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 thamakkuriyar | Those without love belong only to themselves; |
| Anbudaiyaar enbum uriyar piraikku | But those who have love belong to others, even with their very bones. |
| Dheivathaal aagaadheninum muyarchi | Even if destiny makes an effort seem impossible, |
| Than mei varutha kooli tharum | Hard labor will yield its earned reward. |
| Male | |
| Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom | Let us sing that all humanity is one single community, |
| Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom | Let us praise that there is only one God! |
| Annai idhayamaaga anbu vadivamaaga | With a mother's heart and as the embodiment of love, |
| Vandhu vazhi kaatta vendumendru vananguvom | Let us bow and pray for guidance on our path. |
| Male | |
| Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom | Let us sing that all humanity is one single community, |
| Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom | Let us praise that there is only one God! |
| Annai idhayamaaga anbu vadivamaaga | With a mother's heart and as the embodiment of love, |
| Vandhu vazhi kaatta vendumendru vananguvom | Let us bow and pray for guidance on our path. |
| Male | |
| Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom | Let us sing that all humanity is one single community, |
| Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom | Let us praise that there is only one God! |
| Male | |
| Kadavulilae karunai thannai kaanalaam | One can see grace and compassion within God, |
| Andha karunaiyilae kadavulaiyum kaanalaam | And in that very compassion, one can also see God. |
| Kadavulilae karunai thannai kaanalaam | One can see grace and compassion within God, |
| Andha karunaiyilae kadavulaiyum kaanalaam | And in that very compassion, one can also see God. |
| Nalla manasaatchiyae dhevan arasaatchiyaam | A good conscience is truly God's divine reign, |
| Angu oru podhum maraiyaadhu avan kaatchiyaam | His divine presence never disappears from there. |
| Male | |
| Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom | Let us sing that all humanity is one single community, |
| Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom | Let us praise that there is only one God! |
| Male | |
| Paavamendra kallaraikku pala vazhi | There are many paths leading to the grave of sin, |
| Endrum dharma dhevan kovilukku oru vazhi | But always only one path to the temple of the God of Righteousness. |
| Paavamendra kallaraikku pala vazhi | There are many paths leading to the grave of sin, |
| Endrum dharma dhevan kovilukku oru vazhi | But always only one path to the temple of the God of Righteousness. |
| Indha vazhiyondru thaan engal vazhiyendru naam | Declaring that this single path alone is our path, |
| Nermai oru naalum thavaraamal nadai poduvom | Let us walk forward without ever wavering from honesty. |
| Male | |
| Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom | Let us sing that all humanity is one single community, |
| Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom | Let us praise that there is only one God! |
| Male | |
| Idhaya dheivam namadhu annaa thondrinaar | Our beloved leader, God of hearts, Anna, was born, |
| Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaar | He lit the lamp of principles that lives forever. |
| Idhaya dheivam namadhu annaa thondrinaar | Our beloved leader, God of hearts, Anna, was born, |
| Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaar | He lit the lamp of principles that lives forever. |
| Andha oli kaanalaam sonna vazhi pogalaam | Let us behold that light and follow the path he revealed, |
| Naalai varalaaru namakaaga uruvaagalaam | So that tomorrow's history may be created for us. |
| Male | |
| Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom | Let us sing that all humanity is one single community, |
| Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom | Let us praise that there is only one God! |
| Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom | Let us praise that there is only one God! |
| Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom | Let us praise that there is only one God! |
அன்பிலார் எல்லா தமக்குரியர்
அன்புடையார் என்பும் உரியர் பிறர்க்கு
தெய்வத்தால் ஆகாதெனினும் முயற்சி
தன் மெய் வருத்த கூலி தரும்
Those without love belong only to themselves;
But those who have love belong to others, even with their very bones.
Even if destiny makes an effort seem impossible,
Hard labor will yield its earned reward.
ஒன்றே குலமென்று பாடுவோம்
ஒருவனே தேவனென்று போற்றுவோம்
அன்னை இதயமாக அன்பு வடிவமாக
வந்து வழிகாட்ட வேண்டும் என்று வணங்குவோம்
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
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 path.
ஒன்றே குலமென்று பாடுவோம்
ஒருவனே தேவனென்று போற்றுவோம்
அன்னை இதயமாக அன்பு வடிவமாக
வந்து வழிகாட்ட வேண்டும் என்று வணங்குவோம்
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
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 path.
ஒன்றே குலமென்று பாடுவோம்
ஒருவனே தேவனென்று போற்றுவோம்
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Let us praise that there is only one God!
கடவுளிலே கருணைதனை காணலாம்
அந்த கருணையிலே கடவுளையும் காணலாம்
கடவுளிலே கருணைதனை காணலாம்
அந்த கருணையிலே கடவுளையும் காணலாம்
நல்ல மனசாட்சியே தேவன் அரசாட்சியாம்
அங்கு ஒருபோதும் மறையாது அவன் சாட்சியாம்
One can see grace and compassion within God,
And in that very compassion, one can also see God.
One can see grace and compassion within God,
And in that very compassion, one can also see God.
A good conscience is truly God's divine reign,
His divine presence never disappears from there.
கடவுளிலே கருணைதனை காணலாம்
அந்த கருணையிலே கடவுளையும் காணலாம்
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Let us praise that there is only one God!
பாவம் என்ற கல்லறைக்கு பலவழி
என்றும் தர்மதேவன் கோவிலுக்கு ஒரு வழி
பாவம் என்ற கல்லறைக்கு பலவழி
என்றும் தர்மதேவன் கோவிலுக்கு ஒரு வழி
இந்த வழி ஒன்று தான் எங்கள் வழியென்று நாம்
நேர்மை ஒருநாளும் தவறாமல் நடை போடுவோம்
There are many paths leading to the grave of sin,
But always only one path to the temple of the God of Righteousness.
There are many paths leading to the grave of sin,
But always only one path to the temple of the God of Righteousness.
Declaring that this single path alone is our path,
Let us walk forward without ever wavering from honesty.
ஒன்றே குலமென்று பாடுவோம்
ஒருவனே தேவனென்று போற்றுவோம்
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Let us praise that there is only one God!
இதய தெய்வம் நமது அண்ணா தோன்றினார்
அவர் என்றும் வாழும் கொள்கை தீபம் ஏற்றினார்
இதய தெய்வம் நமது அண்ணா தோன்றினார்
அவர் என்றும் வாழும் கொள்கை தீபம் ஏற்றினார்
அந்த ஒளி காணலாம் சொன்ன வழிபோகலாம்
நாளை வரலாறு நமக்காக உருவாகலாம்
Our beloved leader, God of hearts, Anna, was born,
He lit the lamp of principles that lives forever.
Our beloved leader, God of hearts, Anna, was born,
He lit the lamp of principles that lives forever.
Let us behold that light and follow the path he revealed,
So that tomorrow's history may be created for us.
ஒன்றே குலமென்று பாடுவோம்
ஒருவனே தேவனென்று போற்றுவோம்
ஒருவனே தேவனென்று போற்றுவோம்
ஒருவனே தேவனென்று போற்றுவோம்
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
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!
Anbilaar ellaam thamakkuriyar
Those without love belong only to themselves;
Anbudaiyaar enbum uriyar piraikku
But those who have love belong to others, even with their very bones.
Dheivathaal aagaadheninum muyarchi
Even if destiny makes an effort seem impossible,
Than mei varutha kooli tharum
Hard labor will yield its earned reward.
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom
Let us praise that there is only one God!
Annai idhayamaaga anbu vadivamaaga
With a mother's heart and as the embodiment of love,
Vandhu vazhi kaatta vendumendru vananguvom
Let us bow and pray for guidance on our path.
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom
Let us praise that there is only one God!
Annai idhayamaaga anbu vadivamaaga
With a mother's heart and as the embodiment of love,
Vandhu vazhi kaatta vendumendru vananguvom
Let us bow and pray for guidance on our path.
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom
Let us praise that there is only one God!
Kadavulilae karunai thannai kaanalaam
One can see grace and compassion within God,
Andha karunaiyilae kadavulaiyum kaanalaam
And in that very compassion, one can also see God.
Kadavulilae karunai thannai kaanalaam
One can see grace and compassion within God,
Andha karunaiyilae kadavulaiyum kaanalaam
And in that very compassion, one can also see God.
Nalla manasaatchiyae dhevan arasaatchiyaam
A good conscience is truly God's divine reign,
Angu oru podhum maraiyaadhu avan kaatchiyaam
His divine presence never disappears from there.
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom
Let us praise that there is only one God!
Paavamendra kallaraikku pala vazhi
There are many paths leading to the grave of sin,
Endrum dharma dhevan kovilukku oru vazhi
But always only one path to the temple of the God of Righteousness.
Paavamendra kallaraikku pala vazhi
There are many paths leading to the grave of sin,
Endrum dharma dhevan kovilukku oru vazhi
But always only one path to the temple of the God of Righteousness.
Indha vazhiyondru thaan engal vazhiyendru naam
Declaring that this single path alone is our path,
Nermai oru naalum thavaraamal nadai poduvom
Let us walk forward without ever wavering from honesty.
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom
Let us praise that there is only one God!
Idhaya dheivam namadhu annaa thondrinaar
Our beloved leader, God of hearts, Anna, was born,
Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaar
He lit the lamp of principles that lives forever.
Idhaya dheivam namadhu annaa thondrinaar
Our beloved leader, God of hearts, Anna, was born,
Avar endrum vaazhum kolgai deebam yettrinaar
He lit the lamp of principles that lives forever.
Andha oli kaanalaam sonna vazhi pogalaam
Let us behold that light and follow the path he revealed,
Naalai varalaaru namakaaga uruvaagalaam
So that tomorrow's history may be created for us.
Ondrae kulamendru paaduvom
Let us sing that all humanity is one single community,
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom
Let us praise that there is only one God!
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom
Let us praise that there is only one God!
Oruvanae dhevanendru pottruvom
Let 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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