Happy – Naalu Kazhudha
From 36 Vayadhinile · 2015
- Lyricist
- Vivek
- Singer
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Details
- 36 Vayadhinile2015
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naalu kazhudha vayasana | Just because you're as old as four donkeys, |
| Elamae pocha | Is youth completely gone? |
| Naapathoda unn vaazhkkai | Is your life at age forty, |
| Oodatha watch ah | Like a watch that stopped ticking? |
| Male | |
| Naalu peru madhicha taan | Only if four people respect you, |
| Sandhosam aacha | Does that count as happiness? |
| Naam thaan nu nenacha | If you believe in who you are, |
| Ne unnoda raja | You are the king of your own world! |
| Male | |
| Chithira guptan enakku romba | To me, Chitragupta is like |
| Therincha veetu pulla | A kid from the neighborhood I know well. |
| Bhramma chuvadi padichan | I read Brahma's leaf of fate, |
| Unn peru adhula illa | And your name isn't written there yet! |
| Male | |
| Naraiya time irukku | There is plenty of time left, |
| Kavalaya ne odhukku | Set your worries aside. |
| Naraiya load-u irukku | There is still a lot of heavy load to carry, |
| Kaludhaikum use irukku | Even a donkey has its purpose! |
| Male | |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy, |
| Oh happy | Oh happy, |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy, |
| Male | |
| Kaala koli daily daily | A country hen, daily daily, |
| Mutta pottu kedakku | Keeps laying its eggs. |
| Kavala patta muttaikku adiyil | Underneath the egg you worry about, |
| Dosa kallu irukku | There lies a hot dosa griddle! |
| Male | |
| Unnmaiyaaga vaazha | To live your life authentically, |
| Intha naalu porandhu kedaku | This world is waiting, newly born for you. |
| Sirichi paaru daily daily | Try smiling daily daily, |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy, |
| Male | |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy, |
| Oh happy | Oh happy, |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy, |
| Male | |
| Vazhkkai onnum oodi poga | Life isn't something that runs away, |
| Poona kutti illa | Like a little kitten. |
| Poona kutti illa | Not a little kitten, |
| Poona kutti illai | Not a little kitten. |
| Male | |
| Naamum onnum naayumm illa | And we aren't dogs either, |
| Thorathi pudikka solla | To be told to chase and catch it. |
| Chorus :Thorathi pudikka solla | Chorus: To be told to chase and catch it, |
| Thorathi pudikka solla | To be told to chase and catch it. |
| Male | |
| Dhooram paathu kadanthu poga | Looking at the distance to cover, |
| Life road illa | Life isn't just a laid-out road. |
| Paadhi kenaru thaandi paaru | Try jumping halfway across a well, |
| Dive adippa ulla | You'll dive right inside! |
| Male | |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy, |
| Eh happy | Eh happy, |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy, |
| Male | |
| Naalu kazhudha vayasana | Just because you're as old as four donkeys, |
| Elamae pocha | Is youth completely gone? |
| Naapathoda unn vaazhkkai | Is your life at age forty, |
| Oodatha watch ah | Like a watch that stopped ticking? |
| Male | |
| Naalu peru madhicha taan | Only if four people respect you, |
| Sandhosam aacha | Does that count as happiness? |
| Naam thaan nu nenacha | If you believe in who you are, |
| Ne unnoda raja | You are the king of your own world! |
| Male | |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy, |
| Oh happy | Oh happy, |
| Happy happy happy | Happy happy happy |
நாலு கழுத வயசானா
எல்லாமே போச்சா நாப்பதோட
உன் வாழ்க்கை ஓடாத வாட்சா
Just because you're as old as four donkeys,
Is youth completely gone?
Is your life at age forty,
Like a watch that stopped ticking?
நாலு பேரு மதிச்சா
தான் சந்தோஷம் ஆச்சா
நாம் தான்னு நெனச்சா நீ
உன்னோட ராஜா
Only if four people respect you,
Does that count as happiness?
If you believe in who you are,
You are the king of your own world!
சித்திர குப்தன் எனக்கு
ரொம்ப தொிஞ்ச வீட்டு புள்ள
பிரம்ம சுவடி படிச்சான் உன்
பேரு அதுல இல்ல
To me, Chitragupta is like
A kid from the neighborhood I know well.
I read Brahma's leaf of fate,
And your name isn't written there yet!
நிறைய டைம் இருக்கு
கவலைய நீ ஒதுக்கு நிறைய
லோடு இருக்கு கழுதைக்கும்
யூஸ் இருக்கு
There is plenty of time left,
Set your worries aside.
There is still a lot of heavy load to carry,
Even a donkey has its purpose!
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
ஹேப்பி ஓ ஹேப்பி
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
Happy happy happy,
Oh happy,
Happy happy happy,
கால கோழி டெய்லி
டெய்லி முட்ட போட்டு கெடக்கு
கவலப்பட்ட முட்டைக்கு அடியில்
தோசக் கல்லு இருக்கு
A country hen, daily daily,
Keeps laying its eggs.
Underneath the egg you worry about,
There lies a hot dosa griddle!
உண்மையாக வாழ
இந்த நாளு பொறந்து கிடக்கு
சிாிச்சு பாரு டெய்லி டெய்லி
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
To live your life authentically,
This world is waiting, newly born for you.
Try smiling daily daily,
Happy happy happy,
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
ஹேப்பி ஓ ஹேப்பி
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
Happy happy happy,
Oh happy,
Happy happy happy,
வாழ்க்கை ஒன்னும்
ஓடிப் போக பூனக் குட்டி இல்ல
பூனக் குட்டி இல்ல பூனக் குட்டி இல்ல
Life isn't something that runs away,
Like a little kitten.
Not a little kitten,
Not a little kitten.
நாமும் ஒன்னும்
நாயும் இல்ல தொரத்திப்
புடிக்க சொல்ல
குழு :
தொரத்திப் புடிக்க சொல்ல
தொரத்திப் புடிக்க சொல்ல
And we aren't dogs either,
To be told to chase and catch it.
Chorus: To be told to chase and catch it,
To be told to chase and catch it.
தூரம் பாத்து கடந்து
போக லைஃப் ரோடு இல்ல
பாதிக் கிணறு தாண்டிப் பாரு
டைவ் அடிப்ப உள்ள
Looking at the distance to cover,
Life isn't just a laid-out road.
Try jumping halfway across a well,
You'll dive right inside!
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
ஹேப்பி ஏய் ஹேப்பி
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
Happy happy happy,
Eh happy,
Happy happy happy,
நாலு கழுத வயசானா
எல்லாமே போச்சா நாப்பதோட
உன் வாழ்க்கை ஓடாத வாட்சா
Just because you're as old as four donkeys,
Is youth completely gone?
Is your life at age forty,
Like a watch that stopped ticking?
நாலு பேரு மதிச்சா
தான் சந்தோஷம் ஆச்சா
நாம் தான்னு நெனச்சா நீ
உன்னோட ராஜா
Only if four people respect you,
Does that count as happiness?
If you believe in who you are,
You are the king of your own world!
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
ஹேப்பி ஓ ஹேப்பி
ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி ஹேப்பி
Happy happy happy,
Oh happy,
Happy happy happy
Naalu kazhudha vayasana
Just because you're as old as four donkeys,
Elamae pocha
Is youth completely gone?
Naapathoda unn vaazhkkai
Is your life at age forty,
Oodatha watch ah
Like a watch that stopped ticking?
Naalu peru madhicha taan
Only if four people respect you,
Sandhosam aacha
Does that count as happiness?
Naam thaan nu nenacha
If you believe in who you are,
Ne unnoda raja
You are the king of your own world!
Chithira guptan enakku romba
To me, Chitragupta is like
Therincha veetu pulla
A kid from the neighborhood I know well.
Bhramma chuvadi padichan
I read Brahma's leaf of fate,
Unn peru adhula illa
And your name isn't written there yet!
Naraiya time irukku
There is plenty of time left,
Kavalaya ne odhukku
Set your worries aside.
Naraiya load-u irukku
There is still a lot of heavy load to carry,
Kaludhaikum use irukku
Even a donkey has its purpose!
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy,
Oh happy
Oh happy,
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy,
Kaala koli daily daily
A country hen, daily daily,
Mutta pottu kedakku
Keeps laying its eggs.
Kavala patta muttaikku adiyil
Underneath the egg you worry about,
Dosa kallu irukku
There lies a hot dosa griddle!
Unnmaiyaaga vaazha
To live your life authentically,
Intha naalu porandhu kedaku
This world is waiting, newly born for you.
Sirichi paaru daily daily
Try smiling daily daily,
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy,
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy,
Oh happy
Oh happy,
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy,
Vazhkkai onnum oodi poga
Life isn't something that runs away,
Poona kutti illa
Like a little kitten.
Poona kutti illa
Not a little kitten,
Poona kutti illai
Not a little kitten.
Naamum onnum naayumm illa
And we aren't dogs either,
Thorathi pudikka solla
To be told to chase and catch it.
Chorus :Thorathi pudikka solla
Chorus: To be told to chase and catch it,
Thorathi pudikka solla
To be told to chase and catch it.
Dhooram paathu kadanthu poga
Looking at the distance to cover,
Life road illa
Life isn't just a laid-out road.
Paadhi kenaru thaandi paaru
Try jumping halfway across a well,
Dive adippa ulla
You'll dive right inside!
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy,
Eh happy
Eh happy,
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy,
Naalu kazhudha vayasana
Just because you're as old as four donkeys,
Elamae pocha
Is youth completely gone?
Naapathoda unn vaazhkkai
Is your life at age forty,
Oodatha watch ah
Like a watch that stopped ticking?
Naalu peru madhicha taan
Only if four people respect you,
Sandhosam aacha
Does that count as happiness?
Naam thaan nu nenacha
If you believe in who you are,
Ne unnoda raja
You are the king of your own world!
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy,
Oh happy
Oh happy,
Happy happy happy
Happy happy happy
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Happy' from 36 Vayadhinile is an uplifting, humorous, and empowering anthem celebrating self-worth, age resilience, and female autonomy. Challenging societal ageism and mid-life stereotypes, the lyrics debunk the notion that a woman's life or joy ends at forty or that her happiness depends on the validation of others. Through playful colloquial Tamil proverbs and metaphors—referencing local idioms, Brahma's fate manuscripts, and village imagery—it urges listeners to stop living on others' terms and reclaim their own vitality. The emotional trajectory transitions from questioning internalized societal pressure to embracing self-rule and joy. The song emphasizes that life is not a frantic chase or a rigid path, but an authentic journey where happiness is a conscious choice, reminding everyone that they are the master of their own destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Naapathoda unn vaazhkkai / Oodatha watch ah”
Compares a person's life at age forty to a broken, non-running watch to mock the societal stereotype that life stops after mid-age.
Metaphor
“Ne unnoda raja”
Compares an individual taking control of their life to a king ruling their own kingdom.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Naraiya time irukku / Kavalaya ne odhukku / Naraiya load-u irukku / Kaludhaikum use irukku”
The repetitive ending sound '-ukku' across consecutive lines creates an energetic, rhythmic flow.
Hyperbole / Personification
“Chithira guptan enakku romba / Therincha veetu pulla”
Exaggerates familiarity with the mythical celestial bookkeeper Chitragupta by describing him as a local neighborhood kid.
Simile
“Vazhkkai onnum oodi poga / Poona kutti illa”
Uses an explicit negative comparison, stating life is not a kitten running away to be chased.
Did you know?
Trivia
36 Vayadhinile (2015) marked the grand return of celebrated actress Jyothika to Tamil cinema after an eight-year hiatus. The film, directed by Rosshan Andrrews, is a remake of his own Malayalam hit 'How Old Are You?'. Composed by Santhosh Narayanan with lyrics by Vivek, this song showcases Santhosh's signature eccentric brass arrangements and upbeat acoustic folk style, perfect for highlighting the protagonist's journey of self-rediscovery.
Keep listening