Kelu Pappa Aasaiyin Kathaiyai
From Uravu Solla Oruvan · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Vijaya Bhaskar
- Details
- Uravu Solla Oruvan1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai | Listen child to the story of desire |
| Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai | And the state of those who fell because of desire |
| Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai | Listen child to the story of desire |
| Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai | And the state of those who fell because of desire |
| Panathil aasai padhaviyil aasai | Desire for money desire for status |
| Paruva naalil kaadhalil aasai | Desire for love during youth |
| Male | |
| Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai | Listen child to the story of desire |
| Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai | And the state of those who fell because of desire |
| Male | |
| Alavu kuraindhaal aasaiyum vellum | If kept within limits even desire wins |
| Aana varaikkum podhumendrennum | It considers whatever is attained as enough |
| Endha veettil aasaigal illai | Which home does not have desires |
| Endha veettil aasaigal illai | Which home does not have desires |
| Elloraiyum velluvadhillai | Yet desire does not conquer everyone |
| Male | |
| Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai | Listen child to the story of desire |
| Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai | And the state of those who fell because of desire |
| Male | |
| Nooru kidaithaal aayiram ketkkum | If one gets a hundred it asks for a thousand |
| Aayiram kidaithaal adhai vida ketkkum | If one gets a thousand it asks for even more |
| Aasai engae mudinthathu kannae | Where has desire ever ended my dear |
| Aasai engae mudinthathu kannae | Where has desire ever ended my dear |
| Aandavan kooda aasaiyin pinnae | Even God chases after desire |
| Male | |
| Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai | Listen child to the story of desire |
| Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai | And the state of those who fell because of desire |
| Male | |
| Aasai kondathu kidaikaathendraal | If you do not get what you desired |
| Kiditha ondril aasai kolvaai nee | Learn to love what you have received |
| Nenjukku thevai nimmadhi thaanae | What the heart needs is peace alone |
| Nenjukku thevai nimmadhi thaanae | What the heart needs is peace alone |
| Nimmadhi iraivan sannadhi thaenae | Peace is sweet like the divine presence of God |
| Male | |
| Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai | Listen child to the story of desire |
| Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai | And the state of those who fell because of desire |
| Panathil aasai padhaviyil aasai | Desire for money desire for status |
| Paruva naalil kaadhalil aasai | Desire for love during youth |
| Male | |
| Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai | Listen child to the story of desire |
| Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai | And the state of those who fell because of desire |
கேளு பாப்பா ஆசையின் கதையை
ஆசையாலே வீழ்ந்தவர் நிலையை
கேளு பாப்பா ஆசையின் கதையை
ஆசையாலே வீழ்ந்தவர் நிலையை
பணத்தில் ஆசை பதவியில் ஆசை
பருவ நாளில் காதலில் ஆசை
Listen child to the story of desire
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Listen child to the story of desire
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Desire for money desire for status
Desire for love during youth
கேளு பாப்பா ஆசையின் கதையை
ஆசையாலே வீழ்ந்தவர் நிலையை
Listen child to the story of desire
And the state of those who fell because of desire
அளவு குறைந்தால் ஆசையும் வெல்லும்
ஆனவரைக்கும் போதுமென்றெண்ணும்
எந்த வீட்டில் ஆசைகள் இல்லை
எந்த வீட்டில் ஆசைகள் இல்லை
எல்லோரையும் வெல்லுவதில்லை
If kept within limits even desire wins
It considers whatever is attained as enough
Which home does not have desires
Which home does not have desires
Yet desire does not conquer everyone
கேளு பாப்பா ஆசையின் கதையை
ஆசையாலே வீழ்ந்தவர் நிலையை
Listen child to the story of desire
And the state of those who fell because of desire
நூறு கிடைத்தால் ஆயிரம் கேட்கும்
ஆயிரம் கிடைத்தால் அதைவிடக் கேட்கும்
ஆசை எங்கே முடிந்தது கண்ணே
ஆசை எங்கே முடிந்தது கண்ணே
ஆண்டவன் கூட ஆசையின் பின்னே
If one gets a hundred it asks for a thousand
If one gets a thousand it asks for even more
Where has desire ever ended my dear
Where has desire ever ended my dear
Even God chases after desire
கேளு பாப்பா ஆசையின் கதையை
ஆசையாலே வீழ்ந்தவர் நிலையை
Listen child to the story of desire
And the state of those who fell because of desire
ஆசைக் கொண்டது கிடைக்காதென்றால்
கிடைத்த ஒன்றில் ஆசை கொள்வாய் நீ
நெஞ்சுக்கு தேவை நிம்மதி தானே
நெஞ்சுக்கு தேவை நிம்மதி தானே
நிம்மதி இறைவன் சன்னதி தானே
If you do not get what you desired
Learn to love what you have received
What the heart needs is peace alone
What the heart needs is peace alone
Peace is sweet like the divine presence of God
கேளு பாப்பா ஆசையின் கதையை
ஆசையாலே வீழ்ந்தவர் நிலையை
பணத்தில் ஆசை பதவியில் ஆசை
பருவ நாளில் காதலில் ஆசை
Listen child to the story of desire
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Desire for money desire for status
Desire for love during youth
கேளு பாப்பா ஆசையின் கதையை
ஆசையாலே வீழ்ந்தவர் நிலையை
Listen child to the story of desire
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai
Listen child to the story of desire
Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai
Listen child to the story of desire
Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Panathil aasai padhaviyil aasai
Desire for money desire for status
Paruva naalil kaadhalil aasai
Desire for love during youth
Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai
Listen child to the story of desire
Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Alavu kuraindhaal aasaiyum vellum
If kept within limits even desire wins
Aana varaikkum podhumendrennum
It considers whatever is attained as enough
Endha veettil aasaigal illai
Which home does not have desires
Endha veettil aasaigal illai
Which home does not have desires
Elloraiyum velluvadhillai
Yet desire does not conquer everyone
Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai
Listen child to the story of desire
Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Nooru kidaithaal aayiram ketkkum
If one gets a hundred it asks for a thousand
Aayiram kidaithaal adhai vida ketkkum
If one gets a thousand it asks for even more
Aasai engae mudinthathu kannae
Where has desire ever ended my dear
Aasai engae mudinthathu kannae
Where has desire ever ended my dear
Aandavan kooda aasaiyin pinnae
Even God chases after desire
Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai
Listen child to the story of desire
Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Aasai kondathu kidaikaathendraal
If you do not get what you desired
Kiditha ondril aasai kolvaai nee
Learn to love what you have received
Nenjukku thevai nimmadhi thaanae
What the heart needs is peace alone
Nenjukku thevai nimmadhi thaanae
What the heart needs is peace alone
Nimmadhi iraivan sannadhi thaenae
Peace is sweet like the divine presence of God
Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai
Listen child to the story of desire
Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Panathil aasai padhaviyil aasai
Desire for money desire for status
Paruva naalil kaadhalil aasai
Desire for love during youth
Kelu paapa aasaiyin kadhaiyai
Listen child to the story of desire
Aasaiyaale veezhndhavar nilaiyai
And the state of those who fell because of desire
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kelu Paapa Aasaiyin Kadhaiyai from the 1975 film Uravu Solla Oruvan is a reflective and didactic song written by Kannadasan, set to music by Vijayabhaskar, and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Structured as advice delivered to a child, the song explores the double-edged nature of human desire. It warns that unbridled attachment to money, status, and romance leads to ruin, while controlled desires lead to success and contentment. Kannadasan encourages accepting whatever life offers as a path to inner tranquility, concluding that true peace is akin to the sweetness found in the presence of the Divine.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Panathil aasai padhaviyil aasai”
Repetition of the 'P' consonant sound at the start of adjacent words adds rhythmic cadence.
Parallelism / Hyperbole
“Nooru kidaithaal aayiram ketkkum / Aayiram kidaithaal adhai vida ketkkum”
Illustrates the escalating and insatiable nature of human greed by contrasting a hundred with a thousand.
Metaphor
“Nimmadhi iraivan sannadhi thaenae”
Compares peace of mind directly to the sweetness ('thaen') of being in the presence of God.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan was known for writing simplified philosophical gems suitable for all ages. The director used this composition in Uravu Solla Oruvan as a thematic moral compass for the movie's plot, which revolves around interpersonal relations, ambitions, and ethical choices.
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