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Thambi Durai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Nambi

From Thambi Durai · 1997

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thambi Durai
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
15 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnai nambi vaazhgiren
Innum enna naadagam
Enna konjam paaradi
Kangal kondaai aayiram
Mangai vendum mangalam
Ingae thaaraaiyo
Unnai potrum mandhiram
Sonnaal vaaraaiyo
Unnai nambi vaazhgiren
Innum enna naadagam
Enna konjam paaradi
Kangal kondaai aayiram
Dhukkam theerkkum
Durgai neeyae oo paripoorani
Anbaal vaazhthum ambaal neeyae
Ooo bhavathaarani
Salangai kulungida nilam adhira
Nadamaadum naayagi
Asurar nadungida vizhi sivakka
Pazhi vaangum bairavi
Vinai purindhavargal
Podi pada udanae
Kanaigalai thoduthidu
Enadhuyir kanavan
Ezhundhu nadandhida
Udhavigal purindhidu
Viradham kaathaval
Malar soodida vendum
Vizhi paarammaa
Unnai nambi vaazhgiren
Innum enna naadagam
Enna konjam paaradi
Kangal kondaai aayiram
Mangai vendum mangalam
Ingae thaaraaiyo
Unnai potrum mandhiram
Sonnaal vaaraaiyo
Unnai nambi vaazhgiren
Innum enna naadagam
Enna konjam paaradi
Kangal kondaai aayiram
Nenjam kalangudhu
Ingu thanjam vazhangida vaa
Ullam urugudhu
Anbu vellam perugida vaa
Dhikku thisai engengum
Chakkar vizhi minna
Pongi yezhu inginnum
Mauna nilai enna
Pathiniyai vanjiththa
Dhushtargalai kandu
Thakka padi thandikka
Thulli yezhu indru
Kalai magalum alai magalum
Thalai vanangum porulae
Kula magalin kulam thazhaikka
Manam irangi arulae
Viradhamudan unai naalum
Vanangiyaval nalam vaazha vaa vaa vaa
Virumba dhinam udhavaadhu
Iniyum manam porukkaadhu vaa vaa vaa
I live placing all my trust in you,
Why this drama still?
Look at me just a little,
You who possess a thousand eyes!
The auspicious life a woman yearns for,
Won't you grant it here?
When I chant the prayers praising you,
Won't you come to me?
I live placing all my trust in you,
Why this drama still?
Look at me just a little,
You who possess a thousand eyes!
Oh remover of sorrows,
You are Durga, oh supreme and complete Goddess!
You are the Mother who blesses with love,
Oh Bhavatharani, savior of the world!
With your ankle-bells jingling and the earth trembling,
You are the Goddess who dances!
Making demons shudder as your eyes turn red with fury,
You are Bhairavi, the avenger!
So that those who committed wicked deeds
Are crushed into dust at once,
Unleash your fierce arrows!
For my beloved husband
To rise up and walk again,
Come and grant your help!
She who observed strict fasts
Must wear auspicious flowers in her hair;
Cast your compassionate eyes on me, oh Mother!
I live placing all my trust in you,
Why this drama still?
Look at me just a little,
You who possess a thousand eyes!
The auspicious life a woman yearns for,
Won't you grant it here?
When I chant the prayers praising you,
Won't you come to me?
I live placing all my trust in you,
Why this drama still?
Look at me just a little,
You who possess a thousand eyes!
My heart is in deep distress,
Come and grant me refuge here!
My heart is melting in grief,
Come and let a flood of love overflow!
In every direction across the land,
As your fiery wheel-like eyes flash,
Rise up in fury! Why remain
In this state of silence anymore?
Against the wicked men
Who wronged a faithful wife,
To punish them as they deserve,
Leap up and rise today!
Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi
Bow their heads before you, oh Supreme One!
For this devoted wife's home to flourish,
Take pity in your heart and bless me!
To her who fasted and prayed to you every single day,
Come, come, come so she may live well!
Holding back your help day after day will not do,
My heart can bear it no longer, come, come, come!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional song is a powerful prayer directed to the Divine Mother (Durga/Bhairavi). A devoted wife appeals passionately to the Goddess to end her silent drama and intervene in her life. She pleads for the recovery and well-being of her husband, begging the Goddess to destroy the evil forces that deceived them, restore her marital auspiciousness (mangalam), and grant grace so her family line may flourish.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

“Mangai vendum mangalam”

Matching initial sounds in consecutive or adjacent words/lines, such as 'Mangai' and 'mangalam'.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kalai magalum alai magalum / Thalai vanangum porulae”

Matching second consonants across lines, seen in 'Salangai' and 'Nadamaadum' or 'Kalai' and 'Thalai'.

Imagery / Epithet

“Salangai kulungida nilam adhira / Nadamaadum naayagi”

Rich imagery depicting the fierce cosmic form of Goddess Durga/Bhairavi with flashing eyes and jingling anklets.

Repetition / Anaphora

“Vanangiyaval nalam vaazha vaa vaa vaa”

Repeated call 'vaa vaa vaa' (come come come) emphasizing urgent emotional plea.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics are written by legendary Tamil poet Vaali, structured in the traditional Tamil devotional hymn style (Amman Paadal) invoking fierce deities like Durga and Bhairavi to seek divine justice and restoration of a husband's life.

Keep listening

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