Kaalam Oda
From Dhonima · 2024
- Lyricist
- S. Gnanakaravel
- Singer
- G. V. Prakash Kumar
- Music director
- EJ Johnson
- Details
- Dhonima2024
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaalam oda kaal rendum thevai illai | Two legs are not needed for time to run |
| Kanavu kaana kan rendu thevai illai | Two eyes are not needed to dream |
| Sogusa vaazha paisave thevai illai | Money is not needed to live luxuriously |
| Purunja thuyar illai | If understood, there is no sorrow |
| Male | |
| Veethigalai veedana sanam | People who have turned the streets into their home |
| Saakadaiyai murai vaasal pannum thinam | Making the drain their front yard every day |
| Vaazhkai murai alukana pothum | Even if their lifestyle seems dirty |
| Manasu alukku ilaiye | Their hearts are not dirty |
| Aadamparam thotrathil illa | Grandeur is not in external appearance |
| Vaazhugira aalunga manasula | It resides in the hearts of the living people |
| Paari vallal ellarum inge kaatum paasathula | Everyone here shows love as generous as King Paari |
| Chorus | |
| Vellenthiya vaalum kootam | A crowd of innocent people living simply |
| Veruppugalai pakka mudiyathe | You cannot spot hatred here |
| Kasappu irunthum vaazhkai thena inithidume | Despite bitterness, life sweetens like honey |
| Aduthavana kavukkum aasa | The desire to bring someone else down |
| Kadugalavu kooda kedaiyathu | Is not present even in the size of a mustard seed |
| Vilunthavarai thola thanthu thooki vidume | Lending a shoulder, it lifts up those who have fallen |
| Male | |
| Kuyil koovum oligal tholainthe | As the songs of cuckoos are lost |
| Rail koova ulagam vidiyum | The world dawns with the sound of the train horn |
| Vaanathin theneer virunthaai | Like a hot tea treat served from the sky |
| Veetukul mazhai neer vadiyum | Rainwater leaks inside the house |
| Vaazhvin ootathile | In the rapid rush of life |
| Ilaipaarum kaalgal ingillaiye | There are no feet taking rest here |
| Male | |
| Thallu vandi kada kal thosa | Stone-baked dosa from a pushcart stall |
| Medhu vada kaara chatney pothume | With medhu vada and spicy chutney is more than enough |
| Anju natchathira saapatu viduthiyil | Compared to that, in a five-star restaurant |
| Galla kaanjidume | The cash box will dry up |
| Oru naai kuttiyum sari paathi uyir ena | Even a little puppy lives inside the house |
| Veetukula vaazhume | Treated as an equal part of life |
| Intha vaazhka murai paathale pidichudum | If you observe this way of life, you will fall in love with it |
| Vaazhntha thani sugame | If you live it, it is a unique bliss |
| Male | |
| Kaalam oda kaal rendum thevai illai | Two legs are not needed for time to run |
| Kanavu kaana kan rendu thevai illai | Two eyes are not needed to dream |
| Sogusa vaazha paisave thevai illai | Money is not needed to live luxuriously |
| Purunja thuyar illai | If understood, there is no sorrow |
| Male | |
| Kaalam oda kaal rendum thevai illai | Two legs are not needed for time to run |
| Kanavu kaana kan rendu thevai illai | Two eyes are not needed to dream |
| Sogusa vaazha paisave thevai illai | Money is not needed to live luxuriously |
| Purunja thuyar illai | If understood, there is no sorrow |
ஹம்மிங் :
................................
Two legs are not needed for time to run
Two eyes are not needed to dream
Money is not needed to live luxuriously
If understood, there is no sorrow
காலம் ஓட கால் ரெண்டும் தேவை இல்லை
கனவு காண கண் ரெண்டு தேவை இல்லை
சொகுசா வாழ பைசாவே தேவை இல்லை
புரிஞ்சா துயர் இல்லை
People who have turned the streets into their home
Making the drain their front yard every day
Even if their lifestyle seems dirty
Their hearts are not dirty
Grandeur is not in external appearance
It resides in the hearts of the living people
Everyone here shows love as generous as King Paari
வீதிகளை வீடான சனம்
சாக்கடையை முறை வாசல் பண்ணும் தினம்
வாழ்க்கை முறை அழுக்கான போதும்
மனசு அழுக்கு இல்லையே
A crowd of innocent people living simply
You cannot spot hatred here
Despite bitterness, life sweetens like honey
The desire to bring someone else down
Is not present even in the size of a mustard seed
Lending a shoulder, it lifts up those who have fallen
ஆடம்பரம் தோற்றத்தில் இல்ல
வாழுகிற ஆளுங்க மனசுல
பாரி வள்ளல் எல்லாரும் இங்கே
காட்டும் பாசத்துல
As the songs of cuckoos are lost
The world dawns with the sound of the train horn
Like a hot tea treat served from the sky
Rainwater leaks inside the house
In the rapid rush of life
There are no feet taking rest here
வெள்ளந்தியா வாழும் கூட்டம்
வெறுப்புகளை பாக்க முடியாதே
கசப்பு இருந்தும் வாழ்க்கை தேனா இனித்திடுமே
அடுத்தவன கவுக்கும் ஆசை
கடுகளவு கூட கெடையாது
விழுந்தவரை தோள தந்து தூக்கி விடுமே
Stone-baked dosa from a pushcart stall
With medhu vada and spicy chutney is more than enough
Compared to that, in a five-star restaurant
The cash box will dry up
Even a little puppy lives inside the house
Treated as an equal part of life
If you observe this way of life, you will fall in love with it
If you live it, it is a unique bliss
ஹம்மிங் :
................................
Two legs are not needed for time to run
Two eyes are not needed to dream
Money is not needed to live luxuriously
If understood, there is no sorrow
குயில் கூவும் ஒலிகள் தொலைந்தே
ரயில் கூவ உலகம் விடியும்
வானத்தின் தேநீர் விருந்தாய்
வீட்டுக்குள் மழை நீர் வடியும்
வாழ்வின் ஓட்டத்திலே
இளைபாறும் கால்கள் இங்கில்லையே
Two legs are not needed for time to run
Two eyes are not needed to dream
Money is not needed to live luxuriously
If understood, there is no sorrow
தள்ளு வண்டி கடை
கல் தோசை மெது வடை கார சட்னி போதுமே
அஞ்சு நட்சத்திர சாப்பாட்டு விடுதியில்
கள்ளா காஞ்சிடுமே
ஒரு நாய் குட்டியும் சரி பாதி உயிர் என
வீட்டுக்குள்ள வாழுமே
இந்த வாழ்க்கை முறை பாத்தாலே பிடிச்சுடும்
வாழ்ந்தா தனி சுகமே
ஹம்மிங் :
................................
காலம் ஓட கால் ரெண்டும் தேவை இல்லை
கனவு காண கண் ரெண்டு தேவை இல்லை
சொகுசா வாழ பைசாவே தேவை இல்லை
புரிஞ்சா துயர் இல்லை
காலம் ஓட கால் ரெண்டும் தேவை இல்லை
கனவு காண கண் ரெண்டு தேவை இல்லை
சொகுசா வாழ பைசாவே தேவை இல்லை
புரிஞ்சா துயர் இல்லை
Kaalam oda kaal rendum thevai illai
Two legs are not needed for time to run
Kanavu kaana kan rendu thevai illai
Two eyes are not needed to dream
Sogusa vaazha paisave thevai illai
Money is not needed to live luxuriously
Purunja thuyar illai
If understood, there is no sorrow
Veethigalai veedana sanam
People who have turned the streets into their home
Saakadaiyai murai vaasal pannum thinam
Making the drain their front yard every day
Vaazhkai murai alukana pothum
Even if their lifestyle seems dirty
Manasu alukku ilaiye
Their hearts are not dirty
Aadamparam thotrathil illa
Grandeur is not in external appearance
Vaazhugira aalunga manasula
It resides in the hearts of the living people
Paari vallal ellarum inge kaatum paasathula
Everyone here shows love as generous as King Paari
Vellenthiya vaalum kootam
A crowd of innocent people living simply
Veruppugalai pakka mudiyathe
You cannot spot hatred here
Kasappu irunthum vaazhkai thena inithidume
Despite bitterness, life sweetens like honey
Aduthavana kavukkum aasa
The desire to bring someone else down
Kadugalavu kooda kedaiyathu
Is not present even in the size of a mustard seed
Vilunthavarai thola thanthu thooki vidume
Lending a shoulder, it lifts up those who have fallen
Kuyil koovum oligal tholainthe
As the songs of cuckoos are lost
Rail koova ulagam vidiyum
The world dawns with the sound of the train horn
Vaanathin theneer virunthaai
Like a hot tea treat served from the sky
Veetukul mazhai neer vadiyum
Rainwater leaks inside the house
Vaazhvin ootathile
In the rapid rush of life
Ilaipaarum kaalgal ingillaiye
There are no feet taking rest here
Thallu vandi kada kal thosa
Stone-baked dosa from a pushcart stall
Medhu vada kaara chatney pothume
With medhu vada and spicy chutney is more than enough
Anju natchathira saapatu viduthiyil
Compared to that, in a five-star restaurant
Galla kaanjidume
The cash box will dry up
Oru naai kuttiyum sari paathi uyir ena
Even a little puppy lives inside the house
Veetukula vaazhume
Treated as an equal part of life
Intha vaazhka murai paathale pidichudum
If you observe this way of life, you will fall in love with it
Vaazhntha thani sugame
If you live it, it is a unique bliss
Kaalam oda kaal rendum thevai illai
Two legs are not needed for time to run
Kanavu kaana kan rendu thevai illai
Two eyes are not needed to dream
Sogusa vaazha paisave thevai illai
Money is not needed to live luxuriously
Purunja thuyar illai
If understood, there is no sorrow
Kaalam oda kaal rendum thevai illai
Two legs are not needed for time to run
Kanavu kaana kan rendu thevai illai
Two eyes are not needed to dream
Sogusa vaazha paisave thevai illai
Money is not needed to live luxuriously
Purunja thuyar illai
If understood, there is no sorrow
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This uplifting song from Dhonima (2024) portrays the vibrant, contented life of underprivileged urban dwellers living in humble conditions. Despite facing financial struggles, cramped spaces, and daily hardships, these working-class people share immense warmth, generosity, and resilience. They find luxury not in wealth or material possessions, but in simple pleasures, mutual support, and pure-hearted living. The lyricist highlights how contentment and empathy transform everyday struggles into a meaningful and joyful life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ezhugai (Rhyme / Assonance)
“Kaalam oda kaal rendum thevai illai / Kanavu kaana kan rendu thevai illai”
Repetition of second letter matching sound across lines, such as Kaalam / Kanavu / Sogusa in initial lines or Veethigalai / Saakadaiyai.
Metaphor
“Vaanathin theneer virunthaai / Veetukul mazhai neer vadiyum”
Comparing life's simple rainfall leaking into poor homes to a sky-served tea treat ('Vaanathin theneer virunthaai').
Simile / Hyperbole
“Paari vallal ellarum inge kaatum paasathula”
Comparing the generosity of ordinary poor people to the legendary king Paari Vallal.
Antithesis (Muran)
“Kasappu irunthum vaazhkai thena inithidume”
Juxtaposition of bitterness ('Kasappu') with sweetness ('thena inithidume') to show happiness amidst hardship.
Did you know?
Trivia
Dhonima is a 2024 Tamil emotional drama film directed by Jagadeesan Subu, featuring Kaali Venkat and Roshini in lead roles. Sung by actor-composer G.V. Prakash Kumar with music composed by EJ Johnson, this song captures the heart and soul of Chennai's working-class neighborhoods.
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