Onnukkonnu Thunai
From Nandalala · 2009
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nandalala2009
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae | In a world where everything has a companion, |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Male | |
| Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae | In a world where everything has a companion, |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Male | |
| Yaaru idhai kandu kolvaar | Who will notice this? |
| Kaigalilae yendhi kolvaar | Who will cradle it in their hands? |
| Sondham solla yaar varuvaar | Who will come to claim it as their own? |
| Anbukku yaar anbu seivaar | Who will show love unto love itself? |
| Male | |
| Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae | In a world where everything has a companion, |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Male | |
| Unnai pola ennai enninaal | If you consider me as yourself, |
| Nenjil gangai aaru oodumae | A river Ganges of pure empathy will flow in the heart. |
| Thunbam theerkka neelum kaigalil | Into the hands extended to relieve suffering, |
| Sorgam vandhu kai korkkume | Heaven itself will come and join hands. |
| Male | |
| Kovil kulam yaavum ingae | Are not all the temples and sacred ponds here |
| Anbin adaiyaalam allavaa | Symbols of pure love? |
| Ezhaikkendru thandhadhellaam | Whatever is given to the poor |
| Eesan kaiyil serum allavaa | Reaches the hands of God Himself, doesn't it? |
| Male | |
| Kangal illaa manidharukku | For a person without eyes, |
| Kaalgal ena naam nadanthaal | If we walk as their guiding feet, |
| Namm boomiyil anaadhai yaar | Who on our earth is an orphan? |
| Anaadhai yaar | Who is an orphan? |
| Male | |
| Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae | In a world where everything has a companion, |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Male | |
| Mannil thaane ellai kodugal | Boundary lines exist only on the land; |
| AMnadhil kodu yaar pottadhu | Who drew a boundary in the human mind? |
| Pettral thaana pillai boomiyil | Is a child only a child if born to oneself on this earth? |
| Ellaam ellaam namm paarvaiyil | Everything lies within our perception and perspective. |
| Male | |
| Naadhiyattra poovum illai | Even a flower is not without a protector, |
| Nattu vaithathaal vandhadhu | Since someone planted it and nurtured it. |
| Naadhiyattra naam pirandhom | Were we born as helpless orphans? |
| Annai indri yaar vandhadhu | Who ever came into this world without a mother? |
| Male | |
| Engirundho inghu vandhom | From somewhere we arrived here, |
| Vandhadhellam sondhangalae | Everyone who came has become our relatives. |
| Namm boomiyil anaadhai yaar | Who on our earth is an orphan? |
| Anaadhai yaar | Who is an orphan? |
| Male | |
| Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae | In a world where everything has a companion, |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Male | |
| Yaaru idhai kandu kolvaar | Who will notice this? |
| Kaigalilae yendhi kolvaar | Who will cradle it in their hands? |
| Sondham solla yaar varuvaar | Who will come to claim it as their own? |
| Anbukku yaar anbu seivaar | Who will show love unto love itself? |
| Male | |
| Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae | In a world where everything has a companion, |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
| Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa | Is love alone an orphan? |
ஒண்ணுக்கொண்ணு துணையிருக்கும் உலகத்திலே
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
In a world where everything has a companion,
Is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
ஒண்ணுக்கொண்ணு துணையிருக்கும் உலகத்திலே
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
In a world where everything has a companion,
Is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
யாரு இதை கண்டுகொள்வார்
கைகளிலே ஏந்திக் கொள்வார்
சொந்தம் சொல்ல யார் வருவார்
அன்புக்கு யார் அன்பு செய்வார்
Who will notice this?
Who will cradle it in their hands?
Who will come to claim it as their own?
Who will show love unto love itself?
ஒண்ணுக்கொண்ணு துணையிருக்கும் உலகத்திலே
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
In a world where everything has a companion,
Is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
உன்னைப் போல என்னை எண்ணினால்
நெஞ்சில் கங்கை ஆறு ஓடுமே
துன்பம் தீர்க்க நீளும் கைகளில்
சொர்க்கம் வந்து கை கோர்க்குமே
If you consider me as yourself,
A river Ganges of pure empathy will flow in the heart.
Into the hands extended to relieve suffering,
Heaven itself will come and join hands.
கோவில் குளம் யாவும் இங்கே
அன்பின் அடையாளம் அல்லவா
ஏழைக்கென்று தந்ததெல்லாம்
ஈசன் கையில் சேருமல்லவா
Are not all the temples and sacred ponds here
Symbols of pure love?
Whatever is given to the poor
Reaches the hands of God Himself, doesn't it?
கண்களில்லா மனிதருக்கு
கால்களென நாம் நடந்தால்
நம் பூமியில் அனாதை யார்
அனாதை யார்............
For a person without eyes,
If we walk as their guiding feet,
Who on our earth is an orphan?
Who is an orphan?
ஒண்ணுக்கொண்ணு துணையிருக்கும் உலகத்திலே
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
In a world where everything has a companion,
Is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
மண்ணில் தானே எல்லைக்கோடுகள்
மனதில் கோடு யார் போட்டது
பெற்றால்தானா பிள்ளை பூமியில்
எல்லாம் எல்லாம் நம் பார்வையில்
Boundary lines exist only on the land;
Who drew a boundary in the human mind?
Is a child only a child if born to oneself on this earth?
Everything lies within our perception and perspective.
நாதியற்ற பூவும் இல்லை
நட்டு வைத்ததால் வந்தது
நாதியற்றா நாம் பிறந்தோம்
அன்னை இன்றி யார் வந்தது
Even a flower is not without a protector,
Since someone planted it and nurtured it.
Were we born as helpless orphans?
Who ever came into this world without a mother?
எங்கிருந்தோ இங்கு வந்தோம்
வந்ததெல்லாம் சொந்தங்களே
நம் பூமியில் அனாதை யார்
அனாதை யார்.............
From somewhere we arrived here,
Everyone who came has become our relatives.
Who on our earth is an orphan?
Who is an orphan?
ஒண்ணுக்கொண்ணு துணையிருக்கும் உலகத்திலே
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
In a world where everything has a companion,
Is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
யாரு இதை கண்டுகொள்வார்
கைகளிலே ஏந்திக் கொள்வார்
சொந்தம் சொல்ல யார் வருவார்
அன்புக்கு யார் அன்பு செய்வார்
Who will notice this?
Who will cradle it in their hands?
Who will come to claim it as their own?
Who will show love unto love itself?
ஒண்ணுக்கொண்ணு துணையிருக்கும் உலகத்திலே
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
அன்பு ஒண்ணுதான் அனாதையா
In a world where everything has a companion,
Is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
In a world where everything has a companion,
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
In a world where everything has a companion,
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Yaaru idhai kandu kolvaar
Who will notice this?
Kaigalilae yendhi kolvaar
Who will cradle it in their hands?
Sondham solla yaar varuvaar
Who will come to claim it as their own?
Anbukku yaar anbu seivaar
Who will show love unto love itself?
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
In a world where everything has a companion,
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Unnai pola ennai enninaal
If you consider me as yourself,
Nenjil gangai aaru oodumae
A river Ganges of pure empathy will flow in the heart.
Thunbam theerkka neelum kaigalil
Into the hands extended to relieve suffering,
Sorgam vandhu kai korkkume
Heaven itself will come and join hands.
Kovil kulam yaavum ingae
Are not all the temples and sacred ponds here
Anbin adaiyaalam allavaa
Symbols of pure love?
Ezhaikkendru thandhadhellaam
Whatever is given to the poor
Eesan kaiyil serum allavaa
Reaches the hands of God Himself, doesn't it?
Kangal illaa manidharukku
For a person without eyes,
Kaalgal ena naam nadanthaal
If we walk as their guiding feet,
Namm boomiyil anaadhai yaar
Who on our earth is an orphan?
Anaadhai yaar
Who is an orphan?
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
In a world where everything has a companion,
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Mannil thaane ellai kodugal
Boundary lines exist only on the land;
AMnadhil kodu yaar pottadhu
Who drew a boundary in the human mind?
Pettral thaana pillai boomiyil
Is a child only a child if born to oneself on this earth?
Ellaam ellaam namm paarvaiyil
Everything lies within our perception and perspective.
Naadhiyattra poovum illai
Even a flower is not without a protector,
Nattu vaithathaal vandhadhu
Since someone planted it and nurtured it.
Naadhiyattra naam pirandhom
Were we born as helpless orphans?
Annai indri yaar vandhadhu
Who ever came into this world without a mother?
Engirundho inghu vandhom
From somewhere we arrived here,
Vandhadhellam sondhangalae
Everyone who came has become our relatives.
Namm boomiyil anaadhai yaar
Who on our earth is an orphan?
Anaadhai yaar
Who is an orphan?
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
In a world where everything has a companion,
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Yaaru idhai kandu kolvaar
Who will notice this?
Kaigalilae yendhi kolvaar
Who will cradle it in their hands?
Sondham solla yaar varuvaar
Who will come to claim it as their own?
Anbukku yaar anbu seivaar
Who will show love unto love itself?
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
In a world where everything has a companion,
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Is love alone an orphan?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this moving philosophical song from Nandalala, lyricist Mu. Metha and composer Ilaiyaraaja question the societal neglect of pure love and empathy. Set in a world where every creature finds support, the lyricist laments how love itself often ends up neglected and unreciprocated. Through vivid imagery, the song reminds us that acts of kindness, such as guiding the visually impaired or aiding the destitute, are true reflections of divinity. Ultimately, the song urges humanity to erase mental boundaries and embrace all living beings as kin. By reminding listeners that every person is born of a mother and shares a common journey on Earth, the composition delivers a deeply compassionate message: if we see each other as family and offer helping hands, no one on this earth will ever truly be an orphan.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinathal)
“Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa”
Used extensively throughout the song to provoke deep contemplation on human empathy and social responsibility.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nenjil gangai aaru oodumae”
Compares the overwhelming feeling of compassion in a selfless heart to the holy Ganges river.
Moonaal / Alliteration (Moonaal)
“Kangal illaa manidharukku / Kaalgal ena naam nadanthaal”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in consecutive lines creates rhythm and emphasis.
Edhukai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Mannil thaane ellai kodugal / AMnadhil kodu yaar pottadhu”
The second consonant 'n' matches across lines (Mannil / AMnadhil), forming a classical Tamil poetic structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
Nandalala (2009), directed by Mysskin, is heavily inspired by Takeshi Kitano's acclaimed film 'Kikujiro'. Ilaiyaraaja's poignant musical score, particularly K. J. Yesudas' soulful rendition of this track, plays a pivotal role in driving the emotional narrative of the two central characters searching for maternal love.
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