Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Uravadum Nenjam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Dear Uncle

From Uravadum Nenjam · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Uravadum Nenjam
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
1 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hae… lalallala laa lalallala laa
Lallal lallal laa…
Lalallala laa lalallala laa
Lallal lallal laa…
Dear uncle we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy for mummy
One for you uncle
One for you uncle
Poop pondra ullangal
Dheivangalae
Come on carry on uncle
Poop pondra ullangal
Dheivangalae
Puyal yedhu idi yedhu
Pillai nenjilae
Arivugal valandhaalae sodhanaigal
Sila vedhanaigal oomai kaayangal
Idhu mullaiChorus :La
Male :Siru killaiChorus :La
Male :Naan pillai illaiyae
Chorus :Lalallaa
Nilai sollaChorus :La
Male :Adhai vellaChorus :La
Male :Naan kallum illaiyae
Chorus :Lalallaa
Male :Kallum illaiyae
Dear uncle we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy for mummy
One for you uncle
One for you uncle
Pournami vaanathil
Nilavillaiyae
Pagal neram vazhi kaatta
Kadhir illaiyae
Irandukkum iraivaa nee
Naal vaippadho
Indha meengalukkae
Naan yenna solluven
Oru medaiChorus :La
Male :Adhai moodiChorus :La
Male :Vilaiyaada cholgindraai
Chorus :Lalallaa
Naan oomaiChorus :La
Male :Mozhi illaiChorus :La
Male :Enai paada cholgindraai
Chorus :Lalallaa
Male :Paada cholgindraai
Dear uncle we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy for mummy
One for you uncle
One for you uncle
Laallaa laallaallaa….
Laallaa laallaallaa….
Hey... Lalallala la lalallala la
Lallal lallal la...
Lalallala la lalallala la
Lallal lallal la...
Dear uncle, we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy, for mummy
One for you, uncle
One for you, uncle
Hearts like flowers
are gods themselves!
Come on, carry on, uncle
Hearts like flowers
are gods themselves!
There is no storm or thunder
in a child's heart.
As understanding grows, trials begin,
bringing sorrows and silent wounds.
This is a jasmine flower (Chorus: La)
Male: A tiny parrot (Chorus: La)
Male: But I am no child!
Chorus: Lalalla
To describe my state (Chorus: La)
Male: And to overcome it (Chorus: La)
Male: I am not made of stone either!
Chorus: Lalalla
Male: Not made of stone either!
Dear uncle, we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy, for mummy
One for you, uncle
One for you, uncle
In the full moon sky,
there is no moon.
To guide the way by day,
there is no sunlight.
For both of them, O God,
do you set an appointed day?
To these innocent little fish,
what shall I say?
A stage (Chorus: La)
Male: You draw its curtains (Chorus: La)
Male: And tell me to act
Chorus: Lalalla
I am mute (Chorus: La)
Male: With no words (Chorus: La)
Male: Yet you ask me to sing
Chorus: Lalalla
Male: You ask me to sing!
Dear uncle, we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy, for mummy
One for you, uncle
One for you, uncle
Laalla laallalla...
Laalla laallalla...
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song contrasts child-like innocence and cheery English nursery rhymes with deep, poignant adult sorrow. It reflects on how children possess pure, flower-like hearts untouched by life's storms, whereas growing up brings unseen pain, silently suffered wounds, and confusing trials.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Poop pondra ullangal”

Compares innocent human hearts to tender, delicate flowers using 'pondra'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Sila vedhanaigal oomai kaayangal”

Refers to unspoken emotional distress and internal trauma as 'oomai kaayangal' (silent wounds).

Paradox / Irony

“Pournami vaanathil Nilavillaiyae”

Expresses total hopelessness and emotional darkness by describing a full moon sky that lacks a moon.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Uravadum Nenjam' (1976) features early music compositions by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyricist Kannadasan weaving simple English childhood rhymes alongside evocative Tamil poetry to highlight tragic subtext.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Sundari Siriya Rettai Vaal2002
Kannathil MuthamittalChildhoodFamily
Idhu Sangeetha Thirunalo1997
Kadhalukku MariyadhaiChildhoodInnocence
Chinnanchiru Kiliye Cover Song Lyrics – Shweta Mohan2013
Chinnanchiru Kiliye Cover SongChildhoodFamily
Nalla Perai1969
Nam NaaduChildhoodFamily
Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum1965
Kuzhandaiyum DeivamumInnocenceChildhood
Kannana Kanne1960
Anbukkor AnniChildhoodFamily

From the same album

More songs from Uravadum Nenjam

View album
Oru Naal1976
Uravadum NenjamRomantic
Nenachathellam Nadakkapora1976
Uravadum NenjamPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.