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Isaimozhi
Amarkalam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnodu Vazhatha

From Amarkalam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Bharathwaj
Movie name
Amarkalam
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
20 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu
En uzh nenju solgindradhu
Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru
Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu
Mannil yen yen yen neeyum vandhaai
Endhan penmai poopookavae
Naan pirakum munnae ada nee pirandhadhen
Naan pirakumbodhu nee undhan kaiyil ennai yendhathaano
Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu
En uzh nenju solgindradhu
Melliya aanmaganai pennuku pidikaadhu
Muradaa unnai rasithen
Thottadhum vizhundhu vidum aadavan pidikaadhu
Garvam adhai madhithen
Mudi kuthum undhan maarbu en panju methaiyo
En uyir thirakum mutham adhu enna vithaiyo
Unnai polae aanillaiyae neeyum ponaal naanillaiyae
Neeradipadhaalae meen nazhuvavillaiyae
Aam namakul oodalillai
Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu
En uzh nenju solgindradhu
Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru
Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu
Nee oru thee endraal naan kulir
Kaaiven anbae theeyaai iru
Nee oru mull endraal naan adhil rojaa
Anbae mullaai iru
Nee veeramaana kallan ulloorum solludhu
Nee eeramaana paarai en ullam solludhu
Unnai motham nesikiren
Undhan moochai swaasikiren
Nee vasikum kudisai en maada maaligai
Kaadhalodu bedhamillai
Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu
En uzh nenju solgindradhu
Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru
Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu
Mannil yen yen yen neeyum vandhaai
Endhan penmai poopookavae
Naan pirakum munnae ada nee pirandhadhen
Naan pirakumbodhu nee undhan kaiyil ennai yendhathaano
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
My inner heart tells me this.
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not speak to flowers?
A blossoming garden asks.
Why, oh why, did you come into this world?
Was it for my womanhood to blossom?
Why were you born before I was born?
Was it to hold me in your arms the moment I was born?
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
My inner heart tells me this.
A woman does not like a frail, delicate man;
You rugged man, I admire you.
I do not like a man who crumbles at a touch;
I respect your pride.
Is your prickly chest my soft cotton bed?
What kind of magic is your kiss that opens up my soul?
There is no man like you, and without you, I would not exist.
The lashing of the water does not drive the fish away;
Indeed, there is no real rift between us.
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
My inner heart tells me this.
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not speak to flowers?
A blossoming garden asks.
If you are a fire, I will warm myself
In the cold; my love, be that fire.
If you are a thorn, I am the rose upon it;
My love, be that thorn.
The whole town says you are a fearless rogue,
Yet my heart says you are a rock with a tender soul.
I love every part of you,
I breathe in your very breath.
The hut where you live is a grand palace to me;
In true love, there are no differences.
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
My inner heart tells me this.
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not speak to flowers?
A blossoming garden asks.
Why, oh why, did you come into this world?
Was it for my womanhood to blossom?
Why were you born before I was born?
Was it to hold me in your arms the moment I was born?
Female
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Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Unnodu Vaazhaadha Vaazhvenna Vaazhvu' is an iconic romantic song where the heroine expresses deep devotion and passion for her beloved. She highlights how a life without him is meaningless, drawing poetic parallels between a breeze and a flower garden. She embraces his ruggedness, pride, and tough exterior, recognizing the soft, compassionate soul within him that others fail to see. The song celebrates absolute surrender in love, defying social status and external perceptions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinavu)

“Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu”

The lyrics open with a poignant rhetorical question emphasizing that life is meaningless without the lover.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Nee oru thee endraal naan kulir”

The protagonist compares the lover to fire while positioning herself as someone seeking warmth from it.

Oxymoron

“Nee eeramaana paarai en ullam solludhu”

Combining contrasting ideas of 'eeramaana' (moist/gentle) and 'paarai' (hard rock) to depict the soft heart inside a tough persona.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru / Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu”

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds 'Poovodu' and 'Poonjolai' creating melodic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Bharadwaj and written by Vairamuthu, this melody from 'Amarkalam' (1999) holds a special place in Tamil cinema history. During the filming of this movie, lead actors Ajith Kumar and Shalini fell in love and eventually got married in real life.

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