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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ondre Ondru Ulagam

From Guru Dhatchanai · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
T. Pugazhenthi
Movie name
Guru Dhatchanai
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
9 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondru
Ulagil deivam ondru
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhu
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandru
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondru
Ulagil deivam ondru
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhu
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandru
Aana enbathu uyirezhuthu
Amma appa anbu arivu
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthu
Chorus :Amma appa anbu arivu
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthu
Female :Aana enbathu uyirezhuthu
Amma appa anbu arivu
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthu
Ka na enbathu uyirmai ezhuthu
Kadavul karunai kalvi kangal
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthu
Chorus :Kadavul karunai kalvi kangal
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthu
Female :Ka na enbathu uyirmai ezhuthu
Kadavul karunai kalvi kangal
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthu
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondru
Ulagil deivam ondru
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhu
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandru
Vasuki
Child :Teacher
Female :Engae sollu
Child :Padippu
Female :Vazhum vazhiyai therindhu kolla
Vazhigal seivadhu padippu
Chorus :Vazhigal seivadhu padippu
Vadivelu
Child :Teacher
Female :Nee sollu
Child :Kanakku
Female :Correct
Varuvadhai olungaai veithu kollum
Arivai tharuvadhu kanakku
Chorus :Arivai tharuvadhu kanakku
Parimalam
Child :Boogolam
Female :Paarkum ulagai purindhu kolla
Paadhai solvadhu boogolam
Chorus :Paadhai solvadhu boogolam
Pasupathi
Child :Sarithiram
Female :Paraambaraiyaana munnoor kadhaiyai
Padam solvadhu sarithiram
Chorus :Padam solvadhu sarithiram
Ezhutharivithavan iraivan aagum
Ennum eluthum kannaagum
Chorus :Ennum eluthum kannaagum
Female :Ezhutharivithavan iraivan aagum
Ennum eluthum kannaagum
Yedum arivum kooda irundhaal
Ella nalanum undaagum
Chorus :Ella nalanum undaagum
Female :Yedum arivum kooda irundhaal
Ella nalanum undaagum
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondru
Ulagil deivam ondru
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhu
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandru
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondru
Ulagil deivam ondru
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhu
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandru
There is only one, the world is one,
and God in this world is one.
Doing good deeds is truly good,
and living a good life is good.
There is only one, the world is one,
and God in this world is one.
Doing good deeds is truly good,
and living a good life is good.
The letter 'Aa' is a vowel,
Mother, Father, Love, and Wisdom—
it is the very first letter for all of them!
Chorus: Mother, Father, Love, and Wisdom—
it is the very first letter for all of them!
Female: The letter 'Aa' is a vowel,
Mother, Father, Love, and Wisdom—
it is the very first letter for all of them!
The letter 'Ka' is a consonant-vowel letter,
God, Grace, Education, and Eyes—
it is the very first letter for all of them!
Chorus: God, Grace, Education, and Eyes—
it is the very first letter for all of them!
Female: The letter 'Ka' is a consonant-vowel letter,
God, Grace, Education, and Eyes—
it is the very first letter for all of them!
There is only one, the world is one,
and God in this world is one.
Doing good deeds is truly good,
and living a good life is good.
Vasuki!
Child: Teacher!
Female: Go on, tell me.
Child: Studies!
Female: To know the way to live,
education creates the path!
Chorus: Education creates the path!
Vadivelu!
Child: Teacher!
Female: You tell me.
Child: Mathematics!
Female: Correct!
To properly manage what comes to you,
mathematics gives you the wisdom!
Chorus: Mathematics gives you the wisdom!
Parimalam!
Child: Geography!
Female: To understand the world we see,
geography shows us the path!
Chorus: Geography shows us the path!
Pasupathi!
Child: History!
Female: The traditional story of our ancestors,
history teaches as a lesson!
Chorus: History teaches as a lesson!
The teacher who gave us literacy is equal to God,
numbers and letters are our very eyes!
Chorus: Numbers and letters are our very eyes!
Female: The teacher who gave us literacy is equal to God,
numbers and letters are our very eyes!
If book learning and wisdom go together,
every good blessing will follow!
Chorus: Every good blessing will follow!
Female: If book learning and wisdom go together,
every good blessing will follow!
There is only one, the world is one,
and God in this world is one.
Doing good deeds is truly good,
and living a good life is good.
There is only one, the world is one,
and God in this world is one.
Doing good deeds is truly good,
and living a good life is good.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic educational song from Guru Dhatchanai (1969) serves as a heartwarming moral and academic lesson delivered by a teacher to her young students. The teacher emphasizes fundamental truths: that humanity is united under one world and one God, and that true living lies in doing good to others. Through playful linguistic examples, she teaches Tamil alphabet phonetics, showing how vowels and consonants form essential words like Mother, Father, Love, God, Grace, and Education.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monae (Alliteration)

Amma appa anbu arivu

Repetition of the initial letter 'O' in 'Ondrae' and 'Ondru' or 'A' in 'Amma', 'Appa', 'Anbu', 'Arivu'.

Edhugai (Rhyme)

Kadavul karunai kalvi kangal

Second letter harmony across words and lines such as 'Kadavul', 'Karunai', 'Kalvi'.

Esubal / Repetition (Anaphora)

Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhu

Repetition of words like 'Nandrae nandru' and 'Ondrae ondru' to emphasize singular truth and goodness.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Ennum eluthum kannaagum

Comparing numbers and letters (Ennum Ezhuthum) to two eyes essential for human sight and living.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is a revered educational standard in Tamil cinema that utilizes classic Thirukkural-style moral philosophy ('Ezhutharivithavan Iraivan Aagum' derived from ancient Tamil aphorisms) to teach children ethics alongside basic literacy and school subjects.

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