Iraivan Ulagathai
From Unakkaga Naan · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Unakkaga Naan1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Iraivan ulagaththai padaiththaanaam | They say God created the world, |
| Yaezhmaiyaei avanthaan padaiththaanaam | They say he created poverty as well. |
| Chorus :Iraivan ulagaththai padaiththaanaam | Chorus: They say God created the world, |
| Yaezhmaiyaei avanthaan padaiththaanaam | They say he created poverty as well. |
| Male | |
| Yaezhaiyai padaiththavan avanendraal | If he is the one who created the poor, |
| Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga | Why do we need someone called God? |
| Chorus :Yaezhaiyai padaiththavan avanendraal | Chorus: If he is the one who created the poor, |
| Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga | Why do we need someone called God? |
| Male | |
| Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga…….. | Why do we need someone called God?... |
| Male | |
| Ponnagai anintha maaligaigal | Mansions adorned with gold jewelry, |
| Punnagai marantha man kudisai | Mud huts that have forgotten smiles. |
| Ponnagai anintha maaligaigal | Mansions adorned with gold jewelry, |
| Punnagai marantha man kudisai | Mud huts that have forgotten smiles. |
| Pasi vara angae maaththiraigal | Pills over there just to stimulate appetite, |
| Pattiniyaal ingu yaaththiraigal | Journeys over here driven by starvation. |
| Male | |
| Iru verulagam idhuvendraal | If these are two entirely different worlds, |
| Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga…….. | Why do we need someone called God?... |
| Chorus | |
| Iraivan ulagaththai padaiththaanaam | They say God created the world, |
| Yaezhmaiyaei avanthaan padaiththaanaam | They say he created poverty as well. |
| Male | |
| Uyarae parakkum kaaththaadi | A kite flying high up in the sky, |
| Udhavum yaezhai nool polae | Is like the poor, helpful thread. |
| Uyarae parakkum kaaththaadi | A kite flying high up in the sky, |
| Udhavum yaezhai nool polae | Is like the poor, helpful thread. |
| Pattam pol aval palapalappaar | She glitters bright like the kite, |
| Nool polae ivar ilaiththiruppaar | He remains thin and worn like the thread. |
| Male | |
| Iru veriyakkam idhuvendraal | If this is how two different systems move, |
| Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga…….. | Why do we need someone called God?... |
| Chorus | |
| Iraivan ulagaththai padaiththaanaam | They say God created the world, |
| Yaezhmaiyaei avanthaan padaiththaanaam | They say he created poverty as well. |
| Male | |
| Iraivan ingae varavillai | God has not come down here, |
| Enavae naan angu pogindraen | Therefore, I am going over there. |
| Iraivan ingae varavillai | God has not come down here, |
| Enavae naan angu pogindraen | Therefore, I am going over there. |
| Male | |
| Varumai muzhuvathum theerntha pinnae | Once poverty is completely eradicated, |
| Marupadi oru naal naan varuvaen | I will return again one day. |
| Marupadi oru naal naan varuvaen… | I will return again one day... |
இறைவன் உலகத்தை படைத்தானாம்
ஏழ்மையை அவன்தான் படைத்தானாம்
குழு :
இறைவன் உலகத்தை படைத்தானாம்
ஏழ்மையை அவன்தான் படைத்தானாம்
They say God created the world,
They say he created poverty as well.
Chorus: They say God created the world,
They say he created poverty as well.
ஏழையை படைத்தவன் அவனென்றால்
இறைவன் என்பவன் எதற்காக
குழு :
ஏழையை படைத்தவன் அவனென்றால்
இறைவன் என்பவன் எதற்காக
If he is the one who created the poor,
Why do we need someone called God?
Chorus: If he is the one who created the poor,
Why do we need someone called God?
இறைவன் என்பவன் எதற்காக……
Why do we need someone called God?...
பொன்னகை அணிந்த மாளிகைகள்
புன்னகை மறந்த மண் குடிசை
பொன்னகை அணிந்த மாளிகைகள்
புன்னகை மறந்த மண் குடிசை
பசி வர அங்கே மாத்திரைகள்
பட்டினியால் இங்கு யாத்திரைகள்
Mansions adorned with gold jewelry,
Mud huts that have forgotten smiles.
Mansions adorned with gold jewelry,
Mud huts that have forgotten smiles.
Pills over there just to stimulate appetite,
Journeys over here driven by starvation.
இரு வேறுலகம் இதுவென்றால்
இறைவன் என்பவன் எதற்காக
If these are two entirely different worlds,
Why do we need someone called God?...
இறைவன் உலகத்தை படைத்தானாம்
ஏழ்மையை அவன்தான் படைத்தானாம்
They say God created the world,
They say he created poverty as well.
உயரே பறக்கும் காத்தாடி
உதவும் ஏழை நூல் போலே
உயரே பறக்கும் காத்தாடி
உதவும் ஏழை நூல் போலே
பட்டம் போல் அவர் பளபளப்பார்
நூல் போலே இவர் இளைத்திருப்பார்
A kite flying high up in the sky,
Is like the poor, helpful thread.
A kite flying high up in the sky,
Is like the poor, helpful thread.
She glitters bright like the kite,
He remains thin and worn like the thread.
இரு வேறியக்கம் இதுவென்றால்
இறைவன் என்பவன் எதற்காக
If this is how two different systems move,
Why do we need someone called God?...
இறைவன் உலகத்தை படைத்தானாம்
ஏழ்மையை அவன்தான் படைத்தானாம்
They say God created the world,
They say he created poverty as well.
இறைவன் இங்கே வரவில்லை
எனவே நான் அங்கு போகின்றேன்
இறைவன் இங்கே வரவில்லை
எனவே நான் அங்கு போகின்றேன்
God has not come down here,
Therefore, I am going over there.
God has not come down here,
Therefore, I am going over there.
வறுமை முழுவதும் தீர்ந்த பின்னே
மறுபடி ஒரு நாள் நான் வருவேன்
மறுபடி ஒரு நாள் நான் வருவேன்.........
Once poverty is completely eradicated,
I will return again one day.
I will return again one day...
Iraivan ulagaththai padaiththaanaam
They say God created the world,
Yaezhmaiyaei avanthaan padaiththaanaam
They say he created poverty as well.
Chorus :Iraivan ulagaththai padaiththaanaam
Chorus: They say God created the world,
Yaezhmaiyaei avanthaan padaiththaanaam
They say he created poverty as well.
Yaezhaiyai padaiththavan avanendraal
If he is the one who created the poor,
Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga
Why do we need someone called God?
Chorus :Yaezhaiyai padaiththavan avanendraal
Chorus: If he is the one who created the poor,
Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga
Why do we need someone called God?
Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga……..
Why do we need someone called God?...
Ponnagai anintha maaligaigal
Mansions adorned with gold jewelry,
Punnagai marantha man kudisai
Mud huts that have forgotten smiles.
Ponnagai anintha maaligaigal
Mansions adorned with gold jewelry,
Punnagai marantha man kudisai
Mud huts that have forgotten smiles.
Pasi vara angae maaththiraigal
Pills over there just to stimulate appetite,
Pattiniyaal ingu yaaththiraigal
Journeys over here driven by starvation.
Iru verulagam idhuvendraal
If these are two entirely different worlds,
Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga……..
Why do we need someone called God?...
Iraivan ulagaththai padaiththaanaam
They say God created the world,
Yaezhmaiyaei avanthaan padaiththaanaam
They say he created poverty as well.
Uyarae parakkum kaaththaadi
A kite flying high up in the sky,
Udhavum yaezhai nool polae
Is like the poor, helpful thread.
Uyarae parakkum kaaththaadi
A kite flying high up in the sky,
Udhavum yaezhai nool polae
Is like the poor, helpful thread.
Pattam pol aval palapalappaar
She glitters bright like the kite,
Nool polae ivar ilaiththiruppaar
He remains thin and worn like the thread.
Iru veriyakkam idhuvendraal
If this is how two different systems move,
Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga……..
Why do we need someone called God?...
Iraivan ulagaththai padaiththaanaam
They say God created the world,
Yaezhmaiyaei avanthaan padaiththaanaam
They say he created poverty as well.
Iraivan ingae varavillai
God has not come down here,
Enavae naan angu pogindraen
Therefore, I am going over there.
Iraivan ingae varavillai
God has not come down here,
Enavae naan angu pogindraen
Therefore, I am going over there.
Varumai muzhuvathum theerntha pinnae
Once poverty is completely eradicated,
Marupadi oru naal naan varuvaen
I will return again one day.
Marupadi oru naal naan varuvaen…
I will return again one day...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This powerful philosophical song from 'Unakkaga Naan' (1976), penned by Kannadasan and set to music by M. S. Viswanathan, delivers a scathing critique of divine justice in the face of stark social inequality. The speaker questions the existence and necessity of God if the divine is responsible for creating poverty, hunger, and class divide. Through vivid antithesis, the song contrasts the opulent lives of the rich—who live in golden mansions and take pills to feel hungry—with the destitute, who live in joyless mud huts and undertake long journeys in search of food. Using the metaphor of a flying kite and its humble thread, the lyricist illustrates how the wealthy shine at the expense of the poor who anchor and sustain them. Ultimately, the song transitions from questioning fate to advocating human action: since God has failed to bring relief to the suffering, human effort must eradicate poverty and create a fair world.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Contrast (Ethir-Inai)
“Ponnagai anintha maaligaigal / Punnagai marantha man kudisai”
Contrasts gold-adorned mansions representing extreme wealth with smile-deprived mud huts representing deep poverty.
Metaphor / Extended Analogy (Uvamaani)
“Pattam pol aval palapalappaar / Nool polae ivar ilaiththiruppaar”
Compares the high-flying rich person to a shiny kite and the working-class poor to the fragile thread holding it up.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Ponnagai anintha maaligaigal / Punnagai marantha man kudisai”
Matches the second letter ('nn') across lines 'Ponnagai' and 'Punnagai' for rhythmic effect.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa-Porul)
“Iraivan enbavan edharkaaga”
Uses persistent questioning about the utility of God to provoke thought about social inequality.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from 'Unakkaga Naan' (1976) features Sivaji Ganesan and showcases Kannadasan's signature rationalist, socialist-leaning philosophical lyrics. Despite Kannadasan's deep devotion to Hindu philosophy, he frequently wrote sharp socio-political commentaries questioning religious dogma and income disparity in movie songs.
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