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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Nenacha Konjam

From Meendum Vazhven · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, A. L. Raghavan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Meendum Vazhven
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
29 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu
Unmai irukku solladi bommakka
Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha
Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali
Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu
Unmai irukku solladi bommakka
Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha
Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali
Aatti padacha aadi mudikkum
Bommai ulagathil aayiram irukkuthadi
Aattam mudinja ottam edukkum
Kottam unnaiyum theerthida ninaikkuthadi
Aatti padacha aadi mudikkum
Bommai ulagathil aayiram irukkuthadi
Aattam mudinja ottam edukkum
Kottam unnaiyum theerthida ninaikkuthadi
Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu
Unmai irukku solladi bommakka
Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha
Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali
{Ulagam unadhu kaiyil irukku
Thuninju irangu bayam illai…hoo
Noolai pottu malayai izhukkum
Veeran unakku inaiyillai…hoo} (2)
Karuppu poonai ondru iruttil pogum bothu
Ulagam parppadhaedhu aadum varaiyil aadu
Aadum varaiyil aadu
Ulagam unadhu kaiyil irukku
Thuninju irangu bayam illai…hoo
Noolai pottu malayai izhukkum
Veeran unakku inaiyillai
Mookum muzhiyum sivandha udalum
Paarkkum manadhil mayakkam pirakkumadi
Pora idathai nenachu paartha
Bommai enakkum irakkam pirakkumadi
Mookum muzhiyum sivandha udalum
Paarkkum manadhil mayakkam pirakkumadi
Unnai nenacha konjam sirippu
Unmai irukku solladi bommakka
Bommai kanakka neeyum nadantha
Enna kidaikkum yemaali komaali
When I think of you, I laugh a little,
There is truth in it, tell me, Bommakka!
If you too act like a puppet,
What will you get, you foolish clown?
When I think of you, I laugh a little,
There is truth in it, tell me, Bommakka!
If you too act like a puppet,
What will you get, you foolish clown?
Controlling everyone and then finishing their dance,
There are thousands of such puppets in this world!
Once their dance is over, they will run away,
And their wild gang seeks to destroy you too!
Controlling everyone and then finishing their dance,
There are thousands of such puppets in this world!
Once their dance is over, they will run away,
And their wild gang seeks to destroy you too!
When I think of you, I laugh a little,
There is truth in it, tell me, Bommakka!
If you too act like a puppet,
What will you get, you foolish clown?
The world is in your hands,
Step in boldly, have no fear... hoo!
Pulling a mountain with just a thread,
No hero can match you... hoo!
When a black cat walks in the dark,
How can the world see? Dance as long as you can!
Dance as long as you can!
The world is in your hands,
Step in boldly, have no fear... hoo!
Pulling a mountain with just a thread,
No hero can match you!
With your sharp features and glowing fair skin,
A charm takes over the heart that sees you!
Yet when I think of the place you are heading,
Even as a doll, I feel pity for you!
With your sharp features and glowing fair skin,
A charm takes over the heart that sees you!
When I think of you, I laugh a little,
There is truth in it, tell me, Bommakka!
If you too act like a puppet,
What will you get, you foolish clown?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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