Unnai Thozhi Enbatha
From Kaadhal Kondein · 2003
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- Ranjith
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Kaadhal Kondein2003
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unnai thozhi enbathaa | Should I call you my friend? |
| Yen paathi enbathaa | Should I call you my other half? |
| Idhai kaadhal enbathaa | Should I call this love? |
| En thedal enbathaa | Should I call this my unending quest? |
| Male | |
| Oru megam polavae | Just like a floating cloud, |
| Manam mithanthu poguthae | My heart drifts away. |
| Mazhai nindra podhilum | Even long after the rain has stopped, |
| Mara kilaigal thooruthae… | The tree branches keep dripping... |
| Female | |
| Aaaa…aaa….aa….aaa…. | Aaaa…aaa….aa….aaa…. |
உன்னை தோழி
என்பதா என் பாதி என்பதா
இதை காதல் என்பதா என்
தேடல் என்பதா
Should I call you my friend?
Should I call you my other half?
Should I call this love?
Should I call this my unending quest?
ஒரு மேகம்
போலவே மனம் மிதந்து
போகுதே மழை நின்ற
போதிலும் மர கிளைகள்
தூறுதே
Just like a floating cloud,
My heart drifts away.
Even long after the rain has stopped,
The tree branches keep dripping...
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
Aaaa…aaa….aa….aaa….
Unnai thozhi enbathaa
Should I call you my friend?
Yen paathi enbathaa
Should I call you my other half?
Idhai kaadhal enbathaa
Should I call this love?
En thedal enbathaa
Should I call this my unending quest?
Oru megam polavae
Just like a floating cloud,
Manam mithanthu poguthae
My heart drifts away.
Mazhai nindra podhilum
Even long after the rain has stopped,
Mara kilaigal thooruthae…
The tree branches keep dripping...
Aaaa…aaa….aa….aaa….
Aaaa…aaa….aa….aaa….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This verse captures the gentle, philosophical confusion of deep affection and emotional connection. The protagonist ponders the precise nature of his relationship with his companion, questioning whether to label it as friendship, romantic love, or a soulful inner search. The poetic tone reflects a state of weightless emotional elevation. The second half uses vivid nature imagery to describe lingering feelings. Comparing his drifting mind to a cloud and comparing lingering thoughts to raindrops dripping from trees long after a rainstorm, the lyricist illustrates how the feeling of love persists continuously in the heart even when the moment itself has passed.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Oru megam polavae”
Compares the floating state of the mind directly to a cloud using the comparative word 'polavae' (like).
Visual Imagery & Metaphor
“Mazhai nindra podhilum / Mara kilaigal thooruthae…”
Uses the evocative picture of raindrops falling from tree branches after a storm to symbolize lingering love and persistent memories.
Anaphora / Eybhai (Refrain)
“Unnai thozhi enbathaa / Yen paathi enbathaa”
Repeats the interrogative suffix 'enbathaa' (should I call it...?) across four consecutive lines to emphasize emotional ambiguity.
Did you know?
Trivia
The couplet 'Mazhai nindra podhilum mara kilaigal thooruthae' penned by late lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar is considered one of the most iconic lines in modern Tamil film music, frequently cited by Tamil literary lovers as the ultimate expression of lingering nostalgia.
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