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Isaimozhi
Nandalala album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Onnukkonnu Thunai

From Nandalala · 2009

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nandalala
Movie release year
2009
Lyrics added on
25 Apr 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Yaaru idhai kandu kolvaar
Kaigalilae yendhi kolvaar
Sondham solla yaar varuvaar
Anbukku yaar anbu seivaar
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Unnai pola ennai enninaal
Nenjil gangai aaru oodumae
Thunbam theerkka neelum kaigalil
Sorgam vandhu kai korkkume
Kovil kulam yaavum ingae
Anbin adaiyaalam allavaa
Ezhaikkendru thandhadhellaam
Eesan kaiyil serum allavaa
Kangal illaa manidharukku
Kaalgal ena naam nadanthaal
Namm boomiyil anaadhai yaar
Anaadhai yaar
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Mannil thaane ellai kodugal
AMnadhil kodu yaar pottadhu
Pettral thaana pillai boomiyil
Ellaam ellaam namm paarvaiyil
Naadhiyattra poovum illai
Nattu vaithathaal vandhadhu
Naadhiyattra naam pirandhom
Annai indri yaar vandhadhu
Engirundho inghu vandhom
Vandhadhellam sondhangalae
Namm boomiyil anaadhai yaar
Anaadhai yaar
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Yaaru idhai kandu kolvaar
Kaigalilae yendhi kolvaar
Sondham solla yaar varuvaar
Anbukku yaar anbu seivaar
Onnukkonnu thunaiyirukkum ulagathilae
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
Anbu onnu thaan anaadhaiyaa
In a world where each has the other for support,
is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
In a world where each has the other for support,
is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
Who will notice this?
Who will gently cradle it in their arms?
Who will come forward to claim it as kin?
Who will show love to love itself?
In a world where each has the other for support,
is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
If you see me just as you see yourself,
the holy river Ganga will flow within your heart.
In the hands reaching out to heal someone's pain,
heaven itself joins hand in hand.
All the temples and sacred ponds around us,
aren't they symbols of pure love?
Whatever is offered to the poor,
reaches the hands of God, doesn't it?
For those who cannot see,
if we walk as their guiding feet,
who on this earth is an orphan?
Who is truly an orphan?
In a world where each has the other for support,
is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
Borders are drawn only across the soil;
who drew lines within the human heart?
Is a child your own only if you give birth?
It all depends on how we choose to see.
Not even a wild flower is without care;
it bloomed because someone planted it.
Were we born without anyone to care for us?
Who in this world came without a mother?
We arrived here from somewhere unknown,
yet everyone who is here is our family.
Who on our earth is an orphan?
Who is truly an orphan?
In a world where each has the other for support,
is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
Who will notice this?
Who will gently cradle it in their arms?
Who will come forward to claim it as kin?
Who will show love to love itself?
In a world where each has the other for support,
is love alone an orphan?
Is love alone an orphan?
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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