Oldellam Gold Un Manda
From Odi Vilaiyadu Thatha · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Odi Vilaiyadu Thatha1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Old ellam gold un manda bald | Old is gold, and your head is bald. |
| Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha | Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa! |
| Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu | At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down. |
| Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha | There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa. |
| Female | |
| Old ellam gold un manda bald | Old is gold, and your head is bald. |
| Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha | Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa! |
| Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu | At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down. |
| Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha | There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa. |
| Female | |
| Vaai ulladhaalae pesungal | Just because you have a mouth, keep speaking. |
| Ungal vaazhkaiku ver enna aanandham | What other joy is there in your life? |
| Paai ulladhaalae thoongungal | Just because you have a sleeping mat, go to sleep. |
| Ungal pagatukku ver enna aanandham | What other joy is there for your vanity? |
| Kattazhagu thangam poomottu mulai angam | She has exquisite beauty, body like a golden flower bud. |
| Avalathu pakkathil amma nee pal pona singam | Beside her, oh dear, you are just a toothless lion! |
| Female | |
| Old ellam gold un manda bald | Old is gold, and your head is bald. |
| Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha | Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa! |
| Female | |
| Mannan endraalae neengal thaan | If anyone is a king, it is only you. |
| Naan magarani aagatta sollungal | Tell me, shall I become your queen? |
| Pakkathil ennai paarungal | Look at me close to you. |
| Oru parisaaga vaarisu thaarungal | Give me an heir as a gift! |
| Ambathukku melae ingu aththanaiyum pillai | Above fifty years of age, everyone here is like a child. |
| Adhanaal naan unnai azhaithaen en veetu kullae | That is why I invited you inside my house. |
| Female | |
| Old ellam gold un manda bald | Old is gold, and your head is bald. |
| Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha | Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa! |
| Female | |
| Mappillai aanalae sirikanum | Once you become the bridegroom, you must smile. |
| Indha madha madha ennangal koodadhu | These stubborn or lustful thoughts will not do. |
| Koopitta podhellam poganum | Whenever you are called, you must go. |
| Indha komaali lollu ellam aagadhu | These clownish antics will not work. |
| Chinna idai naanu miga nalla edai neenga | I have a slender waist, while you are heavy built. |
| Kai padaatha rosa naan desinghu raaja nee vanga | I am an untouched rose, come on, my brave Raja Desinghu! |
| Female | |
| Old ellam gold un manda bald | Old is gold, and your head is bald. |
| Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha | Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa! |
| Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu | At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down. |
| Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha | There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa. |
| Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra | Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra |
| Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra | Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra |
Come come please come
I always welcome you
Come come please come
I always welcome you
ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா
ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா
ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down.
There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa.
ஒல்டெல்லாம் கோல்டு உன் மண்ட பால்டு
ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா
நீ ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா
இருபதென்றால் சீறுவது அறுபதென்றால் ஆறுவது
ஒரு வம்பில்லை தும்பில்லை தாத்தா
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down.
There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa.
ஒல்டெல்லாம் கோல்டு உன் மண்ட பால்டு
ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா
நீ ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா
இருபதென்றால் சீறுவது அறுபதென்றால் ஆறுவது
ஒரு வம்பில்லை தும்பில்லை தாத்தா
Just because you have a mouth, keep speaking.
What other joy is there in your life?
Just because you have a sleeping mat, go to sleep.
What other joy is there for your vanity?
She has exquisite beauty, body like a golden flower bud.
Beside her, oh dear, you are just a toothless lion!
வாயுள்ளதாலே பேசுங்கள்
உங்கள் வாழ்க்கைக்கு வேறென்ன ஆனந்தம்
பாயுள்ளதாலே தூங்குங்கள்
உங்கள் பகட்டுக்கு வேறென்ன ஆனந்தம்
கட்டழகு தங்கம் பூமொட்டு முல்லை அங்கம்
அவளது பக்கத்தில் அம்மா நீ பல் போன சிங்கம்
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
ஒல்டெல்லாம் கோல்டு உன் மண்ட பால்டு
ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா
If anyone is a king, it is only you.
Tell me, shall I become your queen?
Look at me close to you.
Give me an heir as a gift!
Above fifty years of age, everyone here is like a child.
That is why I invited you inside my house.
மன்னன் என்றாலே நீங்கள்தான்
நான் மகராணி ஆகட்டா சொல்லுங்கள்
பக்கத்தில் என்னைப் பாருங்கள்
ஒரு பரிசாக வாரிசு தாருங்கள்
அம்பதுக்கு மேலே இங்கு அத்தனையும் பிள்ளை
அதனால் நான் உன்னை அழைத்தேன் என் வீட்டுக்குள்ளே.......
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
ஒல்டெல்லாம் கோல்டு உன் மண்ட பால்டு
ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா நீ ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா
Once you become the bridegroom, you must smile.
These stubborn or lustful thoughts will not do.
Whenever you are called, you must go.
These clownish antics will not work.
I have a slender waist, while you are heavy built.
I am an untouched rose, come on, my brave Raja Desinghu!
மாப்பிள்ளை ஆனால் சிரிக்கணும்
இந்த மத மத எண்ணங்கள் கூடாது
கூப்பிட்ட போதெல்லாம் போகணும்
இந்த கோமாளி லொள்ளு எல்லாம் ஆகாது
சின்ன இடை நானு மிக நல்ல எடை நீங்க
கை படாத ரோசா நான் தேசிங்கு ராஜா நீ வாங்க
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down.
There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa.
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
ஒல்டெல்லாம் கோல்டு உன் மண்ட பால்டு
ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா
நீ ஓடி விளையாடு தாத்தா
இருபதென்றால் சீறுவது அறுபதென்றால் ஆறுவது
ஒரு வம்பில்லை தும்பில்லை தாத்தா
ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா
ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா ரா
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu
At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down.
Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha
There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa.
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu
At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down.
Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha
There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa.
Vaai ulladhaalae pesungal
Just because you have a mouth, keep speaking.
Ungal vaazhkaiku ver enna aanandham
What other joy is there in your life?
Paai ulladhaalae thoongungal
Just because you have a sleeping mat, go to sleep.
Ungal pagatukku ver enna aanandham
What other joy is there for your vanity?
Kattazhagu thangam poomottu mulai angam
She has exquisite beauty, body like a golden flower bud.
Avalathu pakkathil amma nee pal pona singam
Beside her, oh dear, you are just a toothless lion!
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
Mannan endraalae neengal thaan
If anyone is a king, it is only you.
Naan magarani aagatta sollungal
Tell me, shall I become your queen?
Pakkathil ennai paarungal
Look at me close to you.
Oru parisaaga vaarisu thaarungal
Give me an heir as a gift!
Ambathukku melae ingu aththanaiyum pillai
Above fifty years of age, everyone here is like a child.
Adhanaal naan unnai azhaithaen en veetu kullae
That is why I invited you inside my house.
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
Mappillai aanalae sirikanum
Once you become the bridegroom, you must smile.
Indha madha madha ennangal koodadhu
These stubborn or lustful thoughts will not do.
Koopitta podhellam poganum
Whenever you are called, you must go.
Indha komaali lollu ellam aagadhu
These clownish antics will not work.
Chinna idai naanu miga nalla edai neenga
I have a slender waist, while you are heavy built.
Kai padaatha rosa naan desinghu raaja nee vanga
I am an untouched rose, come on, my brave Raja Desinghu!
Old ellam gold un manda bald
Old is gold, and your head is bald.
Odi vilaiyaadu thatha nee odi vilayaadu thaatha
Run and play, grandpa, you run and play, grandpa!
Irubathendraal seeruvathu arubathendraal aaruvathu
At twenty one fumes, at sixty one cools down.
Oru vambillai thumbillai thaatha
There is no trouble or affliction, grandpa.
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Keep listening
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