Unnodu Vazhatha
From Amarkalam · 1999
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Details
- Amarkalam1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu | What kind of life is a life not lived with you? |
| En uzh nenju solgindradhu | My inner heart keeps telling me this. |
| Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru | What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower? |
| Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu | A flower garden asks this question. |
| Female | |
| Mannil yen yen yen neeyum vandhaai | Why, why, why did you come into this world? |
| Endhan penmai poopookavae | Was it to make my womanhood bloom? |
| Naan pirakum munnae ada nee pirandhadhen | Why were you born before I was born? |
| Naan pirakumbodhu nee undhan kaiyil ennai yendhathaano | Was it to hold me in your hands the moment I was born? |
| Female | |
| Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu | What kind of life is a life not lived with you? |
| En uzh nenju solgindradhu | My inner heart keeps telling me this. |
| Female | |
| Melliya aanmaganai pennuku pidikaadhu | A woman does not like a delicate man; |
| Muradaa unnai rasithen | Oh rough man, I admired you. |
| Thottadhum vizhundhu vidum aadavan pidikaadhu | She does not like a man who crumbles upon being touched; |
| Garvam adhai madhithen | I respected your pride. |
| Female | |
| Mudi kuthum undhan maarbu en panju methaiyo | Is your chest filled with prickly hair my cotton mattress? |
| En uyir thirakum mutham adhu enna vithaiyo | What magic is in your kiss that unlocks my soul? |
| Unnai polae aanillaiyae neeyum ponaal naanillaiyae | There is no man like you; if you leave, I cease to exist. |
| Neeradipadhaalae meen nazhuvavillaiyae | A fish does not slip away just because the water strikes it; |
| Aam namakul oodalillai | Yes, there is no conflict between us. |
| Female | |
| Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu | What kind of life is a life not lived with you? |
| En uzh nenju solgindradhu | My inner heart keeps telling me this. |
| Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru | What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower? |
| Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu | A flower garden asks this question. |
| Female | |
| Nee oru thee endraal naan kulir | If you are a fire, I shall warm myself |
| Kaaiven anbae theeyaai iru | Against the cold; my love, remain as fire. |
| Nee oru mull endraal naan adhil rojaa | If you are a thorn, I am the rose upon it; |
| Anbae mullaai iru | My love, remain as a thorn. |
| Female | |
| Nee veeramaana kallan ulloorum solludhu | The whole town says you are a tough bandit; |
| Nee eeramaana paarai en ullam solludhu | My heart says you are a rock with a gentle heart. |
| Unnai motham nesikiren | I love everything about you, |
| Undhan moochai swaasikiren | I breathe the very air you exhale. |
| Female | |
| Nee vasikum kudisai en maada maaligai | The hut where you reside is my palatial mansion; |
| Kaadhalodu bedhamillai | Love knows no differences. |
| Female | |
| Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu | What kind of life is a life not lived with you? |
| En uzh nenju solgindradhu | My inner heart keeps telling me this. |
| Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru | What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower? |
| Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu | A flower garden asks this question. |
| Female | |
| Mannil yen yen yen neeyum vandhaai | Why, why, why did you come into this world? |
| Endhan penmai poopookavae | Was it to make my womanhood bloom? |
| Naan pirakum munnae ada nee pirandhadhen | Why were you born before I was born? |
| Naan pirakumbodhu nee undhan kaiyil ennai yendhathaano | Was it to hold me in your hands the moment I was born? |
உன்னோடு
வாழாத வாழ்வென்ன
வாழ்வு என் உள்நெஞ்சு
சொல்கின்றது பூவோடு
பேசாத காற்றென்ன காற்று
ஒரு பூஞ்சோலை கேட்கின்றது
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
My inner heart keeps telling me this.
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower?
A flower garden asks this question.
மண்ணில் ஏன்
ஏன் ஏன் நீயும் வந்தாய்
எந்தன் பெண்மை பூப்பூக்கவே
நான் பிறக்கும் முன்னே அட
நீ பிறந்ததேன் நான் பிறக்கும்
போது நீ உந்தன் கையில்
என்னை ஏந்தத்தானோ
Why, why, why did you come into this world?
Was it to make my womanhood bloom?
Why were you born before I was born?
Was it to hold me in your hands the moment I was born?
உன்னோடு
வாழாத வாழ்வென்ன
வாழ்வு என் உள்நெஞ்சு
சொல்கின்றது
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
My inner heart keeps telling me this.
மெல்லிய
ஆண்மகனை பெண்ணுக்கு
பிடிக்காது முரடா உனை
ரசித்தேன் தொட்டதும்
விழுந்துவிடும் ஆடவன்
பிடிக்காது கர்வம் அதை
மதித்தேன்
A woman does not like a delicate man;
Oh rough man, I admired you.
She does not like a man who crumbles upon being touched;
I respected your pride.
முடி குத்தும்
உந்தன் மார்பு என் பஞ்சு
மெத்தையோ என் உயிர்
திறக்கும் முத்தம் அது
என்ன வித்தையோ
உன்னைப் போலே
ஆண் இல்லையே நீயும்
போனால் நான் இல்லையே
நீர் அடிப்பதாலே மீன்
நழுவ வில்லையே ஆம்
நமக்குள் ஊடலில்லை
Is your chest filled with prickly hair my cotton mattress?
What magic is in your kiss that unlocks my soul?
There is no man like you; if you leave, I cease to exist.
A fish does not slip away just because the water strikes it;
Yes, there is no conflict between us.
உன்னோடு
வாழாத வாழ்வென்ன
வாழ்வு என் உள்நெஞ்சு
சொல்கின்றது பூவோடு
பேசாத காற்றென்ன காற்று
ஒரு பூஞ்சோலை கேட்கின்றது
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
My inner heart keeps telling me this.
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower?
A flower garden asks this question.
நீ ஒரு தீ
என்றால் நான் குளிர்
காய்வேன் அன்பே
தீயாய் இரு நீ ஒரு முள்
என்றால் நான் அதில் ரோஜா
அன்பே முள்ளாய் இரு
If you are a fire, I shall warm myself
Against the cold; my love, remain as fire.
If you are a thorn, I am the rose upon it;
My love, remain as a thorn.
நீ வீரமான
கள்ளன் உள்ளூரும்
சொல்லுது நீ ஈரமான
பாறை என் உள்ளம்
சொல்லுது உன்னை
மொத்தம் நேசிக்கிறேன்
உந்தன் மூச்சை சுவாசிக்கிறேன்
The whole town says you are a tough bandit;
My heart says you are a rock with a gentle heart.
I love everything about you,
I breathe the very air you exhale.
நீ வசிக்கும்
குடிசை என் மாட
மாளிகை காதலோடு
பேதம் இல்லை
The hut where you reside is my palatial mansion;
Love knows no differences.
உன்னோடு
வாழாத வாழ்வென்ன
வாழ்வு என் உள்நெஞ்சு
சொல்கின்றது பூவோடு
பேசாத காற்றென்ன காற்று
ஒரு பூஞ்சோலை கேட்கின்றது
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
My inner heart keeps telling me this.
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower?
A flower garden asks this question.
மண்ணில் ஏன்
ஏன் ஏன் நீயும் வந்தாய்
எந்தன் பெண்மை பூப்பூக்கவே
நான் பிறக்கும் முன்னே அட
நீ பிறந்ததேன் நான் பிறக்கும்
போது நீ உந்தன் கையில்
என்னை ஏந்தத்தானோ
Why, why, why did you come into this world?
Was it to make my womanhood bloom?
Why were you born before I was born?
Was it to hold me in your hands the moment I was born?
விஷ்லிங் :
............................
Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
En uzh nenju solgindradhu
My inner heart keeps telling me this.
Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower?
Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu
A flower garden asks this question.
Mannil yen yen yen neeyum vandhaai
Why, why, why did you come into this world?
Endhan penmai poopookavae
Was it to make my womanhood bloom?
Naan pirakum munnae ada nee pirandhadhen
Why were you born before I was born?
Naan pirakumbodhu nee undhan kaiyil ennai yendhathaano
Was it to hold me in your hands the moment I was born?
Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
En uzh nenju solgindradhu
My inner heart keeps telling me this.
Melliya aanmaganai pennuku pidikaadhu
A woman does not like a delicate man;
Muradaa unnai rasithen
Oh rough man, I admired you.
Thottadhum vizhundhu vidum aadavan pidikaadhu
She does not like a man who crumbles upon being touched;
Garvam adhai madhithen
I respected your pride.
Mudi kuthum undhan maarbu en panju methaiyo
Is your chest filled with prickly hair my cotton mattress?
En uyir thirakum mutham adhu enna vithaiyo
What magic is in your kiss that unlocks my soul?
Unnai polae aanillaiyae neeyum ponaal naanillaiyae
There is no man like you; if you leave, I cease to exist.
Neeradipadhaalae meen nazhuvavillaiyae
A fish does not slip away just because the water strikes it;
Aam namakul oodalillai
Yes, there is no conflict between us.
Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
En uzh nenju solgindradhu
My inner heart keeps telling me this.
Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower?
Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu
A flower garden asks this question.
Nee oru thee endraal naan kulir
If you are a fire, I shall warm myself
Kaaiven anbae theeyaai iru
Against the cold; my love, remain as fire.
Nee oru mull endraal naan adhil rojaa
If you are a thorn, I am the rose upon it;
Anbae mullaai iru
My love, remain as a thorn.
Nee veeramaana kallan ulloorum solludhu
The whole town says you are a tough bandit;
Nee eeramaana paarai en ullam solludhu
My heart says you are a rock with a gentle heart.
Unnai motham nesikiren
I love everything about you,
Undhan moochai swaasikiren
I breathe the very air you exhale.
Nee vasikum kudisai en maada maaligai
The hut where you reside is my palatial mansion;
Kaadhalodu bedhamillai
Love knows no differences.
Unnodu vaazhaadha vaazhvenna vaazhvu
What kind of life is a life not lived with you?
En uzh nenju solgindradhu
My inner heart keeps telling me this.
Poovodu pesaadha kaatrenna kaatru
What kind of breeze is a breeze that does not talk to a flower?
Oru poonjolai ketkindradhu
A flower garden asks this question.
Mannil yen yen yen neeyum vandhaai
Why, why, why did you come into this world?
Endhan penmai poopookavae
Was it to make my womanhood bloom?
Naan pirakum munnae ada nee pirandhadhen
Why were you born before I was born?
Naan pirakumbodhu nee undhan kaiyil ennai yendhathaano
Was it to hold me in your hands the moment I was born?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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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