Ninaithadhu Ellam
From Oru Kuppai Kadhai · 2015
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- Saisharan
- Music director
- Joshua Sridhar
- Details
- Oru Kuppai Kadhai2015
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ninaithadhu ellaam | Everything envisioned, |
| Nadikkira vaazhkai | a life that happens as desired— |
| Yaarukku kidaikirathu | who ever gets to have that? |
| Pala kanavugal ingae | Many dreams here |
| Kanneer thuliyaai | turn into drops of tears |
| Kannil vazhigirathu | and stream down from the eyes. |
| Male | |
| Viruppangal ellaam | After all desires |
| Tholaindha pinnalae | are lost and gone, |
| Vedhanai nilaikirathu | only pain remains. |
| Pala thirupangal theriyum | Along the road full |
| Paadhaiyil thaanae | of twists and turns, |
| Payanam nadakkirathu | the journey moves forward. |
| Male | |
| Ohoo…oo | Ohoo…oo |
| Manmelae naam ellaam | On this earth, all of us |
| Nool bommai pol thaanae | are mere puppets on a string; |
| Vidhi vandhu nammai izhukkum | fate comes along and pulls us. |
| Ohoo..ooo naam kaanum aasaigal | Ohoo..ooo the desires we dream of |
| Thanneeril kolangal | are like rangoli patterns drawn on water, |
| Aanaalum nenjam ninaikkum | yet the heart keeps wishing. |
| Male | |
| {Ninaithadhu ellaam | {Everything envisioned, |
| Nadikkira vaazhkai | a life that happens as desired— |
| Yaarukku kidaikirathu | who ever gets to have that? |
| Pala kanavugal ingae | Many dreams here |
| Kanneer thuliyaai | turn into drops of tears |
| Kannil vazhigirathu} (2) | and stream down from the eyes.} (2) |
| Male | |
| Unakkum oor kanavu | You have a dream, |
| Ada enakkum oor kanavu | oh, I too have a dream, |
| Ingae kanavugal inaivathillayae | yet dreams never align here. |
| Irulil thinam tholaiyum | Fading daily in the dark |
| Oru nizhal polae sondham ingae | like a shadow, relationships here fade; |
| Soozhnilaigal purivathillaiyae | circumstances are hard to comprehend. |
| Male | |
| Indha uravugal enbathu | These relationships are |
| Vidukathai | a riddle, |
| Adhu mudivindri thodarndhidum | an endless continuing |
| Thodarkathai | serial story. |
| Male | |
| Ingu unarvugal enbathu | Here, emotions are |
| Chitravathai | a form of torture, |
| Adhu thoondilil puzhuvena | the agony of being trapped |
| Sikkum vadhai | like a worm on a fishing hook. |
| Male | |
| Puyal mazhai varum | Storm and rain will fall |
| Oru puram veyil varum | on one side, sunshine will break |
| Marupuram inbam thumbam irandum | on the other; both joy and sorrow |
| Inaindhu aattivaikkum | join together to control us— |
| Vaazhkaiyaada…aaa…… | that is life, my friend... ah... |
| Male | |
| Nadhiyil vandhu midhakkum | Floating down a river, |
| Oor ilai polae vaazhkai | life is like a fallen leaf, |
| Ingae sellum dhisai therivathillaiyae | no one knows which direction it will head. |
| Iraivan ada andrae | God, way back then, |
| Naam vazhi paadhai ezhuthi vaithaan | wrote down our destined path, |
| Thiruppangal purivathillaiyae | its twists and turns remain unknown. |
| Male | |
| Indha vaazhkaiyin payanamo | The journey of this life |
| Siriyadhu | is brief, |
| Adhil kidaithidum anubavam | yet the experience gained from it |
| Periyadhu | is immense. |
| Male | |
| Ingu edhuvumae illai | Nothing here is truly |
| Unnadhu | yours, |
| Idhil varuthathil thoivadhu | so why wither away |
| Ennadhu | in grief over it? |
| Male | |
| Puyal mazhai varum | Storm and rain will fall |
| Oru puram veyil varum | on one side, sunshine will break |
| Marupuram inbam thumbam irandum | on the other; both joy and sorrow |
| Inaindhu aattivaikkum | join together to control us— |
| Vaazhkaiyaada…aaa…. | that is life, my friend... ah.... |
| Male | |
| Ninaithadhu ellaam | Everything envisioned, |
| Nadikkira vaazhkai | a life that happens as desired— |
| Yaarukku kidaikirathu | who ever gets to have that? |
| Pala kanavugal ingae | Many dreams here |
| Kanneer thuliyaai | turn into drops of tears |
| Kannil vazhigirathu | and stream down from the eyes. |
| Male | |
| Viruppangal ellaam | After all desires |
| Tholaindha pinnalae | are lost and gone, |
| Vedhanai nilaikirathu | only pain remains. |
| Pala thirupangal theriyum | Along the road full |
| Paadhaiyil thaanae | of twists and turns, |
| Payanam nadakkirathu | the journey moves forward. |
| Male | |
| Ohooo…ooo | Ohooo…ooo |
| Manmelae naam ellam | On this earth, all of us |
| Nool bommai pol thaanae | are mere puppets on a string; |
| Vidhi vandhu nammai izhukkum | fate comes along and pulls us. |
| Male | |
| Ohoo..naam kaanum aasaigal | Ohoo.. the desires we dream of |
| Thanneeril kolangal | are like rangoli patterns drawn on water, |
| Aanaalum nenjam ninaikkum | yet the heart keeps wishing. |
| Ohooo…oooo…. | Ohooo…oooo…. |
| Male | |
| {Ninaithadhu ellaam | {Everything envisioned, |
| Nadikkira vaazhkai | a life that happens as desired— |
| Yaarukku kidaikirathu | who ever gets to have that? |
| Pala kanavugal ingae | Many dreams here |
| Kanneer thuliyaai | turn into drops of tears |
| Kannil vazhigirathu} (2) | and stream down from the eyes.} (2) |
நினைத்தது எல்லாம்
நடக்கிற வாழ்க்கை யாருக்கு
கிடைக்கிறது பல கனவுகள்
இங்கே கண்ணீர் துளியாய்
கண்ணில் வழிகிறது
Everything envisioned,
a life that happens as desired—
who ever gets to have that?
Many dreams here
turn into drops of tears
and stream down from the eyes.
விருப்பங்கள் எல்லாம்
தொலைந்த பின்னாலே
வேதனை நிலைக்கிறது
பல திருப்பங்கள் தெரியும்
பாதையில் தானே பயணம்
நடக்கிறது
After all desires
are lost and gone,
only pain remains.
Along the road full
of twists and turns,
the journey moves forward.
ஓஹோ ஓஓ மண்
மேலே நாம் எல்லாம் நூல்
பொம்மை போல் தானே விதி
வந்து நம்மை இழுக்கும்
ஓஹோ ஓஓஓ நாம் காணும்
ஆசைகள் தண்ணீரில்
கோலங்கள் ஆனாலும்
நெஞ்சம் நினைக்கும்
Ohoo…oo
On this earth, all of us
are mere puppets on a string;
fate comes along and pulls us.
Ohoo..ooo the desires we dream of
are like rangoli patterns drawn on water,
yet the heart keeps wishing.
{ நினைத்தது எல்லாம்
நடக்கிற வாழ்க்கை யாருக்கு
கிடைக்கிறது பல கனவுகள்
இங்கே கண்ணீர் துளியாய்
கண்ணில் வழிகிறது } (2)
{Everything envisioned,
a life that happens as desired—
who ever gets to have that?
Many dreams here
turn into drops of tears
and stream down from the eyes.} (2)
உனக்கும் ஓர் கனவு
அட எனக்கும் ஓர் கனவு
இங்கே கனவுகள்
இணைவதில்லையே
இருளில் தினம் தொலையும்
ஒரு நிழல் போலே சொந்தம்
இங்கே சூழ்நிலைகள்
புரிவதில்லையே
You have a dream,
oh, I too have a dream,
yet dreams never align here.
Fading daily in the dark
like a shadow, relationships here fade;
circumstances are hard to comprehend.
இந்த உறவுகள்
என்பது விடுகதை அது
முடிவின்றி தொடர்ந்திடும்
தொடர்கதை
These relationships are
a riddle,
an endless continuing
serial story.
இங்கு உணர்வுகள்
என்பது சித்ரவதை அது
தூண்டிலில் புழுவென
சிக்கும் வதை
Here, emotions are
a form of torture,
the agony of being trapped
like a worm on a fishing hook.
புயல் மழை வரும்
ஒரு புறம் வெயில் வரும்
மறுபுறம் இன்பம் துன்பம்
இரண்டும் இணைந்து
ஆட்டிவைக்கும்
வாழ்க்கையடா ஆ
Storm and rain will fall
on one side, sunshine will break
on the other; both joy and sorrow
join together to control us—
that is life, my friend... ah...
நதியில் வந்து
மிதக்கும் ஓர் இலை
போலே வாழ்க்கை இங்கே
செல்லும் திசை தெரிவதில்லையே
இறைவன் அட அன்றே நம்
வழி பாதை எழுதி வைத்தான்
திருப்பங்கள் புரிவதில்லையே
Floating down a river,
life is like a fallen leaf,
no one knows which direction it will head.
God, way back then,
wrote down our destined path,
its twists and turns remain unknown.
இந்த வாழ்க்கையின்
பயணமோ சிறியது அதில்
கிடைத்திடும் அனுபவம்
பெரியது
The journey of this life
is brief,
yet the experience gained from it
is immense.
இங்கு எதுவுமே
இல்லை உன்னது இதில்
வருத்தத்தில் தோய்வது
என்னது
Nothing here is truly
yours,
so why wither away
in grief over it?
புயல் மழை வரும்
ஒரு புறம் வெயில் வரும்
மறுபுறம் இன்பம் துன்பம்
இரண்டும் இணைந்து
ஆட்டிவைக்கும்
வாழ்க்கையடா ஆ
Storm and rain will fall
on one side, sunshine will break
on the other; both joy and sorrow
join together to control us—
that is life, my friend... ah....
நினைத்தது எல்லாம்
நடக்கிற வாழ்க்கை யாருக்கு
கிடைக்கிறது பல கனவுகள்
இங்கே கண்ணீர் துளியாய்
கண்ணில் வழிகிறது
Everything envisioned,
a life that happens as desired—
who ever gets to have that?
Many dreams here
turn into drops of tears
and stream down from the eyes.
விருப்பங்கள் எல்லாம்
தொலைந்த பின்னாலே
வேதனை நிலைக்கிறது
பல திருப்பங்கள் தெரியும்
பாதையில் தானே பயணம்
நடக்கிறது
After all desires
are lost and gone,
only pain remains.
Along the road full
of twists and turns,
the journey moves forward.
ஓஹோ ஓஓ மண்
மேலே நாம் எல்லாம் நூல்
பொம்மை போல் தானே
விதி வந்து நம்மை இழுக்கும்
Ohooo…ooo
On this earth, all of us
are mere puppets on a string;
fate comes along and pulls us.
ஓஹோ நாம் காணும்
ஆசைகள் தண்ணீரில்
கோலங்கள் ஆனாலும்
நெஞ்சம் நினைக்கும்
ஓஹோ ஓஓ
Ohoo.. the desires we dream of
are like rangoli patterns drawn on water,
yet the heart keeps wishing.
Ohooo…oooo….
{ நினைத்தது எல்லாம்
நடக்கிற வாழ்க்கை யாருக்கு
கிடைக்கிறது பல கனவுகள்
இங்கே கண்ணீர் துளியாய்
கண்ணில் வழிகிறது } (2)
{Everything envisioned,
a life that happens as desired—
who ever gets to have that?
Many dreams here
turn into drops of tears
and stream down from the eyes.} (2)
Ninaithadhu ellaam
Everything envisioned,
Nadikkira vaazhkai
a life that happens as desired—
Yaarukku kidaikirathu
who ever gets to have that?
Pala kanavugal ingae
Many dreams here
Kanneer thuliyaai
turn into drops of tears
Kannil vazhigirathu
and stream down from the eyes.
Viruppangal ellaam
After all desires
Tholaindha pinnalae
are lost and gone,
Vedhanai nilaikirathu
only pain remains.
Pala thirupangal theriyum
Along the road full
Paadhaiyil thaanae
of twists and turns,
Payanam nadakkirathu
the journey moves forward.
Ohoo…oo
Ohoo…oo
Manmelae naam ellaam
On this earth, all of us
Nool bommai pol thaanae
are mere puppets on a string;
Vidhi vandhu nammai izhukkum
fate comes along and pulls us.
Ohoo..ooo naam kaanum aasaigal
Ohoo..ooo the desires we dream of
Thanneeril kolangal
are like rangoli patterns drawn on water,
Aanaalum nenjam ninaikkum
yet the heart keeps wishing.
{Ninaithadhu ellaam
{Everything envisioned,
Nadikkira vaazhkai
a life that happens as desired—
Yaarukku kidaikirathu
who ever gets to have that?
Pala kanavugal ingae
Many dreams here
Kanneer thuliyaai
turn into drops of tears
Kannil vazhigirathu} (2)
and stream down from the eyes.} (2)
Unakkum oor kanavu
You have a dream,
Ada enakkum oor kanavu
oh, I too have a dream,
Ingae kanavugal inaivathillayae
yet dreams never align here.
Irulil thinam tholaiyum
Fading daily in the dark
Oru nizhal polae sondham ingae
like a shadow, relationships here fade;
Soozhnilaigal purivathillaiyae
circumstances are hard to comprehend.
Indha uravugal enbathu
These relationships are
Vidukathai
a riddle,
Adhu mudivindri thodarndhidum
an endless continuing
Thodarkathai
serial story.
Ingu unarvugal enbathu
Here, emotions are
Chitravathai
a form of torture,
Adhu thoondilil puzhuvena
the agony of being trapped
Sikkum vadhai
like a worm on a fishing hook.
Puyal mazhai varum
Storm and rain will fall
Oru puram veyil varum
on one side, sunshine will break
Marupuram inbam thumbam irandum
on the other; both joy and sorrow
Inaindhu aattivaikkum
join together to control us—
Vaazhkaiyaada…aaa……
that is life, my friend... ah...
Nadhiyil vandhu midhakkum
Floating down a river,
Oor ilai polae vaazhkai
life is like a fallen leaf,
Ingae sellum dhisai therivathillaiyae
no one knows which direction it will head.
Iraivan ada andrae
God, way back then,
Naam vazhi paadhai ezhuthi vaithaan
wrote down our destined path,
Thiruppangal purivathillaiyae
its twists and turns remain unknown.
Indha vaazhkaiyin payanamo
The journey of this life
Siriyadhu
is brief,
Adhil kidaithidum anubavam
yet the experience gained from it
Periyadhu
is immense.
Ingu edhuvumae illai
Nothing here is truly
Unnadhu
yours,
Idhil varuthathil thoivadhu
so why wither away
Ennadhu
in grief over it?
Puyal mazhai varum
Storm and rain will fall
Oru puram veyil varum
on one side, sunshine will break
Marupuram inbam thumbam irandum
on the other; both joy and sorrow
Inaindhu aattivaikkum
join together to control us—
Vaazhkaiyaada…aaa….
that is life, my friend... ah....
Ninaithadhu ellaam
Everything envisioned,
Nadikkira vaazhkai
a life that happens as desired—
Yaarukku kidaikirathu
who ever gets to have that?
Pala kanavugal ingae
Many dreams here
Kanneer thuliyaai
turn into drops of tears
Kannil vazhigirathu
and stream down from the eyes.
Viruppangal ellaam
After all desires
Tholaindha pinnalae
are lost and gone,
Vedhanai nilaikirathu
only pain remains.
Pala thirupangal theriyum
Along the road full
Paadhaiyil thaanae
of twists and turns,
Payanam nadakkirathu
the journey moves forward.
Ohooo…ooo
Ohooo…ooo
Manmelae naam ellam
On this earth, all of us
Nool bommai pol thaanae
are mere puppets on a string;
Vidhi vandhu nammai izhukkum
fate comes along and pulls us.
Ohoo..naam kaanum aasaigal
Ohoo.. the desires we dream of
Thanneeril kolangal
are like rangoli patterns drawn on water,
Aanaalum nenjam ninaikkum
yet the heart keeps wishing.
Ohooo…oooo….
Ohooo…oooo….
{Ninaithadhu ellaam
{Everything envisioned,
Nadikkira vaazhkai
a life that happens as desired—
Yaarukku kidaikirathu
who ever gets to have that?
Pala kanavugal ingae
Many dreams here
Kanneer thuliyaai
turn into drops of tears
Kannil vazhigirathu} (2)
and stream down from the eyes.} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant philosophical song reflects on the unpredictable and often painful nature of human life, destiny, and unfulfilled desires. The narrator muses that virtually no one gets to live a life exactly as they envisioned, as dreams frequently crumble into tears and leaves us grappling with unexpected turns. Using vivid imagery—such as humans being puppets controlled by fate, desires being ephemeral patterns drawn on water, and life floating aimlessly like a leaf on a river—the song captures the feeling of helplessness against circumstances. Despite the somber tone, the song conveys a quiet stoicism. It reminds the listener that life is a mixture of storms and sunshine, pleasure and pain, and that nothing in this world truly belongs to anyone permanently. Thus, wasting time in despair is futile; instead, one must accept life's brief journey and value the vast wisdom and experience gained along the way.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Nool bommai pol thaanae”
Compares human beings to puppets on strings controlled by fate.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thanneeril kolangal”
Compares fleeting human desires directly to rangoli patterns drawn on water that vanish instantly.
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Oor ilai polae vaazhkai”
Compares human life to a single leaf floating on a river, adrift without a clear direction.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Indha uravugal enbathu Vidukathai”
Equates human relationships to an intricate, hard-to-solve riddle.
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Adhu thoondilil puzhuvena Sikkum vadhai”
Compares emotional suffering to the torment of a worm trapped on a fishing hook.
Antithesis (Muran Ani)
“Puyal mazhai varum Oru puram veyil varum Marupuram”
Contrasts storm/rain with sunshine, symbolizing the dual nature of joy and sorrow in life.
Did you know?
Trivia
Penned by the acclaimed late lyricist Na. Muthukumar, the song carries his signature philosophical touch on the fleeting and tragic aspects of human existence. The film 'Oru Kuppai Kadhai' (composed by Joshua Sridhar) deals with socio-economic struggles and fragile urban relationships, making these philosophical verses central to the protagonist's emotional journey.
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