Karunai Ullame
From Jaya Gopi · 1955
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Chithoor Nagaiya
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Jaya Gopi1955
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Karunai ullamae illaiyaa | Is there no compassionate heart? |
| Jagaththinil kanintha | In this world, a gentle |
| Nenjamae illaiyaa | Heart, is there none? |
| Karunai ullamae illaiyaa | Is there no compassionate heart? |
| Jagaththinil kanintha | In this world, a gentle |
| Nenjamae illaiyaa | Heart, is there none? |
| Male | |
| Karunai ullamae illaiyaa | Is there no compassionate heart? |
| Male | |
| Thanthai thaai izhanthu | Having lost father and mother, |
| Vaattam kollum | Suffer and wilt in sorrow, |
| Siru pillaigal | Do these little children |
| Puvikkae paaram aavathaa | Become a burden to the earth? |
| Male | |
| Thanthai thaai izhanthu | Having lost father and mother, |
| Vaattam kollum | Suffer and wilt in sorrow, |
| Siru pillaigal | Do these little children |
| Puvikkae paaram aavathaa | Become a burden to the earth? |
| Male | |
| Karunai ullamae illaiyaa | Is there no compassionate heart? |
| Jagaththinil kanintha | In this world, a gentle |
| Nenjamae illaiyaa | Heart, is there none? |
| Male | |
| Komaathaathaan paalloottum maathaa | The sacred cow is the mother who nurtures with milk, |
| Poodevithaan thaalaattum maathaa | Mother Earth is the mother who sings a lullaby, |
| Komaathaathaan paalloottum maathaa | The sacred cow is the mother who nurtures with milk, |
| Poodevithaan thaalaattum maathaa | Mother Earth is the mother who sings a lullaby, |
| Sooriya chandhirarae panthukkalae | The sun and the moon are our kinsmen, |
| Sooriya chandhirarae panthukkalae | The sun and the moon are our kinsmen, |
| Intha jegamellaam | This entire world |
| Piriyamaana illangal thaanae | Is indeed a beloved home, isn't it? |
| Male | |
| Karunai ullamae illaiyaa | Is there no compassionate heart? |
| Jagaththinil kanintha | In this world, a gentle |
| Nenjamae illaiyaa | Heart, is there none? |
| Male | |
| Aasai paasam pesunth thendralae | O gentle breeze that speaks of love and affection, |
| Anaathai kisikkalin sinegithanae | O friend of orphan fledglings, |
| Aasai paasam pesunth thendralae | O gentle breeze that speaks of love and affection, |
| Anaathai kisikkalin sinegithanae | O friend of orphan fledglings, |
| Male | |
| Niththirai thaayin | Here are the soft hands |
| Miruthu karangalitho | Of Mother Sleep, |
| Niththirai thaayin | Here are the soft hands |
| Miruthu karangalitho | Of Mother Sleep, |
| Thunbam maranthidum thunaigalae | O companions that erase sorrow! |
| Male | |
| Karunai ullamae illaiyaa | Is there no compassionate heart? |
| Jagaththinil kanintha | In this world, a gentle |
| Nenjamae illaiyaa | Heart, is there none? |
| Male | |
| Aa…..karunai ullamae illaiyaa… | Ah... is there no compassionate heart? |
கருணை உள்ளமே இல்லையா
ஜகத்தினில் கனிந்த
நெஞ்சமே இல்லையா
கருணை உள்ளமே இல்லையா
ஜகத்தினில் கனிந்த
நெஞ்சமே இல்லையா
Is there no compassionate heart?
In this world, a gentle
Heart, is there none?
Is there no compassionate heart?
In this world, a gentle
Heart, is there none?
கருணை உள்ளமே இல்லையா
Is there no compassionate heart?
தந்தை தாய் இழந்து
வாட்டம் கொள்ளும்
சிறு பிள்ளைகள்
புவிக்கே பாரம் ஆவதா
Having lost father and mother,
Suffer and wilt in sorrow,
Do these little children
Become a burden to the earth?
தந்தை தாய் இழந்து
வாட்டம் கொள்ளும்
சிறு பிள்ளைகள்
புவிக்கே பாரம் ஆவதா
Having lost father and mother,
Suffer and wilt in sorrow,
Do these little children
Become a burden to the earth?
கருணை உள்ளமே இல்லையா
ஜகத்தினில் கனிந்த
நெஞ்சமே இல்லையா
Is there no compassionate heart?
In this world, a gentle
Heart, is there none?
கோமாதா தான் பாலூட்டும் மாதா
பூதேவிதான் தாலாட்டும் மாதா
கோமாதா தான் பாலூட்டும் மாதா
பூதேவிதான் தாலாட்டும் மாதா
சூரிய சந்திரரே பந்துக்களே
சூரிய சந்திரரே பந்துக்களே
இந்த ஜெகமெல்லாம்
பிரியமான இல்லங்கள் தானே
The sacred cow is the mother who nurtures with milk,
Mother Earth is the mother who sings a lullaby,
The sacred cow is the mother who nurtures with milk,
Mother Earth is the mother who sings a lullaby,
The sun and the moon are our kinsmen,
The sun and the moon are our kinsmen,
This entire world
Is indeed a beloved home, isn't it?
கருணை உள்ளமே இல்லையா
ஜகத்தினில் கனிந்த
நெஞ்சமே இல்லையா
Is there no compassionate heart?
In this world, a gentle
Heart, is there none?
ஆசை பாசம் பேசுந் தென்றலே
அனாதை சிசுக்களின் சிநேகிதனே
ஆசை பாசம் பேசுந் தென்றலே
அனாதை சிசுக்களின் சிநேகிதனே
O gentle breeze that speaks of love and affection,
O friend of orphan fledglings,
O gentle breeze that speaks of love and affection,
O friend of orphan fledglings,
நித்திரைத் தாயின்
மிருதுக் கரங்களிதோ
நித்திரைத் தாயின்
மிருதுக் கரங்களிதோ
துன்பம் மறந்திடும் துணைகளே
Here are the soft hands
Of Mother Sleep,
Here are the soft hands
Of Mother Sleep,
O companions that erase sorrow!
கருணை உள்ளமே இல்லையா
ஜகத்தினில் கனிந்த
நெஞ்சமே இல்லையா
Is there no compassionate heart?
In this world, a gentle
Heart, is there none?
ஆ.....கருணை உள்ளமே இல்லையா
Ah... is there no compassionate heart?
Karunai ullamae illaiyaa
Is there no compassionate heart?
Jagaththinil kanintha
In this world, a gentle
Nenjamae illaiyaa
Heart, is there none?
Karunai ullamae illaiyaa
Is there no compassionate heart?
Jagaththinil kanintha
In this world, a gentle
Nenjamae illaiyaa
Heart, is there none?
Karunai ullamae illaiyaa
Is there no compassionate heart?
Thanthai thaai izhanthu
Having lost father and mother,
Vaattam kollum
Suffer and wilt in sorrow,
Siru pillaigal
Do these little children
Puvikkae paaram aavathaa
Become a burden to the earth?
Thanthai thaai izhanthu
Having lost father and mother,
Vaattam kollum
Suffer and wilt in sorrow,
Siru pillaigal
Do these little children
Puvikkae paaram aavathaa
Become a burden to the earth?
Karunai ullamae illaiyaa
Is there no compassionate heart?
Jagaththinil kanintha
In this world, a gentle
Nenjamae illaiyaa
Heart, is there none?
Komaathaathaan paalloottum maathaa
The sacred cow is the mother who nurtures with milk,
Poodevithaan thaalaattum maathaa
Mother Earth is the mother who sings a lullaby,
Komaathaathaan paalloottum maathaa
The sacred cow is the mother who nurtures with milk,
Poodevithaan thaalaattum maathaa
Mother Earth is the mother who sings a lullaby,
Sooriya chandhirarae panthukkalae
The sun and the moon are our kinsmen,
Sooriya chandhirarae panthukkalae
The sun and the moon are our kinsmen,
Intha jegamellaam
This entire world
Piriyamaana illangal thaanae
Is indeed a beloved home, isn't it?
Karunai ullamae illaiyaa
Is there no compassionate heart?
Jagaththinil kanintha
In this world, a gentle
Nenjamae illaiyaa
Heart, is there none?
Aasai paasam pesunth thendralae
O gentle breeze that speaks of love and affection,
Anaathai kisikkalin sinegithanae
O friend of orphan fledglings,
Aasai paasam pesunth thendralae
O gentle breeze that speaks of love and affection,
Anaathai kisikkalin sinegithanae
O friend of orphan fledglings,
Niththirai thaayin
Here are the soft hands
Miruthu karangalitho
Of Mother Sleep,
Niththirai thaayin
Here are the soft hands
Miruthu karangalitho
Of Mother Sleep,
Thunbam maranthidum thunaigalae
O companions that erase sorrow!
Karunai ullamae illaiyaa
Is there no compassionate heart?
Jagaththinil kanintha
In this world, a gentle
Nenjamae illaiyaa
Heart, is there none?
Aa…..karunai ullamae illaiyaa…
Ah... is there no compassionate heart?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses a deep lamentation for orphaned children who wander the world without parental care. The speaker questions humanity, asking whether there is no kindness or compassionate heart left in society to care for young souls who have lost their mother and father. To comfort these destitute children, the song turns to nature as a maternal and protective force: the sacred cow acts as a mother offering milk, Mother Earth rocks them to sleep, the sun and moon serve as loving relatives, and the gentle breeze acts as a comforting companion. Through these evocative imagery, the lyric highlights the tragedy of human indifference while offering solace in nature's eternal embrace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinath Thalai)
“Siru pillaigal Puvikkae paaram aavathaa”
The refrain asks whether young orphaned children can truly be a burden to the earth, highlighting human apathy and invoking empathy from the listener.
Personification (Uruvagamaakkal)
“Aasai paasam pesunth thendralae”
Nature is personified as maternal figures and friends—the breeze speaks of love, Mother Earth sings lullabies, and sleep is depicted as a tender mother with soft hands.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Komaathaathaan paalloottum maathaa / Poodevithaan thaalaattum maathaa”
The repetition of 'maathaa' at the line endings creates a soothing rhythm echoing a lulling song.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Jaya Gopi' (1955) featured music by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics by the master poet Kannadasan. Singer-actor Chittor V. Nagaiah delivered a deeply emotional performance in this track, portraying his signature benevolent and grief-stricken persona that resonated strongly with contemporary audiences.
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