Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Oorum Uravum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ada Ethaiyo Nenachen

From Oorum Uravum · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Oorum Uravum
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
7 Jun 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ada edhaiyo nenaichchaen
Edhukko sirichchaen sonnaa puriyaathu
Ada engae sorkkam engae naragam
Evanukkum theriyaathu
Ada edhaiyo nenaichchaen
Edhukko sirichchaen sonnaa puriyaathu
Ada engae sorkkam engae naragam
Evanukkum theriyaathu
Entha oorum uravaanaal
Adhu sorkkam aagaatho
Antha oorae pagaiyaanaal
Adhu naragam aagaatho….
Ada edhaiyo nenaichchaen
Edhukko sirichchaen sonnaa puriyaathu
Ada engae sorkkam engae naragam
Evanukkum theriyaathu
Purushan thedum sorkkamthaan konda
Pondaatti podavaiyilae
Idhupol ennum varkkamthaan
Ingu irukkuthu bhoomiyilae
Purushan thedum sorkkamthaan konda
Pondaatti podavaiyilae
Idhupol ennum varkkamthaan
Ingu irukkuthu bhoomiyilae
Padichchaalum puththi kettaan
Peththeduththa thaayai vittaan
Ivanellaam manushan illa
Podaa muttaalae hae….aahaah
Neeyellaam manushan illa
Poppaa arivaali
Ada edhaiyo nenaichchaen
Edhukko sirichchaen sonnaa puriyaathu
Ada engae sorkkam engae naragam
Evanukkum theriyaathu
Entha oorum uravaanaal
Adhu sorkkam aagaatho
Antha oorae pagaiyaanaal
Adhu naragam aagaatho….
: Vaaiyaa en maappillae vandiyilae yaerikki
Un veettil irukkira sorkkaththa paaththukka
Vaaiyaa en maappillae vandiyilae yaerikki
Un veettil irukkira sorkkaththa paaththukka
Thangachchi thavikkiraa kanneera vadikkiraa
Thanneera pirinjittaa meenaattam thudikkiraa
Ada makkaa intha maaman sonnaa kekkanum
Iva mugaththa anbu manaththa neeyum paakkanum
Ooraar koodi valarththa maram
En ullaththil velanja maram
Oorai thaedi endru varum
Antha naalae sorkkam varum
Ooraar koodi valarththa maram
En ullaththil velanja maram
Oorai thaedi endru varum
Antha naalae sorkkam varum
Ada edhaiyo nenaichchaen
Edhukko sirichchaen sonnaa puriyaathu
Yaarukkum sonnaa puriyaathu
Yaarukkum sonnaa puriyaathu…..
Ah, I thought of something,
I laughed for some reason; you wouldn't understand if I told you.
Ah, where is heaven and where is hell?
Nobody really knows...
Ah, I thought of something,
I laughed for some reason; you wouldn't understand if I told you.
Ah, where is heaven and where is hell?
Nobody really knows...
If a whole town becomes your family,
wouldn't that turn into heaven?
If that very town becomes your enemy,
wouldn't that turn into hell?
Ah, I thought of something,
I laughed for some reason; you wouldn't understand if I told you.
Ah, where is heaven and where is hell?
Nobody really knows...
The only heaven a husband seeks
is inside his wife's saree.
A breed of people who think like this
lives right here on this earth.
The only heaven a husband seeks
is inside his wife's saree.
A breed of people who think like this
lives right here on this earth.
Though educated, he lost his sense;
he abandoned the mother who gave birth to him.
Someone like him is not even human,
get lost, you fool! Hey... ah hah...
You are not a real human at all,
go away, mr. wise guy!
Ah, I thought of something,
I laughed for some reason; you wouldn't understand if I told you.
Ah, where is heaven and where is hell?
Nobody really knows...
If a whole town becomes your family,
wouldn't that turn into heaven?
If that very town becomes your enemy,
wouldn't that turn into hell?
Come along, my brother-in-law, climb onto the cart,
and go look after the heaven waiting in your home.
Come along, my brother-in-law, climb onto the cart,
and go look after the heaven waiting in your home.
My sister is in distress, shedding tears,
she is writhing like a fish out of water.
Hey man, you must listen to what this uncle says,
you should look at her face and see her loving heart.
The tree that the whole village nurtured together,
the tree that grew inside my heart,
when will it return searching for its village?
Only on that day will heaven arrive.
The tree that the whole village nurtured together,
the tree that grew inside my heart,
when will it return searching for its village?
Only on that day will heaven arrive.
Ah, I thought of something,
I cried for some reason; you wouldn't understand if I told you.
Nobody would understand if I told them,
nobody would understand...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Oorum Uravum' explores philosophical themes about human relationships, social morality, and the true meaning of heaven and hell. The speaker reflects on how heaven and hell are not distant otherworldly places, but states of living defined by love, unity, and moral rectitude in one's native town and family. A town that embraces a person with love creates heaven, whereas hostility transforms the same place into hell. The lyrics critique selfish individuals who forget their duty toward their mothers and family while chasing superficial happiness, reminding the listener that true heaven lies in compassion, fulfilling familial duties, and cherishing those who love you.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Thanneera pirinjittaa meenaattam thudikkiraa”

Compares the sister's emotional distress when away from home/family to a fish squirming out of water ('Thanneera pirinjittaa meenaattam thudikkiraa').

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Ooraar koodi valarththa maram”

Metaphorically describes human relationships and upbringing as a tree nurtured collectively by the village and inside the heart ('Ooraar koodi valarththa maram / En ullaththil velanja maram').

Antithesis (Muran)

“Ada engae sorkkam engae naragam”

Contrasts 'Sorkkam' (heaven) and 'Naragam' (hell), as well as 'Uravu' (kinship) and 'Pagai' (enmity) to highlight moral duality.

Rhyme (Edhukai / Monai)

“Padichchaalum puththi kettaan / Peththeduththa thaayai vittaan”

Uses initial and second-letter rhyming across lines such as 'Thangachchi' / 'Thanneera' and 'Padichchaalum' / 'Peththeduththa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Oorum Uravum' (1982) stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, focusing on village relationships and socio-familial ethics. Lyricist Vaali masterfully encapsulates rural wisdom through philosophical yet conversational folk-style Tamil.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Vaazhga Rani1983
Adutha VarisuContemplativeWarm
Sangeetham En Nimmadhi1987
IlangeswaranIdentityEstablished
Ada Veettukku Veettukku1990
Kizhakku VasalVillage LifeFamily
Poovukkenna Poottu1995
BombayIdentityEstablished
Kannanin Sannathiyil (Duet)1976
Oru Kodiyil Iru MalargalFamilyConversational
Kanni Tamilnadu1956
Pennin PerumaiIdentityFamily

From the same album

More songs from Oorum Uravum

View album
Kanni Pen Kannukkulle1982
Oorum UravumPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.