Unnai Naane
From Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Unnai naanae azhaithenae… | I called out to you myself... |
| Azhaithenae… azhaithenae… azhaithenae… | Called out... called out... called out... |
| Uyir nee thaan ila maanae… | You are my very life, my young doe... |
| Ila maanae… ila maanae… ila maanae… | My young doe... my young doe... my young doe... |
| Female | |
| Unnai naanae azhaithenae… | I called out to you myself... |
| Uyir nee thaan ila maanae… | You are my very life, my young doe... |
| Unnai naanae azhaithenae… | I called out to you myself... |
| Uyir nee thaan ila maanae… | You are my very life, my young doe... |
| Female | |
| Paadal aayiram paadida vendum | A thousand songs must be sung |
| Vaazhum kaalangal thorum | Throughout all the days of life |
| Vaazhga vaazhgena thaai manam vandhu | A mother's heart arrives wishing 'Live long, live long' |
| Naalum vaazhthukkal koorum | Bestowing blessings every single day |
| Female | |
| Unnai naanae azhaithenae… | I called out to you myself... |
| Uyir nee thaan ila maanae… | You are my very life, my young doe... |
| Female | |
| Soorootti naal ellaam | Feeding you affectionately every day |
| Pasiyaara paarthadhum | Watching lovingly until your hunger was satisfied |
| Seeraatti naan unai | Pampering and nurturing you |
| Thol meedhu serthadhum | Lifting you onto my shoulders |
| Yedho kanavaanadhu | Has all somehow turned into a distant dream |
| Yettil kadhai aanadhu | Has become a story recorded in a book |
| Aanaal adhan nyaabagam | Yet the tender memory of it all |
| Nenjil nizhalaadudhu | Lingers like a comforting shadow in my heart |
| Female | |
| Petredutha annai ival | Even if this mother who gave birth to you |
| Vinnil irukka | Resides far away in the heavens |
| Pillai mugam eppozhudhum | The sight of her child's face |
| Kannil irukka | Will forever remain in her eyes |
| Man moodi ponaalum | Even if covered in earth after death |
| Vevveru aanaalum | Even if separated into different realms |
| En jeevan ennaalum unnodu thaan | My life spirit will always remain with you |
| Female | |
| Unnai naanae azhaithenae… | I called out to you myself... |
| Uyir nee thaan ila maanae… | You are my very life, my young doe... |
| Female | |
| Veraarum thaai ena | Can anyone else ever transform |
| Uru maara koodumaa | To take the place of a true mother? |
| Uppu kal vairamaai | Can a humble rock salt crystal |
| Oru podhum maarumaa | Ever turn into a brilliant diamond? |
| Thaaram irandaagalaam | A husband may take a second wife |
| Thandhai inai seralaam | A father may find another companion |
| Annai irandaagumo | But can a mother ever become two? |
| Ooril iru vaanamo | Can there ever be two skies over one town? |
| Female | |
| Vandhavannin sondham ingu | The bond of a newcomer who arrives later |
| Kattil varai thaan | Lasts only until the bed or coffin |
| Ennudaiya bandham ingu | But my eternal bond with you here |
| Thottil varai thaan | Extends all the way from the cradle |
| Kaanaamal nindraalum | Even if I disappear from your sight |
| Kaatraagi chendraalum | Even if I dissolve into the wind |
| Kannaa en kaalangal unnodu thaan | Oh my dear child, my time and soul are forever with you |
| Female | |
| Unnai naanae azhaithenae… | I called out to you myself... |
| Uyir nee thaan ila maanae… | You are my very life, my young doe... |
| Female | |
| Paadal aayiram paadida vendum | A thousand songs must be sung |
| Vaazhum kaalangal thorum | Throughout all the days of life |
| Vaazhga vaazhgena thaai manam vandhu | A mother's heart arrives wishing 'Live long, live long' |
| Naalum vaazhthukkal koorum | Bestowing blessings every single day |
| Female | |
| Unnai naanae azhaithenae… | I called out to you myself... |
| Uyir nee thaan ila maanae… | You are my very life, my young doe... |
உன்னை நானே......அழைத்தேனே
அழைத்தேனே.....அழைத்தேனே.....
உயிர் நீதான்......
இளமானே இளமானே இளமானே
I called out to you myself...
Called out... called out... called out...
You are my very life, my young doe...
My young doe... my young doe... my young doe...
உன்னை நானே...... அழைத்தேனே
உயிர் நீதான்...... இளமானே
உன்னை நானே...... அழைத்தேனே
உயிர் நீதான்...... இளமானே
I called out to you myself...
You are my very life, my young doe...
I called out to you myself...
You are my very life, my young doe...
பாடல் ஆயிரம் பாடிட வேண்டும்
வாழும் காலங்கள் தோறும்
வாழ்க வாழ்கென தாய் மனம் வந்து
நாளும் வாழ்த்துக்கள் கூறும்.....
A thousand songs must be sung
Throughout all the days of life
A mother's heart arrives wishing 'Live long, live long'
Bestowing blessings every single day
உன்னை நானே......அழைத்தேனே
உயிர் நீதான்......இளமானே
I called out to you myself...
You are my very life, my young doe...
சோறூட்டி நாள் எல்லாம்
பசியாறப் பார்த்ததும்
சீராட்டி நான் உனை
தோள் மீது சேர்த்ததும்
ஏதோ கனவானது ஏட்டில்
கதை ஆனது
ஆனால் அதன் ஞாபகம்
நெஞ்சில் நிழலாடுது
Feeding you affectionately every day
Watching lovingly until your hunger was satisfied
Pampering and nurturing you
Lifting you onto my shoulders
Has all somehow turned into a distant dream
Has become a story recorded in a book
Yet the tender memory of it all
Lingers like a comforting shadow in my heart
பெற்றெடுத்த அன்னை இவள்
விண்ணில் இருக்க
பிள்ளை முகம் எப்பொழுதும்
கண்ணில் இருக்க
மண் மூடிப் போனாலும்
வெவ்வேறு ஆனாலும்
என் ஜீவன் எந்நாளும்
உன்னோடு தான்......
Even if this mother who gave birth to you
Resides far away in the heavens
The sight of her child's face
Will forever remain in her eyes
Even if covered in earth after death
Even if separated into different realms
My life spirit will always remain with you
உன்னை நானே......அழைத்தேனே
உயிர் நீதான்......இளமானே
I called out to you myself...
You are my very life, my young doe...
வேறாரும் தாய்
என உருமாறக் கூடுமா
உப்புக் கல் வைரமாய்
ஒரு போதும் மாறுமா
தாரம் இரண்டாகலாம்
தந்தை இணை சேரலாம்
அன்னை இரண்டாகுமோ
ஊரில் இரு வானமோ
Can anyone else ever transform
To take the place of a true mother?
Can a humble rock salt crystal
Ever turn into a brilliant diamond?
A husband may take a second wife
A father may find another companion
But can a mother ever become two?
Can there ever be two skies over one town?
வந்தவனின் சொந்தம்
இங்கு கட்டில் வரைதான்
என்னுடைய பந்தம்
இங்கு தொட்டில் வரைதான்
காணாமல் நின்றாலும்
காற்றாகிச் சென்றாலும்
கண்ணா என் காலங்கள்
உன்னோடுதான்.....
The bond of a newcomer who arrives later
Lasts only until the bed or coffin
But my eternal bond with you here
Extends all the way from the cradle
Even if I disappear from your sight
Even if I dissolve into the wind
Oh my dear child, my time and soul are forever with you
உன்னை நானே......அழைத்தேனே
உயிர் நீதான்......இளமானே
I called out to you myself...
You are my very life, my young doe...
பாடல் ஆயிரம் பாடிட வேண்டும்
வாழும் காலங்கள் தோறும்
வாழ்க வாழ்கென தாய் மனம் வந்து
நாளும் வாழ்த்துக்கள் கூறும்.....
A thousand songs must be sung
Throughout all the days of life
A mother's heart arrives wishing 'Live long, live long'
Bestowing blessings every single day
உன்னை நானே......அழைத்தேனே
உயிர் நீதான்......இளமானே
I called out to you myself...
You are my very life, my young doe...
Unnai naanae azhaithenae…
I called out to you myself...
Azhaithenae… azhaithenae… azhaithenae…
Called out... called out... called out...
Uyir nee thaan ila maanae…
You are my very life, my young doe...
Ila maanae… ila maanae… ila maanae…
My young doe... my young doe... my young doe...
Unnai naanae azhaithenae…
I called out to you myself...
Uyir nee thaan ila maanae…
You are my very life, my young doe...
Unnai naanae azhaithenae…
I called out to you myself...
Uyir nee thaan ila maanae…
You are my very life, my young doe...
Paadal aayiram paadida vendum
A thousand songs must be sung
Vaazhum kaalangal thorum
Throughout all the days of life
Vaazhga vaazhgena thaai manam vandhu
A mother's heart arrives wishing 'Live long, live long'
Naalum vaazhthukkal koorum
Bestowing blessings every single day
Unnai naanae azhaithenae…
I called out to you myself...
Uyir nee thaan ila maanae…
You are my very life, my young doe...
Soorootti naal ellaam
Feeding you affectionately every day
Pasiyaara paarthadhum
Watching lovingly until your hunger was satisfied
Seeraatti naan unai
Pampering and nurturing you
Thol meedhu serthadhum
Lifting you onto my shoulders
Yedho kanavaanadhu
Has all somehow turned into a distant dream
Yettil kadhai aanadhu
Has become a story recorded in a book
Aanaal adhan nyaabagam
Yet the tender memory of it all
Nenjil nizhalaadudhu
Lingers like a comforting shadow in my heart
Petredutha annai ival
Even if this mother who gave birth to you
Vinnil irukka
Resides far away in the heavens
Pillai mugam eppozhudhum
The sight of her child's face
Kannil irukka
Will forever remain in her eyes
Man moodi ponaalum
Even if covered in earth after death
Vevveru aanaalum
Even if separated into different realms
En jeevan ennaalum unnodu thaan
My life spirit will always remain with you
Unnai naanae azhaithenae…
I called out to you myself...
Uyir nee thaan ila maanae…
You are my very life, my young doe...
Veraarum thaai ena
Can anyone else ever transform
Uru maara koodumaa
To take the place of a true mother?
Uppu kal vairamaai
Can a humble rock salt crystal
Oru podhum maarumaa
Ever turn into a brilliant diamond?
Thaaram irandaagalaam
A husband may take a second wife
Thandhai inai seralaam
A father may find another companion
Annai irandaagumo
But can a mother ever become two?
Ooril iru vaanamo
Can there ever be two skies over one town?
Vandhavannin sondham ingu
The bond of a newcomer who arrives later
Kattil varai thaan
Lasts only until the bed or coffin
Ennudaiya bandham ingu
But my eternal bond with you here
Thottil varai thaan
Extends all the way from the cradle
Kaanaamal nindraalum
Even if I disappear from your sight
Kaatraagi chendraalum
Even if I dissolve into the wind
Kannaa en kaalangal unnodu thaan
Oh my dear child, my time and soul are forever with you
Unnai naanae azhaithenae…
I called out to you myself...
Uyir nee thaan ila maanae…
You are my very life, my young doe...
Paadal aayiram paadida vendum
A thousand songs must be sung
Vaazhum kaalangal thorum
Throughout all the days of life
Vaazhga vaazhgena thaai manam vandhu
A mother's heart arrives wishing 'Live long, live long'
Naalum vaazhthukkal koorum
Bestowing blessings every single day
Unnai naanae azhaithenae…
I called out to you myself...
Uyir nee thaan ila maanae…
You are my very life, my young doe...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unnai Naanae Azhaithenae is a poignant maternal lullaby expressing the eternal and irreplaceable bond between a mother and her child. The mother addresses her child endearingly as 'ila maanae' (young doe), declaring that the child is her very soul. She reflects on the fleeting, precious moments of raising her child—feeding, carrying, and pampering them—which now feel like a dream, yet remain deeply etched in her heart. Even if death separates her physically and takes her to the heavens, her spirit and gaze will forever linger to protect her child. Written with immense emotional depth by Vaali, the song contrasts temporary worldly relationships with the sacred, singular nature of maternal love. Through powerful imagery, the lyrics argue that while partners and fathers may change, a mother can never be duplicated, just as there cannot be two skies over a single land or rock salt transformed into a diamond. It stands as a timeless ode to a mother's eternal affection that transcends life and death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukku Thodar / Anaphora
“Azhaithenae… azhaithenae… azhaithenae…”
Repetition of the words 'Azhaithenae' and 'ila maanae' emphasizes intense longing, affection, and emotional emphasis.
Metaphor / Analogy (Uvamai)
“Uppu kal vairamaai Oru podhum maarumaa”
Compares an imitator of a mother to rock salt and a genuine mother to a precious diamond, highlighting the impossibility of replacing maternal love.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)
“Annai irandaagumo Ooril iru vaanamo”
Uses rhetorical questions comparing the singularity of a mother to the single sky over a town to emphasize her unique position.
Antithesis / Temporal Contrast
“Vandhavannin sondham ingu Kattil varai thaan / Ennudaiya bandham ingu Thottil varai thaan”
Contrasts 'kattil' (marriage bed/coffin) representing late-arriving relationship limits against 'thottil' (cradle) representing lifelong maternal devotion.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song from the 1987 film 'Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with heart-rending lyrics by Vaali. Rendered brilliantly by K. S. Chithra (with a male version sung by K. J. Yesudas), the song is celebrated for its lush string arrangements, emotional flute solos, and universally relatable depiction of maternal sacrifice.
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