Odam Ondru Kattril
From Tripura Sundari · 1978
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Tripura Sundari1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi | Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows, |
| Naamum pogindrom | we too keep moving along. |
| Yaetho ondru naalai endru | Hoping for something better tomorrow, |
| Innum vaazhgindrom | we still continue to live. |
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi | Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows, |
| Naamum pogindrom | we too keep moving along. |
| Male | |
| Paathai endru yaedhum illai | There is no defined path for us, |
| Kaalam ellaam naangal pogindrom | yet we keep wandering for all time. |
| Thaagam vanthaal neerum illai | When thirst strikes, there is no water to drink, |
| Neeril ingae naalum vaazhgindrom | yet here in the midst of water, we live every day. |
| Intha neeril sendrae kaanal neeraanom | Sailing upon this water, we ourselves became a mirage. |
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi | Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows, |
| Naamum pogindrom | we too keep moving along. |
| Male | |
| Thoondil ittom meengal illai | We cast a fishing line, but caught no fish, |
| Naangal ingae thoondil meenaanom | instead, we became the fish caught on the hook here. |
| Odam vittom dheepam illai | We set a boat afloat, but there is no lamp to guide it, |
| Naangal ingae odam polaanom | we ourselves became like that drifting boat here. |
| Entha neram engae povom endraanom | We are left wondering where we will end up and at what time. |
| Male | |
| Megam endraal minnal undu | Where there are clouds, there is lightning, |
| Thondrum minnalthaanae maaraathaa | won't that appearing flash of lightning eventually pass? |
| Vaazhkkai endraal innal undu | Where there is life, there are hardships, |
| Kaanum innal thaanae theeraathaa | won't these visible hardships come to an end? |
| Nalla kaalam ondru naalai vaaraathaa | Won't a good time arrive for us tomorrow? |
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi | Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows, |
| Naamum pogindrom | we too keep moving along. |
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
ஏதோ ஒன்று நாளை என்று
இன்னும் வாழ்கின்றோம்........
Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows,
we too keep moving along.
Hoping for something better tomorrow,
we still continue to live.
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows,
we too keep moving along.
பாதை என்று ஏதும் இல்லை
காலம் எல்லாம் நாங்கள் போகின்றோம்
தாகம் வந்தால் நீரும் இல்லை
நீரில் இங்கே நாளும் வாழ்கின்றோம்
இந்த நீரில் சென்றே கானல் நீரானோம்
There is no defined path for us,
yet we keep wandering for all time.
When thirst strikes, there is no water to drink,
yet here in the midst of water, we live every day.
Sailing upon this water, we ourselves became a mirage.
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows,
we too keep moving along.
தூண்டில் இட்டோம் மீன்கள் இல்லை
நாங்கள் இங்கே தூண்டில் மீனானோம்
ஓடம் விட்டோம் தீபம் இல்லை
நாங்கள் இங்கே ஓடம் போலானோம்
எந்த நேரம் எங்கே போவோம் என்றானோம்
We cast a fishing line, but caught no fish,
instead, we became the fish caught on the hook here.
We set a boat afloat, but there is no lamp to guide it,
we ourselves became like that drifting boat here.
We are left wondering where we will end up and at what time.
மேகம் என்றால் மின்னல் உண்டு
தோன்றும் மின்னல் தானே மாறாதா
வாழ்க்கை என்றால் இன்னல் உண்டு
காணும் இன்னல் தானே தீராதா
நல்ல காலம் ஒன்று நாளை வாராதா
Where there are clouds, there is lightning,
won't that appearing flash of lightning eventually pass?
Where there is life, there are hardships,
won't these visible hardships come to an end?
Won't a good time arrive for us tomorrow?
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows,
we too keep moving along.
Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi
Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows,
Naamum pogindrom
we too keep moving along.
Yaetho ondru naalai endru
Hoping for something better tomorrow,
Innum vaazhgindrom
we still continue to live.
Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi
Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows,
Naamum pogindrom
we too keep moving along.
Paathai endru yaedhum illai
There is no defined path for us,
Kaalam ellaam naangal pogindrom
yet we keep wandering for all time.
Thaagam vanthaal neerum illai
When thirst strikes, there is no water to drink,
Neeril ingae naalum vaazhgindrom
yet here in the midst of water, we live every day.
Intha neeril sendrae kaanal neeraanom
Sailing upon this water, we ourselves became a mirage.
Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi
Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows,
Naamum pogindrom
we too keep moving along.
Thoondil ittom meengal illai
We cast a fishing line, but caught no fish,
Naangal ingae thoondil meenaanom
instead, we became the fish caught on the hook here.
Odam vittom dheepam illai
We set a boat afloat, but there is no lamp to guide it,
Naangal ingae odam polaanom
we ourselves became like that drifting boat here.
Entha neram engae povom endraanom
We are left wondering where we will end up and at what time.
Megam endraal minnal undu
Where there are clouds, there is lightning,
Thondrum minnalthaanae maaraathaa
won't that appearing flash of lightning eventually pass?
Vaazhkkai endraal innal undu
Where there is life, there are hardships,
Kaanum innal thaanae theeraathaa
won't these visible hardships come to an end?
Nalla kaalam ondru naalai vaaraathaa
Won't a good time arrive for us tomorrow?
Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi
Like a boat drifting wherever the wind blows,
Naamum pogindrom
we too keep moving along.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Odam Ondru Kaattril Pona Vazhi' is a deeply philosophical and haunting song that reflects on the uncertain, helpless nature of human life. Using vivid maritime metaphors—such as a boat drifting aimlessly in the wind, being surrounded by ocean water yet dying of thirst, and getting caught on a hook while trying to fish—the lyrics portray humans as helpless travelers subject to the unpredictable whims of fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Odam ondru kaattril pona vazhi / Naamum pogindrom”
Human life drifting aimlessly without a clear destination is directly compared to a boat floating helplessly in the direction of the wind.
Paradox / Irony
“Thaagam vanthaal neerum illai / Neeril ingae naalum vaazhgindrom”
Highlights the ironic struggle of being surrounded by water (the sea/river) yet having no drinkable water to quench thirst.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Thondrum minnalthaanae maaraathaa / Kaanum innal thaanae theeraathaa / Nalla kaalam ondru naalai vaaraathaa”
The repeating end suffix '-raathaa' across consecutive rhetorical questions creates a rhythmic, melancholic cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic track features Ilaiyaraaja in a rare triple role as the composer, lyricist, and playback singer. Known for its minimalist acoustic orchestration, the song remains one of Ilaiyaraaja's earliest and most revered philosophical compositions reflecting existential themes.
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