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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanne Ulagame

From Kannamoochi · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Kannamoochi
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
31 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Therida vendum un ullam un veedu
Maarida vendum unnaalae innaadu
Ainthil valaiyattumae
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Vidhaiyo sirithu
Maraththai paaru vaanai mooduthu
Vilaiyum pothae nandraai
Vilainthaal nyaanam kooduthu
Thangam irunthathengae
Sangili anathengae
Thangam irunthathengae
Sangili anathengae
Thattumpothu sariyaai thattu
Neeyum aagalaam
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Vanjam soodhu poiyai
Kandaal sandai seiyungal
Unmai nanmai nermai
Kandaal nenjil vaiyungal
Uyarnthu vanthaalae
Ulagam un kayil
Uyarnthu vanthaalae
Ulagam un kayil
Unnai vella oruvarum illai
Thalaivan neeyadaa
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Therida vendum un ullam un veedu
Maarida vendum unnaalae innaadu
Ainthil valaiyattumae
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
My dear, the whole world is a school,
Where many lessons are taught.
My dear, the whole world is a school,
Where many lessons are taught.
Your heart and your home must grow wiser,
And this country must change through you.
Learn to bend while you are young...
My dear, the whole world is a school,
Where many lessons are taught.
The seed may be tiny,
But look at the tree—it reaches for the sky!
If it sprouts well right from the start,
As it grows, wisdom will only multiply.
Where did the raw gold begin,
And where was it crafted into a chain?
Where did the raw gold begin,
And where was it crafted into a chain?
Hammer and shape it the right way,
And you too can become something precious...
My dear, the whole world is a school,
Where many lessons are taught.
Deceit, cunning, and lies—
Fight against them wherever you see them!
Truth, goodness, and honesty—
Treasure them in your heart whenever you find them!
If you rise up with good character,
The whole world will be in your hands.
If you rise up with good character,
The whole world will be in your hands.
No one will ever be able to defeat you,
You will be a true leader, my boy!
My dear, the whole world is a school,
Where many lessons are taught.
Your heart and your home must grow wiser,
And this country must change through you.
Learn to bend while you are young...
My dear, the whole world is a school,
Where many lessons are taught.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam is a moral and philosophical song composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Vaali, sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for the film Kannamoochi (1978). The song presents the world as a grand classroom where life teaches continuous lessons to young minds. Using vivid imagery—such as a tiny seed expanding into a sky-reaching tree and unshaped gold being hammered into a fine ornament—the song emphasizes that habits and character must be nurtured in early childhood. The song serves as an encouraging moral guide for children, urging them to combat deceit and dishonesty while treasuring truth and virtue. It instills self-belief, promising that disciplined youth who grow up with strong values can lead the nation and hold the world in their hands.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam”

Compares the entire world to a school where life lessons are taught daily.

Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)

“Ainthil valaiyattumae”

Refers to the ancient Tamil proverb 'Ainthil valaiyaathathu aimpathil valaiyumaa' (What doesn't bend at five won't bend at fifty), encouraging early character formation.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

“Thangam irunthathengae / Sangili anathengae”

Rhyming line endings ('irunthathengae' and 'anathengae') creating rhythmic musical flow.

Contrast / Imagery

“Vidhaiyo sirithu / Maraththai paaru vaanai mooduthu”

Contrasts the tiny size of a seed with the grand scale of a full-grown tree touching the sky to represent human potential.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features music by V. Kumar, who was widely known as 'Mellisai Maamani' in Tamil cinema. Lyricist Vaali skillfully wove traditional Tamil educational values and proverbs into contemporary film music, making it a popular moral song broadcast in schools and radio shows during the late 1970s and 1980s.

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