Ondra Iranda
From Selvam · 1966
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Selvam1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla | Is it one or two to pick and tell? |
| Ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla | Is it one or two to pick and tell? |
| Ulla unarchiyai vaarthaiyil | To shape the inner feelings |
| Vadithu cholla | Into words and express? |
| Ennam ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla | Are my thoughts just one or two to pick and tell? |
| Ulla unarchiyai vaarthaiyil | To shape the inner feelings |
| Vadithu cholla | Into words and express? |
| Ennam ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla | Are my thoughts just one or two to pick cardiology-level detail? |
| Female | |
| Uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella | Is it life or body that parts ways? |
| Uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella | Is it life or body that parts ways? |
| Naam pirindhadhu ennaalum | Though we are separated, to forever |
| Kalandhu kolla | Mingle and unite with each other, |
| Naan uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella | Is it my life or body that parts ways? |
| Naam pirindhadhu ennaalum | Though we are separated, to forever |
| Kalandhu kolla | Mingle and unite with each other, |
| Naan uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella | Is it my life or body that parts ways? |
| Male | |
| Nindraal nadandhaal un ninaivu | Whether standing or walking, it is your memory. |
| Nindraal nadandhaal un ninaivu | Whether standing or walking, it is your memory. |
| En ninavae agandraal un kanavu | If my self-awareness departs, it is your dream. |
| En ninavae agandraal un kanavu | If my self-awareness departs, it is your dream. |
| Male | |
| Kanavu ndraa irandaa eduthu cholla | Are these dreams just one or two to pick and tell? |
| Female | |
| Ninaivum kanavum enakkaaga | The memory and dream are for me, |
| Female | |
| Ninaivum kanavum enakkaaga | The memory and dream are for me, |
| En nettriyil kungumam unakkaaga | The vermilion on my forehead is for you. |
| En nettriyil kungumam unakkaaga | The vermilion on my forehead is for you. |
| Female | |
| Naan uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella | Is it my life or body that parts ways? |
| Male | |
| Kungumam nilaikkum kula magalae | O noble daughter whose vermilion remains steadfast! |
| Kungumam nilaikkum kula magalae | O noble daughter whose vermilion remains steadfast! |
| Naan kulavida thudippadhu un nizhalae | It is your shadow that I yearn to embrace. |
| Naan kulavida thudippadhu un nizhalae | It is your shadow that I yearn to embrace. |
| Female | |
| Nizhalum ninaivum anithiyamae | Shadow and memory are temporary. |
| Female | |
| Nizhalum ninaivum anithiyamae | Shadow and memory are temporary. |
| Endrum nilaiyaai nirppadhu sathiyamae | What stands permanently forever is truth. |
| Endrum nilaiyaai nirppadhu sathiyamae | What stands permanently forever is truth. |
| Sathiyamae… sathiyamae… | Truth alone... truth alone... |
ஒன்றா இரண்டா எடுத்துச் சொல்ல..
ஒன்றா இரண்டா எடுத்துச் சொல்ல..
உள்ள உணர்ச்சியை வார்த்தையில்
வடித்துச் சொல்ல......
எண்ணம் ஒன்றா இரண்டா எடுத்துச் சொல்ல
உள்ள உணர்ச்சியை வார்த்தையில்
வடித்துச் சொல்ல......
எண்ணம் ஒன்றா இரண்டா எடுத்துச் சொல்ல
Is it one or two to pick and tell?
Is it one or two to pick and tell?
To shape the inner feelings
Into words and express?
Are my thoughts just one or two to pick and tell?
To shape the inner feelings
Into words and express?
Are my thoughts just one or two to pick cardiology-level detail?
உயிரா உடலா பிரிந்து செல்ல
உயிரா உடலா பிரிந்து செல்ல
நாம் பிரிந்தது எந்நாளும்
கலந்து கொள்ள
நான் உயிரா உடலா பிரிந்து செல்ல
நாம் பிரிந்தது எந்நாளும்
கலந்து கொள்ள
நான் உயிரா உடலா பிரிந்து செல்ல
Is it life or body that parts ways?
Is it life or body that parts ways?
Though we are separated, to forever
Mingle and unite with each other,
Is it my life or body that parts ways?
Though we are separated, to forever
Mingle and unite with each other,
Is it my life or body that parts ways?
நின்றால் நடந்தால் உன் நினைவு
நின்றால் நடந்தால் உன் நினைவு
என் நினைவே அகன்றால் உன் கனவு
என் நினைவே அகன்றால் உன் கனவு
Whether standing or walking, it is your memory.
Whether standing or walking, it is your memory.
If my self-awareness departs, it is your dream.
If my self-awareness departs, it is your dream.
கனவு ஒன்றா இரண்டா எடுத்துச் சொல்ல
Are these dreams just one or two to pick and tell?
நினைவும் கனவும் எனக்காக
The memory and dream are for me,
நினைவும் கனவும் எனக்காக
என் நெற்றியில் குங்குமம் உனக்காக
என் நெற்றியில் குங்குமம் உனக்காக
The memory and dream are for me,
The vermilion on my forehead is for you.
The vermilion on my forehead is for you.
நான் உயிரா உடலா பிரிந்து செல்ல
Is it my life or body that parts ways?
குங்குமம் நிலைக்கும் குலமகளே
குங்குமம் நிலைக்கும் குலமகளே
நான் குலவிடத் துடிப்பது உன் நிழலே
நான் குலவிடத் துடிப்பது உன் நிழலே
O noble daughter whose vermilion remains steadfast!
O noble daughter whose vermilion remains steadfast!
It is your shadow that I yearn to embrace.
It is your shadow that I yearn to embrace.
நிழலும் நினைவும் அநித்தியமே
Shadow and memory are temporary.
நிழலும் நினைவும் அநித்தியமே
என்றும் நிலையாய் நிற்பது சத்தியமே....
என்றும் நிலையாய் நிற்பது சத்தியமே.....
சத்தியமே......சத்தியமே.....
Shadow and memory are temporary.
What stands permanently forever is truth.
What stands permanently forever is truth.
Truth alone... truth alone...
Ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla
Is it one or two to pick and tell?
Ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla
Is it one or two to pick and tell?
Ulla unarchiyai vaarthaiyil
To shape the inner feelings
Vadithu cholla
Into words and express?
Ennam ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla
Are my thoughts just one or two to pick and tell?
Ulla unarchiyai vaarthaiyil
To shape the inner feelings
Vadithu cholla
Into words and express?
Ennam ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla
Are my thoughts just one or two to pick cardiology-level detail?
Uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella
Is it life or body that parts ways?
Uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella
Is it life or body that parts ways?
Naam pirindhadhu ennaalum
Though we are separated, to forever
Kalandhu kolla
Mingle and unite with each other,
Naan uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella
Is it my life or body that parts ways?
Naam pirindhadhu ennaalum
Though we are separated, to forever
Kalandhu kolla
Mingle and unite with each other,
Naan uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella
Is it my life or body that parts ways?
Nindraal nadandhaal un ninaivu
Whether standing or walking, it is your memory.
Nindraal nadandhaal un ninaivu
Whether standing or walking, it is your memory.
En ninavae agandraal un kanavu
If my self-awareness departs, it is your dream.
En ninavae agandraal un kanavu
If my self-awareness departs, it is your dream.
Kanavu ndraa irandaa eduthu cholla
Are these dreams just one or two to pick and tell?
Ninaivum kanavum enakkaaga
The memory and dream are for me,
Ninaivum kanavum enakkaaga
The memory and dream are for me,
En nettriyil kungumam unakkaaga
The vermilion on my forehead is for you.
En nettriyil kungumam unakkaaga
The vermilion on my forehead is for you.
Naan uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella
Is it my life or body that parts ways?
Kungumam nilaikkum kula magalae
O noble daughter whose vermilion remains steadfast!
Kungumam nilaikkum kula magalae
O noble daughter whose vermilion remains steadfast!
Naan kulavida thudippadhu un nizhalae
It is your shadow that I yearn to embrace.
Naan kulavida thudippadhu un nizhalae
It is your shadow that I yearn to embrace.
Nizhalum ninaivum anithiyamae
Shadow and memory are temporary.
Nizhalum ninaivum anithiyamae
Shadow and memory are temporary.
Endrum nilaiyaai nirppadhu sathiyamae
What stands permanently forever is truth.
Endrum nilaiyaai nirppadhu sathiyamae
What stands permanently forever is truth.
Sathiyamae… sathiyamae…
Truth alone... truth alone...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song explores deep philosophical questions about love, separation, soul, and truth. The lovers reflect on whether their separation is merely physical (body) or spiritual (soul). They express that despite physical distance, their thoughts, memories, and dreams are inextricably bound together. The female protagonist notes that her thoughts and the sacred vermilion on her forehead exist solely for her lover, while the male response acknowledges that while memories and physical shadows are temporary, their absolute truth and ultimate spiritual union remain eternal.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emona / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)
“Ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla / Uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella”
Usage of matching initial consonants and vowels like 'Ondraa' and 'Ennam', or 'Uyiraa' and 'Udalaa' across lines creates a rhythmic Tamil poetic meter.
Rhetorical Question
“Ondraa irandaa eduthu cholla”
Asking 'Ondraa irandaa?' (Is it one or two?) emphasizes the uncountable intensity of thoughts and emotions.
Metaphor / Philosophical Contrast
“Uyiraa udalaa pirindhu sella”
Contrasting 'Uyir' (life/soul) and 'Udal' (body) to question whether love's separation affects physical form or spiritual existence.
Antithesis / Ephemeral vs Eternal
“Nizhalum ninaivum anithiyamae / Endrum nilaiyaai nirppadhu sathiyamae”
Contrasting 'Anithiyam' (impermanence of shadows and memories) with 'Sathiyam' (eternal truth).
Did you know?
Trivia
Selvam (1966) starred Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Vaali's lyrics in this track deeply weave philosophical Vedantic concepts of impermanence (Anithiyam) and eternal truth (Sathiyam) into a tender romantic duet.
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