Unnai Ondru Ketpen
From Puthiya Paravai · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- 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 me the truth. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| { Enna paada thondrum } (2) | { What would I feel like singing? } (2) |
| Female | |
| Unnai ondru ketpen | I will ask you one thing, |
| Unmai solla vendum | You must tell me the truth. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum | What would I feel like singing? |
| Female | |
| { Kaadhal paatu paada | { To sing a love song, |
| Kaalam innum illai } (2) | The time has not come yet } (2) |
| Thaalaatu paada thaaiaagavillai | To sing a lullaby, I have not become a mother. |
| Female | |
| Unnai ondru ketpen | I will ask you one thing, |
| Unmai solla vendum | You must tell me the truth. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum | What would I feel like singing? |
| Female | |
| Nilavillaa vaanam | A moonless sky, |
| Neerillaa megam | A cloud without water, |
| Pesaatha penmai | A silent womanhood, |
| Paadaathu unmai | Will not sing the truth. |
| Female | |
| Kannai mella moodum | Gently closing her eyes, |
| Thannai enni vaadum | Withered thinking of herself, |
| Pennai paada sonnaal | If you ask such a woman to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum | What would she feel like singing? |
| Female | |
| Unnai ondru ketpen | I will ask you one thing, |
| Unmai solla vendum | You must tell me the truth. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum | What would I feel like singing? |
| Female | |
| Thanimaiyil | In solitude, |
| Gaanam sabaiyilae | A song; in a gathering, |
| Mounam uravuthaan | Silence; relationship is |
| Raagam uyirellam paasam | Melody, and all of life is affection. |
| Female | |
| Anbu konda | Despite having love, |
| Nenjil anubavam illai | The heart lacks experience. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum | What would I feel like singing? |
| Female | |
| Unnai ondru ketpen | I will ask you one thing, |
| Unmai solla vendum | You must tell me the truth. |
| Ennai paada sonnaal | If you ask me to sing, |
| Enna paada thondrum | What would I feel like singing? |
உன்னை ஒன்று
கேட்பேன் உண்மை சொல்ல
வேண்டும் என்னை பாட
சொன்னால்
{ என்ன பாட தோன்றும் } (2
I will ask you one thing,
You must tell me the truth.
If you ask me to sing,
{ What would I feel like singing? } (2)
உன்னை ஒன்று
கேட்பேன் உண்மை சொல்ல
வேண்டும் என்னை பாட
சொன்னால் என்ன பாட
தோன்றும்
I will ask you one thing,
You must tell me the truth.
If you ask me to sing,
What would I feel like singing?
{ காதல் பாட்டு
பாட காலம் இன்னும்
இல்லை } (2)
தாலாட்டு பாட
தாயாகவில்லை
{ To sing a love song,
The time has not come yet } (2)
To sing a lullaby, I have not become a mother.
உன்னை ஒன்று
கேட்பேன் உண்மை சொல்ல
வேண்டும் என்னை பாட
சொன்னால் என்ன பாட
தோன்றும்
I will ask you one thing,
You must tell me the truth.
If you ask me to sing,
What would I feel like singing?
நிலவில்லா
வானம் நீரில்லா மேகம்
பேசாத பெண்மை பாடாது
உண்மை
A moonless sky,
A cloud without water,
A silent womanhood,
Will not sing the truth.
கண்ணை
மெல்ல மூடும் தன்னை
எண்ணி வாடும் பெண்ணை
பாட சொன்னால் என்ன பாட
தோன்றும்
Gently closing her eyes,
Withered thinking of herself,
If you ask such a woman to sing,
What would she feel like singing?
உன்னை ஒன்று
கேட்பேன் உண்மை சொல்ல
வேண்டும் என்னை பாட
சொன்னால் என்ன பாட
தோன்றும்
I will ask you one thing,
You must tell me the truth.
If you ask me to sing,
What would I feel like singing?
தனிமையில்
கானம் சபையிலே
மவுனம் உறவுதான்
ராகம் உயிரெல்லாம்
பாசம்
In solitude,
A song; in a gathering,
Silence; relationship is
Melody, and all of life is affection.
அன்பு கொண்ட
நெஞ்சில் அனுபவம்
இல்லை என்னை பாட
சொன்னால் என்ன பாட
தோன்றும்
Despite having love,
The heart lacks experience.
If you ask me to sing,
What 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 me the truth.
If you ask me to sing,
What would I feel like singing?
Unnai ondru ketpen
I will ask you one thing,
Unmai solla vendum
You must tell me the truth.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
{ Enna paada thondrum } (2)
{ What would I feel like singing? } (2)
Unnai ondru ketpen
I will ask you one thing,
Unmai solla vendum
You must tell me the truth.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
Enna paada thondrum
What would I feel like singing?
{ Kaadhal paatu paada
{ To sing a love song,
Kaalam innum illai } (2)
The time has not come yet } (2)
Thaalaatu paada thaaiaagavillai
To sing a lullaby, I have not become a mother.
Unnai ondru ketpen
I will ask you one thing,
Unmai solla vendum
You must tell me the truth.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
Enna paada thondrum
What would I feel like singing?
Nilavillaa vaanam
A moonless sky,
Neerillaa megam
A cloud without water,
Pesaatha penmai
A silent womanhood,
Paadaathu unmai
Will not sing the truth.
Kannai mella moodum
Gently closing her eyes,
Thannai enni vaadum
Withered thinking of herself,
Pennai paada sonnaal
If you ask such a woman to sing,
Enna paada thondrum
What would she feel like singing?
Unnai ondru ketpen
I will ask you one thing,
Unmai solla vendum
You must tell me the truth.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
Enna paada thondrum
What would I feel like singing?
Thanimaiyil
In solitude,
Gaanam sabaiyilae
A song; in a gathering,
Mounam uravuthaan
Silence; relationship is
Raagam uyirellam paasam
Melody, and all of life is affection.
Anbu konda
Despite having love,
Nenjil anubavam illai
The heart lacks experience.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
Enna paada thondrum
What would I feel like singing?
Unnai ondru ketpen
I will ask you one thing,
Unmai solla vendum
You must tell me the truth.
Ennai paada sonnaal
If you ask me to sing,
Enna paada thondrum
What would I feel like singing?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unnai Ondru Ketpen is a contemplative and soulful track from the classic movie Puthiya Paravai (1964). The heroine expresses her emotional dilemma and inner void when asked to sing. She feels it is too early to sing romantic songs, nor can she sing lullabies as she is not a mother. She compares her current state of unfulfilled emotions to a moonless sky and rainless clouds.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani (Metaphor)
“Nilavillaa vaanam”
Compares an empty or unfulfilled emotional state to a moonless sky ('Nilavillaa vaanam') and a waterless cloud ('Neerillaa megam').
Edhugai (Second letter rhyme)
“Kannai mella moodum”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'nn' (ன்) across adjacent lines to create rhythmic flow ('Kannai' and 'Thannai').
Antithesis / Dynamic Contrast
“Thanimaiyil Gaanam sabaiyilae Mounam”
Contrasts singing in solitude with remaining silent in a public gathering to convey deep emotional restraint.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed in the prompt context with unknown credits, this iconic song from Puthiya Paravai (1964) was composed by the famous duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, sung by P. Susheela, and features lyrics by Kannadasan.
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