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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnoduthaan Kanaavile

From Kondattam · 1998

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
Mano, Sujatha
Music director
Maragathamani
Details
Kondattam1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Tuttuttu tuttududuTuttuttu tuttududu
Male
Unnodu thaan kanaavilaeOnly with you, in my dreams,
Ninaivu mayangi nadanthenI walked around with my consciousness entranced.
Mazhai vandha podhuWhen the rain came,
Chorus :Tuttuttu tuttududuChorus :Tuttuttu tuttududu
Male :Kudai ondru thandhuMale :Offering an umbrella,
Chorus :Tuttuttu tuttududuChorus :Tuttuttu tuttududu
Male
Mazhai vandha podhuWhen the rain came,
Kudai ondru thandhuOffering an umbrella,
Manadhai nenaithavalae…hoo ooOh girl who drenched my heart... hoo oo
Iru paarvaigalumBoth our gazes,
Vaazha vaitha nan naal adhuIt was that good day that gave us life.
Female :Ilam kaadhalargalFemale :Young lovers
Serndhirukkum pon naal idhuToday is the golden day when they unite.
Female
Unnodu thaan kanaavilaeOnly with you, in my dreams,
Ninaivu mayangi nadanthenI walked around with my consciousness entranced.
Ninaivu mayangi nadanthenI walked around with my consciousness entranced.
Male
Kaalaiyilae dhinam naan vizhithuEveryday when I wake up in the morning,
Kaiyil kanden unnaiI saw you in my hands.
Female :Kaavalgalai dhinam thaandi vandhuFemale :Crossing all barriers every day,
Anbae thandhen ennaiMy love, I surrendered myself to you.
Male
Thelindha neeril nindrenI stood in clear water,
Unnai thaan adhil kandenAnd I saw only you reflected in it.
Female :Iravu yaavum meetiFemale :Playing through the night,
Ennai naanae anaithaenI embraced myself.
Male
Kangal thudithathuMy eyes quivered,
Kannam kothithathuMy cheeks burned.
Female :Adhai arindhaeFemale :Knowing that,
Kaadhalai thodarnthenI continued my love.
Female
Unnodu thaan kanaavilaeOnly with you, in my dreams,
Ninaivu mayangi nadanthenI walked around with my consciousness entranced.
Ninaivu mayangi nadanthenI walked around with my consciousness entranced.
Female
Nee nadantha thadam mel nadanthuWalking on the path where you walked,
Unnil ennai thandhenI gave myself to you.
Male :Kodaiyilum kulir vaadaiyilumMale :In the summer heat and the cold northern breeze,
Vandhen sendhaen thindraenI came and tasted the sweet honey.
Female
Viralgal theeyai koottumThe fingers kindle a fire,
Viragam kooda koosumEven longing feels shy.
Male :Kalaindha koondhal pesumMale :Your disheveled hair speaks,
Kannadaasan vaasamIt has the poetic fragrance of Kannadasan.
Female
Undhan kavarchi thaanIs it your allure
Mayakkam adikkuthaThat causes this dizziness?
Male :Idhu manmadha kaadhal dhesamMale :This is Cupid's land of love.
Male
Unnodu thaan kanaavilaeOnly with you, in my dreams,
Ninaivu mayangi nadanthenI walked around with my consciousness entranced.
Ninaivu mayangi nadanthenI walked around with my consciousness entranced.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Unnodu Thaan Kanaavilae from the 1998 Tamil film Kondattam is a passionate romantic duet that encapsulates the dreamlike trance of falling deeply in love. The protagonists express how their thoughts are consumed by each other, recalling moments of shared warmth—such as offering an umbrella in the rain—and the sweet torment of romantic yearning. The imagery transitions from gentle dreaminess to sensual devotion, describing how they see each other in clear reflections and walk along each other's footprints. Rich with literary references, the song celebrates the union of young lovers, metaphorically elevating their shared world into a realm governed by Cupid, where every touch and glance carries poetic fragrance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kangal thudithathu / Kannam kothithathu

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of adjacent words creates a rhythmic and melodic flow.

Metaphor

Kalaindha koondhal pesum / Kannadaasan vaasam

The fragrance or beauty of her disheveled hair is directly compared to the poetic essence and brilliance of the legendary Tamil lyricist Kannadasan.

Visual Imagery

Thelindha neeril nindren / Unnai thaan adhil kanden

Creates a vivid mental image of standing in crystal clear water and seeing the beloved's reflection, symbolizing purity and obsession.

Personification

Viralgal theeyai koottum / Viragam kooda koosum

Longing/desire (Viragam) is personified as being capable of feeling shy or intimidated by the intensity of their touch.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kondattam (1998) was directed by K. S. Ravikumar and starred Arjun Sarja and Simran in the lead roles. The film's music was composed by Maragathamani (M. M. Keeravani) with lyrics penned by Kalidasan.

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