Unnodu naan...

Unnodu naan iruntha ovoru manithuliyum
marana padukayilum marakaathu kanmaniyae
thonooru nimidangal thottanaitha kaalam thaan
yennoru aandukalaai ithayathil kanakuthadi

Paarvayilae sila nimidam
Bayathodu sila nimidam
Katti anaithapadi kaneeril sila nimidam
Ilakanamae paaraamal
ella idankalil muththangal vitheithu
mogatthil sila nimadam

Yethu niyayam yethu paavam iruvarukum thonravilai
Athu irava athu pagala athu pattri ariyailai
Yaar thodanga yaar mudika oru vazhiyum thonravilai
Iruvarumae thodanki vittom ithuvareikum kelvi ilai

Achcham kaleinthaen aasayinei nii anaitthaai
Aadai kaleinthaen vetkathei nii anainthaai
Kanda thirukolam kanavaga mareinthaalum
Kadeisiyilae azhutha kanneer kayil innum oduthadi

This was written by Kaviarasu Vairamuthu for my favourite Mani Ratnam movie, Iruvar. The poem was recited by Arvind Swamy. Thanks to his gruff voice (perhaps trying to mimic MK), I could not hear the lyrics properly the first time when I heard this. I was hooked to this poem after I read the lyrics.

The lyrics are erotic as this poem is played in the passage of movie after Thamizhchelvan and Senthamarai make love. Vairamuthu's wordings convey the desire and intimacy between the lovers in a sensual way without sounding vulgar. His reading doesn't make you uncomfortable - but when he finishes the poem with 'Kadaisiyilea azhudha kannir kaiyil innum odudhadi'- he does, momentarily, takes your breath away.

---

Udal Mannuku, Uyir Tamizhuku.

Vairamuthu does it again in Iruvar. If Tamil Nadu ever forms a Rugby team - Num Karupargal (Our Blacks, not All Blacks), we don't need to look anywhere for our Haka. It is right here...

Udal Mannuku Uyir Tamizhiku
Ithai urakka solvom ulagirku
Inam onraaga
Mozhi venraaga
Puthu velai edupom vidiviku
Nam Vetri pathaiyil Narigal vanthaal
Virunthu Vaipom vinniku

Pirantha pillai nadanthu pazhaga
Kaiyil velai kodupom
Pirantha pillai iranthu piranthal
Vaalal keeri puthaipom

Yutha sattham ketaal pothum
Mutha satham mudipom
Ratha kulathai nirappi nirappi
Vetri thaamarai paripom

Engal mannai thottavan kaalgal
Engal mannil uramaagum
Engal pennai thottavan kaigal
Engal Adupil viragaagum

Udal Mannuku Uyir Tamizhiku
Ithai urakka solvom Ulagirku
Inam onraaga
Mozhi venraaga
Puthu velai edupom vidiviku
Nam Vetri pathaiyil Narigal vanthaal
Virunthu Vaipom vinniku!