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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Nambinaar Keduvadhillai

From Panakkara Kudumbam · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Panakkara Kudumbam1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Unnai nambinaar keduvadhillaiThose who trust in you are never ruined,
Aandavanae…Oh Almighty Lord...
Unnai nambinaar vaazhvadhillaiThose who trust in you can never live peacefully,
Kaadhalanae…Oh my lover...
Female
Unnai nambinaar keduvadhillaiThose who trust in you are never ruined,
Aandavanae…Oh Almighty Lord...
Unnai nambinaar vaazhvadhillaiThose who trust in you can never live peacefully,
Kaadhalanae…Oh my lover...
Nambinaar keduvadhillaiThose who trust are never ruined,
Aandavanae…Oh Almighty Lord...
Unnai nambinaar vaazhvadhillaiThose who trust in you can never live peacefully,
Kaadhalanae…Oh my lover...
Female
Ullatthil vilakkeduthuTaking the lamp of the heart,
Uravenum neiyeduthuPouring the ghee of relationship,
Anbennum kovililae azhagaai yaettri vaithuBeautifully lighting it in the temple of love,
Azhaghaai yaettri vaithuBeautifully lighting it...
Female
Nambinaar keduvadhillai aandavanaeThose who trust are never ruined, oh God!
Unnai nambinaar vaazhvadhillai kaadhalanaeThose who trust in you can never live, oh lover!
Nambinaar keduvadhillai aandavanaeThose who trust are never ruined, oh God!
Female
Kaniyai maramariyumThe tree knows its fruit,
Kaadhalai manamariyumThe heart knows true love,
Kaniyai maramariyumThe tree knows its fruit,
Kaadhalai manamariyumThe heart knows true love,
Kanivirundhaal allavoOnly if there is compassion,
Kanniyar nilai theriyumCan one understand a maiden's plight!
Aandavanukkoru manadhuGod has a single mind,
Aangalukku iru manadhuMen have two minds!
Thondriya naal mudhalaaiSince the day it was created,
Thudippadhu thaan pen manadhuA woman's heart only beats in anguish!
Female
Nambinaar keduvadhillai aandavanaeThose who trust are never ruined, oh God!
Unnai nambinaar vaazhvadhillai kaadhalanaeThose who trust in you can never live, oh lover!
Nambinaar keduvadhillai aandavanaeThose who trust are never ruined, oh God!
Female
Paadhi varai kai koduppaanHe will lend a helping hand halfway,
Paadhaiyil siragodippaanAnd break your wings along the pathway!
Paadhi varai kai koduppaanHe will lend a helping hand halfway,
Paadhaiyil siragodippaanAnd break your wings along the pathway!
Thaenaaga inippavanaeHe who tastes sweet like honey,
Theeyaaga uruveduppaanWill transform into a destructive fire!
Kanneeril aada vaithaHaving made me bathe in tears,
Kaadhalai vendugindraenI beg of this love,
Innum oru pen manadhaiYet another woman's heart,
Enna vaithu yaeikkaadhaeDo not deceive like this!
Female
Nambinaar keduvadhillai aandavanaeThose who trust are never ruined, oh God!
Unnai nambinaar vaazhvadhillai kaadhalanaeThose who trust in you can never live, oh lover!
Nambinaar keduvadhillai aandavanaeThose who trust are never ruined, oh God!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Unnai Nambinaar Keduvadhillai' contrasts divine faith with romantic heartbreak. The female protagonist addresses God, affirming the traditional belief that trusting the Almighty never leads to ruin. In stark contrast, she laments that putting faith in a romantic partner leads to misery and destroys one's peace of mind. She describes how a woman pours her devotion into a relationship like lighting a sacred lamp, only to face fickleness and betrayal. She further critiques male hypocrisy, contrasting God's singular, steadfast mind with the dual nature of men. Men may extend a hand only to abandon someone halfway and break their wings. Pleading through her tears, she prays that no other woman has to suffer such painful deception in love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Edhirinai

Unnai nambinaar keduvadhillai Aandavanae / Unnai nambinaar vaazhvadhillai Kaadhalanae

Striking structural contrast comparing faith in God ('Nambinaar keduvadhillai') vs faith in a lover ('Unnai nambinaar vaazhvadhillai').

Extended Metaphor / Uruvagamm

Ullatthil vilakkeduthu Uravenum neiyeduthu Anbennum kovililae azhagaai yaettri vaithu

Compares the heart to a lamp ('vilakku'), relationship to ghee ('nei'), and devotion to a temple ('kovil').

Contrast / Antithesis

Aandavanukkoru manadhu Aangalukku iru manadhu

Contrasts God's unwavering nature ('Aandavanukkoru manadhu') with male fickleness ('Aangalukku iru manadhu').

Metaphor & Imagery

Thaenaaga inippavanae Theeyaaga uruveduppaan

Juxtaposes sweet imagery ('Thaenaaga inippavanae') with destructive fire imagery ('Theeyaaga uruveduppaan').

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from 'Panakkara Kudumbam' (1964) features music composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics written by Kannadasan. The track is sung by P. Susheela and picturized on B. Saroja Devi alongside M. G. Ramachandran (MGR).

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