Odi Odi Uzhaikkanum
From Nalla Neram · 1972
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Nalla Neram1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Odi odi | { We must run and run, |
| Uzhaikanum oorukellam | Work hard, and to all the townspeople |
| Kodukanum } (2) | We must give } (2) |
| Male | |
| Aadi paadi | Dancing and singing, |
| Nadakanum anbai | We must live, and love |
| Naalum valarkanum | We must foster every single day |
| Male | |
| Odi odi | We must run and run, |
| Uzhaikanum oorukellam | Work hard, and to all the townspeople |
| Kodukanum | We must give |
| Male | |
| Aadi paadi | Dancing and singing, |
| Nadakanum anbai | We must live, and love |
| Naalum valarkanum | We must foster every single day |
| Male | |
| Odi odi | We must run and run, |
| Uzhaikanum ……… | Work hard ……… |
| Male | |
| { Vayuthukaaga | { Just for the sake of his stomach, |
| Manusan ingae kayithil | A human here on a tightrope |
| Aaduran paru aadi mudichu | Dances, look! Only after finishing the dance |
| Irangi vandha apuram | And climbing down, |
| Thaanda soru } (2) | Does he even get his meal } (2) |
| Male | |
| Naan anboda | With love, I say this, |
| Solluradha kettu nee | Listen to what I say, |
| Athanai thiramayum kaatu | Show all your talents! |
| Indha ammava paru ayyava | Look at this lady, ask |
| Kelu aalukonnu kodupanga | That gentleman, each will give you something! |
| Male | |
| Odi odi | We must run and run, |
| Uzhaikanum oorukellam | Work hard, and to all the townspeople |
| Kodukanum | We must give |
| Male | |
| Aadi paadi | Dancing and singing, |
| Nadakanum anbai | We must live, and love |
| Naalum valarkanum | We must foster every single day |
| Male : Odi odi | Male : We must run and run, |
| Uzhaikanum……. | Work hard……. |
| Male | |
| { Somberiyaga | { If you remain |
| Irundhu vittaka soru | A lazy person, food |
| Kidaikadhu thambi | Will not be obtained, younger brother! |
| Male | |
| Surusurupillama | Without being energetic, |
| Thoonkitu irundha | If you keep sleeping, |
| Thuniyum irukadhu thambi } (2) | You won't even have clothes on your back, brother! } (2) |
| Male | |
| Idha aduthavan | If someone else |
| Sonna kasakum konjam | Says this, it might feel a bit bitter, |
| Anubavam irundha inikum | But if you experience it yourself, it will be sweet! |
| Male | |
| Idhuku | For this, |
| Aadharam kettal | If you ask for proof, |
| Aayiram iruku | There are a thousand! |
| Athanayum solli podu | Tell them all to everyone! |
| Male | |
| Odi odi | We must run and run, |
| Uzhaikanum ……. | Work hard ……. |
| Male | |
| { Valimai ullavan | { That whatever the powerful man |
| Vachadhu ellam sattam | Establishes is the law, |
| Aagaathu thambi | Will not work anymore, brother! |
| Male | |
| Pirar vaazha | For others to live, |
| Uzhaipavar solluvadhellam | Whatever those who toil say, |
| Sattam aaganum thambi } (2) | Must become the law, brother! } (2) |
| Male | |
| Nalla samathuvam | True equality |
| Vandhaganum adhilae | Must arrive, and in that, |
| Magathuvam undaganum | Greatness must be born! |
| Male | |
| Naama | We, |
| Paadura paatum | The songs we sing |
| Aadura koothum | And the dance plays we perform, |
| Padipinai thandhaganum | Must impart a moral lesson, |
| Male | |
| Naatuku | To the nation, |
| Padipinai thandhaganum | Must impart a moral lesson! |
| Male | |
| Odi odi | We must run and run, |
| Uzhaikanum oorukellam | Work hard, and to all the townspeople |
| Kodukanum | We must give |
| Male | |
| Aadi paadi | Dancing and singing, |
| Nadakanum anbai | We must live, and love |
| Naalum valarkanum | We must foster every single day |
| Male | |
| Odi odi | We must run and run, |
| Uzhaikanum………. | Work hard………. |
{ ஓடி ஓடி
உழைக்கணும்
ஊருக்கெல்லாம்
கொடுக்கணும் } (2)
{ We must run and run,
Work hard, and to all the townspeople
We must give } (2)
ஆடி பாடி
நடக்கணும் அன்பை
நாளும் வளர்க்கணும்
Dancing and singing,
We must live, and love
We must foster every single day
ஓடி ஓடி
உழைக்கணும்
ஊருக்கெல்லாம்
கொடுக்கணும்
We must run and run,
Work hard, and to all the townspeople
We must give
ஆடி பாடி
நடக்கணும் அன்பை
நாளும் வளர்க்கணும்
Dancing and singing,
We must live, and love
We must foster every single day
ஓடி ஓடி
உழைக்கணும்
We must run and run,
Work hard ………
{ வயுத்துகாக
மனுஷன் இங்கே
கயத்தில் ஆடுறான்
பாரு ஆடி முடிச்சு
இறங்கி வந்தா அப்புறம்
தாண்டா சோறு } (2)
{ Just for the sake of his stomach,
A human here on a tightrope
Dances, look! Only after finishing the dance
And climbing down,
Does he even get his meal } (2)
நான் அன்போட
சொல்லுறத கேட்டு
நீ அத்தனை திறமையும்
காட்டு இந்த அம்மாவ பாரு
அய்யாவ கேளு ஆளுக்கொன்னு
கொடுப்பாங்க
With love, I say this,
Listen to what I say,
Show all your talents!
Look at this lady, ask
That gentleman, each will give you something!
ஓடி ஓடி
உழைக்கணும்
ஊருக்கெல்லாம்
கொடுக்கணும்
We must run and run,
Work hard, and to all the townspeople
We must give
ஆடி பாடி
நடக்கணும் அன்பை
நாளும் வளர்க்கணும்
Dancing and singing,
We must live, and love
We must foster every single day
Male : We must run and run,
Work hard…….
ஓடி ஓடி
உழைக்கணும்
{ If you remain
A lazy person, food
Will not be obtained, younger brother!
{ சோம்பேறியாக
இருந்து விட்டாக்க சோறு
கிடைக்காது தம்பி
Without being energetic,
If you keep sleeping,
You won't even have clothes on your back, brother! } (2)
சுறுசுறுப்பில்லாம
தூங்கிக்கிட்டு இருந்தா
துணியும் இருக்காது தம்பி } (2)
If someone else
Says this, it might feel a bit bitter,
But if you experience it yourself, it will be sweet!
இத அடுத்தவன்
சொன்னா கசக்கும்
கொஞ்சம் அனுபவம்
இருந்தா இனிக்கும்
For this,
If you ask for proof,
There are a thousand!
Tell them all to everyone!
இதுக்கு ஆதாரம்
கேட்டால் ஆயிரம் இருக்கு
அத்தனையும் சொல்லி
போடு
We must run and run,
Work hard …….
ஓடி ஓடி
உழைக்கணும்
{ That whatever the powerful man
Establishes is the law,
Will not work anymore, brother!
{ வலிமை உள்ளவன்
வச்சது எல்லாம் சட்டம்
ஆகாது தம்பி
For others to live,
Whatever those who toil say,
Must become the law, brother! } (2)
பிறர் வாழ
உழைப்பவர்
சொல்லுவதெல்லாம்
சட்டம் ஆகணும் தம்பி } (2)
True equality
Must arrive, and in that,
Greatness must be born!
நல்ல சமத்துவம்
உண்டாகணும் அதிலே
மகத்துவம் உண்டாகணும்
We,
The songs we sing
And the dance plays we perform,
Must impart a moral lesson,
நாம பாடுற
பாட்டும் ஆடுற கூத்தும்
படிப்பினை தந்தாகனும்
To the nation,
Must impart a moral lesson!
நாட்டுக்கு
படிப்பினை தந்தாகனும்
We must run and run,
Work hard, and to all the townspeople
We must give
ஓடி ஓடி
உழைக்கணும்
ஊருக்கெல்லாம்
கொடுக்கணும்
Dancing and singing,
We must live, and love
We must foster every single day
ஆடி பாடி
நடக்கணும் அன்பை
நாளும் வளர்க்கணும்
We must run and run,
Work hard……….
ஓடி ஓடி
உழைக்கணும்
{ Odi odi
{ We must run and run,
Uzhaikanum oorukellam
Work hard, and to all the townspeople
Kodukanum } (2)
We must give } (2)
Aadi paadi
Dancing and singing,
Nadakanum anbai
We must live, and love
Naalum valarkanum
We must foster every single day
Odi odi
We must run and run,
Uzhaikanum oorukellam
Work hard, and to all the townspeople
Kodukanum
We must give
Aadi paadi
Dancing and singing,
Nadakanum anbai
We must live, and love
Naalum valarkanum
We must foster every single day
Odi odi
We must run and run,
Uzhaikanum ………
Work hard ………
{ Vayuthukaaga
{ Just for the sake of his stomach,
Manusan ingae kayithil
A human here on a tightrope
Aaduran paru aadi mudichu
Dances, look! Only after finishing the dance
Irangi vandha apuram
And climbing down,
Thaanda soru } (2)
Does he even get his meal } (2)
Naan anboda
With love, I say this,
Solluradha kettu nee
Listen to what I say,
Athanai thiramayum kaatu
Show all your talents!
Indha ammava paru ayyava
Look at this lady, ask
Kelu aalukonnu kodupanga
That gentleman, each will give you something!
Odi odi
We must run and run,
Uzhaikanum oorukellam
Work hard, and to all the townspeople
Kodukanum
We must give
Aadi paadi
Dancing and singing,
Nadakanum anbai
We must live, and love
Naalum valarkanum
We must foster every single day
Male : Odi odi
Male : We must run and run,
Uzhaikanum…….
Work hard…….
{ Somberiyaga
{ If you remain
Irundhu vittaka soru
A lazy person, food
Kidaikadhu thambi
Will not be obtained, younger brother!
Surusurupillama
Without being energetic,
Thoonkitu irundha
If you keep sleeping,
Thuniyum irukadhu thambi } (2)
You won't even have clothes on your back, brother! } (2)
Idha aduthavan
If someone else
Sonna kasakum konjam
Says this, it might feel a bit bitter,
Anubavam irundha inikum
But if you experience it yourself, it will be sweet!
Idhuku
For this,
Aadharam kettal
If you ask for proof,
Aayiram iruku
There are a thousand!
Athanayum solli podu
Tell them all to everyone!
Odi odi
We must run and run,
Uzhaikanum …….
Work hard …….
{ Valimai ullavan
{ That whatever the powerful man
Vachadhu ellam sattam
Establishes is the law,
Aagaathu thambi
Will not work anymore, brother!
Pirar vaazha
For others to live,
Uzhaipavar solluvadhellam
Whatever those who toil say,
Sattam aaganum thambi } (2)
Must become the law, brother! } (2)
Nalla samathuvam
True equality
Vandhaganum adhilae
Must arrive, and in that,
Magathuvam undaganum
Greatness must be born!
Naama
We,
Paadura paatum
The songs we sing
Aadura koothum
And the dance plays we perform,
Padipinai thandhaganum
Must impart a moral lesson,
Naatuku
To the nation,
Padipinai thandhaganum
Must impart a moral lesson!
Odi odi
We must run and run,
Uzhaikanum oorukellam
Work hard, and to all the townspeople
Kodukanum
We must give
Aadi paadi
Dancing and singing,
Nadakanum anbai
We must live, and love
Naalum valarkanum
We must foster every single day
Odi odi
We must run and run,
Uzhaikanum……….
Work hard……….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic Tamil song from 'Nalla Neram' serves as an inspiring anthem highlighting dignity of labor, social equality, and active living. The protagonist preaches that human life gains value through industrious effort, sharing wealth with the needy, and fostering universal love. Through vivid everyday metaphors—such as street acrobats balancing on ropes to earn their daily bread—the song urges people to shed laziness, hone their skills, and take pride in honest hard work.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Uzhaikanum oorukellam / Kodukanum / Nadakanum anbai / Naalum valarkanum”
The deliberate ending of consecutive lines with similar sounding verb endings (-kanum) creates a rhythmic, musical flow typical of traditional Tamil song composition.
Ethugai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Odi odi / Aadi paadi”
The second letter 'di' matches in both 'Odi' and 'Aadi', illustrating the classic Tamil poetic agreement known as Ethugai.
Metaphor
“Manusan ingae kayithil aaduran”
Compares human life and the struggle for basic sustenance to a high-wire rope walker performing risky stunts just to earn a meal.
Monai (First Letter Alliteration)
“Paadura paatum / Aadura koothum / Padipinai thandhaganum”
The repetition of initial consonant sounds ('P' in Paadura and Padipinai) enhances cadence and lyrical emphasis.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Nalla Neram' (1972) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and was a massive box-office hit remade from the Hindi blockbuster 'Haathi Mere Saathi'. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. Lyricist Pulamaipithan penned this song with strong egalitarian themes that echoed MGR's political philosophy.
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