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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ondre Ondru Ulagam

From Guru Dhatchanai · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
T. Pugazhenthi
Details
Guru Dhatchanai1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondruOnly one, the world is one
Ulagil deivam ondruIn this world, God is one
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhuIt is good, doing good deeds
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandruLiving well by doing good is best
Female
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondruOnly one, the world is one
Ulagil deivam ondruIn this world, God is one
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhuIt is good, doing good deeds
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandruLiving well by doing good is best
Female
Aana enbathu uyirezhuthuThe letter 'Aa' is a vowel letter
Amma appa anbu arivuMother, father, love, wisdom
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthuThat is the first letter for all of these
Chorus :Amma appa anbu arivuChorus: Mother, father, love, wisdom
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthuThat is the first letter for all of these
Female :Aana enbathu uyirezhuthuFemale: The letter 'Aa' is a vowel letter
Amma appa anbu arivuMother, father, love, wisdom
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthuThat is the first letter for all of these
Female
Ka na enbathu uyirmai ezhuthuThe letter 'Ka' is a consonant-vowel letter
Kadavul karunai kalvi kangalGod, grace, education, eyes
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthuThat is the first letter for all of these
Chorus :Kadavul karunai kalvi kangalChorus: God, grace, education, eyes
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthuThat is the first letter for all of these
Female :Ka na enbathu uyirmai ezhuthuFemale: The letter 'Ka' is a consonant-vowel letter
Kadavul karunai kalvi kangalGod, grace, education, eyes
Anaithirkkum adhuvae mudhal ezhuthuThat is the first letter for all of these
Female
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondruOnly one, the world is one
Ulagil deivam ondruIn this world, God is one
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhuIt is good, doing good deeds
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandruLiving well by doing good is best
Female
VasukiVasuki!
Child :TeacherChild: Teacher!
Female :Engae solluFemale: Tell me!
Child :PadippuChild: Education!
Female :Vazhum vazhiyai therindhu kollaFemale: To understand the way to live,
Vazhigal seivadhu padippuEducation creates the path.
Chorus :Vazhigal seivadhu padippuChorus: Education creates the path.
Female
VadiveluVadivelu!
Child :TeacherChild: Teacher!
Female :Nee solluFemale: You tell me!
Child :KanakkuChild: Mathematics!
Female :CorrectFemale: Correct!
Varuvadhai olungaai veithu kollumTo manage what comes in properly,
Arivai tharuvadhu kanakkuMathematics provides the wisdom.
Chorus :Arivai tharuvadhu kanakkuChorus: Mathematics provides the wisdom.
Female
ParimalamParimalam!
Child :BoogolamChild: Geography!
Female :Paarkum ulagai purindhu kollaFemale: To understand the world we see,
Paadhai solvadhu boogolamGeography shows the direction.
Chorus :Paadhai solvadhu boogolamChorus: Geography shows the direction.
Female
PasupathiPasupathi!
Child :SarithiramChild: History!
Female :Paraambaraiyaana munnoor kadhaiyaiFemale: The story of our ancestral forefathers,
Padam solvadhu sarithiramHistory illustrates it clearly.
Chorus :Padam solvadhu sarithiramChorus: History illustrates it clearly.
Female
Ezhutharivithavan iraivan aagumThe one who taught literacy is God Himself,
Ennum eluthum kannaagumNumbers and letters are like two eyes.
Chorus :Ennum eluthum kannaagumChorus: Numbers and letters are like two eyes.
Female :Ezhutharivithavan iraivan aagumFemale: The one who taught literacy is God Himself,
Ennum eluthum kannaagumNumbers and letters are like two eyes.
Female
Yedum arivum kooda irundhaalIf books and knowledge stay together,
Ella nalanum undaagumAll good fortune will arise.
Chorus :Ella nalanum undaagumChorus: All good fortune will arise.
Female :Yedum arivum kooda irundhaalFemale: If books and knowledge stay together,
Ella nalanum undaagumAll good fortune will arise.
Female
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondruOnly one, the world is one
Ulagil deivam ondruIn this world, God is one
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhuIt is good, doing good deeds
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandruLiving well by doing good is best
Chorus
Ondrae ondru ulagam ondruOnly one, the world is one
Ulagil deivam ondruIn this world, God is one
Nandrae nandru nalladhai seidhuIt is good, doing good deeds
Nandraai vaazhvadhu nandruLiving well by doing good is best

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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