Unnai Nambi Avalirunthaal
From Engal Selvi · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kuyilan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Engal Selvi1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unnai nambi avalirunthaal | She trusted you and lived |
| Oorai nambi neeyirunthaai | You trusted the world and lived |
| Kannai nambi thavaru seithaai | You trusted your eyes and made a mistake |
| Mannai nambi saranadainthaal | She trusted the earth and surrendered to it |
| Male | |
| Unnai nambi avalirunthaal | She trusted you and lived |
| Oorai nambi neeyirunthaai | You trusted the world and lived |
| Kannai nambi thavaru seithaai | You trusted your eyes and made a mistake |
| Mannai nambi saranadainthaal | She trusted the earth and surrendered to it |
| Male | |
| Unnai nambi avalirunthaal | She trusted you and lived |
| Male | |
| Anbu magal mugam paarththirukka | To look at the face of her dear daughter |
| Arugil neeyum kaaththirukka | While you were waiting nearby |
| Thunbam unnai ssoozhnthirukka | While sorrow surrounded you |
| Thuyaram parisaai thanthuvittaal | She gave grief as a gift and left |
| Thunbam unnai ssoozhnthirukka | While sorrow surrounded you |
| Thuyaram parisaai thanthuvittaal | She gave grief as a gift and left |
| Male | |
| Unnai nambi avalirunthaal | She trusted you and lived |
| Male | |
| Aasaiyoda paadi nindraal | She stood singing with desire |
| Aavalaalae vaadi nonthaal | She withered and suffered in longing |
| Paasamum nesamum kidaikkavillai | She received neither affection nor love |
| Paranthu sendrae aval marainthuvittaal | She flew away and vanished |
| Male | |
| Unnai nambi avalirunthaal | She trusted you and lived |
| Male | |
| Kaalai maalai iravellaam | Morning, evening, and all through the night |
| Velai endrae neeyirunthaai | You lived thinking only of work |
| Naalai ennai avalirunthaal | Hoping for tomorrow, she lived |
| Velai vanthathu sendru vittaal | Her time arrived, and she departed |
| Male | |
| Unnai nambi avalirunthaal | She trusted you and lived |
| Oorai nambi neeyirunthaai | You trusted the world and lived |
| Kannai nambi thavaru seithaai | You trusted your eyes and made a mistake |
| Mannai nambi saranadainthaal | She trusted the earth and surrendered to it |
| Male | |
| Unnai nambi avalirunthaal | She trusted you and lived |
உன்னை நம்பி அவளிருந்தாள்
ஊரை நம்பி நீயிருந்தாய்
கண்ணை நம்பி தவறு செய்தாய்
மண்ணை நம்பி சரணடைந்தாள்......
She trusted you and lived
You trusted the world and lived
You trusted your eyes and made a mistake
She trusted the earth and surrendered to it
உன்னை நம்பி அவளிருந்தாள்
ஊரை நம்பி நீயிருந்தாய்
கண்ணை நம்பி தவறு செய்தாய்
மண்ணை நம்பி சரணடைந்தாள்......
She trusted you and lived
You trusted the world and lived
You trusted your eyes and made a mistake
She trusted the earth and surrendered to it
உன்னை நம்பி அவளிருந்தாள்
She trusted you and lived
அன்பு மகள் முகம் பார்த்திருக்க
அருகில் நீயும் காத்திருக்க
துன்பம் உன்னை சூழ்ந்திருக்க
துயரம் பரிசாய் தந்துவிட்டாள்......
துன்பம் உன்னை சூழ்ந்திருக்க
துயரம் பரிசாய் தந்துவிட்டாள்......
To look at the face of her dear daughter
While you were waiting nearby
While sorrow surrounded you
She gave grief as a gift and left
While sorrow surrounded you
She gave grief as a gift and left
உன்னை நம்பி அவளிருந்தாள்
She trusted you and lived
ஆசையோடே பாடி நின்றாள்
ஆவலாலே வாடி நொந்தாள்
பாசமும் நேசமும் கிடைக்கவில்லை
பறந்து சென்றே அவள் மறைந்துவிட்டாள்
She stood singing with desire
She withered and suffered in longing
She received neither affection nor love
She flew away and vanished
உன்னை நம்பி அவளிருந்தாள்
She trusted you and lived
காலை மாலை இரவெல்லாம்
வேலை என்றே நீயிருந்தாய்
நாளை எண்ணி அவளிருந்தாள்
வேளை வந்தது சென்று விட்டாள்.....
Morning, evening, and all through the night
You lived thinking only of work
Hoping for tomorrow, she lived
Her time arrived, and she departed
உன்னை நம்பி அவளிருந்தாள்
ஊரை நம்பி நீயிருந்தாய்
கண்ணை நம்பி தவறு செய்தாய்
மண்ணை நம்பி சரணடைந்தாள்......
She trusted you and lived
You trusted the world and lived
You trusted your eyes and made a mistake
She trusted the earth and surrendered to it
உன்னை நம்பி அவளிருந்தாள்.....
She trusted you and lived
Unnai nambi avalirunthaal
She trusted you and lived
Oorai nambi neeyirunthaai
You trusted the world and lived
Kannai nambi thavaru seithaai
You trusted your eyes and made a mistake
Mannai nambi saranadainthaal
She trusted the earth and surrendered to it
Unnai nambi avalirunthaal
She trusted you and lived
Oorai nambi neeyirunthaai
You trusted the world and lived
Kannai nambi thavaru seithaai
You trusted your eyes and made a mistake
Mannai nambi saranadainthaal
She trusted the earth and surrendered to it
Unnai nambi avalirunthaal
She trusted you and lived
Anbu magal mugam paarththirukka
To look at the face of her dear daughter
Arugil neeyum kaaththirukka
While you were waiting nearby
Thunbam unnai ssoozhnthirukka
While sorrow surrounded you
Thuyaram parisaai thanthuvittaal
She gave grief as a gift and left
Thunbam unnai ssoozhnthirukka
While sorrow surrounded you
Thuyaram parisaai thanthuvittaal
She gave grief as a gift and left
Unnai nambi avalirunthaal
She trusted you and lived
Aasaiyoda paadi nindraal
She stood singing with desire
Aavalaalae vaadi nonthaal
She withered and suffered in longing
Paasamum nesamum kidaikkavillai
She received neither affection nor love
Paranthu sendrae aval marainthuvittaal
She flew away and vanished
Unnai nambi avalirunthaal
She trusted you and lived
Kaalai maalai iravellaam
Morning, evening, and all through the night
Velai endrae neeyirunthaai
You lived thinking only of work
Naalai ennai avalirunthaal
Hoping for tomorrow, she lived
Velai vanthathu sendru vittaal
Her time arrived, and she departed
Unnai nambi avalirunthaal
She trusted you and lived
Oorai nambi neeyirunthaai
You trusted the world and lived
Kannai nambi thavaru seithaai
You trusted your eyes and made a mistake
Mannai nambi saranadainthaal
She trusted the earth and surrendered to it
Unnai nambi avalirunthaal
She trusted you and lived
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant lamentation from 'Engal Selvi' reflects on the tragic outcome of misplaced trust and emotional neglect. A devoted woman placed all her faith in her partner, while he remained preoccupied with societal opinions, work, and superficial judgments based on appearances. Her continuous longing for affection went unfulfilled, leading to her tragic demise as she surrenders to the earth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Unnai nambi avalirunthaal / Kannai nambi thavaru seithaai / Mannai nambi saranadainthaal”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'nn' across opening lines creating rhythmic harmony: Unnai, Kannai, Mannai.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Unnai nambi avalirunthaal / Oorai nambi neeyirunthaai”
Striking contrast between her complete emotional trust in him versus his distraction by societal opinion and work.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Thuyaram parisaai thanthuvittaal”
Repetition of trailing verb structures like 'thanthuvittaal', 'marainthuvittaal', and 'sendru vittaal' to emphasize finality and grief.
Refrain / Anaphora
“Unnai nambi avalirunthaal”
The line 'Unnai nambi avalirunthaal' is repeated constantly throughout the song as a central emotional anchor.
Did you know?
Trivia
Engal Selvi (1960), starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, featured music by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan. Lyricist Kuyilan penned these deeply emotional lyrics, which were rendered soulfully by P. B. Sreenivas, making it a classic track depicting remorse and tragic love.
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