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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Pola Chinnapulla

From Thendral Varum Theru · 1994

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singers
Kovai Soundararajan, Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thendral Varum Theru1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Unna pola chinna pullaA young girl like you
Oorukkulla kandathillaI have never seen in this town
Unna vittu em manasuLeaving you, my heart
Vera pakkam ponathillaHas never turned elsewhere
Thanthanana thanthananannaa thanthaanannaanaaRhythmic folk refrain (Thanthanana...)
Thanthanana thanthananannaa thanthaanannaanaaRhythmic folk refrain (Thanthanana...)
Male
Unna pola chinna pullaA young girl like you
Oorukkulla kandathillaI have never seen in this town
Male Chorus :Aamaamaa appadi poduMale Chorus: Yes, that is right, keep it going!
Aasaiya paattula paaduSing with desire in the song!
Female :Unnudaiya nenjukkullaFemale: Inside your heart
Ulla pulla entha pullaWhich girl is residing?
Female Chorus :Ammammaa appadi poduFemale Chorus: Oh my, play it like that!
Aanantha kummigaloduWith joyful Kummi claps
Male
Unna pola chinna pullaA young girl like you
Oorukkulla kandathillaI have never seen in this town
Female :Unnudaiya nenjukkullaFemale: Inside your heart
Ulla pulla entha pullaWhich girl is residing?
Male
Chanthirarum sooriyarumThe moon and the sun
Unna santhikka vanthaanga hoiCame to meet you, hey!
Santhanaththil thanga radham senjuMaking a golden chariot of sandalwood
Thanthuttu ponaanga…aa…They gave it and left...
Female
Chanthirarum sooriyarumThe moon and the sun
Namma santhikka vanthaanga hoiCame to meet us, hey!
Santhanaththil thanga radham senjuMaking a golden chariot of sandalwood
Thanthuttu ponaanga…aa…They gave it and left...
Male
Unna pola chinna pullaA young girl like you
Male Chorus :Oorukkulla kandathillaMale Chorus: I have never seen in this town
Female :Unnudaiya nenjukkullaFemale: Inside your heart
Female Chorus :Ulla pulla entha pullaFemale Chorus: Which girl is residing?
Male
Oththaiyila pora pullaO girl walking all alone
Un thunaikku naan varavaaShall I come along to accompany you?
Rottu vazhi pora pullaO girl going along the road
Paattu katti naan tharavaaShall I compose a song for you?
Female
Kaavalukku vaaravaraeO one who comes for protection
Kalavu seiyya paarpathennaWhy do you look to steal?
Paattu katti thaarathunnaaIf you are giving me a song
Parisa sela nee tharanumYou must give a silk saree as a gift
Male
{Kannaala paaththathumae{As soon as I saw with my eyes
Kaalum kaiyum aaduthaeMy hands and feet are trembling
Kaththaazha mullu kuththiPricked by the aloe vera thorn
Kadhal nenju vaaduthae} (2)My loving heart is wilting} (2)
Female
Munthaana kaaththadikkaWhen the breeze blows your garment
Mogaththula naan thudikkaI squirm in desire
Oho oho ohoohohoOho oho ohoohoho
Male
Unna pola chinna pullaA young girl like you
Oorukkulla kandathillaI have never seen in this town
Female :Unna vittu em manasuFemale: Leaving you, my heart
Vera pakkam ponathillaHas never turned elsewhere
Female
Konji konji pesa vanthaaIf you come to talk affectionately
Kolli malai thaen kedaikkumHoney from Kolli Hills will be gained
Minji kinji ponathunnaaIf things get out of hand and pushy
Kannukkulla meen thudikkumFish will flutter inside the eyes
Male
Thanni kudam nee sumanthaaWhen you carry a water pot
Thalumbuthu em manasuMy heart spills over
Thaavaniya nee puzhinjaaWhen you wring your dupatta dry
Thaththalikkum en vayasuMy youth struggles in despair
Female
{Senthaazham poovukkullaae{Inside the pandanus flower
Naagam onnu poguthaeA snake is slithering
Singaara theevukkullaeInside the beautiful island
Mogam onnu veguthae} (2)A passion is burning} (2)
Male
Anjaathae em mayilaeDo not fear, my peacock
Aalaana poonguyilaeMy mature singing cuckoo
Oo….oo…..oo….ohoho…..Oo....oo.....oo....ohoho.....
Female
Unnudaiya nenjukkullaInside your heart
Female Chorus :Ulla pulla entha pullaFemale Chorus: Which girl is residing?
Male :Unna pola chinna pullaMale: A young girl like you
Male Chorus :Oorukkulla kandathillaMale Chorus: I have never seen in this town
Female
Chanthirarum sooriyarumThe moon and the sun
Namma santhikka vanthaanga hoiCame to meet us, hey!
Male :Santhanaththil thanga radham senjuMale: Making a golden chariot of sandalwood
Thanthuttu ponaanga…aa…They gave it and left...
Chorus
Thanthanana thanthananannaa thanthaanannaanaa…hoiRhythmic folk refrain (Thanthanana...)...hey
Thanthanana thanthananannaa thanthaanannaanaaRhythmic folk refrain (Thanthanana...)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk duet from the film 'Thendral Varum Theru' (1994) features playful and romantic dialogue between two lovers in a vibrant rural village context. The song uses traditional folk rhythms, calls, and responses between chorus and lead singers to capture the charm of young love. Rich in regional imagery, the lyrics penned by Mu. Metha describe how the lovers tease each other, trade compliments, and express their deep-seated affection using metaphors like sandalwood chariots, Kolli Hills honey, and natural beauty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Chanthirarum sooriyarum / Santhanaththil thanga radham senju

Harmonious repetition of the initial consonant/vowel sound across adjacent lines.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Konji konji pesa vanthaa / Minji kinji ponathunnaa

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, standard in Tamil poetic structure.

Uvamai (Metaphor / Imagery)

Kolli malai thaen kedaikkum

Comparing sweet affectionate talk to the rare and prized honey of the Kolli Hills.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Unna pola chinna pulla' showcases traditional Tamil Kummi-style rhythmic patterns and folk poetic structures, penned by the noted poet and academician Mu. Metha.

Keep listening

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