Unnaiyandri
From Alli · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Alli1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Unnai andri yaaridam | To whom else but you |
| En nilayai solven | shall I express my plight? |
| Indha uravil ulla ragasiyathai | The secret hidden in this relationship, |
| Evaridam solven | to whom shall I tell? |
| Female | |
| Unnai andri yaaridam | To whom else but you |
| En nilayai solven | shall I express my plight? |
| Indha uravil ulla ragasiyathai | The secret hidden in this relationship, |
| Evaridam solven | to whom shall I tell? |
| Female | |
| {Kulamagalendru ulagam ennai | Why does the world praise me |
| Pottrukindrathaen | as a virtuous woman of noble lineage? |
| Nalla gunam padaitha annaiyendru | Calling me a mother of good character, |
| Vaazhthugindrathaen} (2) | why does it bless me so? (2) |
| Female | |
| Idhayam mattum ondrai enni | Yet my heart, brooding over one thought, |
| Vaadugindrathae | is wilting away. |
| Adhu ilai maraintha kaayai polae | Like an unripe fruit hidden behind leaves, |
| Vaazhugindrathae | it lives concealed. |
| Female | |
| Unnai andri yaaridam | To whom else but you |
| En nilayai solven | shall I express my plight? |
| Indha uravil ulla ragasiyathai | The secret hidden in this relationship, |
| Evaridam solven | to whom shall I tell? |
| Female | |
| {Kaalam ondru thondrum bothu | When the right time comes, |
| Unmaiyai solven | I will speak the truth. |
| En karuthinilae unnai padhitha | The reason why I inscribed you in my thoughts, |
| Kaaranam solven} (2) | I will explain that reason. (2) |
| Female | |
| Karunaiyodum urimaiyodum | With compassion and legitimate right, |
| Anaithu kolven | I will embrace you. |
| En kannirandil un vadivai | In both my eyes, your form |
| Eduthu kolluven | I will capture and cherish. |
| Female | |
| Unnai andri yaaridam | To whom else but you |
| En nilayai solven | shall I express my plight? |
| Indha uravil ulla ragasiyathai | The secret hidden in this relationship, |
| Evaridam solven | to whom shall I tell? |
உன்னையன்றி யாரிடம்
என் நிலையைச் சொல்வேன்
இந்த உறவிலுள்ள ரகசியத்தை
எவரிடம் சொல்வேன்
To whom else but you
shall I express my plight?
The secret hidden in this relationship,
to whom shall I tell?
உன்னையன்றி யாரிடம்
என் நிலையைச் சொல்வேன்
இந்த உறவிலுள்ள ரகசியத்தை
எவரிடம் சொல்வேன்
To whom else but you
shall I express my plight?
The secret hidden in this relationship,
to whom shall I tell?
{குலமகளென்று உலகமென்னைப்
போற்றுகின்றதேன்
நல்ல குணம் படைத்த அன்னையென்று
வாழ்த்துகின்றதேன்} (2)
Why does the world praise me
as a virtuous woman of noble lineage?
Calling me a mother of good character,
why does it bless me so? (2)
இதயம் மட்டும் ஒன்றே எண்ணி
வாடுகின்றதே
அது இலை மறைந்த காயைப் போல
வாழுகின்றதே......
Yet my heart, brooding over one thought,
is wilting away.
Like an unripe fruit hidden behind leaves,
it lives concealed.
உன்னையன்றி யாரிடம்
என் நிலையைச் சொல்வேன்
இந்த உறவிலுள்ள ரகசியத்தை
எவரிடம் சொல்வேன்
To whom else but you
shall I express my plight?
The secret hidden in this relationship,
to whom shall I tell?
{காலம் ஒன்று தோன்றும்போது
உண்மையைச் சொல்வேன்
என் கருத்தினிலே உன்னைப் பதித்த
காரணம் சொல்வேன்} (2)
When the right time comes,
I will speak the truth.
The reason why I inscribed you in my thoughts,
I will explain that reason. (2)
கருணையோடும் உரிமையோடும்
அணைத்துக் கொள்ளுவேன்
என் கண்ணிரண்டில் உன் வடிவை
எடுத்துக் கொள்ளுவேன்.....
With compassion and legitimate right,
I will embrace you.
In both my eyes, your form
I will capture and cherish.
உன்னையன்றி யாரிடம்
என் நிலையைச் சொல்வேன்
இந்த உறவிலுள்ள ரகசியத்தை
எவரிடம் சொல்வேன்
To whom else but you
shall I express my plight?
The secret hidden in this relationship,
to whom shall I tell?
Unnai andri yaaridam
To whom else but you
En nilayai solven
shall I express my plight?
Indha uravil ulla ragasiyathai
The secret hidden in this relationship,
Evaridam solven
to whom shall I tell?
Unnai andri yaaridam
To whom else but you
En nilayai solven
shall I express my plight?
Indha uravil ulla ragasiyathai
The secret hidden in this relationship,
Evaridam solven
to whom shall I tell?
{Kulamagalendru ulagam ennai
Why does the world praise me
Pottrukindrathaen
as a virtuous woman of noble lineage?
Nalla gunam padaitha annaiyendru
Calling me a mother of good character,
Vaazhthugindrathaen} (2)
why does it bless me so? (2)
Idhayam mattum ondrai enni
Yet my heart, brooding over one thought,
Vaadugindrathae
is wilting away.
Adhu ilai maraintha kaayai polae
Like an unripe fruit hidden behind leaves,
Vaazhugindrathae
it lives concealed.
Unnai andri yaaridam
To whom else but you
En nilayai solven
shall I express my plight?
Indha uravil ulla ragasiyathai
The secret hidden in this relationship,
Evaridam solven
to whom shall I tell?
{Kaalam ondru thondrum bothu
When the right time comes,
Unmaiyai solven
I will speak the truth.
En karuthinilae unnai padhitha
The reason why I inscribed you in my thoughts,
Kaaranam solven} (2)
I will explain that reason. (2)
Karunaiyodum urimaiyodum
With compassion and legitimate right,
Anaithu kolven
I will embrace you.
En kannirandil un vadivai
In both my eyes, your form
Eduthu kolluven
I will capture and cherish.
Unnai andri yaaridam
To whom else but you
En nilayai solven
shall I express my plight?
Indha uravil ulla ragasiyathai
The secret hidden in this relationship,
Evaridam solven
to whom shall I tell?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This melancholic song portrays a woman's emotional conflict and secret burden. Although society reveres her as an honorable woman and a virtuous mother, her inner heart suffers silently. She keeps her true feelings and the secrets of her relationship hidden from the world, comparing her state to an unripe fruit obscured by dense leaves. She longs for the right moment when she can finally reveal the truth to her beloved, embrace them with motherly affection and rightful love, and keep their image forever in her eyes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Adhu ilai maraintha kaayai polae / Vaazhugindrathae”
Compares her concealed emotional existence and heart to an unripe fruit hidden behind leaves ('Ilai maraintha kaay').
Rhetorical Question
“Unnai andri yaaridam / En nilayai solven”
The singer repeatedly questions who else she can confide in besides her listener, emphasizing her isolation and hidden truth.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Unmaiyai solven / Anaithu kolven / Eduthu kolluven”
Repetition of the ending suffix '-en' across multiple lines ('solven', 'kolluven') creating melodic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1964 Tamil film 'Alli', starring S. S. Rajendran and L. Vijayalakshmi, directed by L. V. Prasad. The lyrics were penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan.
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