Unnai Nenacha Konjam
From Meendum Vazhven · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- L. R. Eswari, A. L. Raghavan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Meendum Vazhven1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu | Thinking of you makes me laugh a little, |
| Unmai irukku solladi bommakka | There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl! |
| Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha | If you walk and behave like a puppet, |
| Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali | What will you gain, you fool and clown? |
| Female | |
| Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu | Thinking of you makes me laugh a little, |
| Unmai irukku solladi bommakka | There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl! |
| Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha | If you walk and behave like a puppet, |
| Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali | What will you gain, you fool and clown? |
| Female | |
| Aatti padacha aadi mudikkum | The one who controlled the game will finish playing, |
| Bommai ulagathil aayiram irukkuthadi | There are thousands of puppets in this world, my girl. |
| Aattam mudinja ottam edukkum | Once the performance ends, everyone flees, |
| Kottam unnaiyum theerthida ninaikkuthadi | Arrogance seeks to put an end to you as well. |
| Female | |
| Aatti padacha aadi mudikkum | The one who controlled the game will finish playing, |
| Bommai ulagathil aayiram irukkuthadi | There are thousands of puppets in this world, my girl. |
| Aattam mudinja ottam edukkum | Once the performance ends, everyone flees, |
| Kottam unnaiyum theerthida ninaikkuthadi | Arrogance seeks to put an end to you as well. |
| Female | |
| Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu | Thinking of you makes me laugh a little, |
| Unmai irukku solladi bommakka | There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl! |
| Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha | If you walk and behave like a puppet, |
| Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali | What will you gain, you fool and clown? |
| Male | |
| {Ulagam unadhu kaiyil irukku | The world is in your hands, |
| Thuninju irangu bayam illai…hoo | Step forward bravely, there is no fear... hoo! |
| Noolai pottu malayai izhukkum | Pulling a mountain using just a thread, |
| Veeran unakku inaiyillai…hoo} (2) | There is no warrior equal to you... hoo! |
| Male | |
| Karuppu poonai ondru iruttil pogum bothu | When a black cat moves around in the dark, |
| Ulagam parppadhaedhu aadum varaiyil aadu | Who in the world can see it? Dance while you can, |
| Aadum varaiyil aadu | Dance while you can! |
| Male | |
| Ulagam unadhu kaiyil irukku | The world is in your hands, |
| Thuninju irangu bayam illai…hoo | Step forward bravely, there is no fear... hoo! |
| Noolai pottu malayai izhukkum | Pulling a mountain using just a thread, |
| Veeran unakku inaiyillai | There is no warrior equal to you! |
| Female | |
| Mookum muzhiyum sivandha udalum | With sharp facial features and a glowing fair body, |
| Paarkkum manadhil mayakkam pirakkumadi | Intoxication is born in the heart of anyone who beholds you. |
| Pora idathai nenachu paartha | When I think about the destination you are heading towards, |
| Bommai enakkum irakkam pirakkumadi | Even I feel pity for you, puppet! |
| Male | |
| Mookum muzhiyum sivandha udalum | With sharp facial features and a glowing fair body, |
| Paarkkum manadhil mayakkam pirakkumadi | Intoxication is born in the heart of anyone who beholds you. |
| Female | |
| Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu | Thinking of you makes me laugh a little, |
| Unmai irukku solladi bommakka | There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl! |
| Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha | If you walk and behave like a puppet, |
| Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali | What will you gain, you fool and clown? |
உன்னை நெனச்சா கொஞ்சம் சிரிப்பு
உண்மை இருக்கு சொல்லடி பொம்மக்கா
பொம்மை கணக்கா நீயும் நடந்தா
என்ன கிடைக்கும் ஏமாளி கோமாளி
Thinking of you makes me laugh a little,
There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl!
If you walk and behave like a puppet,
What will you gain, you fool and clown?
உன்னை நெனச்சா கொஞ்சம் சிரிப்பு
உண்மை இருக்கு சொல்லடி பொம்மக்கா
பொம்மை கணக்கா நீயும் நடந்தா
என்ன கிடைக்கும் ஏமாளி கோமாளி
Thinking of you makes me laugh a little,
There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl!
If you walk and behave like a puppet,
What will you gain, you fool and clown?
ஆட்டிப் படிச்சா ஆடி முடிக்கும்
பொம்மை உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் இருக்குதடி
ஆட்டம் முடிஞ்சா ஓட்டம் எடுக்கும்
கூட்டம் உன்னையும் தீர்த்திட நினைக்குதடி
The one who controlled the game will finish playing,
There are thousands of puppets in this world, my girl.
Once the performance ends, everyone flees,
Arrogance seeks to put an end to you as well.
ஆட்டிப் படிச்சா ஆடி முடிக்கும்
பொம்மை உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் இருக்குதடி
ஆட்டம் முடிஞ்சா ஓட்டம் எடுக்கும்
கூட்டம் உன்னையும் தீர்த்திட நினைக்குதடி
The one who controlled the game will finish playing,
There are thousands of puppets in this world, my girl.
Once the performance ends, everyone flees,
Arrogance seeks to put an end to you as well.
உன்னை நெனச்சா கொஞ்சம் சிரிப்பு
உண்மை இருக்கு சொல்லடி பொம்மக்கா
பொம்மை கணக்கா நீயும் நடந்தா
என்ன கிடைக்கும் ஏமாளி கோமாளி
Thinking of you makes me laugh a little,
There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl!
If you walk and behave like a puppet,
What will you gain, you fool and clown?
{உலகம் உனது கையிலிருக்கு
துணிஞ்சு இறங்கு பயமில்லை ஹோ
நூலைப்போட்டு மலையை இழுக்கும்
வீரன் உனக்கு இணையில்லை ஹோ } (2)
The world is in your hands,
Step forward bravely, there is no fear... hoo!
Pulling a mountain using just a thread,
There is no warrior equal to you... hoo!
கறுப்புப் பூனை ஒன்று இருட்டில் போகும்போது
உலகம் பார்ப்பதேது ஆடும் வரையில் ஆடு
ஆடும் வரையில் ஆடு
When a black cat moves around in the dark,
Who in the world can see it? Dance while you can,
Dance while you can!
உலகம் உனது கையிலிருக்கு
துணிஞ்சு இறங்கு பயமில்லை ஹோ
நூலைப்போட்டு மலையை இழுக்கும்
வீரன் உனக்கு இணையில்லை
The world is in your hands,
Step forward bravely, there is no fear... hoo!
Pulling a mountain using just a thread,
There is no warrior equal to you!
மூக்கும் முழியும் சிவந்த உடலும்
பார்க்கும் மனதில் மயக்கம் பிறக்குமடி
போற இடத்தை நெனச்சுப் பார்த்தா
பொம்மை எனக்கும் இரக்கம் பிறக்குமடி....
With sharp facial features and a glowing fair body,
Intoxication is born in the heart of anyone who beholds you.
When I think about the destination you are heading towards,
Even I feel pity for you, puppet!
மூக்கும் முழியும் சிவந்த உடலும்
பார்க்கும் மனதில் மயக்கம் பிறக்குமடி
With sharp facial features and a glowing fair body,
Intoxication is born in the heart of anyone who beholds you.
போற இடத்தை நெனச்சுப் பார்த்தா
பொம்மை எனக்கும் இரக்கம் பிறக்குமடி
Thinking of you makes me laugh a little,
There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl!
If you walk and behave like a puppet,
What will you gain, you fool and clown?
உன்னை நெனச்சா கொஞ்சம் சிரிப்பு
உண்மை இருக்கு சொல்லடி பொம்மக்கா
பொம்மை கணக்கா நீயும் நடந்தா
என்ன கிடைக்கும் ஏமாளி கோமாளி
Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu
Thinking of you makes me laugh a little,
Unmai irukku solladi bommakka
There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl!
Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha
If you walk and behave like a puppet,
Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali
What will you gain, you fool and clown?
Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu
Thinking of you makes me laugh a little,
Unmai irukku solladi bommakka
There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl!
Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha
If you walk and behave like a puppet,
Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali
What will you gain, you fool and clown?
Aatti padacha aadi mudikkum
The one who controlled the game will finish playing,
Bommai ulagathil aayiram irukkuthadi
There are thousands of puppets in this world, my girl.
Aattam mudinja ottam edukkum
Once the performance ends, everyone flees,
Kottam unnaiyum theerthida ninaikkuthadi
Arrogance seeks to put an end to you as well.
Aatti padacha aadi mudikkum
The one who controlled the game will finish playing,
Bommai ulagathil aayiram irukkuthadi
There are thousands of puppets in this world, my girl.
Aattam mudinja ottam edukkum
Once the performance ends, everyone flees,
Kottam unnaiyum theerthida ninaikkuthadi
Arrogance seeks to put an end to you as well.
Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu
Thinking of you makes me laugh a little,
Unmai irukku solladi bommakka
There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl!
Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha
If you walk and behave like a puppet,
Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali
What will you gain, you fool and clown?
{Ulagam unadhu kaiyil irukku
The world is in your hands,
Thuninju irangu bayam illai…hoo
Step forward bravely, there is no fear... hoo!
Noolai pottu malayai izhukkum
Pulling a mountain using just a thread,
Veeran unakku inaiyillai…hoo} (2)
There is no warrior equal to you... hoo!
Karuppu poonai ondru iruttil pogum bothu
When a black cat moves around in the dark,
Ulagam parppadhaedhu aadum varaiyil aadu
Who in the world can see it? Dance while you can,
Aadum varaiyil aadu
Dance while you can!
Ulagam unadhu kaiyil irukku
The world is in your hands,
Thuninju irangu bayam illai…hoo
Step forward bravely, there is no fear... hoo!
Noolai pottu malayai izhukkum
Pulling a mountain using just a thread,
Veeran unakku inaiyillai
There is no warrior equal to you!
Mookum muzhiyum sivandha udalum
With sharp facial features and a glowing fair body,
Paarkkum manadhil mayakkam pirakkumadi
Intoxication is born in the heart of anyone who beholds you.
Pora idathai nenachu paartha
When I think about the destination you are heading towards,
Bommai enakkum irakkam pirakkumadi
Even I feel pity for you, puppet!
Mookum muzhiyum sivandha udalum
With sharp facial features and a glowing fair body,
Paarkkum manadhil mayakkam pirakkumadi
Intoxication is born in the heart of anyone who beholds you.
Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu
Thinking of you makes me laugh a little,
Unmai irukku solladi bommakka
There is truth inside, tell me, puppet girl!
Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha
If you walk and behave like a puppet,
Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali
What will you gain, you fool and clown?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a satirical and philosophical commentary on human pretense, vanity, and the fleeting nature of life, composed by the master lyricist Kannadasan. Using the extended metaphor of a puppet show, the narrator addresses 'Bommakka' (a puppet-like figure) who parades with arrogance and false bravery. The lyrics urge the listener to look past superficial beauty and grand delusions, pointing out that everyone in this world acts according to unseen strings and that all pride vanishes when the game of life comes to an end.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha”
Compares humans and their worldly actions to puppets performing in a puppet theater ('Bommai kanakka', 'Bommai ulagathil').
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)
“Noolai pottu malayai izhukkum”
Exaggerates an impossible feat—pulling an entire mountain using a fragile thread—to satirize false pride and empty bravado.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Mookum muzhiyum sivandha udalum”
Repetition of the initial 'M' sound across words ('Mookum', 'muzhiyum', 'mayakkam') creating rhythmic beauty.
Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Aatti padacha aadi mudikkum / Aattam mudinja ottam edukkum”
Matching second consonant sounds ('tta') between 'Aatti' and 'Aattam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Meendum Vazhven' (1972) is a Tamil thriller film directed by P. Madhavan, starring Ravichandran and Jayanthi. Lyricist Kannadasan frequently used puppet imagery ('Bommai') across various songs in his career as a favorite philosophical device to illustrate fate and human mortality.
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