Nallathukku Kalamilla
From Apoorva Sahodarigal · 1983
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Bappi Lahiri
- Details
- Apoorva Sahodarigal1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oor kavalai unakku edhukku | Why do you worry about the world? |
| Un pozhappa paaththukkaiyyaa | Mind your own business, sir. |
| Nee azhuthaa oor sirikkum | If you cry, the world will laugh at you. |
| Adhuthaan ulaamaiyyaa | That is the way of the world, sir. |
| Female | |
| Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend. |
| Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend. |
| Female | |
| Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi | Half fox, half dog, |
| Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi | Half fox, half dog, |
| Saernthathuthaanyaa manushanga jaadhi | That is what makes up the human race, sir. |
| Female | |
| Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend. |
| Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend. |
| Female | |
| Yae hae naan adichchi pudichchi vizhunthu ezhunthu | Hey, fighting my way through, falling and rising, |
| Pozhappa nadaththa purinjikkittaenyaa | I have understood how to run my life, sir. |
| Oor muzhukka muzhukka thiruttu pasanga | The whole town is full of thieves, |
| Irukkum iruppai therinjikkittaenyaa | I have understood the reality of how things are. |
| Thattu ketta ooraachchu kettu poyi naalaachchu | The town has lost its morals and gone to ruin over time, |
| Uththamanaa nee oruththan irunthingae ennaachchu | Even if you stayed here as an honest man, what good did it do? |
| Female | |
| Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend. |
| Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend. |
| Male | |
| Oo….ooho naan peththa pilla pola vanthu | Ooh... like my own child, you came to me, |
| Puththi ellaam solli koduththae | And taught me all wisdom. |
| Oor ulla nilai ullapadi | The true state of this world, |
| Unnaalathaan kandu kondaen | I came to see only because of you. |
| Unakkulla arivuthaan enakkillaiyappaa | I do not possess the sharp wisdom that you have, my friend. |
| Veluththatha paalunnu nenachchutaenappa | I foolishly thought everything white was milk, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend. |
| Male | |
| Nariyilae paathi…..aa….naayilae paathi….oho… | Half fox... ah... half dog... oho... |
| Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi | Half fox, half dog, |
| Saernthathuthaanyaa manushanga jaadhi | That is what makes up the human race, sir. |
| Male | |
| Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend. |
| Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae | There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live. |
| Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami…ee…. | Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend... |
ஊர் கவலை உனக்கு எதுக்கு
உன் பொழப்ப பாத்துக்கய்யா
நீ அழுதா ஊர் சிரிக்கும்
அதுதான் உலகமய்யா...
Why do you worry about the world?
Mind your own business, sir.
If you cry, the world will laugh at you.
That is the way of the world, sir.
நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி
ஹேய் நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
நரியிலே பாதி நாயிலே பாதி
நரியிலே பாதி நாயிலே பாதி
சேர்ந்ததுதான்யா மனுசங்க ஜாதி....
Half fox, half dog,
Half fox, half dog,
That is what makes up the human race, sir.
நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி
ஹேய் நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
ஏ ஹே நான் அடிச்சி புடிச்சி விழுந்து எழுந்து
பொழப்பு நடத்த புரிஞ்சிக்கிட்டேன்யா
ஊர் முழுக்க முழுக்க திருட்டு பசங்க
இருக்கும் இருப்பை தெரிஞ்சுக்கிட்டேன்யா
தட்டுக் கெட்ட ஊராச்சு கெட்டுப் போயி நாளாச்சு
உத்தமனா நீ ஒருத்தன் இருந்திங்கே என்னாச்சு
Hey, fighting my way through, falling and rising,
I have understood how to run my life, sir.
The whole town is full of thieves,
I have understood the reality of how things are.
The town has lost its morals and gone to ruin over time,
Even if you stayed here as an honest man, what good did it do?
நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி
ஹேய் நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
ஓ....ஓஹோ நான் பெத்தப் பிள்ளப் போல வந்து
புத்தி எல்லாம் சொல்லிக் கொடுத்தே
ஊர் உள்ள நிலை உள்ளபடி
உன்னாலதான் கண்டுக் கொண்டேன்
உனக்குள்ள அறிவுதான் எனக்கில்லையப்பா
வெளுத்தத பாலுன்னு நெனச்சுட்டேனப்பா
Ooh... like my own child, you came to me,
And taught me all wisdom.
The true state of this world,
I came to see only because of you.
I do not possess the sharp wisdom that you have, my friend.
I foolishly thought everything white was milk, my friend.
நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
நரியிலே பாதி....ஆ.....நாயிலே பாதி.....ஓஹோ....
நரியிலே பாதி நாயிலே பாதி
சேர்ந்ததுதான்யா மனுசங்க ஜாதி....
Half fox... ah... half dog... oho...
Half fox, half dog,
That is what makes up the human race, sir.
நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி
நல்லதுக்கு காலமில்ல நாமிருக்கும் பூமியிலே
நாலும் கெட்ட மனுசங்கள புரிஞ்சிக்க சாமி...ஈ.......
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend...
Oor kavalai unakku edhukku
Why do you worry about the world?
Un pozhappa paaththukkaiyyaa
Mind your own business, sir.
Nee azhuthaa oor sirikkum
If you cry, the world will laugh at you.
Adhuthaan ulaamaiyyaa
That is the way of the world, sir.
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi
Half fox, half dog,
Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi
Half fox, half dog,
Saernthathuthaanyaa manushanga jaadhi
That is what makes up the human race, sir.
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Yae hae naan adichchi pudichchi vizhunthu ezhunthu
Hey, fighting my way through, falling and rising,
Pozhappa nadaththa purinjikkittaenyaa
I have understood how to run my life, sir.
Oor muzhukka muzhukka thiruttu pasanga
The whole town is full of thieves,
Irukkum iruppai therinjikkittaenyaa
I have understood the reality of how things are.
Thattu ketta ooraachchu kettu poyi naalaachchu
The town has lost its morals and gone to ruin over time,
Uththamanaa nee oruththan irunthingae ennaachchu
Even if you stayed here as an honest man, what good did it do?
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Hey, there is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Oo….ooho naan peththa pilla pola vanthu
Ooh... like my own child, you came to me,
Puththi ellaam solli koduththae
And taught me all wisdom.
Oor ulla nilai ullapadi
The true state of this world,
Unnaalathaan kandu kondaen
I came to see only because of you.
Unakkulla arivuthaan enakkillaiyappaa
I do not possess the sharp wisdom that you have, my friend.
Veluththatha paalunnu nenachchutaenappa
I foolishly thought everything white was milk, my friend.
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Nariyilae paathi…..aa….naayilae paathi….oho…
Half fox... ah... half dog... oho...
Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi
Half fox, half dog,
Saernthathuthaanyaa manushanga jaadhi
That is what makes up the human race, sir.
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend.
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
There is no good time for goodness on this earth where we live.
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami…ee….
Understand the people who are thoroughly corrupt, Lord/friend...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a cynical yet pragmatic commentary on modern human nature and societal deception. The singer reflects on how being purely righteous or naive in a selfish world leads only to mockery and suffering. By observing the harsh realities of life, the protagonist comes to realize that human beings possess a mixture of slyness (like a fox) and opportunistic aggression (like a dog). Through a dialogue-like interaction with a wise companion, the speaker acknowledges his own past naivety ('assuming everything white was milk') and learns to navigate a world dominated by corruption and dishonesty, delivering a timeless philosophical message written in colloquial Tamil by Vaali.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagaimai)
“Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi”
Compares human nature to a mixture of foxes (cunning) and dogs (servility/barking) in 'Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi', vividly depicting human deceit.
Proverb / Idiomatic Expression (Pazhamozhi)
“Veluththatha paalunnu nenachchutaenappa”
Uses the popular Tamil proverb 'Veluththadhellam paal' ('Thinking everything white is milk') to symbolize extreme naivety and innocence.
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Irukkum iruppai therinjikkittaenyaa”
The second consonant 'ru' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Irukkum' and 'Thattu'), establishing a musical rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track features lyrics by the legendary Vaali, known for translating deep folk philosophy into easily digestible, street-smart lyrics. The song uses conversational, colloquial dialect ('paaththukkaiyyaa', 'nenachchutaenappa') typical of Vaali's signature character-driven song writing.
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