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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Onnaa Rendaa Edhu

From Sugam Enge · 1954

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. R. Ramasamy
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Sugam Enge
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
5 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Onna rendaa yedhu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Indha ulagathai kedukkudhu
Usirai vaanguthu
Onna rendaa yedhu
{Mannang kattiyai
Malai pol aakkum
Vazhiyai kattudhu
Panaththai kuvikkudhu
Onna rendaa yedhu} (2)
Penngal kannil pattaal podhum
Piriyam kodukuthu idhu
Penngal kannil pattaal podhum
Piriyam kodukuthu idhu
Pattu pudavai onnu
Pushpam rendu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Petti paambaai purusharai aakkum
Penngalin aayudham idhu
Petti paambaai purusharai aakkum
Penngalin aayudham idhu
Kanneer onnu punnagai rendu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Aambalai pombalai aththanai peraiyum
Aatti padaikkuthu idhu
Aambalai pombalai aththanai peraiyum
Pombalai aambalai aththanai peraiyum
Aatti padaikkuthu idhu
Poi kaadhal onnu kaasu rendu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Aattam paattum serndhu nadanthidum
Aanandha kaatchiyae idhu
Aattam paattum serndhu nadanthidum
Aanandha kaatchiyae idhu
Nalla cinema onnu naadagam rendu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Indha ulagathai kedukkudhu
Usirai vaanguthu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Kurukkezhuthu potti nadathum
Koottam peruthu pochu
Kurukkezhuthu potti nadathum
Koottam peruthu pochu
Kurukku valiyil panathai serkkum
Aasai perugalaachu
Pala kurukku valiyil panathai serkkum
Aasai perugalaachu
Kulandhai kuttigal kilavar mathiyil
Coupan enbathae pechu
Kulandhai kuttigal kilavar mathiyil
Coupan enbathae pechu
Hotel server teacher driver
Kelvi idhuvae aachu
Hotel server teacher driver
Kelvi idhuvae aachu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Indha ulagathai kedukkudhu
Usirai vaanguthu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Padichavan moolaiyum mangi pochu
Idhu pattikaattukkum paravi pochu
Kadaikku kadai indha notice aachu
Governmentum idhai pathi yosikalaachu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Indha ulagathai kedukkudhu
Usirai vaanguthu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Mannang kattiyai
Malai pol aakkum
Vazhiyai kattudhu
Panaththai kuvikkudhu
Onna rendaa yedhu
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Is it one or two? Which is it?
It ruins this world,
it torments our lives!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
A mere lump of clay,
turning into a mountain—
it shows the way,
and piles up heaps of money!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Just catch a woman's eye,
and it wins her love!
Just catch a woman's eye,
and it wins her love!
A silk sari is one,
flowers are two!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Taming husbands like snakes in a basket,
this is a woman's weapon!
Taming husbands like snakes in a basket,
this is a woman's weapon!
A tear is one, a smile is two!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Men and women, every single one,
it makes them dance to its tunes!
Men and women, every single one,
Women and men, every single one,
it makes them dance to its tunes!
False love is one, money is two!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Where song and dance come together,
what a joyful sight it is!
Where song and dance come together,
what a joyful sight it is!
A good movie is one, a play is two!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Is it one or two? Which is it?
It ruins this world,
it torments our lives!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Those who run crossword contests,
their crowd has grown huge!
Those who run crossword contests,
their crowd has grown huge!
Making money through shortcuts,
greed has grown so big!
Making money through many shortcuts,
greed has grown so big!
Among young children and old folks,
all they talk about is coupons!
Among young children and old folks,
all they talk about is coupons!
Hotel waiter, teacher, driver—
this has become everyone's question!
Hotel waiter, teacher, driver—
this has become everyone's question!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
It ruins this world,
it torments our lives!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Even educated minds have grown dull,
and this craze has spread to remote villages too!
Every single shop puts up these notices,
and now the government is thinking about it too!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
It ruins this world,
it torments our lives!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
A mere lump of clay,
turning into a mountain—
it shows the way,
and piles up heaps of money!
Is it one or two? Which is it?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The satirical song 'Onna Rendaa Yedhu' from the 1954 film 'Sugam Enge' serves as a sharp social commentary on society's obsessive pursuit of quick money, gambling schemes, and coupon-based crossword contests that swept Tamil Nadu in the 1950s. Lyricist Kannadasan uses playful dualities ('one or two') to illustrate how people from all walks of life—teachers, drivers, hotel servers, children, and elders—have become obsessed with shortcuts to wealth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Petti paambaai purusharai aakkum

Compares husbands rendered helpless or obedient by their wives to a snake tamed and kept inside a box ('Petti paambai').

Contrast (Muran)

Kanneer onnu punnagai rendu

Pairs opposing human emotional expressions—tears ('Kanneer') and smiles ('Punnagai')—to highlight dualities used to influence others.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kurukkezhuthu potti nadathum / Kurukku valiyil panathai serkkum

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ku' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic flow and emphasizes the theme of 'shortcuts'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song satirizes the real-life craze of crossword puzzle contests ('kurukkezhuthu potti') and coupon draws that swept Madras State in the early 1950s. This social issue eventually led to government regulations restricting unauthorized prize competitions and lotteries.

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