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Naalu Veli Nilam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Thedi

From Naalu Veli Nilam · 1959

Lyricist
M. K. Aathmanathan
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, K. Jamunarani
Music director
M. K. Aathmanathan
Movie name
Naalu Veli Nilam
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
1 Sept 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnai thedi vandhen
Ingu odi vandhen
Nalla saedhi sollu sengarumbhu vaayale
Female :Naan kaathirundhen
Edhir paarthirundhen
En kaadhalarai kaana vazhi melae
Unnai thedi vandhen
Ingu odi vandhen
Nalla saedhi sollu sengarumbhu vaayale
Female :Naan kaathirundhen
Edhir paarthirundhen
En kaadhalarai kaana vazhi melae
Edho enni enniyae
Dhinam thannan thaniyae
Ilam kanni unnai kaathirukka sonnadhaaru
Edho enni enniyae
Dhinam thannan thaniyae
Ilam kanni unnai kaathirukka sonnadhaaru
Endhan kann arugile
Vandhu penn manadhile
Indha kalla thanam pannum mappillai yaaru
Endhan kann arugile
Vandhu penn manadhile
Indha kalla thanam pannum mappillai yaaru
Unnai thedi vandhen
Ingu odi vandhen
Nalla saedhi sollu sengarumbhu vaayale
Female :Naan kaathirundhen
Edhir paarthirundhen
En kaadhalarai kaana vazhi melae
I came searching for you,
I came running here,
Tell me good news with your sweet sugarcane lips!
Female: I was waiting,
I was eagerly waiting,
watching the path to catch sight of my lover.
I came searching for you,
I came running here,
Tell me good news with your sweet sugarcane lips!
Female: I was waiting,
I was eagerly waiting,
watching the path to catch sight of my lover.
Lost in deep thoughts,
all alone day after day,
who asked a young girl like you to wait?
Lost in deep thoughts,
all alone day after day,
who asked a young girl like you to wait?
Right before my eyes,
entering a woman's heart,
who is this handsome man playing sneaky tricks?
Right before my eyes,
entering a woman's heart,
who is this handsome man playing sneaky tricks?
I came searching for you,
I came running here,
Tell me good news with your sweet sugarcane lips!
Female: I was waiting,
I was eagerly waiting,
watching the path to catch sight of my lover.
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from Naalu Veli Nilam (1959) is a playful, romantic duet between a young man and his beloved. The male lover expresses his enthusiasm, stating he ran all the way searching for her and eagerly asking for sweet words from her lips, while teasingly asking who asked her to spend her days waiting for him in solitude. The female lover responds by describing her patient anticipation as she kept watching the path for his arrival. She lovingly teases him back, asking who this sneaky bridegroom is that has stolen her heart and plays mischievous tricks in front of her eyes. Together, the song captures the charm of courtship and joyful reunion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor)

Nalla saedhi sollu sengarumbhu vaayale

'Sengarumbhu vaayale' compares the beloved's lips/speech to sweet red sugarcane, emphasizing sweetness.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Unnai thedi vandhen / Ingu odi vandhen

The second letter harmony in 'thedi' and 'odi' enhances the rhythmic flow of the opening lines.

Monaai (Alliteration)

En kaadhalarai kaana vazhi melae

Repetition of the 'ka' sound in 'kaadhalarai kaana' creates a lyrical melody.

Did you know?

Trivia

Naalu Veli Nilam (1959) was based on a stage play by Seva Stage, a popular theatre troupe founded by actor S. V. Sahasranamam. M. K. Aathmanathan served dual roles as both the lyricist and music composer for this track, sung exuberantly by S. C. Krishnan and K. Jamuna Rani.

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