Adi Ennadi Ulagam
From Aval Oru Thodarkathai · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Aval Oru Thodarkathai1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Adi ennadi ulagam | Hey girl, what kind of world is this? |
| Ithil ethanai kalagam | How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it? |
| Adi ennadi ulagam | Hey girl, what kind of world is this? |
| Ithil ethanai kalagam | How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it? |
| Female | |
| {Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai | Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web, |
| Paasam enbadhu perum kavalai | Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry, |
| Sondham enbadhu sandhayadi | Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace, |
| Ithil sutram enbadhu mandhayadi} (2) | And extended family here is like a herd of cattle! |
| Female | |
| Adi ennadi ulagam | Hey girl, what kind of world is this? |
| Ithil ethanai kalagam | How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it? |
| Female | |
| {Sekku meedhu yerikondaal | If you climb on an oil-press mill wheel, |
| Singapooru pogumaa | Will it take you all the way to Singapore? |
| Serndhavarkae paadupattal | If a woman toils only for those around her, |
| Pennin thevai theeruma} (2) | Will her own needs ever be fulfilled? |
| Female | |
| Kokkai paarthu katrukkollu | Look at the crane and learn, |
| Vaazhkai enna enbadhai | What life truly is about; |
| Kothum podhu kothi kondu | Strike and catch when it is time to peck, |
| Poga vendum nalladhai | And fly away taking only what is good. |
| Fadafat | Fadafat (Chop-chop / Quickly)! |
| Female | |
| Adi ennadi ulagam | Hey girl, what kind of world is this? |
| Ithil ethanai kalagam | How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it? |
| Female | |
| Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai | Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web, |
| Paasam enbadhu perum kavalai | Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry, |
| Sondham enbadhu sandhayadi | Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace, |
| Ithil sutram enbadhu mandhayadi | And extended family here is like a herd of cattle! |
| Female | |
| {Kodu pottu nirka sonnan | He drew a line and asked her to stay within, |
| Seedhai nirka villayae | But Sita did not stay put; |
| Seedhai angu nindrirundhaal | Had Sita remained standing inside, |
| Raaman kadhai illayae} (2) | There would be no epic story of Rama! |
| Female | |
| Kodu vattam enbadhellam | Lines and circular boundaries, |
| Kadavul potadhalladi | Were not drawn by God, my dear! |
| Kollumbodhu kollu | Enjoy life when it is time to enjoy, |
| Thaandi sellumbodhu selladi | And cross boundaries when it is time to move ahead! |
| Fadafat | Fadafat (Chop-chop / Quickly)! |
| Female | |
| Adi ennadi ulagam | Hey girl, what kind of world is this? |
| Ithil ethanai kalagam | How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it? |
| Female | |
| Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa | Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa |
| Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa | Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa |
| Laaa.. lalalaaaa…. | Laaa.. lalalaaaa…. |
| Female | |
| {Kaadhal bodhai enbathellam | The intoxication of love |
| Kaamadevan kattalai | Is the command of Lord Kamadeva; |
| Kaamadevan kattalaiku | To Kamadeva's royal decree, |
| Kaadhalargal muthirai} (2) | Lovers are merely the sealing stamp. |
| Female | |
| Pangunikku pinbu enna | What comes right after the month of Panguni? |
| Aiyamindru chithirai | Without a doubt, it is the month of Chithirai! |
| Paarpathellam paarka vendum | You must experience everything there is to see, |
| Pazhamai verum kannthirai | Old traditions are merely a veil over the eyes. |
| Female | |
| Adi ennadi ulagam | Hey girl, what kind of world is this? |
| Ithil ethanai kalagam | How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it? |
| Female | |
| {Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai | Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web, |
| Paasam enbadhu perum kavalai | Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry, |
| Sondham enbadhu sandhayadi | Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace, |
| Ithil sutram enbadhu mandhayadi} (2) | And extended family here is like a herd of cattle! |
| Female | |
| Adi ennadi ulagam | Hey girl, what kind of world is this? |
| Ithil ethanai kalagam | How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it? |
அடி என்னடி உலகம்
இதில் எத்தனை கலகம்
அடி என்னடி உலகம்
இதில் எத்தனை கலகம்
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
{பந்தம் என்பது சிலந்தி வலை
பாசம் என்பது பெரும் கவலை
சொந்தம் என்பது சந்தையடி
இதில் சுற்றம் என்பது மந்தையடி} (2)
Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web,
Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry,
Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace,
And extended family here is like a herd of cattle!
அடி என்னடி உலகம்
இதில் எத்தனை கலகம்
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
{செக்கு மீது ஏரிகொண்டால்
சிங்கபூரு போகுமா
சேர்ந்தவர்க்கே பாடுபட்டால்
பெண்ணின் தேவை தீருமா} (2)
If you climb on an oil-press mill wheel,
Will it take you all the way to Singapore?
If a woman toils only for those around her,
Will her own needs ever be fulfilled?
கொக்கைப்பார்த்து கற்றுகொள்ளு
வாழ்க்கை என்ன என்பதை
கொத்தும் போது கொத்தி கொண்டு
போக வேண்டும் நல்லதை
படாஃபட்
Look at the crane and learn,
What life truly is about;
Strike and catch when it is time to peck,
And fly away taking only what is good.
Fadafat (Chop-chop / Quickly)!
அடி என்னடி உலகம்
இதில் எத்தனை கலகம்
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
பந்தம் என்பது சிலந்தி வலை
பாசம் என்பது பெரும் கவலை
சொந்தம் என்பது சந்தையடி
இதில் சுற்றம் என்பது மந்தையடி
Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web,
Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry,
Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace,
And extended family here is like a herd of cattle!
{கோடு போட்டு நிற்க சொன்னான்
சீதை நிற்க வில்லையே
சீதை அங்கு நின்றிருந்தால்
ராமன் கதை இல்லையே} (2)
He drew a line and asked her to stay within,
But Sita did not stay put;
Had Sita remained standing inside,
There would be no epic story of Rama!
கோடு வட்டம் என்பதெல்லாம்
கடவுள் போட்டதல்லடி
கொல்லும் போது கொல்லு
தாண்டி செல்லும்போது செல்லடி
படாஃபட்
Lines and circular boundaries,
Were not drawn by God, my dear!
Enjoy life when it is time to enjoy,
And cross boundaries when it is time to move ahead!
Fadafat (Chop-chop / Quickly)!
அடி என்னடி உலகம்
இதில் எத்தனை கலகம்
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
ஆ.... லலல... லலா
ஆ.... லலல... லலா
லா....லலலா...
Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa
Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa
Laaa.. lalalaaaa….
{காதல் போதை என்பதெல்லாம்
காமதேவன் கட்டளை
காமதேவன் கட்டளைக்கு
காதலர்கள் முத்திரை} (2)
The intoxication of love
Is the command of Lord Kamadeva;
To Kamadeva's royal decree,
Lovers are merely the sealing stamp.
பங்குனிக்கு பின்பு என்ன
ஐயமின்று சித்திரை
பார்ப்பதெல்லாம் பார்க்க வேண்டும்
பழமை வெறும் கண்திரை
படாஃபட்
What comes right after the month of Panguni?
Without a doubt, it is the month of Chithirai!
You must experience everything there is to see,
Old traditions are merely a veil over the eyes.
அடி என்னடி உலகம்
இதில் எத்தனை கலகம்
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
{பந்தம் என்பது சிலந்தி வலை
பாசம் என்பது பெரும் கவலை
சொந்தம் என்பது சந்தையடி
இதில் சுற்றம் என்பது மந்தையடி} (2)
Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web,
Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry,
Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace,
And extended family here is like a herd of cattle!
அடி என்னடி உலகம்
இதில் எத்தனை கலகம்
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
Adi ennadi ulagam
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
Ithil ethanai kalagam
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
Adi ennadi ulagam
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
Ithil ethanai kalagam
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
{Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai
Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web,
Paasam enbadhu perum kavalai
Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry,
Sondham enbadhu sandhayadi
Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace,
Ithil sutram enbadhu mandhayadi} (2)
And extended family here is like a herd of cattle!
Adi ennadi ulagam
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
Ithil ethanai kalagam
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
{Sekku meedhu yerikondaal
If you climb on an oil-press mill wheel,
Singapooru pogumaa
Will it take you all the way to Singapore?
Serndhavarkae paadupattal
If a woman toils only for those around her,
Pennin thevai theeruma} (2)
Will her own needs ever be fulfilled?
Kokkai paarthu katrukkollu
Look at the crane and learn,
Vaazhkai enna enbadhai
What life truly is about;
Kothum podhu kothi kondu
Strike and catch when it is time to peck,
Poga vendum nalladhai
And fly away taking only what is good.
Fadafat
Fadafat (Chop-chop / Quickly)!
Adi ennadi ulagam
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
Ithil ethanai kalagam
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai
Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web,
Paasam enbadhu perum kavalai
Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry,
Sondham enbadhu sandhayadi
Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace,
Ithil sutram enbadhu mandhayadi
And extended family here is like a herd of cattle!
{Kodu pottu nirka sonnan
He drew a line and asked her to stay within,
Seedhai nirka villayae
But Sita did not stay put;
Seedhai angu nindrirundhaal
Had Sita remained standing inside,
Raaman kadhai illayae} (2)
There would be no epic story of Rama!
Kodu vattam enbadhellam
Lines and circular boundaries,
Kadavul potadhalladi
Were not drawn by God, my dear!
Kollumbodhu kollu
Enjoy life when it is time to enjoy,
Thaandi sellumbodhu selladi
And cross boundaries when it is time to move ahead!
Fadafat
Fadafat (Chop-chop / Quickly)!
Adi ennadi ulagam
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
Ithil ethanai kalagam
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa
Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa
Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa
Aaaa… lalala…lalaaa
Laaa.. lalalaaaa….
Laaa.. lalalaaaa….
{Kaadhal bodhai enbathellam
The intoxication of love
Kaamadevan kattalai
Is the command of Lord Kamadeva;
Kaamadevan kattalaiku
To Kamadeva's royal decree,
Kaadhalargal muthirai} (2)
Lovers are merely the sealing stamp.
Pangunikku pinbu enna
What comes right after the month of Panguni?
Aiyamindru chithirai
Without a doubt, it is the month of Chithirai!
Paarpathellam paarka vendum
You must experience everything there is to see,
Pazhamai verum kannthirai
Old traditions are merely a veil over the eyes.
Adi ennadi ulagam
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
Ithil ethanai kalagam
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
{Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai
Bonding/Relationships are like a spider's web,
Paasam enbadhu perum kavalai
Affection/Attachment is a great cause of worry,
Sondham enbadhu sandhayadi
Kinship/Relatives are like a noisy marketplace,
Ithil sutram enbadhu mandhayadi} (2)
And extended family here is like a herd of cattle!
Adi ennadi ulagam
Hey girl, what kind of world is this?
Ithil ethanai kalagam
How many conflicts and turmoils exist in it?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Adi Ennadi Ulagam is a philosophical, iconoclastic, and rebellious song from K. Balachander's 1974 classic 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai'. Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan and composed by M. S. Viswanathan (sung by L. R. Eswari), the song serves as a spirited critique of societal hypocrisy, stifling familial expectations, and rigid traditions imposed upon women. Kannadasan compares attachments to a spider's web and relatives to a noisy market or mindless herd, advocating for self-actualization and independence over sacrifice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagathukkal)
“Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai”
Compares human relationships to a spider's web (silandhi valai) and relatives to a marketplace (sandhayadi), highlighting how emotional ties entangle and overwhelm an individual.
Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippeedhu)
“Seedhai angu nindrirundhaal Raaman kadhai illayae”
References Sita crossing the Lakshman Rekha to argue that breaking arbitrary boundaries creates progress and legendary stories rather than passive submission.
Ethirukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Bandham enbadhu silandhi valai / Sondham enbadhu sandhayadi”
Uses matching second-letter consonants across lines to maintain rhythmic flow ('Sekku' / 'Serndhavarkae' and 'Bandham' / 'Sondham').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered with fiery energy by L. R. Eswari. The recurring catchphrase 'Fadafat' in the lyrics became so immensely popular that actress Jayalakshmi, who performed in the movie, was forever nicknamed 'Fatafat Jayalakshmi' in South Indian cinema.
Keep listening
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