Unnodu Naan Iruntha - Iruvar

Iruvar, loosely translated to 'Duo' in English, narrates critical periods of Tamilnadu's political history accounted around a friendship that became and later broke. It is based on the relationship between the late actor MG Ramachandran who became the most popular political leader and chief minister of Tamilnadu, and the writer/poet Karunanidhi who has been the chief minister of Tamilnadu often. Technically the film is more than just the lead pair; it is about an ensemble of brilliant people: Maniratnam's direction, Rahman's music, Vairamuthu's lyrics, Mohanlal's acting - one among a line of outstanding actors, Santosh Sivan's camera work. I remember watching it for the first time, loving it for everything. I must admit that the heavy set, literary Tamil spoken in sections of the film was above my head and I probably didn't understand quite a bit of the nuances. Though I was overall enthralled by the movie, I was hoping against hope that it would be a huge commercial success too. That it probably wasn't, but almost every person I've ever discussed this film with has described it with much respect. Oh well, it's one of those things. :-)

This song - more a recital than a song - is in the setting of a poet who is passionately in love within an extra marital affair. The rendition itself is by Arvind Swamy in a voice shaking with passion against a rising crescendo of Rahman's music. Maniratnam chooses an austere, single scene shot, and yet the setting is raw and sensuous. So much in two minutes.

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unnoadu naan irundha ovvoru maNi thuLiyum
maraNa padukkaiyilum maRakkaadhu kaNmaNiyae

every moment that i have spent with you, i will not forget even in my death bed

thonnooRu nimidangaL thottaNaitha kaalam dhaan
ennooRu aaNdugaLaai idhayathil kalangudhadi

the ninety minutes that we spent together, pounds around in my chest like it was eight hundred years

paarvaiyilae sila nimidam

the few minutes we spent gazing at each other

bayathoadu sila nimidam

the few minutes we spent in fear

katti aNaithabadi kaNNeeril sila nimidam

the few minutes we spent in tears, knowing that we were chained by mores

ilakkaNamae paaraamal
ella idangaLilum muththangaL vidhaitha moahathil sila nimidam

without concern for appropriateness, the few minutes we spent laying kisses all over each other

ilakkanam is grammar, and i've loosely translated it to appropriateness in context

unnoadu naan irundha ovvoru maNi thuLiyum
maraNa padukkaiyilum maRakkaadhu kaNmaNiyae

every moment that i have spent with you, i will not forget even in my death bed

edhu jnayam edhu bhaavam iruvarukkum thoandravillai

which is acceptable and which is our personal feeling, neither of us considered it

adhu irava adhu pagala adhai patri aRiyavillai

had the day dawned, had the night set, neither of us knew it

yaar thodanga? yaar mudikka? oru vazhiyum thoandravillai

who started this, who's going to end this. neither of us saw a way

iruvarumae thodangivittoam idhu varaikkum kaeLvi illai

we started it together, and now there exists no questions

acham kaLaindhaen aasaiyinai nee aNaithaay

my fear disappeared, when you ignited my lust

aadai kaLaindhaen vetkathai nee aNaithaay

your robes were shed, and your modesty disappeared

kaNda thirukoalam kanavaaga maRaindhaal

even if i recall that captivating face as nothing but a dream

kadaisiyil azhudha kaNNeer kaiyil innum ottudhadi

I will still feel that last tear you shed as a wetness on my palm

unnoadu naan irundha ovvoru maNi thuLiyum
maraNa padukkaiyilum maRakkaadhu kaNmaNiyae (2)

every moment that i have spent with you, i will not forget even in my death bed