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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oldellam Gold Un Manda

From Odi Vilaiyadu Thatha · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Odi Vilaiyadu Thatha
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
19 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu
Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu
Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha
Vaai ulladhaalae pesungal
Ungal vaazhkaiku ver enna aanandham
Paai ulladhaalae thoongungal
Ungal pagatukku ver enna aanandham
Kattazhagu thangam poomottu mulai angam
Avalathu pakkathil amma nee pal pona singam
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Mannan endraalae neengal thaan
Naan magarani aagatta sollungal
Pakkathil ennai paarungal
Oru parisaaga vaarisu thaarungal
Ambathukku melae ingu aththanaiyum pillai
Adhanaal naan unnai azhaithaen en veetu kullae
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Mappillai aanalae sirikanum
Indha madha madha ennangal koodadhu
Koopitta podhellam poganum
Indha komaali lollu ellam aagadhu
Chinna idai naanu miga nalla edai neenga
Kai padaatha rosa naan desinghu raaja nee vanga
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu
Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Old is gold, and your head is bald!
Run and play, grandad, go on, run and play!
At twenty you rage with fire, at sixty you cool down!
There's no fuss and no trouble with you, grandad!
Old is gold, and your head is bald!
Run and play, grandad, go on, run and play!
At twenty you rage with fire, at sixty you cool down!
There's no fuss and no trouble with you, grandad!
Since you have a mouth, keep talking!
What other joy is there in your life?
Since you have a mat, go to sleep!
What other joy is there for all your swagger?
She has a sculpted golden beauty, budding like a fresh flower,
But next to her, oh my, you are just a toothless lion!
Old is gold, and your head is bald!
Run and play, grandad, go on, run and play!
If anyone is a king, it is you!
Tell me, shall I become your queen?
Look at me right beside you,
And give me an heir as your gift!
Past the age of fifty, everyone is like a child here,
That is why I invited you inside my home!
Old is gold, and your head is bald!
Run and play, grandad, go on, run and play!
Once you are a bridegroom, you must smile,
You shouldn't have such stubborn, haughty thoughts!
Whenever you are called, you must show up,
All this clownish attitude will not do!
I have a slender waist, and you have hefty weight,
I am an untouched rose; come on, my Raja Desingu (legendary brave hero)!
Old is gold, and your head is bald!
Run and play, grandad, go on, run and play!
At twenty you rage with fire, at sixty you cool down!
There's no fuss and no trouble with you, grandad!
Raa raa raa raa raa raa raa raa
Raa raa raa raa raa raa raa raa
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Odi Vilaiyadu Thatha is a playful and satirical track in which an old man attempting to act youthful and romantic is humorously mocked. Kannadasan uses sharp wit and colloquial comedy to highlight the contrast between youth and old age, poking fun at the elder's baldness, toothlessness, and waning energy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Parody / Allusion

“Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha”

Subverts Subramania Bharati's famous nursery rhyme phrase 'Odi Vilaiyaadu Paapa' (Run and play, child) into 'Odi Vilaiyaadu Thatha' (Run and play, grandpa) for comedic satire.

Code-Mixing (Tanglish)

“Old ellam gold un manda bald”

Blends English words ('old', 'gold', 'bald') into Tamil phrasing for rhythmic humor.

Metaphor

“Avalathu pakkathil amma nee pal pona singam”

Refers to the old man as a 'toothless lion' ('pal pona singam') to denote lost vigor despite grand pretenses.

Monai / Rhyme

“Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu”

Rhyming contrasting age numbers 'Irubathendraal' (at twenty) and 'Arubathendraal' (at sixty).

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening line adapts the classic English proverb 'Old is gold' fused with colloquial Tamil slang ('manda bald') to create an iconic satirical hook popular in Tamil comedic tracks.

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