Odi Vaangada
From School Master · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- L. R. Eswari, Chorus
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- School Master1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa | Run and come, all come together, |
| Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa | Seek and come to render service! |
| Chorus :Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa | Chorus: Run and come, all come together, |
| Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa | Seek and come to render service! |
| Female | |
| Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu | The monkey army built a bridge, |
| Ramanukkaagavae | Solely for Lord Rama; |
| Indru maanava padai velai seivathu | Today, the student force works hard, |
| Kuruvinukkagavae | Solely for their revered teacher! |
| Chorus | |
| Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu | The monkey army built a bridge, |
| Ramanukkaagavae | Solely for Lord Rama; |
| Indru maanava padai velai seivathu | Today, the student force works hard, |
| Kuruvinukkagavae | Solely for their revered teacher! |
| Chorus | |
| Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa | Run and come, all come together, |
| Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa | Seek and come to render service! |
| Female | |
| Anuanuvaai saernthathuthaanae | It is atom joining atom, |
| Ulagam undaachchu | That formed this entire world; |
| Chorus :Ulagam undaachchu | Chorus: That formed this entire world! |
| Female | |
| Aayiramaayiram thuligal saernthu | Thousands upon thousands of drops joining together, |
| Vellam varalaachchu | Turned into a mighty flood; |
| Chorus :Vellam varalaachchu | Chorus: Turned into a mighty flood! |
| Female | |
| Izhai izhaiyaai nethuthaanae | Thread by thread woven together, |
| Aadai uruvaachchu | Created the garment; |
| Ilaingarkal kaikal onnaaga saernthu | When the hands of youth unite, |
| Engum thozhilaachchu | Industry flourishes everywhere! |
| Chorus :Ilaingarkal kaikal onnaaga saernthu | Chorus: When the hands of youth unite, |
| Engum thozhilaachchu | Industry flourishes everywhere! |
| Female | |
| Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu | The monkey army built a bridge, |
| Ramanukkaagavae | Solely for Lord Rama; |
| Indru maanava padai velai seivathu | Today, the student force works hard, |
| Kuruvinukkagavae | Solely for their revered teacher! |
| Chorus | |
| Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa | Run and come, all come together, |
| Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa | Seek and come to render service! |
| Female | |
| Kadavulukku koyil katta | To build a temple for Almighty God, |
| Ullangal vendum | Devoted hearts are required; |
| Chorus :Ullangal vendum | Chorus: Devoted hearts are required! |
| Female | |
| Kanavaan vaazhum maaligai katta | To build a mansion for a nobleman, |
| Selvangal vendum | Enormous wealth is required; |
| Chorus :Selvangal vendum | Chorus: Enormous wealth is required! |
| Female | |
| Kuruvinukku veedu katta | To build a humble house for our teacher, |
| Kuruvigalae pothum | Little sparrows like us are enough! |
| Kuruvae deivam kuruvae vaazhga | The teacher is God, long live the teacher! |
| Kuruvae thunaiyaagum | The teacher is our guiding strength! |
| Chorus :Kuruvae deivam kuruvae vaazhga | Chorus: The teacher is God, long live the teacher! |
| Kuruvae thunaiyaagum | The teacher is our guiding strength! |
| Female | |
| Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu | The monkey army built a bridge, |
| Ramanukkaagavae | Solely for Lord Rama; |
| Indru maanava padai velai seivathu | Today, the student force works hard, |
| Kuruvinukkagavae | Solely for their revered teacher! |
| Chorus | |
| Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa | Run and come, all come together, |
| Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa | Seek and come to render service! |
ஓடி வாங்கடா ஒண்ணா வாங்கடா
சேவை செய்யவே தேடி வாங்கடா
குழு :
ஓடி வாங்கடா ஒண்ணா வாங்கடா
சேவை செய்யவே தேடி வாங்கடா
Run and come, all come together,
Seek and come to render service!
Chorus: Run and come, all come together,
Seek and come to render service!
வானரப்படை பாலம் போட்டது
ராமனுக்காகவே
இன்று மாணவப் படை வேலை செய்வது
குருவினுக்காகவே.......
The monkey army built a bridge,
Solely for Lord Rama;
Today, the student force works hard,
Solely for their revered teacher!
வானரப்படை பாலம் போட்டது
ராமனுக்காகவே
இன்று மாணவப் படை வேலை செய்வது
குருவினுக்காகவே.......
The monkey army built a bridge,
Solely for Lord Rama;
Today, the student force works hard,
Solely for their revered teacher!
ஓடி வாங்கடா ஒண்ணா வாங்கடா
சேவை செய்யவே தேடி வாங்கடா
Run and come, all come together,
Seek and come to render service!
அணுஅணுவாய் சேர்ந்ததுதானே
உலகம் உண்டாச்சு
குழு :
உலகம் உண்டாச்சு
It is atom joining atom,
That formed this entire world;
Chorus: That formed this entire world!
ஆயிரமாயிரம் துளிகள் சேர்ந்து
வெள்ளம் வரலாச்சு
குழு :
வெள்ளம் வரலாச்சு
Thousands upon thousands of drops joining together,
Turned into a mighty flood;
Chorus: Turned into a mighty flood!
இழை இழையாய் நெய்துதானே
ஆடை உருவாச்சு
இளைஞர்கள் கைகள் ஒண்ணாக சேர்ந்து
எங்கும் தொழிலாச்சு......
குழு :
இளைஞர்கள் கைகள் ஒண்ணாக சேர்ந்து
எங்கும் தொழிலாச்சு......
Thread by thread woven together,
Created the garment;
When the hands of youth unite,
Industry flourishes everywhere!
Chorus: When the hands of youth unite,
Industry flourishes everywhere!
வானரப்படை பாலம் போட்டது
ராமனுக்காகவே
இன்று மாணவப் படை வேலை செய்வது
குருவினுக்காகவே.......
The monkey army built a bridge,
Solely for Lord Rama;
Today, the student force works hard,
Solely for their revered teacher!
ஓடி வாங்கடா ஒண்ணா வாங்கடா
சேவை செய்யவே தேடி வாங்கடா
Run and come, all come together,
Seek and come to render service!
கடவுளுக்கு கோயில் கட்ட
உள்ளங்கள் வேண்டும்
குழு :
உள்ளங்கள் வேண்டும்
To build a temple for Almighty God,
Devoted hearts are required;
Chorus: Devoted hearts are required!
கனவான் வாழும் மாளிகை கட்ட
செல்வங்கள் வேண்டும்
குழு :
செல்வங்கள் வேண்டும்
To build a mansion for a nobleman,
Enormous wealth is required;
Chorus: Enormous wealth is required!
குருவினுக்கு வீடு கட்ட
குருவிகளே போதும்
குருவே தெய்வம் குருவே வாழ்க
குருவே துணையாகும்.....
குழு :
குருவே தெய்வம் குருவே வாழ்க
குருவே துணையாகும்.....
To build a humble house for our teacher,
Little sparrows like us are enough!
The teacher is God, long live the teacher!
The teacher is our guiding strength!
Chorus: The teacher is God, long live the teacher!
The teacher is our guiding strength!
வானரப்படை பாலம் போட்டது
ராமனுக்காகவே
இன்று மாணவப் படை வேலை செய்வது
குருவினுக்காகவே.......
The monkey army built a bridge,
Solely for Lord Rama;
Today, the student force works hard,
Solely for their revered teacher!
ஓடி வாங்கடா ஒண்ணா வாங்கடா
சேவை செய்யவே தேடி வாங்கடா
Run and come, all come together,
Seek and come to render service!
Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa
Run and come, all come together,
Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa
Seek and come to render service!
Chorus :Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa
Chorus: Run and come, all come together,
Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa
Seek and come to render service!
Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu
The monkey army built a bridge,
Ramanukkaagavae
Solely for Lord Rama;
Indru maanava padai velai seivathu
Today, the student force works hard,
Kuruvinukkagavae
Solely for their revered teacher!
Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu
The monkey army built a bridge,
Ramanukkaagavae
Solely for Lord Rama;
Indru maanava padai velai seivathu
Today, the student force works hard,
Kuruvinukkagavae
Solely for their revered teacher!
Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa
Run and come, all come together,
Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa
Seek and come to render service!
Anuanuvaai saernthathuthaanae
It is atom joining atom,
Ulagam undaachchu
That formed this entire world;
Chorus :Ulagam undaachchu
Chorus: That formed this entire world!
Aayiramaayiram thuligal saernthu
Thousands upon thousands of drops joining together,
Vellam varalaachchu
Turned into a mighty flood;
Chorus :Vellam varalaachchu
Chorus: Turned into a mighty flood!
Izhai izhaiyaai nethuthaanae
Thread by thread woven together,
Aadai uruvaachchu
Created the garment;
Ilaingarkal kaikal onnaaga saernthu
When the hands of youth unite,
Engum thozhilaachchu
Industry flourishes everywhere!
Chorus :Ilaingarkal kaikal onnaaga saernthu
Chorus: When the hands of youth unite,
Engum thozhilaachchu
Industry flourishes everywhere!
Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu
The monkey army built a bridge,
Ramanukkaagavae
Solely for Lord Rama;
Indru maanava padai velai seivathu
Today, the student force works hard,
Kuruvinukkagavae
Solely for their revered teacher!
Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa
Run and come, all come together,
Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa
Seek and come to render service!
Kadavulukku koyil katta
To build a temple for Almighty God,
Ullangal vendum
Devoted hearts are required;
Chorus :Ullangal vendum
Chorus: Devoted hearts are required!
Kanavaan vaazhum maaligai katta
To build a mansion for a nobleman,
Selvangal vendum
Enormous wealth is required;
Chorus :Selvangal vendum
Chorus: Enormous wealth is required!
Kuruvinukku veedu katta
To build a humble house for our teacher,
Kuruvigalae pothum
Little sparrows like us are enough!
Kuruvae deivam kuruvae vaazhga
The teacher is God, long live the teacher!
Kuruvae thunaiyaagum
The teacher is our guiding strength!
Chorus :Kuruvae deivam kuruvae vaazhga
Chorus: The teacher is God, long live the teacher!
Kuruvae thunaiyaagum
The teacher is our guiding strength!
Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu
The monkey army built a bridge,
Ramanukkaagavae
Solely for Lord Rama;
Indru maanava padai velai seivathu
Today, the student force works hard,
Kuruvinukkagavae
Solely for their revered teacher!
Odi vaangadaa onnaa vaangadaa
Run and come, all come together,
Sevai seiyavae thaedi vaangadaa
Seek and come to render service!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This uplifting and energetic song celebrates the spirit of community service, unity, and reverence for teachers (Guru Bhakti). The lyrics draw parallels between student devotion and grand mythological/natural effort—comparing the students coming together to build a house for their beloved teacher with the Vanara army building the Ram Setu bridge for Lord Rama. Kannadasan emphasizes how individual tiny efforts, like tiny atoms forming a planet or single water drops creating a surging flood, combine to yield monumental achievements.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mythological Allusion (Uvamaani)
“Vaanarappadai paalam pottathu Ramanukkaagavae”
References the Ramayana epic where the monkey army built Ram Setu, drawing an epic comparison to student voluntary labor.
Pun / Wordplay (Sledai)
“Kuruvinukku veedu katta Kuruvigalae pothum”
Plays on the homophonic qualities of 'Kuru' (Guru/Teacher) and 'Kuruvi' (sparrows/small birds), metaphorically calling students small sparrows coming to build a nest for their Guru.
Metaphor & Imagery
“Aayiramaayiram thuligal saernthu Vellam varalaachchu”
Uses the image of small water drops collecting into a flood to symbolize the strength of collective youth power.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Vaanarappadai ... / Indru maanava padai ...”
The second consonant sound 'aa-na' matches in Vaanara and Maanava across adjacent lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
School Master (1973) was directed by B. R. Panthulu and featured music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song's theme echoes traditional Indian reverence for the Guru, framing education and community work as sacred duties.
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