Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaithozhil Ondrai Katrukkol

From Kadavulin Kuzhandhai · 1960

Lyricist
Ramalingam Pillai
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Kadavulin Kuzhandhai
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
14 Dec 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kai thozhil ondrai kattrukkol
Kavalai unakkillai oppukkol
Eththozhil edhuvum theriyaamal
Iruppathu unakke sariyaamo
Kai thozhil ondrai kattrukkol
Kavalai unakkillai oppukkol
Eththozhil edhuvum theriyaamal
Iruppathu unakke sariyaamo
Uzhavum thozhilum illaamal
Ulagil ondrum sellaathu
Uzhavum thozhilum illaamal
Ulagil ondrum sellaathu
Vizhavum kalaiyum viruthugalum
Verula inbamum irunthidumo
Vizhavum kalaiyum viruthugalum
Verula inbamum irunthidumo
Aahahahaa ohho aahahahaa mmmm
Kai thozhil ondrai kattrukkol
Kavalai unakkillai oppukkol
Kollarum thachcharum koodaamal
Koodamum maadamum veedaamo
Kollarum thachcharum koodaamal
Koodamum maadamum veedaamo
Kalladi sirpiyum thachcharume
Kaariyam palavunukkachchaani
Kalladi sirpiyum thachcharume
Kaariyam palavunukkachchaani
Aahahahaa aahahahaa
Kai thozhil ondrai kattrukkol
Kavalai unakkillai oppukkol
Nesavu kaararkal neiyaamal
Nilaththavar udaikken seivaargal
Nesavu kaararkal neiyaamal
Nilaththavar udaikken seivaargal
Kuyavan seithidum paandamandro
Kudiththanam nadaththida vendumendrum
Kuyavan seithidum paandamandro
Kudiththanam nadaththida vendumendrum
Aahahahaa ohho aahahahaa mmmm
Kai thozhil ondrai kattrukkol
Kavalai unakkillai oppukkol
Salavai savaram seithaalum
Saakkaadai kazhuvuthal eithaalum
Salavai savaram seithaalum
Saakkaadai kazhuvuthal eithaalum
Ulakukathanaal upakaaram
Ondrum theriyaar verum paaram
Ulakukathanaal upakaaram
Ondrum theriyaar verum paaram
Aahahahaa aahahahaa
Kai thozhil ondrai kattrukkol
Kavalai unakkillai oppukkol
Eththozhil edhuvum theriyaamal
Iruppathu unakke sariyaamo
Learn a skilled trade of your own,
And accept that you will have no worries.
Without knowing any kind of work,
Is it right for you to live like this?
Learn a skilled trade of your own,
And accept that you will have no worries.
Without knowing any kind of work,
Is it right for you to live like this?
Without farming and hard work,
Nothing in this world can move forward.
Without farming and hard work,
Nothing in this world can move forward.
Festivals, fine arts, and honors,
And all other pleasures—would they even exist?
Festivals, fine arts, and honors,
And all other pleasures—would they even exist?
Aahahaha ohoho aahahaha mmmm
Learn a skilled trade of your own,
And accept that you will have no worries.
Without the blacksmith and the carpenter,
Can halls and mansions ever become a home?
Without the blacksmith and the carpenter,
Can halls and mansions ever become a home?
The stone sculptor and the carpenter
Are the vital backbone of so many works.
The stone sculptor and the carpenter
Are the vital backbone of so many works.
Aahahaha aahahaha
Learn a skilled trade of your own,
And accept that you will have no worries.
If the weavers do not weave,
What will the people of this earth wear?
If the weavers do not weave,
What will the people of this earth wear?
Isn't it the earthen pots made by the potter
That are needed every day to run a home?
Isn't it the earthen pots made by the potter
That are needed every day to run a home?
Aahahaha ohoho aahahaha mmmm
Learn a skilled trade of your own,
And accept that you will have no worries.
Whether one washes clothes or cuts hair,
Or even takes up cleaning the gutters,
Whether one washes clothes or cuts hair,
Or even takes up cleaning the gutters,
It is all a great help to this world;
Those who know no work are just a burden.
It is all a great help to this world;
Those who know no work are just a burden.
Aahahaha aahahaha
Learn a skilled trade of your own,
And accept that you will have no worries.
Without knowing any kind of work,
Is it right for you to live like this?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic motivational song, written by the famous Tamil patriotic poet Namakkal Kavignar V. Ramalingam Pillai, highlights the immense value and dignity of labor. It strongly urges individuals to learn at least one practical craft or vocation to achieve self-reliance and peace of mind, questioning the self-worth of remaining idle without acquiring any useful skill. The lyricist systematically pays tribute to various working-class professions that sustain human civilization—including farmers, blacksmiths, carpenters, sculptors, weavers, potters, barbers, washermen, and sanitation workers. The song emphasizes that every honest trade, regardless of societal hierarchy, contributes essential services to humanity, while those who possess no skills and refuse to work remain a burden on society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)

“Kai thozhil ondrai kattrukkol / Kavalai unakkillai oppukkol”

The second consonant 'i' or 'va' matches across adjacent lines to create rhythmic symmetry, such as 'Kai thozhil' and 'Kavalai'.

Monaai (Alliteration in Tamil prosody)

“Kollarum thachcharum koodaamal / Koodamum maadamum veedaamo”

Initial letters rhyming across words in a line, such as the 'K' sound in 'Kollarum', 'Koodaamal', 'Koodamum'.

Rhetorical Question

“Eththozhil edhuvum theriyaamal / Iruppathu unakke sariyaamo”

The lyricist uses persuasive questioning to make the listener reflect on the necessity of skilled labor.

Metaphor

“Kaariyam palavunukkachchaani”

Comparing artisans and craftsmen to the 'achchaani' (linchpin) holding the wheel of societal progress together.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Namakkal Kavignar V. Ramalingam Pillai, a celebrated Gandhian poet and the first Poet Laureate of Tamil Nadu, this poem is widely featured in school textbooks across Tamil Nadu to instill the value of self-reliance and the dignity of labor in young minds.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Naalai Nee Mannavan1976
Rojavin RajaSelf DiscoveryIdentity
Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai Male1966
Petralthan PillaiyaWork And DutyOptimistic
Therinjukko Babu1955
Thiruttu RamanWork And DutyCheerful
Manapaarai Maadu Katti1957
Makkalai Petra MagarasiLabourWork And Duty
Kannu Mayangi1967
Penne Nee VazhgaWork And DutySelf Discovery
Nalla Nalla Nilam1967
VivasayeeWork And DutyContemplative

From the same album

More songs from Kadavulin Kuzhandhai

View album
Thamizhan Endru Solladaa1960
Kadavulin KuzhandhaiDefiant
Penn Ullam Kadal Vellam1960
Kadavulin KuzhandhaiRomantic
Paling Chaplaan Chadukudu1960
Kadavulin KuzhandhaiPlayful
Kannaa Manam Kallo1960
Kadavulin KuzhandhaiMelancholic
Chinna Chinna Poove (Female)1960
Kadavulin KuzhandhaiTender
Chinna Chinna Poove Duet1960
Kadavulin KuzhandhaiTender

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.