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Ilaya Raagam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Naan Serndhirukka Sad

From Ilaya Raagam · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ilaya Raagam
Movie release year
1995
Lyrics added on
31 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aahaaha haa
Haa… haa…
Aahaaha haa haa
Male :Haa… haa… (Overlap)
Unnai naan saerndhirukka
Kaalam seidha sodhanai
Kanni undhan kai pidikka
Enna idhu vaedhanai
Poovaaram ponnaaram engae
Theeyaaga naan ingae anbae
Nenjukkul nenjukkul thunba raagamaa
Neengaamal nindraarum soga raagamaa
Unnai naan saerndhirukka
Kaalam seidha sodhanai
Muthu mani dheeba muthaadudhu
Thatthum kuyil osai pithaakkudhu
Sondhangal thaan nammai pandhaadudhu
Sogathil oru kaadhal thindaadudhu
Kaadhal veedhiyil…
Kaalam kaalamaai…
Kaadhal veedhiyil kaalam kaalamaai
Indrum ketkudhae thunba olangal
Dharmangal engae sol en dhevanae
Nyaayangal engae sol en dheivamae
Haa… unnai naan saerndhirukka
Kaalam seidha sodhanai
Kanni undhan kai pidikka
Enna idhu vaedhanai
Uravaadum uravindru pagai aagumo
Uyirodu uyir saera pazhi aagumo
Piriyaadha iru nenjam
Pirivaagumo
Puriyaadha kadhai solli pudhir podumo
Vanna solaiyil…
Chinna poonguyil…
Vanna solaiyil chinna poonguyil
Endha naalilae ennai chaerumo
Dharmangal engae sol en dhevanae
Nyaayangal engae sol en dheivamae
Ho… unnai naan saerndhirukka
Kaalam seidha sodhanai
Kanni undhan kai pidikka
Enna idhu vaedhanai
Poovaaram ponnaaram engae
Theeyaaga naan ingae anbae
Nenjukkul nenjukkul thunba raagamaa
Neengaamal nindraarum soga raagamaa
Unnai naan saerndhirukka
Kaalam seidha sodhanai
Aahaaha haa
Haa... haa...
Aahaaha haa haa
Haa... haa...
For me to unite with you,
time has put us through such a cruel test!
To hold your hand, my girl,
why is there such agony?
Where are the flower garlands and golden jewels?
Here I am, burning like fire, my love!
Is this melody of suffering echoing deep in my heart?
Is it an unending song of grief that never fades away?
For me to unite with you,
time has put us through such a cruel test!
The pearl-like lamp flickers and kisses the night,
The calling cuckoo's voice drives me restless,
Our own kin toss our lives around like a ball,
Trapped in sorrow, our love struggles to survive.
On the street of love...
Through all of time...
On the street of love, through all of time,
cries of agony are still heard even today!
Tell me, where is righteousness, my Lord?
Tell me, where is justice, my God?
Ah... for me to unite with you,
time has put us through such a cruel test!
To hold your hand, my girl,
why is there such agony?
Will loving kin turn into enemies today?
Will two souls uniting become a crime?
Will two inseparable hearts
be torn apart?
Will life confuse us with a baffling riddle?
In the colourful garden...
The little songbird...
In the colourful garden, the little songbird,
on what day will she come back to me?
Tell me, where is righteousness, my Lord?
Tell me, where is justice, my God?
Oh... for me to unite with you,
time has put us through such a cruel test!
To hold your hand, my girl,
why is there such agony?
Where are the flower garlands and golden jewels?
Here I am, burning like fire, my love!
Is this melody of suffering echoing deep in my heart?
Is it an unending song of grief that never fades away?
For me to unite with you,
time has put us through such a cruel test!
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Unnai Naan Saerndhirukka' from the movie 'Ilaya Raagam' is a poignant, mournful love ballad expressing the anguish of lovers separated by societal circumstances and fate. The protagonist laments how time and social ties have created cruel trials, preventing them from joining hands and celebrating their love in marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil)

“Unnai naan saerndhirukka / Kanni undhan kai pidikka”

The second consonant 'n' matches in 'Unnai' and 'Kanni', providing rhythmic structure across alternate lines.

Moonaik Kilaigal (Initial Alliteration)

“Piriyaadha iru nenjam / Pirivaagumo”

Repetition of the 'P' sound at the beginning of words in 'Piriyaadha' and 'Pirivaagumo', emphasizing the theme of separation.

Metaphor & Imagery

“Sondhangal thaan nammai pandhaadudhu”

Comparing the lovers' emotional turmoil to being tossed like a ball ('pandhaadudhu') and suffering like a lingering mournful melody ('soga raagamaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary lyricist Vaali, 'Ilaya Raagam' (1995) features classic 90s Tamil film song motifs where nature (cuckoos, gardens, lamps) is contrasted against personal suffering and existential questions regarding fate and justice.

Keep listening

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Ennadi Meenakshi1978
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Aasa Vecha1997
VallalHeartbreakLonging
Oh Megame Odum Megame1985
AnthasthuSeparationGrief
Idhayamae Idhayamae1991
IdhayamSeparationHeartbreak
Chinna Chinna Sol Eduthu1994
RajakumaranSeparationGrief

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