Odam Ondru
From Thiripura Sundari · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thiripura Sundari1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom | We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind. |
| Yaedho ondru naalai endru innum vaazhgindrom | Hoping for something tomorrow, we continue to live. |
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom | We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind. |
| Male | |
| Paadhai endru yaedhumillai | There is no defined path anywhere, |
| Kaalam ellaam naangal pogindrom | Yet through time, we keep moving forward. |
| Dhaagam vandhaal neerum illai | When thirst strikes, there is no water to drink, |
| Neeril ingae naalum vaazhgindrom | Even though we live surrounded by water every single day. |
| Indha neeril sendrae kaanal neeraanom | Journeying in this water, we became a mirage ourselves. |
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom | We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind. |
| Male | |
| Thoondil ittom meengal illai | We cast a fishing line, but caught no fish, |
| Naangal ingae thoondil meenaanom | Instead, we became the trapped fish ourselves here. |
| Odam vittom dheebam illai | We set a boat afloat, but there was no guiding light, |
| Naangal ingae odam pol aanom | Here, we became just like an aimless boat. |
| Endha naeram engae povom endraanom | We wonder at what time and where we will go. |
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom | We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind. |
| Male | |
| Maegam endraal minnal undu | If there is a cloud, there is lightning; |
| Thondrum minnal thaanae maaraadhaa | Will not that sudden lightning naturally fade away? |
| Vaazhkkai endraal innal undu | If there is life, there are hardships; |
| Kaanum innal thaanae theeraadhaa | Will not these visible troubles come to an end? |
| Nalla kaalam ondru naalai vaaraadhaa | Won't a good time arrive for us tomorrow? |
| Male | |
| Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom | We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind. |
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
ஏதோ ஒன்று நாளை என்று
இன்னும் வாழ்கின்றோம்.....
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Hoping for something tomorrow, we continue to live.
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
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 anywhere,
Yet through time, we keep moving forward.
When thirst strikes, there is no water to drink,
Even though we live surrounded by water every single day.
Journeying in this water, we became a mirage ourselves.
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
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 trapped fish ourselves here.
We set a boat afloat, but there was no guiding light,
Here, we became just like an aimless boat.
We wonder at what time and where we will go.
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
மேகம் என்றால் மின்னல் உண்டு
தோன்றும் மின்னல் தானே மாறாதா
வாழ்க்கை என்றால் இன்னல் உண்டு
காணும் இன்னல் தானே தீராதா
நல்ல காலம் ஒன்று நாளை வாராதா
If there is a cloud, there is lightning;
Will not that sudden lightning naturally fade away?
If there is life, there are hardships;
Will not these visible troubles come to an end?
Won't a good time arrive for us tomorrow?
ஓடம் ஒன்று காற்றில் போன வழி
நாமும் போகின்றோம்
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Yaedho ondru naalai endru innum vaazhgindrom
Hoping for something tomorrow, we continue to live.
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Paadhai endru yaedhumillai
There is no defined path anywhere,
Kaalam ellaam naangal pogindrom
Yet through time, we keep moving forward.
Dhaagam vandhaal neerum illai
When thirst strikes, there is no water to drink,
Neeril ingae naalum vaazhgindrom
Even though we live surrounded by water every single day.
Indha neeril sendrae kaanal neeraanom
Journeying in this water, we became a mirage ourselves.
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Thoondil ittom meengal illai
We cast a fishing line, but caught no fish,
Naangal ingae thoondil meenaanom
Instead, we became the trapped fish ourselves here.
Odam vittom dheebam illai
We set a boat afloat, but there was no guiding light,
Naangal ingae odam pol aanom
Here, we became just like an aimless boat.
Endha naeram engae povom endraanom
We wonder at what time and where we will go.
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Maegam endraal minnal undu
If there is a cloud, there is lightning;
Thondrum minnal thaanae maaraadhaa
Will not that sudden lightning naturally fade away?
Vaazhkkai endraal innal undu
If there is life, there are hardships;
Kaanum innal thaanae theeraadhaa
Will not these visible troubles come to an end?
Nalla kaalam ondru naalai vaaraadhaa
Won't a good time arrive for us tomorrow?
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom
We are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Odam Ondru Kaatril Pona Vazhi is a deeply philosophical and melancholic song penned by lyricist Kannadasan. The lyrics draw a vivid metaphor between human life and a small boat drifting helplessly in the wind across an unpredictable body of water. The characters reflect on their lack of control over fate, feeling stranded and helpless despite being surrounded by the vast ocean of existence, encapsulated by the irony of suffering thirst while living in water.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom”
Compares human life drifting through fate to a boat moving aimlessly in whichever direction the wind blows.
Paradox / Irony
“Dhaagam vandhaal neerum illai / Neeril ingae naalum vaazhgindrom”
Highlights the existential irony of living in water (sea) yet having no drinkable water when thirsty.
Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)
“Vaazhkkai endraal innal undu / Kaanum innal thaanae theeraadhaa / Nalla kaalam ondru naalai vaaraadhaa”
The rhetorical questions end with rhyming suffixes ('theeraadhaa', 'vaaraadhaa') creating a poetic rhythm.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Maegam endraal minnal undu”
Repetition of the initial 'Ma/Mi' sound in 'Maegam' and 'minnal'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the iconic Kannadasan, this song showcases his signature style of transforming personal despair into universal philosophical truths using simple yet resonant marine metaphors.
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