Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Apoorva Sahodarigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nallathukku Kalamilla

From Apoorva Sahodarigal · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Bappi Lahiri
Movie name
Apoorva Sahodarigal
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
14 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oor kavalai unakku edhukku
Un pozhappa paaththukkaiyyaa
Nee azhuthaa oor sirikkum
Adhuthaan ulaamaiyyaa
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi
Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi
Saernthathuthaanyaa manushanga jaadhi
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Yae hae naan adichchi pudichchi vizhunthu ezhunthu
Pozhappa nadaththa purinjikkittaenyaa
Oor muzhukka muzhukka thiruttu pasanga
Irukkum iruppai therinjikkittaenyaa
Thattu ketta ooraachchu kettu poyi naalaachchu
Uththamanaa nee oruththan irunthingae ennaachchu
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Haei nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Oo….ooho naan peththa pilla pola vanthu
Puththi ellaam solli koduththae
Oor ulla nilai ullapadi
Unnaalathaan kandu kondaen
Unakkulla arivuthaan enakkillaiyappaa
Veluththatha paalunnu nenachchutaenappa
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Nariyilae paathi…..aa….naayilae paathi….oho…
Nariyilae paathi naayilae paathi
Saernthathuthaanyaa manushanga jaadhi
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami
Nallathukku kaalamilla naamirukkum bhoomiyilae
Naalum ketta manushangala purinjikka saami…ee….
Why do you worry about the world?
Mind your own livelihood, my friend.
If you cry, the world will laugh,
That is the way of the world, sir...
Goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend.
Hey, goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend.
Half a fox and half a dog,
Half a fox and half a dog,
That is what makes up the human race, sir...
Goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend.
Hey, goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend.
Hey, by struggling, fighting, falling, and rising,
I learned how to make a living, sir.
This whole town is full of thieving rogues,
And I have come to see their true colors, sir.
This town has lost its way, it went bad long ago.
What did you gain by being the only honest man here?
Goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend.
Hey, goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend.
Oh... Coming to me just like my own child,
You taught me how to see sense.
The true state of this town, just as it is,
I realized it only because of you.
I never had the wisdom that you possess,
I foolishly thought everything white was milk.
Goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend.
Half a fox... ah... half a dog... oh...
Half a fox and half a dog,
That is what makes up the human race, sir...
Goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend.
Goodness has no place on this earth we live in,
Understand these good-for-nothing people, my friend...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Pethu Potta Annai1993
Chinna DevanLonelinessResilience
Yaaro Neeyum Naanum1979
Pattakkathi BhairavanIdentityLoneliness
Magathaana Uravugalai1993
Enga MuthalaliResilienceMelancholic
Veedu Manaivi Makkal1988
Veedu Manaivi MakkalMelancholicLoneliness
Idhuthaan Ulagamadaa Manidhaa1956
PaasavalaiPovertyLoneliness
Onnukkonnu Thunai2009
NandalalaMelancholicLoneliness

From the same album

More songs from Apoorva Sahodarigal

View album
Rosy My Name Is Rosy1983
Apoorva SahodarigalCelebratory
Ondre Engal Devan1983
Apoorva SahodarigalCelebratory
Ennai Yaarum Thottathillai1983
Apoorva SahodarigalPlayful
Engenge Neethan1983
Apoorva SahodarigalRomantic
Annai Ennum Aalayam1983
Apoorva SahodarigalTender

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.