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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vannam Illamale Varaindhu

From Unakkaga Oru Roja · 1985

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
T. Rajendar
Details
Unakkaga Oru Roja1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vannam illaamalaeWithout any colors
Varainthu paaththaendi oviyamI tried drawing a painting, girl
Ennam uriyaamalaeWithout thoughts properly taking shape
Ezhuthi paarththaendi kaaviyamI tried writing an epic, girl
Male
Vannam illaamalaeWithout any colors
Varainthu paaththaendi oviyamI tried drawing a painting, girl
Ennam uriyaamalaeWithout thoughts properly taking shape
Ezhuthi paarththaendi kaaviyamI tried writing an epic, girl
Male
Naan Unna nenachchuThinking of you
Indru thanniyadichchaenToday I drank alcohol
Un ullam ariyaTo understand your heart
Manam venthu thavichchenMy heart burned and suffered
Male
Naan Unna nenachchuThinking of you
Indru thanniyadichchaenToday I drank alcohol
Un ullam ariyaTo understand your heart
Manam venthu thavichchenMy heart burned and suffered
Male
Enakku pudichcha pattu onnuA song that I cherished
Yaaro isaichchaanadiSomeone else played, girl
Idauam kavarntha roja unnaYou, the rose that captured my heart
Yaaro parichchaandiSomeone else plucked away, girl
Male
Sumaiyai nenaichchu imaiyai nanaichchaenThinking of the heavy burden, I wetted my eyelids
Eeram kaayaladiThe moisture hasn't dried yet, girl
Vithiyai nenachchu shruthiya potaenThinking of fate, I tuned my pitch
Idhayam aaraladiMy heart hasn't healed yet, girl
Male
Vannam illaamalaeWithout any colors
Varainthu paaththaendi oviyamI tried drawing a painting, girl
Ennam uriyaamalaeWithout thoughts properly taking shape
Ezhuthi paarththaendi kaaviyamI tried writing an epic, girl
Male
Minnal vaanil engae thondrumWhere lightning appears in the sky
Solla mudiyaathuCannot be predicted
Kadhal nenjil yaar mael thondrumUpon whom love blooms in the heart
Kanukka mudiyaathuCannot be calculated
Male
Mullu illaa thoondil pottaenI cast a fishing hook without a barb
Meenu maattaladiThe fish wasn't caught, girl
Noolu illaa aadai neithaenI wove a garment without thread
Aniya mudiyaladiIt cannot be worn, girl
Male
Vannam illaamalaeWithout any colors
Varainthu paaththaendi oviyamI tried drawing a painting, girl
Ennam uriyaamalaeWithout thoughts properly taking shape
Ezhuthi paarththaendi kaaviyamI tried writing an epic, girl
Male
Naan Unna nenachchuThinking of you
Indru thanniyadichchaenToday I drank alcohol
Un ullam ariyaTo understand your heart
Manam venthu thavichchenMy heart burned and suffered
Male
Naan Unna nenachchuThinking of you
Indru thanniyadichchaenToday I drank alcohol
Un ullam ariyaTo understand your heart
Manam venthu thavichchenMy heart burned and suffered

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful heartbreak song from the film 'Unakkaga Oru Roja' (1985) expresses the intense sorrow of unrequited love and grief over losing a beloved to another person. The protagonist turns to alcohol to cope with his burning heartbreak while reflecting on how his life and love ended up incomplete and tragic.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etukai (Second-letter rhyme)

Vannam illaamalae / Ennam uriyaamalae

The second consonant 'nna' rhymes between 'Vannam' and 'Ennam' across adjacent lines.

Moonaikku (Initial Alliteration)

Vannam illaamalae / Varainthu paaththaendi oviyam

Initial phonetic alliteration with the letter 'V' in 'Vannam' and 'Varainthu'.

Metaphor

Idauam kavarntha roja unna / Yaaro parichchaandi

Comparing the beloved woman to a captive rose that has been plucked by someone else.

Paradox

Mullu illaa thoondil pottaen / Noolu illaa aadai neithaen

Using impossible scenarios like fishing with a barbless hook or weaving clothes without thread to express the impossibility and hopelessness of his love.

Did you know?

Trivia

T. Rajendar wrote, composed, and directed 'Unakkaga Oru Roja' (1985). Renowned for his unique rhyming lyrical style, T. Rajendar utilized Malaysia Vasudevan's deep emotional rendition to make this song a quintessential heartbreak anthem of 1980s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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