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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Ondrae Kulamendru

From Pallandu Vazhga · 1975

Lyricist: Pulamaipithan
Singer: K. J. Yesudas
Music director: K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name: Pallandu Vazhga
Movie release year: 1975
Lyrics added on: 29 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Anbilaar ellaam thamakkuriyar

Anbudaiyaar enbum uriyar piraikku

Dheivathaal aagaadheninum muyarchi

Than mei varutha kooli tharum

Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom

Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom

Annai idhayamaaga anbu vadivamaaga

Vandhu vazhi kaatta vendumendru vananguvom

Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom

Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom

Annai idhayamaaga anbu vadivamaaga

Vandhu vazhi kaatta vendumendru vananguvom

Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom

Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom

Kadavulilae karunai thannai kaanalaam

Andha karunaiyilae kadavulaiyum kaanalaam

Kadavulilae karunai thannai kaanalaam

Andha karunaiyilae kadavulaiyum kaanalaam

Nalla manasaatchiyae dhevan arasaatchiyaam

Angu oru podhum maraiyaadhu avan kaatchiyaam

Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom

Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom

Paavamendra kallaraikku pala vazhi

Endrum dharma dhevan kovilukku oru vazhi

Paavamendra kallaraikku pala vazhi

Endrum dharma dhevan kovilukku oru vazhi

Indha vazhiyondru thaan engal vazhiyendru naam

Nermai oru naalum thavaraamal nadai poduvom

Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom

Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom

Idhaya dheivam namadhu annaa thondrinaar

Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaar

Idhaya dheivam namadhu annaa thondrinaar

Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaar

Andha oli kaanalaam sonna vazhi pogalaam

Naalai varalaaru namakaaga uruvaagalaam

Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom

Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom

Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom

Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom

Those without love claim everything for themselves,

While those with love give even their own bones to others.

Even if destiny says something cannot be done,

The hard labor of one's body will surely yield its reward.

Let us sing that all humankind is one family,

Let us praise that there is only one God.

With a mother's heart and as the embodiment of love,

Let us bow and pray for guidance on our way.

Let us sing that all humankind is one family,

Let us praise that there is only one God.

With a mother's heart and as the embodiment of love,

Let us bow and pray for guidance on our way.

Let us sing that all humankind is one family,

Let us praise that there is only one God.

We can see compassion within God,

And in that compassion, we can see God.

We can see compassion within God,

And in that compassion, we can see God.

A good conscience is the true kingdom of God,

Where His witness will never fade away.

We can see compassion within God,

And in that compassion, we can see God.

There are many roads leading to the graveyard of sin,

But only one path leads to the temple of righteousness.

There are many roads leading to the graveyard of sin,

But only one path leads to the temple of righteousness.

Declaring that this alone is our path,

Let us march forward without ever failing in honesty.

Let us sing that all humankind is one family,

Let us praise that there is only one God.

Anna (revered leader C. N. Annadurai), the god of our hearts, arrived,

And he lit an eternal lamp of noble ideals.

Anna (revered leader C. N. Annadurai), the god of our hearts, arrived,

And he lit an eternal lamp of noble ideals.

We can follow that light and walk the path he showed,

And tomorrow, history will be made for us.

Let us sing that all humankind is one family,

Let us praise that there is only one God.

Let us praise that there is only one God.

Let us praise that there is only one God.

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Ondrae Kulamendru Paaduvom' is an iconic philosophical and socio-political song that opens with classical Thirukkural couplets emphasizing love, selfless service, and hard work. The song promotes unity, brotherhood, and monotheism, declaring that all humanity forms a single family and serves one universal God, who resides within compassion and a clean conscience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Literary Allusion (Thirukkural Quotation)

“Anbilaar ellaam thamakkuriyar / Anbudaiyaar enbum uriyar piraikku”

The lyrics directly quote Thirukkural 72 and Thirukkural 619 in the opening lines to set a high moral and philosophical foundation.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom / Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom”

Repetition of the initial letter 'O' ('Ondrae' / 'Oruvanae') creates an engaging rhythmic flow.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Nalla manasaatchiyae dhevan arasaatchiyaam / Angu oru podhum maraiyaadhu avan kaatchiyaam”

Lines end with rhyming suffixes 'arasaatchiyaam' and 'kaatchiyaam', creating harmonious lyrical repetition.

Metaphor

“Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaar”

Ideologies and social principles are metaphorically described as an eternal burning lamp ('kolgai deebam').

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Pallandu Vazhga' (1975) is a Tamil remake of V. Shantaram's classic Hindi movie 'Do Aankhen Barah Haath'. Though context details were unknown, the music for this movie was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and this famous song was rendered by K. J. Yesudas. The phrase 'Ondre Kulam, Oruvanae Devan' originally stems from Saint Thirumoolar's Thirumandhiram and was popularized politically by C. N. Annadurai (Anna).

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