Unnai Ondru Ketpen 2
From Puthiya Paravai · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Puthiya Paravai1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Unnai ondru ketpen | I will ask you one thing, |
| Unmai solla vendum | You must tell the truth. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum… | What song would I feel like singing? |
| Female | |
| Unnai ondru ketpen | I will ask you one thing, |
| Unmai solla vendum | You must tell the truth. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum… | What song would I feel like singing? |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal paattu paada | To sing a song of love, |
| Kaalam innum illai | The time has not yet come. |
| Kaadhal paattu paada | To sing a song of love, |
| Kaalam innum illai | The time has not yet come. |
| Thaalaattu paada thaayaagavillai | I have not become a mother to sing a lullaby. |
| Female | |
| Nilavillaa vaanam | A sky without a moon, |
| Neerillaa megam | A cloud without water, |
| Pesaatha penmai | Womanhood that does not speak, |
| Paadaathu unmai | The truth that does not sing. |
| Female | |
| Kannai mella moodum | Closing her eyes gently, |
| Thannai enni vaadum | Grieving thinking about herself, |
| Pennai paada sonnaal | If you ask such a woman to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum | What song would she feel like singing? |
| Female | |
| Unnai ondru ketpen | I will ask you one thing, |
| Unmai solla vendum | You must tell the truth. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum… | What song would I feel like singing? |
| Enna paada thondrum… | What song would I feel like singing? |
உன்னை ஒன்று கேட்பேன்
உண்மை சொல்ல வேண்டும்
என்னை பாட சொன்னால்
என்ன பாட தோன்றும்…
I will ask you one thing,
You must tell the truth.
If you ask me to sing,
What song would I feel like singing?
உன்னை ஒன்று கேட்பேன்
உண்மை சொல்ல வேண்டும்
என்னை பாட சொன்னால்
என்ன பாட தோன்றும்…
I will ask you one thing,
You must tell the truth.
If you ask me to sing,
What song would I feel like singing?
காதல் பாட்டு பாட
காலம் இன்னும் இல்லை
காதல் பாட்டு பாட
காலம் இன்னும் இல்லை
தாலாட்டு பாட தாயாகவில்லை
To sing a song of love,
The time has not yet come.
To sing a song of love,
The time has not yet come.
I have not become a mother to sing a lullaby.
நிலவில்லா வானம்
நீரில்லா மேகம்
பேசாத பெண்மை
பாடாது உண்மை
A sky without a moon,
A cloud without water,
Womanhood that does not speak,
The truth that does not sing.
கண்ணை மெல்ல மூடும்
தன்னை எண்ணி வாடும்
பெண்ணை பாட சொன்னால்
என்ன பாட தோன்றும்
Closing her eyes gently,
Grieving thinking about herself,
If you ask such a woman to sing,
What song would she feel like singing?
உன்னை ஒன்று கேட்பேன்
உண்மை சொல்ல வேண்டும்
என்னை பாட சொன்னால்
என்ன பாட தோன்றும்
என்ன பாட தோன்றும்
I will ask you one thing,
You must tell the truth.
If you ask me to sing,
What song would I feel like singing?
What song would I feel like singing?
Unnai ondru ketpen
I will ask you one thing,
Unmai solla vendum
You must tell the truth.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
Enna paada thondrum…
What song would I feel like singing?
Unnai ondru ketpen
I will ask you one thing,
Unmai solla vendum
You must tell the truth.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
Enna paada thondrum…
What song would I feel like singing?
Kaadhal paattu paada
To sing a song of love,
Kaalam innum illai
The time has not yet come.
Kaadhal paattu paada
To sing a song of love,
Kaalam innum illai
The time has not yet come.
Thaalaattu paada thaayaagavillai
I have not become a mother to sing a lullaby.
Nilavillaa vaanam
A sky without a moon,
Neerillaa megam
A cloud without water,
Pesaatha penmai
Womanhood that does not speak,
Paadaathu unmai
The truth that does not sing.
Kannai mella moodum
Closing her eyes gently,
Thannai enni vaadum
Grieving thinking about herself,
Pennai paada sonnaal
If you ask such a woman to sing,
Enna paada thondrum
What song would she feel like singing?
Unnai ondru ketpen
I will ask you one thing,
Unmai solla vendum
You must tell the truth.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
Enna paada thondrum…
What song would I feel like singing?
Enna paada thondrum…
What song would I feel like singing?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unnai Ondru Ketpen from Puthiya Paravai (1964) is a deeply melancholic song exploring themes of unfulfillment, quiet grief, and longing. The speaker reflects on her inability to sing joyful songs of love or maternal tenderness because her life lacks romantic fulfillment and motherhood. Through vivid imagery of an empty sky and rainless clouds, Kannadasan captures a woman's silent sorrow and sense of incompleteness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Nilavillaa vaanam / Neerillaa megam”
Compares an unfulfilled woman's state to a moonless sky ('Nilavillaa vaanam') and a waterless cloud ('Neerillaa megam'), conveying empty potential.
Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Unnai ondru ketpen / Unmai solla vendum”
The second letter consonant 'n' (ன/ண்) rhymes across lines, enhancing the rhythmic melodic flow.
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Kaadhal paattu paada / Kaalam innum illai”
Repetition of phrase patterns emphasizing the lack of appropriate timing and circumstances for joy.
Did you know?
Trivia
Puthiya Paravai (1964) is a famous Tamil psychological thriller starring Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. Although listed as unknown in the prompt, the iconic music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and the soulful rendering was performed by singer P. Susheela.
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