Unnodu Naan Irundha
From Iruvar · 1997
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Arvind Swamy
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Iruvar1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unnodu naan irundhaa | Every minute I was with you |
| Ovvoru mani thuliyum | Every single minute |
| Marana padukkaiyilum | Even on my deathbed |
| Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae | Will not be forgotten, my darling |
| Male | |
| Thonnooru nimidangal | Just ninety minutes |
| Thottanaiththa kaalam dhaan | Was the time we held each other |
| Yennooru aandugalaai | Yet like eight hundred years |
| Idhayaththil ganakudhadi | It weighs heavily upon my heart, my dear |
| Male | |
| Paarvaiyilae sila nimidam | A few minutes in mutual gaze |
| Bayaththodu sila nimidam | A few minutes filled with fear |
| Katti anaiththappadi | While wrapped in an embrace |
| Kanneeril sila nimidam | A few minutes spent in tears |
| Male | |
| Ilakkanamae paaraamal | Disregarding all grammar and rules |
| Yellaa idangalilum | Across every place |
| Muththangal vidhaiththa | Sowing seeds of kisses |
| Mohaththil sila nimidam | A few minutes in sheer passion |
| Male | |
| Unnodu naan irundha | Every minute I spent with you |
| Ovvoru mani thuliyum | Every single minute |
| Marana padukkaiyilum | Even on my deathbed |
| Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae | Will not be forgotten, my darling |
| Male | |
| Yedhu nyaayam paavam | What was right or what was sin |
| Iruvarukkum thondravillai | Neither of us paused to think |
| Adhu irava adhu pagalaa | Whether it was night or day |
| Adhai pattri ariyavillai | We did not know or care |
| Male | |
| Yaar thodanga yaar mudikka | Who should begin, who should conclude |
| Oru vazhiyum thondravillai | No path appeared to us |
| Iruvarumae thodangivittom | Yet both of us began together |
| Idhu varaikkum kelvi illai | Until now, no questions have been asked |
| Male | |
| Achcham kalaindhen | I shed my hesitation and fear |
| Aasaiyinai nee anaiththaai | You embraced my desire |
| Aadai kalaindhen | I shed my garments |
| Vetkkaththai nee anaiththaai | You embraced my shyness |
| Male | |
| Kanda thirukolam | Though the divine intimacy we shared |
| Kanavaaga maraindhaalum | Fades away like a dream |
| Kadaisiyil azhudha kanneer | The tears shed at the end |
| Kaiyil innum ottudhadi | Still stick to my hand, my dear |
| Male | |
| {Unnodu naan irundha | Every minute I spent with you |
| Ovvoru mani thuliyum | Every single minute |
| Marana padukkaiyilum | Even on my deathbed |
| Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae} (2) (Dialogue) | Will not be forgotten, my darling |
உன்னோடு
நான் இருந்த ஒவ்வொரு
மணி துளியும் மரண
படுக்கையிலும் மறக்காது
கண்மணியே
Every minute I was with you
Every single minute
Even on my deathbed
Will not be forgotten, my darling
தொன்னூறு
நிமிடங்கள் தொட்டணைத்த
காலம் தான் எண்ணுாறு
ஆண்டுகளாய் இதயத்தில்
கனக்குதடி
Just ninety minutes
Was the time we held each other
Yet like eight hundred years
It weighs heavily upon my heart, my dear
பார்வையிலே
சில நிமிடம் பயத்தோடு
சில நிமிடம் கட்டி அணைத்த
படி கண்ணீரில் சில நிமிடம்
A few minutes in mutual gaze
A few minutes filled with fear
While wrapped in an embrace
A few minutes spent in tears
இலக்கணமே
பாராமல் எல்லா
இடங்களிலும் முத்தங்கள்
விதைத்த மோகத்தில்
சில நிமிடம்
Disregarding all grammar and rules
Across every place
Sowing seeds of kisses
A few minutes in sheer passion
உன்னோடு
நான் இருந்த ஒவ்வொரு
மணி துளியும் மரண
படுக்கையிலும் மறக்காது
கண்மணியே
Every minute I spent with you
Every single minute
Even on my deathbed
Will not be forgotten, my darling
எது நியாயம்
பாவம் இருவருக்கும்
தோன்றவில்லை அது
இரவா அது பகலா அதை
பற்றி அறியவில்லை
What was right or what was sin
Neither of us paused to think
Whether it was night or day
We did not know or care
யார் தொடங்க
யார் முடிக்க ஒரு வழியும்
தோன்றவில்லை இருவருமே
தொடங்கிவிட்டோம் இது
வரைக்கும் கேள்வி இல்லை
Who should begin, who should conclude
No path appeared to us
Yet both of us began together
Until now, no questions have been asked
அச்சம் களைந்தேன்
ஆசையினை நீ அணைத்தாய்
ஆடை களைந்தேன் வெட்கத்தை
நீ அணைத்தாய்
I shed my hesitation and fear
You embraced my desire
I shed my garments
You embraced my shyness
கண்ட திருகோலம்
கனவாக மறைந்தாலும்
கடைசியில் அழுத கண்ணீர்
கையில் இன்னும் ஒட்டுதடி
Though the divine intimacy we shared
Fades away like a dream
The tears shed at the end
Still stick to my hand, my dear
{ உன்னோடு
நான் இருந்த ஒவ்வொரு
மணி துளியும் மரண
படுக்கையிலும் மறக்காது
கண்மணியே } (2)
Every minute I spent with you
Every single minute
Even on my deathbed
Will not be forgotten, my darling
Unnodu naan irundhaa
Every minute I was with you
Ovvoru mani thuliyum
Every single minute
Marana padukkaiyilum
Even on my deathbed
Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae
Will not be forgotten, my darling
Thonnooru nimidangal
Just ninety minutes
Thottanaiththa kaalam dhaan
Was the time we held each other
Yennooru aandugalaai
Yet like eight hundred years
Idhayaththil ganakudhadi
It weighs heavily upon my heart, my dear
Paarvaiyilae sila nimidam
A few minutes in mutual gaze
Bayaththodu sila nimidam
A few minutes filled with fear
Katti anaiththappadi
While wrapped in an embrace
Kanneeril sila nimidam
A few minutes spent in tears
Ilakkanamae paaraamal
Disregarding all grammar and rules
Yellaa idangalilum
Across every place
Muththangal vidhaiththa
Sowing seeds of kisses
Mohaththil sila nimidam
A few minutes in sheer passion
Unnodu naan irundha
Every minute I spent with you
Ovvoru mani thuliyum
Every single minute
Marana padukkaiyilum
Even on my deathbed
Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae
Will not be forgotten, my darling
Yedhu nyaayam paavam
What was right or what was sin
Iruvarukkum thondravillai
Neither of us paused to think
Adhu irava adhu pagalaa
Whether it was night or day
Adhai pattri ariyavillai
We did not know or care
Yaar thodanga yaar mudikka
Who should begin, who should conclude
Oru vazhiyum thondravillai
No path appeared to us
Iruvarumae thodangivittom
Yet both of us began together
Idhu varaikkum kelvi illai
Until now, no questions have been asked
Achcham kalaindhen
I shed my hesitation and fear
Aasaiyinai nee anaiththaai
You embraced my desire
Aadai kalaindhen
I shed my garments
Vetkkaththai nee anaiththaai
You embraced my shyness
Kanda thirukolam
Though the divine intimacy we shared
Kanavaaga maraindhaalum
Fades away like a dream
Kadaisiyil azhudha kanneer
The tears shed at the end
Kaiyil innum ottudhadi
Still stick to my hand, my dear
{Unnodu naan irundha
Every minute I spent with you
Ovvoru mani thuliyum
Every single minute
Marana padukkaiyilum
Even on my deathbed
Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae} (2) (Dialogue)
Will not be forgotten, my darling
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unnodu Naan Irundha is a celebrated poetic recitation from Mani Ratnam's 1997 film Iruvar, written by Vairamuthu and composed by A. R. Rahman. The poem immortalizes a brief ninety-minute romantic encounter between two lovers. Despite its short duration, the intensity of their physical and emotional intimacy leaves an indelible mark on the protagonist's soul, carrying the emotional weight of eight hundred years.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Contrast
“Thonnooru nimidangal... Yennooru aandugalaai”
Contrasting 'Thonnooru nimidangal' (90 minutes) with 'Yennooru aandugalaai' (800 years) to highlight how a brief moment feels like centuries of emotional weight.
Metaphor
“Muththangal vidhaiththa”
Describing kissing as 'muththangal vidhaiththa' (sowing seeds of kisses), turning physical affection into a creative, growth-like act.
Anaphora
“Paarvaiyilae sila nimidam... Bayaththodu sila nimidam”
Repetition of the phrase 'sila nimidam' at the end of multiple lines to structure the progression of emotions during those few minutes.
Parallelism / Emoni
“Achcham kalaindhen / Aadai kalaindhen”
Syntactic parallelism in 'Achcham kalaindhen... Aadai kalaindhen' alongside second-letter rhyming (Etukai).
Did you know?
Trivia
This track is delivered as spoken-word poetry in Iruvar to reflect the eloquent oratorical style of Tamil political leaders of the mid-20th century (specifically inspired by M. Karunanidhi). Lyricist Vairamuthu crafted the poem to express deep sensuality using pure, classic Tamil literary phrasing without crossing into vulgarity.
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