Unnai Thotta Kaatru
From Navagraham · 1970
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Navagraham1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aahaahaa… aahaahaa… | Vocalizing: Aahaahaa… aahaahaa… |
| Mhumhum… mhumhum… | Vocalizing: Mhumhum… mhumhum… |
| Aa… haa… haa… | Vocalizing: Aa… haa… haa… |
| Female | |
| Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu | The breeze that touched you came |
| Ennai thottadhu | And touched me. |
| Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu | The breeze that touched you came |
| Ennai thottadhu | And touched me. |
| Adhuvae podhum endru penmai indru | Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today |
| Kettu kondadhu | Has asked of me. |
| Varalaam thodalaam mana naal varum podhu | You can come and touch when the wedding day arrives. |
| Tharuven peralaam pakkam nee varum podhu | I will give and you can receive when you come close then. |
| Female | |
| Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu | The breeze that touched you came |
| Ennai thottadhu | And touched me. |
| Female | |
| Un paadham thotta alaigalae | The waves that touched your feet |
| En paadham thottadhu | Touched my feet as well. |
| Nam iruvaraiyum ondru saerkka paalam ittadhu | It built a bridge to unite the two of us. |
| Male | |
| Aahaahaa… aahaahaa… | Vocalizing: Aahaahaa… aahaahaa… |
| Ohoho haa aa… aa… | Vocalizing: Ohoho haa aa… aa… |
| Female | |
| Un paadham thotta alaigalae | The waves that touched your feet |
| En paadham thottadhu | Touched my feet as well. |
| Nam iruvaraiyum ondru saerkka paalam ittadhu | It built a bridge to unite the two of us. |
| Indha naeram paarthu naanam vandhu kolam ittadhu | Seeing this precise moment, shyness came and drew patterns. |
| Konja naal varaiyil poruthirukka aanai ittadhu | It ordered us to remain patient for a few more days. |
| Male | |
| Ahahaa ohoho mhuhum lalalaa | Vocalizing: Ahahaa ohoho mhuhum lalalaa |
| Female | |
| Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu | The breeze that touched you came |
| Ennai thottadhu | And touched me. |
| Adhuvae podhum endru penmai indru | Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today |
| Kettu kondadhu | Has asked of me. |
| Female | |
| Mazhai thooral pottu saaral vandhu | Drizzling rain and a light spray arrived |
| Unnai nanaithadhu | And drenched you. |
| Adhu unnai nanaithu theritha podhu | When it splashed upon you and scattered, |
| Ennai nanaithadhu | It drenched me too. |
| Male | |
| Ahahaa ohoho ohoho ahahaa | Vocalizing: Ahahaa ohoho ohoho ahahaa |
| Female | |
| Mazhai thooral pottu saaral vandhu | Drizzling rain and a light spray arrived |
| Unnai nanaithadhu | And drenched you. |
| Adhu unnai nanaithu theritha podhu | When it splashed upon you and scattered, |
| Ennai nanaitthadhu | It drenched me too. |
| Adhu thuli thuliyaai enadhu tholil | Drop by drop, on my shoulder |
| Idam pidithadhu | It found its place. |
| Indha iyarkkai ellaam iruvaraiyum | All of nature is watching us |
| Inaithu paarkkudhu | Try to unite the two of us. |
| Female | |
| Adhuvae podhum endru penmai indru | Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today |
| Kettu kondadhu | Has asked of me. |
| Varalaam thodalaam mana naal varum podhu | You can come and touch when the wedding day arrives. |
| Tharuvaen peralaam pakkam nee varum podhu | I will give and you can receive when you come close then. |
| Female | |
| Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu | The breeze that touched you came |
| Ennai thottadhu | And touched me. |
ஆஹாஹா... ஆஹாஹா...
ம்ஹும் ஹும்... ம்ஹும் ஹும்...
ஆ... ஹா... ஹா...
Vocalizing: Aahaahaa… aahaahaa…
Vocalizing: Mhumhum… mhumhum…
Vocalizing: Aa… haa… haa…
உன்னைத் தொட்ட காற்று வந்து
என்னைத் தொட்டது
உன்னைத் தொட்ட காற்று வந்து
என்னைத் தொட்டது
அதுவே போதும் என்று பெண்மை இன்று
கேட்டுக் கொண்டது
வரலாம் தொடலாம் மண நாள் வரும் போது
தருவேன் பெறலாம் பக்கம் நீ வரும் போது
The breeze that touched you came
And touched me.
The breeze that touched you came
And touched me.
Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today
Has asked of me.
You can come and touch when the wedding day arrives.
I will give and you can receive when you come close then.
உன்னைத் தொட்ட காற்று வந்து
என்னைத் தொட்டது
The breeze that touched you came
And touched me.
உன் பாதம் தொட்ட அலைகளே
என் பாதம் தொட்டது
நம் இருவரையும் ஒன்று சேர்க்க பாலம் இட்டது
The waves that touched your feet
Touched my feet as well.
It built a bridge to unite the two of us.
ஆஹாஹா... ஆஹாஹா...
ஓஹோஹோ ஹா ஆ... ஆ...
Vocalizing: Aahaahaa… aahaahaa…
Vocalizing: Ohoho haa aa… aa…
உன் பாதம் தொட்ட அலைகளே
என் பாதம் தொட்டது
நம் இருவரையும் ஒன்று சேர்க்க பாலம் இட்டது
இந்த நேரம் பார்த்து நாணம் வந்து கோலம் இட்டது
கொஞ்ச நாள் வரையில் பொறுத்திருக்க
ஆணை இட்டது
The waves that touched your feet
Touched my feet as well.
It built a bridge to unite the two of us.
Seeing this precise moment, shyness came and drew patterns.
It ordered us to remain patient for a few more days.
அஹஹா ஒஹொஹோ ம்ஹுஹும் லலலா
Vocalizing: Ahahaa ohoho mhuhum lalalaa
உன்னைத் தொட்ட காற்று வந்து
என்னைத் தொட்டது
அதுவே போதும் என்று பெண்மை இன்று
கேட்டுக் கொண்டது
The breeze that touched you came
And touched me.
Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today
Has asked of me.
மழைத் தூறல் போட்டு சாரல் வந்து
உன்னை நனைத்தது
அது உன்னை நனைத்து தெறித்த போது
என்னை நனைத்தது
Drizzling rain and a light spray arrived
And drenched you.
When it splashed upon you and scattered,
It drenched me too.
ஆஹாஹா ஓஹோஹோ
ஓஹோஹோ ஆஹாஹா
Vocalizing: Ahahaa ohoho ohoho ahahaa
மழைத் தூறல் போட்டு சாரல் வந்து
உன்னை நனைத்தது
அது உன்னை நனைத்து தெறித்த போது
என்னை நனைத்தது
அது துளித் துளியாய் எனது தோளில்
இடம் பிடித்தது
இந்த இயற்கை எல்லாம் இருவரையும்
இணைத்துப் பார்க்குது
Drizzling rain and a light spray arrived
And drenched you.
When it splashed upon you and scattered,
It drenched me too.
Drop by drop, on my shoulder
It found its place.
All of nature is watching us
Try to unite the two of us.
அதுவே போதும் என்று பெண்மை இன்று
கேட்டுக் கொண்டது
வரலாம் தொடலாம் மண நாள் வரும் போது
தருவேன் பெறலாம் பக்கம் நீ வரும் போது
Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today
Has asked of me.
You can come and touch when the wedding day arrives.
I will give and you can receive when you come close then.
உன்னைத் தொட்ட காற்று வந்து
என்னைத் தொட்டது
The breeze that touched you came
And touched me.
Aahaahaa… aahaahaa…
Vocalizing: Aahaahaa… aahaahaa…
Mhumhum… mhumhum…
Vocalizing: Mhumhum… mhumhum…
Aa… haa… haa…
Vocalizing: Aa… haa… haa…
Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu
The breeze that touched you came
Ennai thottadhu
And touched me.
Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu
The breeze that touched you came
Ennai thottadhu
And touched me.
Adhuvae podhum endru penmai indru
Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today
Kettu kondadhu
Has asked of me.
Varalaam thodalaam mana naal varum podhu
You can come and touch when the wedding day arrives.
Tharuven peralaam pakkam nee varum podhu
I will give and you can receive when you come close then.
Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu
The breeze that touched you came
Ennai thottadhu
And touched me.
Un paadham thotta alaigalae
The waves that touched your feet
En paadham thottadhu
Touched my feet as well.
Nam iruvaraiyum ondru saerkka paalam ittadhu
It built a bridge to unite the two of us.
Aahaahaa… aahaahaa…
Vocalizing: Aahaahaa… aahaahaa…
Ohoho haa aa… aa…
Vocalizing: Ohoho haa aa… aa…
Un paadham thotta alaigalae
The waves that touched your feet
En paadham thottadhu
Touched my feet as well.
Nam iruvaraiyum ondru saerkka paalam ittadhu
It built a bridge to unite the two of us.
Indha naeram paarthu naanam vandhu kolam ittadhu
Seeing this precise moment, shyness came and drew patterns.
Konja naal varaiyil poruthirukka aanai ittadhu
It ordered us to remain patient for a few more days.
Ahahaa ohoho mhuhum lalalaa
Vocalizing: Ahahaa ohoho mhuhum lalalaa
Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu
The breeze that touched you came
Ennai thottadhu
And touched me.
Adhuvae podhum endru penmai indru
Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today
Kettu kondadhu
Has asked of me.
Mazhai thooral pottu saaral vandhu
Drizzling rain and a light spray arrived
Unnai nanaithadhu
And drenched you.
Adhu unnai nanaithu theritha podhu
When it splashed upon you and scattered,
Ennai nanaithadhu
It drenched me too.
Ahahaa ohoho ohoho ahahaa
Vocalizing: Ahahaa ohoho ohoho ahahaa
Mazhai thooral pottu saaral vandhu
Drizzling rain and a light spray arrived
Unnai nanaithadhu
And drenched you.
Adhu unnai nanaithu theritha podhu
When it splashed upon you and scattered,
Ennai nanaitthadhu
It drenched me too.
Adhu thuli thuliyaai enadhu tholil
Drop by drop, on my shoulder
Idam pidithadhu
It found its place.
Indha iyarkkai ellaam iruvaraiyum
All of nature is watching us
Inaithu paarkkudhu
Try to unite the two of us.
Adhuvae podhum endru penmai indru
Saying that alone is enough, womanhood today
Kettu kondadhu
Has asked of me.
Varalaam thodalaam mana naal varum podhu
You can come and touch when the wedding day arrives.
Tharuvaen peralaam pakkam nee varum podhu
I will give and you can receive when you come close then.
Unnai thotta kaatru vandhu
The breeze that touched you came
Ennai thottadhu
And touched me.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unnai Thotta Kaatru Vandhu is a classic romantic duet from the 1970 movie Navagraham, written by Vaali and composed by V. Kumar. The song beautifully captures the romantic connection between lovers using elements of nature—the wind, ocean waves, and rain droplets—as intermediaries that carry affection and indirect physical touch between them. Despite the underlying romantic passion, the heroine maintains cultural grace and sweet restraint. She reminds her lover that experiencing his essence through nature is sufficient for now, asking him to wait until their auspicious wedding day for physical closeness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Indha naeram paarthu naanam vandhu kolam ittadhu / Konja naal varaiyil poruthirukka aanai ittadhu”
Shyness is personified as a person who arrives, draws decorative kolam patterns, and instructs the lovers to wait patiently.
Metaphor & Symbolism
“Nam iruvaraiyum ondru saerkka paalam ittadhu”
Elements of nature (wind, rain drops, sea waves) serve as symbolic messengers and a physical bridge connecting two distant souls.
Edhukai and Iyaibu (Internal & End Rhyme)
“Varalaam thodalaam mana naal varum podhu / Tharuven peralaam pakkam nee varum podhu”
Vaali uses rhythmic internal rhyming words like 'Varalaam/Thodalaam' and 'Tharuven/Peralaam' to give the lines a smooth, lyrical cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Navagraham (1970) was directed by legendary filmmaker K. Balachander, with music composed by V. Kumar and lyrics by Vaali. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela, this duet remains one of the most revered classic tracks depicting subtle romantic restraint through nature imagery.
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