Dear Uncle
From Uravadum Nenjam · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Uravadum Nenjam1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Hae… lalallala laa lalallala laa | Hae… lalallala laa lalallala laa |
| Lallal lallal laa… | Lallal lallal laa… |
| Lalallala laa lalallala laa | Lalallala laa lalallala laa |
| Lallal lallal laa… | Lallal lallal laa… |
| Chorus | |
| Dear uncle we are happy | Dear uncle, we are happy |
| Dear mother is doing well | Dear mother is doing well |
| For daddy for mummy | For daddy, for mummy |
| One for you uncle | One for you, uncle |
| One for you uncle | One for you, uncle |
| Male | |
| Poop pondra ullangal | Hearts that are like delicate flowers |
| Dheivangalae | Oh divine beings |
| Chorus | |
| Come on carry on uncle | Come on, carry on, uncle |
| Male | |
| Poop pondra ullangal | Hearts that are like delicate flowers |
| Dheivangalae | Oh divine beings |
| Puyal yedhu idi yedhu | What storm or thunder can exist |
| Pillai nenjilae | In the heart of a child? |
| Arivugal valandhaalae sodhanaigal | As wisdom grows, trials and tribulations arise |
| Sila vedhanaigal oomai kaayangal | Some suffering becomes silent wounds |
| Male | |
| Idhu mullaiChorus :La | This jasmine branch... Chorus: La |
| Male :Siru killaiChorus :La | Male: A small twig... Chorus: La |
| Male :Naan pillai illaiyae | Male: Am I not a child? |
| Chorus :Lalallaa | Chorus: Lalallaa |
| Male | |
| Nilai sollaChorus :La | To describe the condition... Chorus: La |
| Male :Adhai vellaChorus :La | Male: To overcome it... Chorus: La |
| Male :Naan kallum illaiyae | Male: I am not made of stone either |
| Chorus :Lalallaa | Chorus: Lalallaa |
| Male :Kallum illaiyae | Male: I am not made of stone |
| Chorus | |
| Dear uncle we are happy | Dear uncle, we are happy |
| Dear mother is doing well | Dear mother is doing well |
| For daddy for mummy | For daddy, for mummy |
| One for you uncle | One for you, uncle |
| One for you uncle | One for you, uncle |
| Male | |
| Pournami vaanathil | In the full moon sky |
| Nilavillaiyae | There is no moon |
| Pagal neram vazhi kaatta | To guide the way during daytime |
| Kadhir illaiyae | There is no sun ray |
| Irandukkum iraivaa nee | Oh God, for both of these |
| Naal vaippadho | Do you appoint a specific day? |
| Indha meengalukkae | For these helpless fish |
| Naan yenna solluven | What shall I say? |
| Male | |
| Oru medaiChorus :La | A stage... Chorus: La |
| Male :Adhai moodiChorus :La | Male: Covering it up... Chorus: La |
| Male :Vilaiyaada cholgindraai | Male: You tell me to play |
| Chorus :Lalallaa | Chorus: Lalallaa |
| Male | |
| Naan oomaiChorus :La | I am mute... Chorus: La |
| Male :Mozhi illaiChorus :La | Male: Having no voice... Chorus: La |
| Male :Enai paada cholgindraai | Male: You ask me to sing |
| Chorus :Lalallaa | Chorus: Lalallaa |
| Male :Paada cholgindraai | Male: You ask me to sing |
| Chorus | |
| Dear uncle we are happy | Dear uncle, we are happy |
| Dear mother is doing well | Dear mother is doing well |
| For daddy for mummy | For daddy, for mummy |
| One for you uncle | One for you, uncle |
| One for you uncle | One for you, uncle |
| Laallaa laallaallaa…. | Laallaa laallaallaa…. |
| Laallaa laallaallaa…. | Laallaa laallaallaa…. |
ஹோ...லலலா லலலா
லல்லல்லா லலலா
லலலா லலலா
லல்லல்லா லலலா
Hae… lalallala laa lalallala laa
Lallal lallal laa…
Lalallala laa lalallala laa
Lallal lallal laa…
டியர் அங்கிள் வீ ஆர் ஹேப்பி
டியர் மாதர் இஸ் டூயிங் வெல்
பார் ...டாடி பார் ..மம்மி....
ஒன் பார் யூ அங்கிள்
ஒன் பார் யூ அங்கிள்....
Dear uncle, we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy, for mummy
One for you, uncle
One for you, uncle
பூப்போன்ற உள்ளங்கள்
தெய்வங்களே
குழு :
கம் ஆன்
கேரி ஆன் அங்கிள்.......
Hearts that are like delicate flowers
Oh divine beings
பூப் போன்ற உள்ளங்கள்
தெய்வங்களே
புயலேது இடி ஏது
பிள்ளை நெஞ்சிலே
அறிவுகள் வளர்ந்தாலே
சோதனைகள் சில வேதனைகள்
ஊமைக்காயங்கள்
Come on, carry on, uncle
இது முல்லை
குழு :
லா
சிறு கிள்ளை
குழு :
லா
நான் பிள்ளையில்லையே
குழு :
லல்லல்லா
Hearts that are like delicate flowers
Oh divine beings
What storm or thunder can exist
In the heart of a child?
As wisdom grows, trials and tribulations arise
Some suffering becomes silent wounds
நிலை சொல்ல
குழு :
லா
அதை வெல்ல
குழு :
லா
நான் கல்லும் இல்லையே......
குழு :
லா லா லல்லல்லா
கல்லும் இல்லையே......
This jasmine branch... Chorus: La
Male: A small twig... Chorus: La
Male: Am I not a child?
Chorus: Lalallaa
டியர் அங்கிள் வீ ஆர் ஹேப்பி
டியர் மாதர் இஸ் டூயிங் வெல்
பார் ...டாடி பார் ..மம்மி....
ஒன் பார் யூ அங்கிள்
ஒன் பார் யூ அங்கிள்....
To describe the condition... Chorus: La
Male: To overcome it... Chorus: La
Male: I am not made of stone either
Chorus: Lalallaa
Male: I am not made of stone
பௌர்ணமி வானத்தில்
நிலவில்லையே
பகல் நேரம் வழி கட்ட
கதிரில்லையே
Dear uncle, we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy, for mummy
One for you, uncle
One for you, uncle
இரண்டுக்கும் இறைவா
நீ நாள் வைத்ததோ
இந்த மீன்களுக்கே
நான் என்ன சொல்லுவேன்
In the full moon sky
There is no moon
To guide the way during daytime
There is no sun ray
Oh God, for both of these
Do you appoint a specific day?
For these helpless fish
What shall I say?
ஒரு மேடை
குழு :
லா
அதை மூடி
குழு :
லா
விளையாடச் சொல்கின்றாய்
குழு :
லல்லல்லா
A stage... Chorus: La
Male: Covering it up... Chorus: La
Male: You tell me to play
Chorus: Lalallaa
நான் ஊமை
குழு :
லா
மொழி இல்லை எனைப்
குழு :
லா
பாடச் சொல்கின்றாய்
குழு :
லல்லல்லா
பாடச் சொல்கின்றாய்....
குழு :
லா லா லல்லல்லா
I am mute... Chorus: La
Male: Having no voice... Chorus: La
Male: You ask me to sing
Chorus: Lalallaa
Male: You ask me to sing
டியர் அங்கிள் வீ ஆர் ஹேப்பி
டியர் மாதர் இஸ் டூயிங் வெல்
பார் ...டாடி பார் ..மம்மி....
ஒன் பார் யூ அங்கிள்
ஒன் பார் யூ அங்கிள்....
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….
Hae… lalallala laa lalallala laa
Hae… lalallala laa lalallala laa
Lallal lallal laa…
Lallal lallal laa…
Lalallala laa lalallala laa
Lalallala laa lalallala laa
Lallal lallal laa…
Lallal lallal laa…
Dear uncle we are happy
Dear uncle, we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy for mummy
For daddy, for mummy
One for you uncle
One for you, uncle
One for you uncle
One for you, uncle
Poop pondra ullangal
Hearts that are like delicate flowers
Dheivangalae
Oh divine beings
Come on carry on uncle
Come on, carry on, uncle
Poop pondra ullangal
Hearts that are like delicate flowers
Dheivangalae
Oh divine beings
Puyal yedhu idi yedhu
What storm or thunder can exist
Pillai nenjilae
In the heart of a child?
Arivugal valandhaalae sodhanaigal
As wisdom grows, trials and tribulations arise
Sila vedhanaigal oomai kaayangal
Some suffering becomes silent wounds
Idhu mullaiChorus :La
This jasmine branch... Chorus: La
Male :Siru killaiChorus :La
Male: A small twig... Chorus: La
Male :Naan pillai illaiyae
Male: Am I not a child?
Chorus :Lalallaa
Chorus: Lalallaa
Nilai sollaChorus :La
To describe the condition... Chorus: La
Male :Adhai vellaChorus :La
Male: To overcome it... Chorus: La
Male :Naan kallum illaiyae
Male: I am not made of stone either
Chorus :Lalallaa
Chorus: Lalallaa
Male :Kallum illaiyae
Male: I am not made of stone
Dear uncle we are happy
Dear uncle, we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy for mummy
For daddy, for mummy
One for you uncle
One for you, uncle
One for you uncle
One for you, uncle
Pournami vaanathil
In the full moon sky
Nilavillaiyae
There is no moon
Pagal neram vazhi kaatta
To guide the way during daytime
Kadhir illaiyae
There is no sun ray
Irandukkum iraivaa nee
Oh God, for both of these
Naal vaippadho
Do you appoint a specific day?
Indha meengalukkae
For these helpless fish
Naan yenna solluven
What shall I say?
Oru medaiChorus :La
A stage... Chorus: La
Male :Adhai moodiChorus :La
Male: Covering it up... Chorus: La
Male :Vilaiyaada cholgindraai
Male: You tell me to play
Chorus :Lalallaa
Chorus: Lalallaa
Naan oomaiChorus :La
I am mute... Chorus: La
Male :Mozhi illaiChorus :La
Male: Having no voice... Chorus: La
Male :Enai paada cholgindraai
Male: You ask me to sing
Chorus :Lalallaa
Chorus: Lalallaa
Male :Paada cholgindraai
Male: You ask me to sing
Dear uncle we are happy
Dear uncle, we are happy
Dear mother is doing well
Dear mother is doing well
For daddy for mummy
For daddy, for mummy
One for you uncle
One for you, uncle
One for you uncle
One for you, uncle
Laallaa laallaallaa….
Laallaa laallaallaa….
Laallaa laallaallaa….
Laallaa laallaallaa….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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