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Lyrics & meaning

Engal Kudumbam

From Oru Kudumbathin Kathai · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chorus
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Oru Kudumbathin Kathai1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
……………….
Male
Engal kudumbam engumOur family is everywhere
Vilangum kaaviya poonjolaiA celebrated, epic flower garden
Naam paasam ennum noolilai konduWith the thread of our affection
Kattiya poomaalaiA flower garland tied together
Male
Engal kudumbam engumOur family is everywhere
Vilangum kaaviya poonjolaiA celebrated, epic flower garden
Naam paasam ennum noolilai konduWith the thread of our affection
Kattiya poomaalaiA flower garland tied together
Male
Oru kudumpathin kadhai idhuThis is the story of a family
Anbu karangalaal varainthathuDrawn by hands filled with love
Oru kudumpathin kadhai idhuThis is the story of a family
Anbu karangalaal varainthathuDrawn by hands filled with love
Male
Kaadu mlai medugalai kadanthapadiCrossing forests, mountains, and hillocks
Sellum pugaivandiMoves the steam train
Kodum paniyil varum vazhiyilAlong the path through harsh snow and cold
Kaikaatti nalla pondaattiThe good wife points the way like a guide signal
Male
Hae vaazhkkaiyae neenda payanamHey, life is a long journey
Thuninthu naam thodaranumWe must boldly press on
Male
Oru kudumpathin kadhai idhuThis is the story of a family
Anbu karangalaal varainthathuDrawn by hands filled with love
Male
Anbae amuthae azhagae arivaeOh love, divine nectar, beauty, wisdom!
Naan oru kelvi ketkattumaaMay I ask a question?
Chorus :Kelunga sirChorus: Ask away, sir!
Male :Manithanukku eththanai kangalMale: How many eyes does a human have?
Female :Irandu illai irupaththi iranduFemale: Not just two, but twenty-two!
Male :Eppadi sollu paarkkalaamMale: How so? Let us hear your answer!
Male :Unga kann irandu nagakkan irupathuMale: Your two eyes, plus twenty nail-eyes!
Male :Very very goodMale: Very very good!
Male
Pudhithaai therintha kural ondru solluRecite a newly popular proverb
Male :Naam iruvar namakku iruvarMale: We two, for us two!
Male
OhhoOh-ho!
Iniya kudumbam enbathu ennaWhat defines a sweet family?
Female :Irandukku mel eppothum vendaamFemale: Never more than two children!
Male :Illae illaeMale: No, no!
Male :Iniya kudumbam palkalai kazhagamMale: A sweet family is an entire university!
Male :Very very goodMale: Very very good!
Male
Oru kudumpathin kadhai idhuThis is the story of a family
Anbu karangalaal varainthathuDrawn by hands filled with love
Chorus
………………
Male
Thiru thirunnu karung kuranguLook at the black monkey blinking wildly
Muzhikkuthu paarLook at it staring wide-eyed!
Nammai pazhikkuthu paarLook at it mocking us!
Vaanaramum maanidanumMonkeys and human beings
Aadhiyilae oru aadhiyilaeIn the beginning, way back in ancient times...
Vilangu pol vaazhum manithanA man who lives like an animal,
Thirunthinaal devanaamIf he reforms, becomes a divine being!
Male
Intha kullanariyai polae ullavar yaaruWho is like this sly fox?
Male :Kooda irunthae kuzhi paripaaruMale: The one who stays close yet digs your pit!
Male :Intha ottagasivingiyin uyaram yaarukkuMale: Who possesses the tall height of a giraffe?
Ullaththaalae uyarntha perukkuThose who are noble at heart!
Male :Ohho hoMale: Oh-ho ho!
Intha yaanai vayiru yaarukku irukkuWho possesses the belly of an elephant?
Male :Alavukku melae thinbavarukkuMale: The one who eats beyond moderation!
Male
Engal kudumbam engumOur family is everywhere
Vilangum kaaviya poonjolaiA celebrated, epic flower garden
Naam paasam ennum noolilai konduWith the thread of our affection
Kattiya poomaalaiA flower garland tied together
Male
Oru kudumpathin kadhai idhuThis is the story of a family
Anbu karangalaal varainthathuDrawn by hands filled with love

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Oru Kudumbathin Kathai' is a joyful, thematic track celebrating family values, human virtues, and the bonds of love. It portrays a ideal family as an epic flower garden knit together by threads of deep affection, where life itself is a long train journey navigated courageously together by husband and wife.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naam paasam ennum noolilai kondu Kattiya poomaalai

Affection (paasam) is metaphorically equated to a thread (noolilai) that binds the family together like a flower garland.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Iniya kudumbam palkalai kazhagam

A happy family is directly compared to a university (palkalai kazhagam), emphasizing it as a place of constant learning and moral growth.

Simile (Upamai)

Intha kullanariyai polae ullavar yaaru

Comparing deceitful human behavior directly to a sly fox (kullanari) using the explicit comparison word 'polae'.

Rhyme / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Anbae amuthae azhagae arivae

Repetition of the initial letter 'A' across the words in the line for musical rhythm.

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Trivia

The song features lyrics by legendary poet Vaali set to music by the veteran composer duo Shankar-Ganesh. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's dynamic vocal performance elevates the interactive Q&A style of the song, mixing playful riddles about human nature, modern family planning slogans of the 1970s ('Naam iruvar namakku iruvar'), and traditional moral ideals.

Keep listening

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