Aadhi Enbathu Thottilile
From Veedu Varai Uravu · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Veedu Varai Uravu1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aadhi enbathu thottililae | The beginning is in the cradle |
| Varum antham enbathu kattililae | The ultimate end is on the funeral bed |
| Aadhi enbathu thottililae | The beginning is in the cradle |
| Varum antham enbathu kattililae | The ultimate end is on the funeral bed |
| Male | |
| Needhi enbathu manithanidam | Justice lies within human hands |
| Needhi enbathu manithanidam | Justice lies within human hands |
| Avan nirkkum idamo iraivanidam | But the place where man stands is before God |
| Nirkkum idamo iraivanidam.. | The place where he stands is before God.. |
| Male | |
| Aadhi enbathu thottililae | The beginning is in the cradle |
| Varum antham enbathu kattililae | The ultimate end is on the funeral bed |
| Male | |
| Aththai maman kanavugalum | The dreams of aunts and uncles |
| Udan annan thambi uravugalum | The bonds with siblings born together |
| Aththai maman kanavugalum | The dreams of aunts and uncles |
| Udan annan thambi uravugalum | The bonds with siblings born together |
| Soththu kidaiththaal varuvathundu | They show up when wealth is gained |
| Adhu vattrum pozhuthu maraivathundu | They vanish when that wealth dries up |
| Vattrum pozhuthu maraivathundu | They vanish when wealth dries up |
| Male | |
| Aadhi enbathu thottililae | The beginning is in the cradle |
| Varum antham enbathu kattililae | The ultimate end is on the funeral bed |
| Male | |
| Pantha janangal parivaaram | Kith, kin, and large entourage |
| Perum padhavi mogam adhigaaram | The obsession with high status and authority |
| Pantha janangal parivaaram | Kith, kin, and large entourage |
| Perum padhavi mogam adhigaaram | The obsession with high status and authority |
| Male | |
| Intha ulagin alangolam | Are all gaudy trappings of this mortal world |
| Idhil entha uravum sila kaalam | In this, every relationship lasts only a short while |
| Entha uravum sila kaalam | Every relationship lasts only a short while |
| Male | |
| Aadhi enbathu thottililae | The beginning is in the cradle |
| Varum antham enbathu kattililae | The ultimate end is on the funeral bed |
| Male | |
| Vellikkizhamai varumendru | Awaiting the arrival of a hopeful Friday |
| Oru thingal kizhamai vilakkettri | Lighting the lamp as early as Monday |
| Vellikkizhamai varumendru | Awaiting the arrival of a hopeful Friday |
| Oru thingal kizhamai vilakkettri | Lighting the lamp as early as Monday |
| Male | |
| Kannai vizhiththu kaaththathammaa dhinam | She kept her eyes wide open and waited every day |
| Ennei vidaththaan maranthathammaa | Yet she forgot to pour the oil to keep it burning |
| Ennei vidaththaan maranthathammaa | Yet she forgot to pour the oil to keep it burning |
| Male | |
| Aadhi enbathu thottililae | The beginning is in the cradle |
| Varum antham enbathu kattililae | The ultimate end is on the funeral bed |
| Male | |
| Needhi enbathu manithanidam | Justice lies within human hands |
| Avan nirkkum idamo iraiva | But the place where man stands is before God |
ஆதி என்பது தொட்டிலிலே
வரும் அந்தம் என்பது கட்டிலிலே
ஆதி என்பது தொட்டிலிலே
வரும் அந்தம் என்பது கட்டிலிலே
The beginning is in the cradle
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
The beginning is in the cradle
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
நீதி என்பது மனிதனிடம்
நீதி என்பது மனிதனிடம்
அவன் நிற்கும் இடமோ இறைவனிடம்
நிற்கும் இடமோ இறைவனிடம்....
Justice lies within human hands
Justice lies within human hands
But the place where man stands is before God
The place where he stands is before God..
ஆதி என்பது தொட்டிலிலே
வரும் அந்தம் என்பது கட்டிலிலே
The beginning is in the cradle
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
அத்தை மாமன் கனவுகளும்
உடன் அண்ணன் தம்பி உறவுகளும்
அத்தை மாமன் கனவுகளும்
உடன் அண்ணன் தம்பி உறவுகளும்
சொத்து கிடைத்தால் வருவதுண்டு
அது வற்றும் பொழுது மறைவதுண்டு
வற்றும் பொழுது மறைவதுண்டு...
The dreams of aunts and uncles
The bonds with siblings born together
The dreams of aunts and uncles
The bonds with siblings born together
They show up when wealth is gained
They vanish when that wealth dries up
They vanish when wealth dries up
ஆதி என்பது தொட்டிலிலே
வரும் அந்தம் என்பது கட்டிலிலே
The beginning is in the cradle
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
பந்த ஜனங்கள் பரிவாரம்
பெரும் பதவி மோகம் அதிகாரம்
பந்த ஜனங்கள் பரிவாரம்
பெரும் பதவி மோகம் அதிகாரம்
Kith, kin, and large entourage
The obsession with high status and authority
Kith, kin, and large entourage
The obsession with high status and authority
இந்த உலகின் அலங்கோலம்
இதில் எந்த உறவும் சில காலம்
எந்த உறவும் சில காலம்.....
Are all gaudy trappings of this mortal world
In this, every relationship lasts only a short while
Every relationship lasts only a short while
ஆதி என்பது தொட்டிலிலே
வரும் அந்தம் என்பது கட்டிலிலே
The beginning is in the cradle
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
வெள்ளிக்கிழமை வருமென்று
ஒரு திங்கள் கிழமை விளக்கேற்றி
வெள்ளிக்கிழமை வருமென்று
ஒரு திங்கள் கிழமை விளக்கேற்றி
Awaiting the arrival of a hopeful Friday
Lighting the lamp as early as Monday
Awaiting the arrival of a hopeful Friday
Lighting the lamp as early as Monday
கண்ணை விழித்து காத்ததம்மா தினம்
எண்ணெய் விடத்தான் மறந்ததம்மா
எண்ணெய் விடத்தான் மறந்ததம்மா....
She kept her eyes wide open and waited every day
Yet she forgot to pour the oil to keep it burning
Yet she forgot to pour the oil to keep it burning
ஆதி என்பது தொட்டிலிலே
வரும் அந்தம் என்பது கட்டிலிலே
The beginning is in the cradle
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
நீதி என்பது மனிதனிடம்
அவன் நிற்கும் இடமோ இறைவனிடம்
Justice lies within human hands
But the place where man stands is before God
Aadhi enbathu thottililae
The beginning is in the cradle
Varum antham enbathu kattililae
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
Aadhi enbathu thottililae
The beginning is in the cradle
Varum antham enbathu kattililae
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
Needhi enbathu manithanidam
Justice lies within human hands
Needhi enbathu manithanidam
Justice lies within human hands
Avan nirkkum idamo iraivanidam
But the place where man stands is before God
Nirkkum idamo iraivanidam..
The place where he stands is before God..
Aadhi enbathu thottililae
The beginning is in the cradle
Varum antham enbathu kattililae
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
Aththai maman kanavugalum
The dreams of aunts and uncles
Udan annan thambi uravugalum
The bonds with siblings born together
Aththai maman kanavugalum
The dreams of aunts and uncles
Udan annan thambi uravugalum
The bonds with siblings born together
Soththu kidaiththaal varuvathundu
They show up when wealth is gained
Adhu vattrum pozhuthu maraivathundu
They vanish when that wealth dries up
Vattrum pozhuthu maraivathundu
They vanish when wealth dries up
Aadhi enbathu thottililae
The beginning is in the cradle
Varum antham enbathu kattililae
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
Pantha janangal parivaaram
Kith, kin, and large entourage
Perum padhavi mogam adhigaaram
The obsession with high status and authority
Pantha janangal parivaaram
Kith, kin, and large entourage
Perum padhavi mogam adhigaaram
The obsession with high status and authority
Intha ulagin alangolam
Are all gaudy trappings of this mortal world
Idhil entha uravum sila kaalam
In this, every relationship lasts only a short while
Entha uravum sila kaalam
Every relationship lasts only a short while
Aadhi enbathu thottililae
The beginning is in the cradle
Varum antham enbathu kattililae
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
Vellikkizhamai varumendru
Awaiting the arrival of a hopeful Friday
Oru thingal kizhamai vilakkettri
Lighting the lamp as early as Monday
Vellikkizhamai varumendru
Awaiting the arrival of a hopeful Friday
Oru thingal kizhamai vilakkettri
Lighting the lamp as early as Monday
Kannai vizhiththu kaaththathammaa dhinam
She kept her eyes wide open and waited every day
Ennei vidaththaan maranthathammaa
Yet she forgot to pour the oil to keep it burning
Ennei vidaththaan maranthathammaa
Yet she forgot to pour the oil to keep it burning
Aadhi enbathu thottililae
The beginning is in the cradle
Varum antham enbathu kattililae
The ultimate end is on the funeral bed
Needhi enbathu manithanidam
Justice lies within human hands
Avan nirkkum idamo iraiva
But the place where man stands is before God
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic philosophical song composed by M. S. Viswanathan and penned by Kaviarasar Kannadasan explores the impermanence of human life, earthly ties, and material pursuits. The opening lines establish the fundamental truth that life begins in a cradle and inevitably ends on a bier, emphasizing that while humans try to administer justice, ultimate accountability and destiny rest solely with God.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Muran)
“Aadhi enbathu thottililae / Varum antham enbathu kattililae”
Contrasting 'Aadhi' (beginning/birth) with 'Antham' (end/death), as well as 'Thottil' (cradle) with 'Kattil' (funeral bed) to highlight life's brevity.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Aadhi enbathu thottililae ... Needhi enbathu manithanidam”
The second consonant sound 'dhi' matches between 'Aadhi' and 'Needhi'.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Kannai vizhiththu kaaththathammaa dhinam / Ennei vidaththaan maranthathammaa”
Using the lighting of a lamp and forgetting the oil as a metaphor for devotion or effort without fundamental sustaining elements.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary poet Kannadasan, this song is widely remembered for K. J. Yesudas's deeply soulful vocal delivery and MSV's minimalist orchestration that highlights the deep philosophical weight of the lyrics.
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