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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Unnodu Naan Irundha

From Iruvar · 1997

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singer: Arvind Swamy
Music director: A. R. Rahman
Movie name: Iruvar
Movie release year: 1997
Lyrics added on: 18 Aug 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Unnodu naan irundhaa

Ovvoru mani thuliyum

Marana padukkaiyilum

Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae

Thonnooru nimidangal

Thottanaiththa kaalam dhaan

Yennooru aandugalaai

Idhayaththil ganakudhadi

Paarvaiyilae sila nimidam

Bayaththodu sila nimidam

Katti anaiththappadi

Kanneeril sila nimidam

Ilakkanamae paaraamal

Yellaa idangalilum

Muththangal vidhaiththa

Mohaththil sila nimidam

Unnodu naan irundha

Ovvoru mani thuliyum

Marana padukkaiyilum

Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae

Yedhu nyaayam paavam

Iruvarukkum thondravillai

Adhu irava adhu pagalaa

Adhai pattri ariyavillai

Yaar thodanga yaar mudikka

Oru vazhiyum thondravillai

Iruvarumae thodangivittom

Idhu varaikkum kelvi illai

Achcham kalaindhen

Aasaiyinai nee anaiththaai

Aadai kalaindhen

Vetkkaththai nee anaiththaai

Kanda thirukolam

Kanavaaga maraindhaalum

Kadaisiyil azhudha kanneer

Kaiyil innum ottudhadi

{Unnodu naan irundha

Ovvoru mani thuliyum

Marana padukkaiyilum

Marakkaadhu kanmaniyae} (2) (Dialogue)

The time I spent with you,

every single minute,

even on my deathbed,

I will never forget, my love.

Those ninety minutes

when we held each other close,

like eight hundred years,

weigh heavily on my heart.

A few minutes lost in glances,

a few minutes filled with fear,

wrapped in each other's arms,

a few minutes spent in tears,

Without caring for any rules,

in every single place,

sowing seeds of kisses,

a few minutes lost in passion.

The time I spent with you,

every single minute,

even on my deathbed,

I will never forget, my love.

What was right and what was a sin,

neither of us stopped to think.

Whether it was night or day,

we did not know or care.

Who should start and who should finish,

we could not figure out a way.

Yet both of us began together,

and no questions were asked.

I stripped away my fear,

and you embraced the desire.

I stripped away my clothes,

and you embraced your shyness.

Though that sacred vision we shared

has vanished like a dream,

the tears cried at the very end

still linger wet on my hands.

{The time I spent with you,

every single minute,

even on my deathbed,

I will never forget, my love.} (2) (Dialogue)

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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