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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ondrae Kulamendru

From Pallandu Vazhga · 1975

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Pallandu Vazhga1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anbilaar ellaam thamakkuriyarThose without love belong only to themselves;
Anbudaiyaar enbum uriyar piraikkuBut those who have love belong to others, even with their very bones.
Dheivathaal aagaadheninum muyarchiEven if destiny makes an effort seem impossible,
Than mei varutha kooli tharumHard labor will yield its earned reward.
Male
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvomLet us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvomLet us praise that there is only one God!
Annai idhayamaaga anbu vadivamaagaWith a mother's heart and as the embodiment of love,
Vandhu vazhi kaatta vendumendru vananguvomLet us bow and pray for guidance on our path.
Male
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvomLet us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvomLet us praise that there is only one God!
Annai idhayamaaga anbu vadivamaagaWith a mother's heart and as the embodiment of love,
Vandhu vazhi kaatta vendumendru vananguvomLet us bow and pray for guidance on our path.
Male
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvomLet us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvomLet us praise that there is only one God!
Male
Kadavulilae karunai thannai kaanalaamOne can see grace and compassion within God,
Andha karunaiyilae kadavulaiyum kaanalaamAnd in that very compassion, one can also see God.
Kadavulilae karunai thannai kaanalaamOne can see grace and compassion within God,
Andha karunaiyilae kadavulaiyum kaanalaamAnd in that very compassion, one can also see God.
Nalla manasaatchiyae dhevan arasaatchiyaamA good conscience is truly God's divine reign,
Angu oru podhum maraiyaadhu avan kaatchiyaamHis divine presence never disappears from there.
Male
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvomLet us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvomLet us praise that there is only one God!
Male
Paavamendra kallaraikku pala vazhiThere are many paths leading to the grave of sin,
Endrum dharma dhevan kovilukku oru vazhiBut always only one path to the temple of the God of Righteousness.
Paavamendra kallaraikku pala vazhiThere are many paths leading to the grave of sin,
Endrum dharma dhevan kovilukku oru vazhiBut always only one path to the temple of the God of Righteousness.
Indha vazhiyondru thaan engal vazhiyendru naamDeclaring that this single path alone is our path,
Nermai oru naalum thavaraamal nadai poduvomLet us walk forward without ever wavering from honesty.
Male
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvomLet us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvomLet us praise that there is only one God!
Male
Idhaya dheivam namadhu annaa thondrinaarOur beloved leader, God of hearts, Anna, was born,
Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaarHe lit the lamp of principles that lives forever.
Idhaya dheivam namadhu annaa thondrinaarOur beloved leader, God of hearts, Anna, was born,
Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaarHe lit the lamp of principles that lives forever.
Andha oli kaanalaam sonna vazhi pogalaamLet us behold that light and follow the path he revealed,
Naalai varalaaru namakaaga uruvaagalaamSo that tomorrow's history may be created for us.
Male
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvomLet us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvomLet us praise that there is only one God!
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvomLet us praise that there is only one God!
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvomLet us praise that there is only one God!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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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