Unnai Thane Thanjam
From Nallavanukku Nallavan · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, Manjula Gururaj
- Music director
- Ilaiyaraja
- Details
- Nallavanukku Nallavan1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Unnai thaanae thanjam endru | Believing in you alone as my sole refuge, |
| Nambi vandhen naanae | I came seeking your grace myself. |
| Uyir pooveduthu oru maalai itten | I plucked the flower of my soul to weave a garland, |
| Vizhi neer thelithu oru kolam itten} (2) | I sprinkled tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern. |
| Female | |
| : Malarin kadhavondru thirakindratha | Is the door of a flower opening up? |
| Mounam veliyera thavikindratha | Is silence struggling to break free? |
| Penmai pudhithaga thudikindratha | Is womanhood throbbing with a newfound feeling? |
| Uyiril amuthangal surakindrathaa | Is sweet nectar overflowing within the soul? |
| Female | |
| Mutham koduthaanae | Did he grant a kiss? |
| Idhazh muthukulithaanae | Did he dive for pearls upon the lips? |
| Iravugal idhamaanadha | Have the nights become pleasant and soothing? |
| Katti pidithal thottu eduthaal | When he embraces and lifts you up, |
| Vetkam enna satham poduthaa | Does bashfulness make a loud noise? |
| Male | |
| Ennai thaane ..thanjam endru | Believing in me as your refuge, |
| Nambi vandhaai maanae | You came to me, my gentle deer. |
| Uyir pooveduthu oru maalai idu | Pluck the flower of your soul to place a garland, |
| Vizhi neer thelithu oru kolam idu | Sprinkle tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern. |
| Ennai thaanae | In me alone... |
| Male | |
| Ulagam enakendrum vilangaadhadhu | The world was never comprehensible to me, |
| Uravae enakkindru vilangaanadhu | Relationships never made sense to me until today. |
| Adada mundhaanai siraiyaanadhu | Ah, the end of your saree became a pleasant prison, |
| Idhuvae en vazhvil muraiyaanadhu | This alone became the proper order of my life. |
| Male | |
| Paarai ondrin melae | Upon a hard rock, |
| Oru poovaai mulaithaayae | You sprouted like a tender flower, |
| Uravukku uyir thandhaayae | You breathed life into our relationship. |
| Naane enakku nanban illaiyae | I was not even a friend to myself, |
| Unnaal oru sondham vandhadhae | Yet because of you, a true kinship arrived. |
| Male | |
| Ennai thaane ..thanjam endru | Believing in me as your refuge, |
| Nambi vandhaai maanae | You came to me, my gentle deer. |
| Uyir pooveduthu oru maalai idu | Pluck the flower of your soul to place a garland, |
| Vizhi neer thelithu oru kolam idu | Sprinkle tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern. |
| Male | |
| Ennai thaane ..thanjam endru | Believing in me as your refuge, |
| Nambi vandhaai maanae | You came to me, my gentle deer. |
{ உன்னைத்தானே
தஞ்சம் என்று நம்பி
வந்தேன் நானே உயிர்
பூவெடுத்து ஒரு மாலை
இட்டேன் விழி நீர் தெளித்து
ஒரு கோலம் இட்டேன் } (2)
Believing in you alone as my sole refuge,
I came seeking your grace myself.
I plucked the flower of my soul to weave a garland,
I sprinkled tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern.
மலரின் கதவொன்று
திறக்கின்றதா மௌனம்
வெளியேற தவிக்கின்றதா
பெண்மை புதிதாக துடிக்கின்றதா
உயிரில் அமுதங்கள் சுரக்கின்றதா
Is the door of a flower opening up?
Is silence struggling to break free?
Is womanhood throbbing with a newfound feeling?
Is sweet nectar overflowing within the soul?
முத்தம் கொடுத்தானே
இதழ் முத்துக்குளித்தானே
இரவுகள் இதமானதா கட்டி
பிடித்தால் தொட்டு எடுத்தால்
வெட்கம் என்ன சத்தம் போடுதா
Did he grant a kiss?
Did he dive for pearls upon the lips?
Have the nights become pleasant and soothing?
When he embraces and lifts you up,
Does bashfulness make a loud noise?
என்னைத்தானே
தஞ்சம் என்று நம்பி
வந்தாய் மானே உயிர்
பூவெடுத்து ஒரு மாலை
இடு விழி நீர் தெளித்து
ஒரு கோலம் இடு
என்னைத்தானே
Believing in me as your refuge,
You came to me, my gentle deer.
Pluck the flower of your soul to place a garland,
Sprinkle tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern.
In me alone...
உலகம் எனக்கென்றும்
விளங்காதது உறவே எனக்கின்று
விலங்கானது அடடா முந்தானை
சிறையானது இதுவே என் வாழ்வில்
முறையானது
The world was never comprehensible to me,
Relationships never made sense to me until today.
Ah, the end of your saree became a pleasant prison,
This alone became the proper order of my life.
பாறை ஒன்றின்
மேலே ஒரு பூவாய்
முளைத்தாயே உறவுக்கு
உயிர் தந்தாயே நானே
எனக்கு நண்பன் இல்லையே
உன்னால் ஒரு சொந்தம்
வந்ததே
Upon a hard rock,
You sprouted like a tender flower,
You breathed life into our relationship.
I was not even a friend to myself,
Yet because of you, a true kinship arrived.
என்னைத்தானே
தஞ்சம் என்று நம்பி
வந்தாய் மானே உயிர்
பூவெடுத்து ஒரு மாலை
இடு விழி நீர் தெளித்து
ஒரு கோலம் இடு
Believing in me as your refuge,
You came to me, my gentle deer.
Pluck the flower of your soul to place a garland,
Sprinkle tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern.
என்னைத்தானே
தஞ்சம் என்று நம்பி
வந்தாய் மானே
Believing in me as your refuge,
You came to me, my gentle deer.
{Unnai thaanae thanjam endru
Believing in you alone as my sole refuge,
Nambi vandhen naanae
I came seeking your grace myself.
Uyir pooveduthu oru maalai itten
I plucked the flower of my soul to weave a garland,
Vizhi neer thelithu oru kolam itten} (2)
I sprinkled tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern.
: Malarin kadhavondru thirakindratha
Is the door of a flower opening up?
Mounam veliyera thavikindratha
Is silence struggling to break free?
Penmai pudhithaga thudikindratha
Is womanhood throbbing with a newfound feeling?
Uyiril amuthangal surakindrathaa
Is sweet nectar overflowing within the soul?
Mutham koduthaanae
Did he grant a kiss?
Idhazh muthukulithaanae
Did he dive for pearls upon the lips?
Iravugal idhamaanadha
Have the nights become pleasant and soothing?
Katti pidithal thottu eduthaal
When he embraces and lifts you up,
Vetkam enna satham poduthaa
Does bashfulness make a loud noise?
Ennai thaane ..thanjam endru
Believing in me as your refuge,
Nambi vandhaai maanae
You came to me, my gentle deer.
Uyir pooveduthu oru maalai idu
Pluck the flower of your soul to place a garland,
Vizhi neer thelithu oru kolam idu
Sprinkle tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern.
Ennai thaanae
In me alone...
Ulagam enakendrum vilangaadhadhu
The world was never comprehensible to me,
Uravae enakkindru vilangaanadhu
Relationships never made sense to me until today.
Adada mundhaanai siraiyaanadhu
Ah, the end of your saree became a pleasant prison,
Idhuvae en vazhvil muraiyaanadhu
This alone became the proper order of my life.
Paarai ondrin melae
Upon a hard rock,
Oru poovaai mulaithaayae
You sprouted like a tender flower,
Uravukku uyir thandhaayae
You breathed life into our relationship.
Naane enakku nanban illaiyae
I was not even a friend to myself,
Unnaal oru sondham vandhadhae
Yet because of you, a true kinship arrived.
Ennai thaane ..thanjam endru
Believing in me as your refuge,
Nambi vandhaai maanae
You came to me, my gentle deer.
Uyir pooveduthu oru maalai idu
Pluck the flower of your soul to place a garland,
Vizhi neer thelithu oru kolam idu
Sprinkle tears of joy to draw a welcoming pattern.
Ennai thaane ..thanjam endru
Believing in me as your refuge,
Nambi vandhaai maanae
You came to me, my gentle deer.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unnai Thaane Thanjam Endru is a deeply emotional duet from Nallavanukku Nallavan expressing complete surrender, romantic awakening, and emotional redemption. The female protagonist sings of her total devotion, offering her soul like a blossom and tears as holy water. In response, the male protagonist—who previously lived an isolated and hardened life—acknowledges how her love softened him, giving him purpose and a true sense of belonging.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor (Rupaka)
“Uyir pooveduthu oru maalai itten”
Comparing one's life force/soul to a flower ('Uyir pooveduthu') metaphorically highlights delicate devotion.
Metaphor & Imagery
“Idhazh muthukulithaanae”
Comparing lips to ocean depth where one dives for pearls ('Idhazh muthukulithaanae') evokes gentle sensuality.
Emoni / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paarai ondrin melae / Oru poovaai mulaithaayae”
The repetition of the initial consonant sounds in 'Paarai' and 'Poovaai' creates rhythmic harmony.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Malarin kadhavondru thirakindratha / Mounam veliyera thavikindratha”
The lines end with identical rhythmic suffixes (-kindratha), emphasizing the questioning, poetic mood.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki, this classic song is renowned for its lush orchestral arrangement and poignant lyrics by Vairamuthu. Picturized on Rajinikanth and Radhika, it remains one of the most memorable romantic melodies in 1980s Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
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