) | Any longer?} (2) |
| Male | |
| Konjidum mozhikettu | Hearing sweet affectionate words, |
| Magizhnthaval engae | Where is she who rejoiced? |
| Konjidum mozhikettu | Hearing sweet affectionate words, |
| Magizhnthaval engae | Where is she who rejoiced? |
| Male | |
| Kulaththin vilakkai | As the guiding light of the family, |
| Thigazhnthaval engae | Where is she who shone? |
| Kannukkul nadantha | All the visions that played |
| Kaatchchigal ellaam | Before my eyes, |
| Kanavaagi ponathada…aaa… | Have turned into a dream... ah... |
| Kanavaagi ponathada… | Have turned into a dream... |
| Male | |
| {Aasaikku anaipotta | {The wise woman who dammed her desires, |
| Arivaana nangai | A maiden of wisdom, |
| Anbukku porul sonna | The gracious lady who defined |
| Arul mangai} (2) | The true meaning of love} (2) |
| Male | |
| Paasaththin sumaiodu | With the burden of love, |
| Paranthu sendraalae | She flew away, |
| Paasaththin sumaiodu | With the burden of love, |
| Paranthu sendraalae | She flew away, |
| Male | |
| Pazhagum unaiyum | Forgetting even you, |
| Maranthu sendraalae | Who was so familiar to her. |
| Kandathum ninaivil | All that was seen and treasured in mind |
| Kondathum mudivil | Has in the end, |
| Kathaiyaagi ponathada…aaa…. | Turned into a mere story... ah... |
| Kathaiyaagi ponathada… | Turned into a mere story... |
உன்னை
கண்டு நான் வாட
என்னை கண்டு நீ
வாட கண்ணீரும்
கதை சொல்லும்
தீபாவளி
As I wither upon seeing you,
And you wither upon seeing me,
A story told in tears,
This Deepavali tells.
ஊரெங்கும்
மணக்கும் ஆனந்தம்
நமக்கு காணாத தூரமடா
காணாத தூரமடா
The bliss that fragrance the whole town,
Is for us,
At an unreachable distance, my friend,
At an unreachable distance.
{ நெஞ்சமும்
கனலாகி நீராகும்
போது நிம்மதி என்
வாழ்வில் இனி ஏது } (2)
{When the heart turns to embers
And melts into water,
Where is peace in my life
Any longer?} (2)
கொஞ்சிடும்
மொழி கேட்டு மகிழ்ந்தவள்
எங்கே கொஞ்சிடும் மொழி
கேட்டு மகிழ்ந்தவள் எங்கே
Hearing sweet affectionate words,
Where is she who rejoiced?
Hearing sweet affectionate words,
Where is she who rejoiced?
குளத்தின்
விளக்காய் திகழ்ந்தவள்
எங்கே கண்ணுக்குள்
நடந்த காட்சிகள் எல்லாம்
கனவாகி போனதடா
கனவாகி போனதடா
As the guiding light of the family,
Where is she who shone?
All the visions that played
Before my eyes,
Have turned into a dream... ah...
Have turned into a dream...
{ ஆசைக்கு
அணை போட்ட
அறிவான நங்கை
அன்புக்கு பொருள்
சொன்ன அருள் மங்கை } (2)
{The wise woman who dammed her desires,
A maiden of wisdom,
The gracious lady who defined
The true meaning of love} (2)
பாசத்தின்
சுமையோடு பறந்து
சென்றாலே பாசத்தின்
சுமையோடு பறந்து
சென்றாலே
With the burden of love,
She flew away,
With the burden of love,
She flew away,
பழகும்
உன்னையும் மறந்து
சென்றாலே கண்டதும்
நினைவில் கொண்டதும்
முடிவில் கதையாகி
போனதடா கதையாகி
போனதடா
Forgetting even you,
Who was so familiar to her.
All that was seen and treasured in mind
Has in the end,
Turned into a mere story... ah...
Turned into a mere story...
Unnai kandu naan vaada
As I wither upon seeing you,
Ennai kandu nee vaada
And you wither upon seeing me,
Kaaneerum kathai
A story told in tears,
Sollum deepavali
This Deepavali tells.
Oorengum manakkum
The bliss that fragrance the whole town,
Anantham namakku
Is for us,
Kaanaatha dhooramada
At an unreachable distance, my friend,
Kaanaatha dhooramada
At an unreachable distance.
{Nenjamum kanalaagi
{When the heart turns to embers
Neeraagum pothu
And melts into water,
Nimmathi en vaazhvil
Where is peace in my life
Ini yedhu} (2)
Any longer?} (2)
Konjidum mozhikettu
Hearing sweet affectionate words,
Magizhnthaval engae
Where is she who rejoiced?
Konjidum mozhikettu
Hearing sweet affectionate words,
Magizhnthaval engae
Where is she who rejoiced?
Kulaththin vilakkai
As the guiding light of the family,
Thigazhnthaval engae
Where is she who shone?
Kannukkul nadantha
All the visions that played
Kaatchchigal ellaam
Before my eyes,
Kanavaagi ponathada…aaa…
Have turned into a dream... ah...
Kanavaagi ponathada…
Have turned into a dream...
{Aasaikku anaipotta
{The wise woman who dammed her desires,
Arivaana nangai
A maiden of wisdom,
Anbukku porul sonna
The gracious lady who defined
Arul mangai} (2)
The true meaning of love} (2)
Paasaththin sumaiodu
With the burden of love,
Paranthu sendraalae
She flew away,
Paasaththin sumaiodu
With the burden of love,
Paranthu sendraalae
She flew away,
Pazhagum unaiyum
Forgetting even you,
Maranthu sendraalae
Who was so familiar to her.
Kandathum ninaivil
All that was seen and treasured in mind
Kondathum mudivil
Has in the end,
Kathaiyaagi ponathada…aaa….
Turned into a mere story... ah...
Kathaiyaagi ponathada…
Turned into a mere story...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant track 'Unnai Kandu Naan Vaada' from the iconic movie 'Kalyana Parisu' (1959) expresses deep sorrow and heartbreak during a festival that is usually joyous (Deepavali). The protagonist laments the tragedy that has befalled his life, contrasting the festive happiness around the town with his own internal grief. He remembers a beloved, virtuous woman who brought light to the family and exemplified love, but who has now departed, leaving behind memories that feel like a faded dream and a past story.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethirai (Second letter rhyming)
“Unnai kandu naan vaada / Ennai kandu nee vaada”
Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'kandu' / 'kandu' and 'Nenjamum' / 'Neeraagum'.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kannukkul nadantha / Kaatchchigal ellaam”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Kannukkul' and 'Kaatchchigal', 'Aasaikku' and 'Arivaana'.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Kulaththin vilakkai / Thigazhnthaval engae”
'Kulaththin vilakkai' metaphorically refers to a woman as the luminous lamp that brightens a family/lineage.
Juxtaposition / Irony
“Kaaneerum kathai / Sollum deepavali”
Contrasting the festive joy of Deepavali, which spreads happiness across the town, with personal sorrow and tears.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kalyana Parisu' (1959) was a landmark film directed by C. V. Sridhar. The music was composed by A. M. Rajah, who also rendered this soulful song. The lyrics were penned by the legendary poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. The song is famed for its tragic depth during a festive backdrop.
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