Kanne Ulagame
From Kannamoochi · 1978
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Kannamoochi1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam | Oh my dear, the world itself is a school, |
| Angae nadakkumae pala paadam | Many lessons take place there. |
| Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam | Oh my dear, the world itself is a school, |
| Angae nadakkumae pala paadam | Many lessons take place there. |
| Male | |
| Therida vendum un ullam un veedu | Your mind and your home must gain clarity, |
| Maarida vendum unnaalae innaadu | This country must change because of you. |
| Ainthil valaiyattumae | Let it bend at five years of age! |
| Male | |
| Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam | Oh my dear, the world itself is a school, |
| Angae nadakkumae pala paadam | Many lessons take place there. |
| Male | |
| Vidhaiyo sirithu | The seed is small, |
| Maraththai paaru vaanai mooduthu | Look at the tree, it covers the sky! |
| Vilaiyum pothae nandraai | If it yields well while growing, |
| Vilainthaal nyaanam kooduthu | As it yields, wisdom increases. |
| Male | |
| Thangam irunthathengae | Where was the gold originally? |
| Sangili anathengae | Where did it become a chain? |
| Thangam irunthathengae | Where was the gold originally? |
| Sangili anathengae | Where did it become a chain? |
| Thattumpothu sariyaai thattu | When you strike, strike correctly, |
| Neeyum aagalaam | You too can become great. |
| Male | |
| Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam | Oh my dear, the world itself is a school, |
| Angae nadakkumae pala paadam | Many lessons take place there. |
| Male | |
| Vanjam soodhu poiyai | Deceit, trickery, and lies— |
| Kandaal sandai seiyungal | If you see them, fight against them! |
| Unmai nanmai nermai | Truth, goodness, and honesty— |
| Kandaal nenjil vaiyungal | If you see them, treasure them in your heart! |
| Male | |
| Uyarnthu vanthaalae | If you rise up high with character, |
| Ulagam un kayil | The world will be in your hands. |
| Uyarnthu vanthaalae | If you rise up high with character, |
| Ulagam un kayil | The world will be in your hands. |
| Unnai vella oruvarum illai | There is no one to defeat you, |
| Thalaivan neeyadaa | You are the leader, my dear child! |
| Male | |
| Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam | Oh my dear, the world itself is a school, |
| Angae nadakkumae pala paadam | Many lessons take place there. |
| Male | |
| Therida vendum un ullam un veedu | Your mind and your home must gain clarity, |
| Maarida vendum unnaalae innaadu | This country must change because of you. |
| Ainthil valaiyattumae | Let it bend at five years of age! |
| Male | |
| Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam | Oh my dear, the world itself is a school, |
| Angae nadakkumae pala paadam | Many lessons take place there. |
கண்ணே உலகமே பள்ளிக்கூடம்
அங்கே நடக்குமே பல பாடம்
கண்ணே உலகமே பள்ளிக்கூடம்
அங்கே நடக்குமே பல பாடம்
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Many lessons take place there.
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Many lessons take place there.
தேறிட வேண்டும் உன் உள்ளம் உன் வீடு
மாறிட வேண்டும் உன்னாலே இந்நாடு
ஐந்தில் வளையட்டுமே...........
Your mind and your home must gain clarity,
This country must change because of you.
Let it bend at five years of age!
கண்ணே உலகமே பள்ளிக்கூடம்
அங்கே நடக்குமே பல பாடம்
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Many lessons take place there.
விதையோ சிறிது
மரத்தைப் பாரு வானை மூடுது
விளையும் போதே நன்றாய்
விளைந்தால் ஞானம் கூடுது
The seed is small,
Look at the tree, it covers the sky!
If it yields well while growing,
As it yields, wisdom increases.
தங்கம் இருந்ததெங்கே
சங்கிலி ஆனதெங்கே
தங்கம் இருந்ததெங்கே
சங்கிலி ஆனதெங்கே
தட்டும் போது சரியாய் தட்டு
நீயும் ஆகலாம்......
Where was the gold originally?
Where did it become a chain?
Where was the gold originally?
Where did it become a chain?
When you strike, strike correctly,
You too can become great.
கண்ணே உலகமே பள்ளிக்கூடம்
அங்கே நடக்குமே பல பாடம்
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Many lessons take place there.
வஞ்சம் சூது பொய்யைக்
கண்டால் சண்டை செய்யுங்கள்
உண்மை நன்மை நேர்மை
கண்டால் நெஞ்சில் வையுங்கள்
Deceit, trickery, and lies—
If you see them, fight against them!
Truth, goodness, and honesty—
If you see them, treasure them in your heart!
உயர்ந்து வந்தாலே
உலகம் உன் கையில்
உயர்ந்து வந்தாலே
உலகம் உன் கையில்
உன்னை வெல்ல ஒருவரும் இல்லை
தலைவன் நீயடா.......
If you rise up high with character,
The world will be in your hands.
If you rise up high with character,
The world will be in your hands.
There is no one to defeat you,
You are the leader, my dear child!
கண்ணே உலகமே பள்ளிக்கூடம்
அங்கே நடக்குமே பல பாடம்
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Many lessons take place there.
தேறிட வேண்டும் உன் உள்ளம் உன் வீடு
மாறிட வேண்டும் உன்னாலே இந்நாடு
ஐந்தில் வளையட்டுமே...........
Your mind and your home must gain clarity,
This country must change because of you.
Let it bend at five years of age!
கண்ணே உலகமே பள்ளிக்கூடம்
அங்கே நடக்குமே பல பாடம்
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Many lessons take place there.
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Many lessons take place there.
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Many lessons take place there.
Therida vendum un ullam un veedu
Your mind and your home must gain clarity,
Maarida vendum unnaalae innaadu
This country must change because of you.
Ainthil valaiyattumae
Let it bend at five years of age!
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Many lessons take place there.
Vidhaiyo sirithu
The seed is small,
Maraththai paaru vaanai mooduthu
Look at the tree, it covers the sky!
Vilaiyum pothae nandraai
If it yields well while growing,
Vilainthaal nyaanam kooduthu
As it yields, wisdom increases.
Thangam irunthathengae
Where was the gold originally?
Sangili anathengae
Where did it become a chain?
Thangam irunthathengae
Where was the gold originally?
Sangili anathengae
Where did it become a chain?
Thattumpothu sariyaai thattu
When you strike, strike correctly,
Neeyum aagalaam
You too can become great.
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Many lessons take place there.
Vanjam soodhu poiyai
Deceit, trickery, and lies—
Kandaal sandai seiyungal
If you see them, fight against them!
Unmai nanmai nermai
Truth, goodness, and honesty—
Kandaal nenjil vaiyungal
If you see them, treasure them in your heart!
Uyarnthu vanthaalae
If you rise up high with character,
Ulagam un kayil
The world will be in your hands.
Uyarnthu vanthaalae
If you rise up high with character,
Ulagam un kayil
The world will be in your hands.
Unnai vella oruvarum illai
There is no one to defeat you,
Thalaivan neeyadaa
You are the leader, my dear child!
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Many lessons take place there.
Therida vendum un ullam un veedu
Your mind and your home must gain clarity,
Maarida vendum unnaalae innaadu
This country must change because of you.
Ainthil valaiyattumae
Let it bend at five years of age!
Kannae ulagamae pallikkoodam
Oh my dear, the world itself is a school,
Angae nadakkumae pala paadam
Many lessons take place there.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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