Unnale Thookam
From Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam · 2005
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pudicha kai kulla | Inside the holding hand |
| Sikkathu sikkathu | It won't get caught, won't get caught |
| Kodutha ithukku ithu | For what was given, this for that |
| Pathaathu pathaathu | Is not enough, not enough |
| Female | |
| Ennai vandhu | Coming to me |
| Ekku thappa madakka | To corner me awkwardly |
| Irutilae etho onnu | In the dark, something |
| Nadakka | Is happening |
| Female | |
| Ithana naala kattivechu kaathathellam | All that was guarded and preserved for so many days |
| Kettu pochu | Has gone spoiled |
| Chinna paiya chinna paiya | Young boy, young boy |
| Female | |
| Unnaala thookam kettupochu | Because of you, my sleep is ruined |
| Chorus :Thookam kettupochu | Chorus: Sleep is ruined |
| Female :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu | Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes |
| Chorus :Gaandham yeri pochu | Chorus: Magnetism increased |
| Female | |
| Chinna paiya chinna paiya | Young boy, young boy |
| Naan solli thandha kaththupiyaa | Will you learn what I teach you? |
| Katti pudi chutti paiya chutti paiya | Hug me tight, playful boy, playful boy |
| Ithu othigaya othigaya… | Is this a rehearsal, a rehearsal? |
| Naan kaththukitta vithaigalai | The skills and tricks I learned |
| Methayila kaththukollu | Learn them on the mattress |
| Koothu nadathalaam | Let us perform a drama |
| Female | |
| Ada unnaala thookam kettupochu | Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined |
| Chorus :Thookam kettupochu | Chorus: Sleep is ruined |
| Female :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu | Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes |
| Chorus :Gaandham yeri pochu | Chorus: Magnetism increased |
| Male | |
| Alli thinna vaa | Come eat by scoopfuls |
| Killi thinna vaa | Come pinch and eat |
| Aadayil moodum halwa | Halwa covered in clothes |
| Female | |
| Uchi pazhama | Is it fruit at the treetop? |
| Uthirndha pazhama | Is it a fallen fruit? |
| Yosichu kavvu gauva | Think and bite, bite |
| Male | |
| Iruthalai kolli erumbaa | Like an ant trapped on a stick lit on both ends |
| Ullukullae thatthalichen | I struggled deep within |
| Female :Ucham illa sutha idam | Female: A pure place with no limits |
| Unnai nambi opadaichen | I surrendered to you, trusting you |
| Male | |
| Theeradha nadhiyil irangikko | Step into the endless river |
| Thoongatha iravu therinjukko | Experience the sleepless night |
| Innakki raathiri nee | Tonight, you... |
| Female | |
| Unnaala thookam kettupochu | Because of you, my sleep is ruined |
| Chorus :Thookam kettupochu | Chorus: Sleep is ruined |
| Female :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu | Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes |
| Chorus :Gaandham yeri pochu | Chorus: Magnetism increased |
| Female | |
| Kombu mulaicha kannukutti | A calf that grew horns |
| Kattugal arundhathu eppo.. | When did the bindings break? |
| Male :Adi kathukutti naan kannukutti thaan | Male: Hey novice, I am just a young calf |
| Jallikattu vandhathu ippo | The Jallikattu bullfight has arrived now |
| Female | |
| Vethala pola irukura | You are like a betel leaf |
| Vathikuchiya eriyira | Yet you burn like a matchstick |
| Male :Ekkuthappa maatikittaen | Male: I got caught unexpectedly |
| Enna yenma pizhiyira | Why are you wringing me out, girl? |
| Female | |
| Thappaga thottu paakaathae | Don't touch me wrongly |
| Male :Appava enna aakathae | Male: Don't turn me into a father! |
| Female :Eh na na na na na na | Female: Eh na na na na na na |
| Innaikki raathiri unnaala | Tonight because of you |
| Male | |
| Ada unnaala thookam kettupochu | Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined |
| Female :Thookam kettupochu | Female: Sleep is ruined |
| Male :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu | Male: Magnetism increased because of your eyes |
| Female :Gaandham yeri pochu | Female: Magnetism increased |
| Female | |
| Chinna paiya chinna paiya | Young boy, young boy |
| Naan solli thandha kaththupiyaa | Will you learn what I teach you? |
| Katti pudi chutti paiya chutti paiya | Hug me tight, playful boy, playful boy |
| Ithu othigaya othigaya… | Is this a rehearsal, a rehearsal? |
| Male | |
| Nee kaththukitta vithaigalai | The skills you have learned |
| Methayila sollikudu | Teach them on the mattress |
| Koothu nadathalaam | Let us perform a drama |
| Female | |
| Ada unnaala thookam kettupochu | Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined |
| Chorus :Thookam kettupochu | Chorus: Sleep is ruined |
| Female :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu | Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes |
| Chorus :Gaandham yeri pochu | Chorus: Magnetism increased |
புடிச்சா கை குள்ள
சிக்காது சிக்காது கொடுத்தா
இதுக்கு இது பத்தாது
பத்தாது
Inside the holding hand
It won't get caught, won't get caught
For what was given, this for that
Is not enough, not enough
என்னை வந்து
எக்கு தப்பா மடக்க
இருட்டிலே ஏதோ
ஒன்னு நடக்க
Coming to me
To corner me awkwardly
In the dark, something
Is happening
இத்தன நாளா
கட்டி வெச்சு காத்ததெல்லாம்
கெட்டு போச்சு சின்ன பையா
சின்ன பையா
All that was guarded and preserved for so many days
Has gone spoiled
Young boy, young boy
உன்னால
தூக்கம் கெட்டு போச்சு
குழு :
தூக்கம் கெட்டு
போச்சு
உன் கண்ணால
காந்தம் ஏறி போச்சு
குழு :
காந்தம் ஏறி போச்சு
Because of you, my sleep is ruined
Chorus: Sleep is ruined
Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Chorus: Magnetism increased
சின்ன பையா சின்ன
பையா நான் சொல்லி தந்தா
கத்துபியா கட்டி புடி சுட்டி
பையா சுட்டி பையா இது
ஒத்திகையா ஒத்திகையா
நான் கத்துகிட்ட வித்தைகளை
மெத்தையில கத்து கொள்ளு
கூத்து நடத்தலாம்
Young boy, young boy
Will you learn what I teach you?
Hug me tight, playful boy, playful boy
Is this a rehearsal, a rehearsal?
The skills and tricks I learned
Learn them on the mattress
Let us perform a drama
அட உன்னால
தூக்கம் கெட்டு போச்சு
குழு :
தூக்கம் கெட்டு போச்சு
உன் கண்ணால
காந்தம் ஏறி போச்சு
குழு :
காந்தம் ஏறி போச்சு
Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined
Chorus: Sleep is ruined
Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Chorus: Magnetism increased
அள்ளி தின்ன
வா கிள்ளி தின்ன வா
ஆடையில் மூடும்
ஹல்வா
Come eat by scoopfuls
Come pinch and eat
Halwa covered in clothes
உச்சி பழமா
உதிர்ந்த பழமா யோசிச்சு
கவ்வு குவா
Is it fruit at the treetop?
Is it a fallen fruit?
Think and bite, bite
இருதலை கொல்லி
எறும்பா உள்ளுக்குள்ளே
தத்தளிச்சேன்
உச்சம் இல்ல சுத்த
இடம் உன்னை நம்பி
ஒப்படைச்சேன்
Like an ant trapped on a stick lit on both ends
I struggled deep within
Female: A pure place with no limits
I surrendered to you, trusting you
தீராத நதியில்
இறங்கிக்கோ தூங்காத
இரவு தெரிஞ்சுக்கோ
இன்னைக்கு ராத்திரி
நீ
Step into the endless river
Experience the sleepless night
Tonight, you...
உன்னால
தூக்கம் கெட்டு போச்சு
குழு :
தூக்கம் கெட்டு போச்சு
உன் கண்ணால
காந்தம் ஏறி போச்சு
குழு :
காந்தம் ஏறி போச்சு
Because of you, my sleep is ruined
Chorus: Sleep is ruined
Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Chorus: Magnetism increased
கொம்பு முளைச்ச
கன்னுகுட்டி கட்டுகள்
அறுந்தது எப்போ
அடி கத்துக்குட்டி
நான் கன்னுக்குட்டி தான்
ஜல்லிக்கட்டு வந்தது
இப்போ
A calf that grew horns
When did the bindings break?
Male: Hey novice, I am just a young calf
The Jallikattu bullfight has arrived now
வெத்தல போல
இருக்குற வத்திகுச்சியா
எரியுற
எக்கு தப்பா மாட்டி
கிட்டேன் என்ன ஏன் மா
பிழியிற
You are like a betel leaf
Yet you burn like a matchstick
Male: I got caught unexpectedly
Why are you wringing me out, girl?
தப்பாக
தொட்டு பாக்காதே
அப்பாவா
என்ன ஆக்காதே
யே நா நா நா
நா நா நா இன்னைக்கு
ராத்திரி உன்னால
Don't touch me wrongly
Male: Don't turn me into a father!
Female: Eh na na na na na na
Tonight because of you
அட உன்னால
தூக்கம் கெட்டு போச்சு
தூக்கம்
கெட்டு போச்சு
உன் கண்ணால
காந்தம் ஏறி போச்சு
காந்தம்
ஏறி போச்சு
Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined
Female: Sleep is ruined
Male: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Female: Magnetism increased
சின்ன பையா சின்ன
பையா நான் சொல்லி தந்தா
கத்துபியா கட்டி புடி சுட்டி
பையா சுட்டி பையா இது
ஒத்திகையா ஒத்திகையா
Young boy, young boy
Will you learn what I teach you?
Hug me tight, playful boy, playful boy
Is this a rehearsal, a rehearsal?
நீ கத்துகிட்ட
வித்தைகளை மெத்தையில
சொல்லி கொடு கூத்து
நடத்தலாம்
The skills you have learned
Teach them on the mattress
Let us perform a drama
அட உன்னால
தூக்கம் கெட்டு போச்சு
குழு :
தூக்கம் கெட்டு
போச்சு
உன் கண்ணால
காந்தம் ஏறி போச்சு
குழு :
காந்தம் ஏறி
போச்சு
Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined
Chorus: Sleep is ruined
Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Chorus: Magnetism increased
Pudicha kai kulla
Inside the holding hand
Sikkathu sikkathu
It won't get caught, won't get caught
Kodutha ithukku ithu
For what was given, this for that
Pathaathu pathaathu
Is not enough, not enough
Ennai vandhu
Coming to me
Ekku thappa madakka
To corner me awkwardly
Irutilae etho onnu
In the dark, something
Nadakka
Is happening
Ithana naala kattivechu kaathathellam
All that was guarded and preserved for so many days
Kettu pochu
Has gone spoiled
Chinna paiya chinna paiya
Young boy, young boy
Unnaala thookam kettupochu
Because of you, my sleep is ruined
Chorus :Thookam kettupochu
Chorus: Sleep is ruined
Female :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu
Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Chorus :Gaandham yeri pochu
Chorus: Magnetism increased
Chinna paiya chinna paiya
Young boy, young boy
Naan solli thandha kaththupiyaa
Will you learn what I teach you?
Katti pudi chutti paiya chutti paiya
Hug me tight, playful boy, playful boy
Ithu othigaya othigaya…
Is this a rehearsal, a rehearsal?
Naan kaththukitta vithaigalai
The skills and tricks I learned
Methayila kaththukollu
Learn them on the mattress
Koothu nadathalaam
Let us perform a drama
Ada unnaala thookam kettupochu
Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined
Chorus :Thookam kettupochu
Chorus: Sleep is ruined
Female :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu
Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Chorus :Gaandham yeri pochu
Chorus: Magnetism increased
Alli thinna vaa
Come eat by scoopfuls
Killi thinna vaa
Come pinch and eat
Aadayil moodum halwa
Halwa covered in clothes
Uchi pazhama
Is it fruit at the treetop?
Uthirndha pazhama
Is it a fallen fruit?
Yosichu kavvu gauva
Think and bite, bite
Iruthalai kolli erumbaa
Like an ant trapped on a stick lit on both ends
Ullukullae thatthalichen
I struggled deep within
Female :Ucham illa sutha idam
Female: A pure place with no limits
Unnai nambi opadaichen
I surrendered to you, trusting you
Theeradha nadhiyil irangikko
Step into the endless river
Thoongatha iravu therinjukko
Experience the sleepless night
Innakki raathiri nee
Tonight, you...
Unnaala thookam kettupochu
Because of you, my sleep is ruined
Chorus :Thookam kettupochu
Chorus: Sleep is ruined
Female :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu
Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Chorus :Gaandham yeri pochu
Chorus: Magnetism increased
Kombu mulaicha kannukutti
A calf that grew horns
Kattugal arundhathu eppo..
When did the bindings break?
Male :Adi kathukutti naan kannukutti thaan
Male: Hey novice, I am just a young calf
Jallikattu vandhathu ippo
The Jallikattu bullfight has arrived now
Vethala pola irukura
You are like a betel leaf
Vathikuchiya eriyira
Yet you burn like a matchstick
Male :Ekkuthappa maatikittaen
Male: I got caught unexpectedly
Enna yenma pizhiyira
Why are you wringing me out, girl?
Thappaga thottu paakaathae
Don't touch me wrongly
Male :Appava enna aakathae
Male: Don't turn me into a father!
Female :Eh na na na na na na
Female: Eh na na na na na na
Innaikki raathiri unnaala
Tonight because of you
Ada unnaala thookam kettupochu
Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined
Female :Thookam kettupochu
Female: Sleep is ruined
Male :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu
Male: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Female :Gaandham yeri pochu
Female: Magnetism increased
Chinna paiya chinna paiya
Young boy, young boy
Naan solli thandha kaththupiyaa
Will you learn what I teach you?
Katti pudi chutti paiya chutti paiya
Hug me tight, playful boy, playful boy
Ithu othigaya othigaya…
Is this a rehearsal, a rehearsal?
Nee kaththukitta vithaigalai
The skills you have learned
Methayila sollikudu
Teach them on the mattress
Koothu nadathalaam
Let us perform a drama
Ada unnaala thookam kettupochu
Oh, because of you, my sleep is ruined
Chorus :Thookam kettupochu
Chorus: Sleep is ruined
Female :Un kannala gaandham yeri pochu
Female: Magnetism increased because of your eyes
Chorus :Gaandham yeri pochu
Chorus: Magnetism increased
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful and sensual duet from the film 'Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam' depicts a lighthearted, intimate dialogue between a passionate woman and a hesitant, inexperienced young man. The female protagonist tempts and teases the male lead, expressing how his captivating gaze has stolen her sleep and ignited a magnetic attraction between them. Using metaphors of sweetness, heat, and theatrical rehearsal, she invites him into intimacy. In response, the male lead expresses his innocence and anxiety, comparing himself to an untrained calf caught unexpectedly in a bullfight. He playfully asks her not to push him into fatherhood too soon while struggling with her irresistible charm. Through rich cultural references and rhythmic banter, the song captures the flirty tension and playful dynamic of a blooming romantic encounter.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Aadayil moodum halwa / Iruthalai kolli erumbaa / Vathikuchiya eriyira- Alliteration (Monaai) and Rhyme (Edhukai) in Tamil poetry structure are used extensively across lines like 'Chinna paiya chinna paiya' and 'Katti pudi chutti paiya'. Vaali uses creative metaphors comparing physical charm to 'Halwa wrapped in clothes' and inner anxiety to an 'ant trapped on a stick burning at both ends'. Furthermore, describing the female lead's fire as a burning matchstick emphasizes her intensity.”
Did you know?
Trivia
'Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam' (2005) was directed by the acclaimed auteur Balu Mahendra and starred Dhanush and Priyamani. The film's music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring lyrics penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali.
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