Unnai Keta
From Clap · 2023
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa | Did it ask you, did it ask me? |
| Thendral vandhu thaalaatum | The breeze comes and sings a lullaby. |
| Mannai kettaa malarai kettaa | Did it ask the earth, did it ask the flower? |
| Megam vandhu neer ootrum | The cloud comes and pours water. |
| Male | |
| Irulai ootum vennila | The white moon that drives away darkness, |
| Ulagukaaga thondrum | Appears for the sake of the world. |
| Unakagavae orr oli nila | A shining moon just for you, |
| Endrum unnai thodarnthu varuthae | Always comes following you. |
| Male | |
| Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa | Did it ask you, did it ask me? |
| Thendral vandhu thaalaatum | The breeze comes and sings a lullaby. |
| Male | |
| Yarukkum vaazhkai | For anyone, life... |
| Ninaitha padi selladhu | Does not go as planned. |
| Nee ingu ninaithadhum | What you wished for here, |
| Nadanthadhum vevveru | And what actually happened are completely different. |
| Male | |
| Unaku orr aran pola | Like a shield for you, |
| Poomagal vanthaalae | The flower-like lady came. |
| Unnai nee nonthaalum | Even though you grieved yourself, |
| Thannaiyae thanthaalae | She gave her whole self to you. |
| Male | |
| Meendu vara vendum endru | Wishing that you would return, |
| Vendi varam vaangi kondaal | She prayed and received a boon. |
| Malargal kulungum poongavil | In the garden swaying with flowers, |
| Ottrai malar pola nindraal | She stood like a solitary flower. |
| Koodiyae vaalvadha thanimaiyil | Is living together meant to end in solitude? |
| Male | |
| Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa | Did it ask you, did it ask me? |
| Thendral vandhu thaalaatum | The breeze comes and sings a lullaby. |
| Male | |
| Veenaikkul naathangal | The musical notes within the Veena, |
| Aalkadal pol thoonguthae | Sleep like the deep ocean. |
| Alaigal pol karai thoda | To touch the shore like waves, |
| Aasaiyodu adhu yenguthae | It longs with desire. |
| Male | |
| Vithigal nadathum vaalkaiyil | In life driven by fate, |
| Unaku yeno vidhi | Why is there a cruel fate for you? |
| Kalainthu pogum kanavilae | In a dream that dissolves away, |
| Unaku yeno orr kanaa | Why do you hold onto a dream? |
| Male | |
| Serndhu irundha podhum ingae | Even though we were together here, |
| Neeyum thani nanum thaniyae | You are alone, and I am alone. |
| Vaanavillin serndha vannam | The colors joined in a rainbow, |
| Kalaiyum nodi pogum than valiyae | Go their own way when it dissolves. |
| Raagama naan vegama | Am I a melody or speed? |
| Neeyum sollu | You tell me too. |
| Male | |
| Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa | Did it ask you, did it ask me? |
| Thendral vandhu thaalaatum | The breeze comes and sings a lullaby. |
| Mannai kettaa malarai kettaa | Did it ask the earth, did it ask the flower? |
| Megam vandhu neer ootrum | The cloud comes and pours water. |
| Male | |
| Irulai ootum vennila | The white moon that drives away darkness, |
| Ulagukaaga thondrum | Appears for the sake of the world. |
| Unakagavae orr oli nila | A shining moon just for you, |
| Endrum unnai thodarnthu varuthae | Always comes following you. |
| Male | |
| Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa | Did it ask you, did it ask me? |
| Thendral vandhu thaalaatum | The breeze comes and sings a lullaby. |
உன்னை கேட்டா என்னை கேட்டா
தென்றல் வந்து தாலாட்டும்
மண்ணை கேட்டா மலரை கேட்டா
மேகம் வந்து நீர் ஊற்றும்
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
Did it ask the earth, did it ask the flower?
The cloud comes and pours water.
இருளும் ஊட்டும் வெண்ணிலா
உலகுக்காக தோன்றும்
உனக்காகவே ஓர் ஒளி நிலா
என்றும் உன்னை தொடர்ந்து வருதே
The white moon that drives away darkness,
Appears for the sake of the world.
A shining moon just for you,
Always comes following you.
உன்னை கேட்டா என்னை கேட்டா
தென்றல் வந்து தாலாட்டும்
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
யாருக்கும் வாழ்க்கை
நினைத்த படி செல்லாது
நீ இங்கு நினைத்ததும்
நடந்ததும் வெவ்வேறு
For anyone, life...
Does not go as planned.
What you wished for here,
And what actually happened are completely different.
உனக்கு ஒரு அரண் போல
பூமகள் வந்தாளே
உன்னை நான் நொந்தாலும்
தன்னையே தந்தாளே
Like a shield for you,
The flower-like lady came.
Even though you grieved yourself,
She gave her whole self to you.
மீண்டு வர வேண்டும் என்று
வேண்டி வரம் வாங்கி கொண்டால்
மலர்கள் குலுங்கும் பூங்காவில்
ஒற்றை மலர் போல நின்றாள்
கூடியே வாழ்வதா தனிமையில்
Wishing that you would return,
She prayed and received a boon.
In the garden swaying with flowers,
She stood like a solitary flower.
Is living together meant to end in solitude?
உன்னை கேட்டா என்னை கேட்டா
தென்றல் வந்து தாலாட்டும்
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
வீணைக்குள் நாதங்கள்
ஆழ் கடல் போல் தூங்குதே
அலைகள் போல் கரை தொட
ஆசையோடு அது ஏங்குதே
The musical notes within the Veena,
Sleep like the deep ocean.
To touch the shore like waves,
It longs with desire.
விதிகள் நடத்தும் வாழ்க்கையில்
உனக்கு ஏனோ விதி
கலைந்து போகும் கனவிலே
உனக்கு ஏனோ ஓர் கனா
In life driven by fate,
Why is there a cruel fate for you?
In a dream that dissolves away,
Why do you hold onto a dream?
சேர்ந்து இருந்த போது இங்கே
நீயும் தனி நானும் தனியே
வானவில்லின் சேர்ந்த வண்ணம்
கலையும் நொடி போகும் தான் வலியே
ராகமா நான் வேகமா நீயும் சொல்லு
Even though we were together here,
You are alone, and I am alone.
The colors joined in a rainbow,
Go their own way when it dissolves.
Am I a melody or speed?
You tell me too.
உன்னை கேட்டா என்னை கேட்டா
தென்றல் வந்து தாலாட்டும்
மண்ணை கேட்டா மலரை கேட்டா
மேகம் வந்து நீர் ஊற்றும்
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
Did it ask the earth, did it ask the flower?
The cloud comes and pours water.
இருளும் ஊட்டும் வெண்ணிலா
உலகுக்காக தோன்றும்
உனக்காகவே ஓர் ஒளி நிலா
என்றும் உன்னை தொடர்ந்து வருதே
The white moon that drives away darkness,
Appears for the sake of the world.
A shining moon just for you,
Always comes following you.
உன்னை கேட்டா என்னை கேட்டா
தென்றல் வந்து தாலாட்டும்
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
Thendral vandhu thaalaatum
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
Mannai kettaa malarai kettaa
Did it ask the earth, did it ask the flower?
Megam vandhu neer ootrum
The cloud comes and pours water.
Irulai ootum vennila
The white moon that drives away darkness,
Ulagukaaga thondrum
Appears for the sake of the world.
Unakagavae orr oli nila
A shining moon just for you,
Endrum unnai thodarnthu varuthae
Always comes following you.
Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
Thendral vandhu thaalaatum
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
Yarukkum vaazhkai
For anyone, life...
Ninaitha padi selladhu
Does not go as planned.
Nee ingu ninaithadhum
What you wished for here,
Nadanthadhum vevveru
And what actually happened are completely different.
Unaku orr aran pola
Like a shield for you,
Poomagal vanthaalae
The flower-like lady came.
Unnai nee nonthaalum
Even though you grieved yourself,
Thannaiyae thanthaalae
She gave her whole self to you.
Meendu vara vendum endru
Wishing that you would return,
Vendi varam vaangi kondaal
She prayed and received a boon.
Malargal kulungum poongavil
In the garden swaying with flowers,
Ottrai malar pola nindraal
She stood like a solitary flower.
Koodiyae vaalvadha thanimaiyil
Is living together meant to end in solitude?
Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
Thendral vandhu thaalaatum
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
Veenaikkul naathangal
The musical notes within the Veena,
Aalkadal pol thoonguthae
Sleep like the deep ocean.
Alaigal pol karai thoda
To touch the shore like waves,
Aasaiyodu adhu yenguthae
It longs with desire.
Vithigal nadathum vaalkaiyil
In life driven by fate,
Unaku yeno vidhi
Why is there a cruel fate for you?
Kalainthu pogum kanavilae
In a dream that dissolves away,
Unaku yeno orr kanaa
Why do you hold onto a dream?
Serndhu irundha podhum ingae
Even though we were together here,
Neeyum thani nanum thaniyae
You are alone, and I am alone.
Vaanavillin serndha vannam
The colors joined in a rainbow,
Kalaiyum nodi pogum than valiyae
Go their own way when it dissolves.
Raagama naan vegama
Am I a melody or speed?
Neeyum sollu
You tell me too.
Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
Thendral vandhu thaalaatum
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
Mannai kettaa malarai kettaa
Did it ask the earth, did it ask the flower?
Megam vandhu neer ootrum
The cloud comes and pours water.
Irulai ootum vennila
The white moon that drives away darkness,
Ulagukaaga thondrum
Appears for the sake of the world.
Unakagavae orr oli nila
A shining moon just for you,
Endrum unnai thodarnthu varuthae
Always comes following you.
Unnai kettaa ennai kettaa
Did it ask you, did it ask me?
Thendral vandhu thaalaatum
The breeze comes and sings a lullaby.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unnai Kettaa Ennai Kettaa is a deeply philosophical and soulful song from the film Clap. The lyrics draw parallels between the unconditional operations of nature—such as the breeze singing a lullaby or clouds raining without seeking permission—and the unannounced occurrences of destiny in human lives. It reflects on how life rarely moves according to human plans and highlights the quiet sacrifices made by loved ones.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Thendral vandhu thaalaatum”
Attributing the human act of singing a lullaby (thaalaatum) to the gentle breeze (thendral).
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Mannai kettaa malarai kettaa”
Repetition of the initial sound 'M' in 'Mannai' and 'Malarai'.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Ottrai malar pola nindraal”
Comparing the heroine standing alone in a garden full of flowers to a single flower using the comparison word 'pola'.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Veenaikkul naathangal Aalkadal pol thoonguthae”
Comparing dormant musical notes inside a Veena to a sleeping deep ocean using 'pol'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vaanavillin serndha vannam Kalaiyum nodi pogum than valiyae”
Comparing human relationships to the fleeting colors of a rainbow that separate once it disperses.
Did you know?
Trivia
Clap (2022/2023) is a sports drama starring Aadhi Pinisetty as a former athlete who faces adversity. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Dr. Uma Devi. Singer Karthik delivered the vocal rendition, which highlights emotional resilience amidst tragedy.
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