Kannu Therinju Nadakkanum
From Rambaiyin Kaadhal · 1956
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, S. V. Ponnusami, Ramaiah
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Rambaiyin Kaadhal1956
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yanaiyaai pirandhaalum | Whether born as a mighty elephant |
| Poonaiyaai pirandhaalum | Or born as a humble cat |
| Maanathai paarkka venum…mm..mmm… | One must always safeguard self-respect... mm..mmm... |
| Yaaraa irundhaalum | Whoever one might be in life |
| Mudhalaali aayittaa | Once one becomes the owner or boss |
| Joraa nadakka venum ….ammaadi | One must walk with dignity and grand poise... oh dear! |
| Male | |
| Haan kannu therinji nadakkanum | Yes, one must walk with open eyes and awareness |
| Indha ulagathilae | In this world |
| Yaarum kannu therinji nadakkanum | Everyone must walk with open eyes and awareness |
| Indha ulagathilae | In this world |
| Male | |
| Annaikki irundhadha nenachi paakkanum | One should remember past hardships and humble origins |
| Arivu paadhaiyil nadandhu poganum | One should walk along the path of wisdom and reason |
| Annaikki irundhadha nenachi paakkanum | One should remember past hardships and humble origins |
| Arivu paadhaiyil nadandhu poganum | One should walk along the path of wisdom and reason |
| Male | |
| Adhai ellaam paathaa | If you take all of that into account |
| Odhaiyum vaanganum | One must also learn to endure blows and setbacks |
| Un aandha kannaiyum paethu yeriyanum | And gouge out those owl-like glaring eyes of yours |
| Male | |
| Adhirshtam vandhaalum | Even when immense good fortune arrives |
| Kaadhu ketkkanum | One should keep their ears open and remain attentive |
| Adakkamaagavae nadakka theriyanum | One must know how to conduct oneself with utmost humility |
| Adhirshtam vandhaalum | Even when immense good fortune arrives |
| Kaadhu ketkkanum | One should keep their ears open and remain attentive |
| Adakkamaagavae nadakka theriyanum | One must know how to conduct oneself with utmost humility |
| Male | |
| Padhashtamaagavae pazhagi aaganum | One must learn to get accustomed to any situation calmly |
| Pattu methaiyil thoonga theriyanum | One must know how to sleep comfortably on a silk mattress |
| Aamaandaa engappaa | Yes indeed, my friend! |
| Padhashtamaagavae pazhagi aaganum | One must learn to get accustomed to any situation calmly |
| Pattu methaiyil thoonga theriyanum | One must know how to sleep comfortably on a silk mattress |
| Male | |
| Vellaiyaagavae manasu irukkanum | The heart and mind must remain pure and spotless |
| Male :Aamaa | Male: Yes |
| Male :Vaesham poduvadhai niruthi vaikkanum | Male: One must stop putting on fake pretenses and disguises |
| Male :Podaa | Male: Go on now! |
| Male | |
| Vellaiyaagavae manasu irukkanum | The heart and mind must remain pure and spotless |
| Vaesham poduvadhai niruthi vaikkanum | One must stop putting on fake pretenses and disguises |
| Male | |
| Pillaiyaar pola kadavul aaganum | One should become virtuous and innocent like Lord Ganesha |
| Pennai kandaalae kannai moodanum | And close one's eyes in respect/restraint upon seeing a woman |
| Pillaiyaar pola kadavul aaganum | One should become virtuous and innocent like Lord Ganesha |
| Pennai kandaalae kannai moodanum | And close one's eyes in respect/restraint upon seeing a woman |
எஸ். வி. பொன்னுசாமி மற்றும் ராமைய்யா
Whether born as a mighty elephant
Or born as a humble cat
One must always safeguard self-respect... mm..mmm...
Whoever one might be in life
Once one becomes the owner or boss
One must walk with dignity and grand poise... oh dear!
யானையாய் பிறந்தாலும்
பூனையாய் பிறந்தாலும்
மானத்தை பார்க்க வேணும்....ம்ம்....ம்ம்ம்....
யாரா இருந்தாலும்
முதலாளி ஆயிட்டா
ஜோரா நடக்க வேணும்.....அம்மாடி....
Yes, one must walk with open eyes and awareness
In this world
Everyone must walk with open eyes and awareness
In this world
ஹான் கண்ணு தெரிஞ்சு நடக்கணும்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
யாரும் கண்ணு தெரிஞ்சு நடக்கணும்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
One should remember past hardships and humble origins
One should walk along the path of wisdom and reason
One should remember past hardships and humble origins
One should walk along the path of wisdom and reason
அன்னைக்கி இருந்தத நெனச்சுப் பாக்கணும்
அறிவுப் பாதையில் நடந்து போகணும்
அன்னைக்கி இருந்தத நெனச்சுப் பாக்கணும்
அறிவுப் பாதையில் நடந்து போகணும்
If you take all of that into account
One must also learn to endure blows and setbacks
And gouge out those owl-like glaring eyes of yours
அதையெல்லாம் பாத்தா
உதையும் வாங்கணும்
உன் ஆந்தைக் கண்ணையும்
பேத்து எறியணும்
Even when immense good fortune arrives
One should keep their ears open and remain attentive
One must know how to conduct oneself with utmost humility
Even when immense good fortune arrives
One should keep their ears open and remain attentive
One must know how to conduct oneself with utmost humility
ஆண்கள் :
கண்ணு தெரிஞ்சு நடக்கணும்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
யாரும் கண்ணு தெரிஞ்சு நடக்கணும்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
One must learn to get accustomed to any situation calmly
One must know how to sleep comfortably on a silk mattress
Yes indeed, my friend!
One must learn to get accustomed to any situation calmly
One must know how to sleep comfortably on a silk mattress
அதிர்ஷ்டம் வந்தாலும்
காது கேக்கணும்
அடக்கமாகவே நடக்கத் தெரியணும்
அதிர்ஷ்டம் வந்தாலும்
காது கேக்கணும்
அடக்கமாகவே நடக்கத் தெரியணும்
The heart and mind must remain pure and spotless
Male: Yes
Male: One must stop putting on fake pretenses and disguises
Male: Go on now!
பதஷ்டமாகவே பழகியாகணும்
பட்டு மெத்தையில் தூங்கத் தெரியணும்
எப்பா கைலாசா
ஆமாண்டா எங்கப்பா
பதஷ்டமாகவே பழகியாகணும்
பட்டு மெத்தையில் தூங்கத் தெரியணும்
The heart and mind must remain pure and spotless
One must stop putting on fake pretenses and disguises
ஆண்கள் :
கண்ணு தெரிஞ்சு நடக்கணும்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
யாரும் கண்ணு தெரிஞ்சு நடக்கணும்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
One should become virtuous and innocent like Lord Ganesha
And close one's eyes in respect/restraint upon seeing a woman
One should become virtuous and innocent like Lord Ganesha
And close one's eyes in respect/restraint upon seeing a woman
வெள்ளையாகவே மனசு இருக்கணும்
ஆமா
வேஷம் போடுவதை நிறுத்தி வைக்கணும்
போடா
வெள்ளையாகவே மனசு இருக்கணும்
வேஷம் போடுவதை நிறுத்தி வைக்கணும்
பிள்ளையார் போல கடவுளாகணும்
பெண்ணைக் கண்டாலே கண்ணை மூடணும்
பிள்ளையார் போல கடவுளாகணும்
பெண்ணைக் கண்டாலே கண்ணை மூடணும்
ஆண்கள் :
கண்ணு தெரிஞ்சு
யாரும் கண்ணு தெரிஞ்சு நடக்கணும்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
Yanaiyaai pirandhaalum
Whether born as a mighty elephant
Poonaiyaai pirandhaalum
Or born as a humble cat
Maanathai paarkka venum…mm..mmm…
One must always safeguard self-respect... mm..mmm...
Yaaraa irundhaalum
Whoever one might be in life
Mudhalaali aayittaa
Once one becomes the owner or boss
Joraa nadakka venum ….ammaadi
One must walk with dignity and grand poise... oh dear!
Haan kannu therinji nadakkanum
Yes, one must walk with open eyes and awareness
Indha ulagathilae
In this world
Yaarum kannu therinji nadakkanum
Everyone must walk with open eyes and awareness
Indha ulagathilae
In this world
Annaikki irundhadha nenachi paakkanum
One should remember past hardships and humble origins
Arivu paadhaiyil nadandhu poganum
One should walk along the path of wisdom and reason
Annaikki irundhadha nenachi paakkanum
One should remember past hardships and humble origins
Arivu paadhaiyil nadandhu poganum
One should walk along the path of wisdom and reason
Adhai ellaam paathaa
If you take all of that into account
Odhaiyum vaanganum
One must also learn to endure blows and setbacks
Un aandha kannaiyum paethu yeriyanum
And gouge out those owl-like glaring eyes of yours
Adhirshtam vandhaalum
Even when immense good fortune arrives
Kaadhu ketkkanum
One should keep their ears open and remain attentive
Adakkamaagavae nadakka theriyanum
One must know how to conduct oneself with utmost humility
Adhirshtam vandhaalum
Even when immense good fortune arrives
Kaadhu ketkkanum
One should keep their ears open and remain attentive
Adakkamaagavae nadakka theriyanum
One must know how to conduct oneself with utmost humility
Padhashtamaagavae pazhagi aaganum
One must learn to get accustomed to any situation calmly
Pattu methaiyil thoonga theriyanum
One must know how to sleep comfortably on a silk mattress
Aamaandaa engappaa
Yes indeed, my friend!
Padhashtamaagavae pazhagi aaganum
One must learn to get accustomed to any situation calmly
Pattu methaiyil thoonga theriyanum
One must know how to sleep comfortably on a silk mattress
Vellaiyaagavae manasu irukkanum
The heart and mind must remain pure and spotless
Male :Aamaa
Male: Yes
Male :Vaesham poduvadhai niruthi vaikkanum
Male: One must stop putting on fake pretenses and disguises
Male :Podaa
Male: Go on now!
Vellaiyaagavae manasu irukkanum
The heart and mind must remain pure and spotless
Vaesham poduvadhai niruthi vaikkanum
One must stop putting on fake pretenses and disguises
Pillaiyaar pola kadavul aaganum
One should become virtuous and innocent like Lord Ganesha
Pennai kandaalae kannai moodanum
And close one's eyes in respect/restraint upon seeing a woman
Pillaiyaar pola kadavul aaganum
One should become virtuous and innocent like Lord Ganesha
Pennai kandaalae kannai moodanum
And close one's eyes in respect/restraint upon seeing a woman
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic comedic philosophical track from Rambaiyin Kaadhal (1956) delivers moral advice wrapped in satirical folk banter. The song emphasizes that regardless of one's status in life—whether big like an elephant or small like a cat—dignity, humility, and moral integrity are paramount. It cautions that gaining wealth or power should not turn a person blind or deaf to wisdom, urging individuals to remember their humble past and walk on the path of self-restraint. Through playful back-and-forth exchanges, the lyrics urge people to shed hypocrisy, maintain a pure heart ('white heart'), adapt gracefully to prosperity, and respect women. Drawing an analogy to Lord Ganesha, it promotes innocent virtue and self-control as the true hallmarks of a wise human being.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Yanaiyaai pirandhaalum / Poonaiyaai pirandhaalum”
Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Yanaiyaai' / 'Poonaiyaai' and 'Annaikki' / 'Arivu' / 'Adhai'.
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagai)
“Yanaiyaai pirandhaalum / Poonaiyaai pirandhaalum”
Comparing human status to an elephant or cat, owl eyes to glaring foolishness, and pure virtue to Lord Ganesha ('Pillaiyaar pola').
Antithesis (Muran)
“Padhashtamaagavae pazhagi aaganum / Pattu methaiyil thoonga theriyanum”
Contrasting extremes like elephant vs. cat, or hardship ('Odhaiyum vaanganum') vs. luxury ('Pattu methaiyil thoonga').
Did you know?
Trivia
Rambaiyin Kaadhal (1956), directed by Paul Ramasamy, featured music composed by T. R. Pappa with lyrics penned by the renowned Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. The film is a fantasy-comedy starring P. Bhanumathi and K. A. Thangavelu, famous for combining playful social commentaries with traditional folk tunes.
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