Onnumilla
From Aadai · 2019
- Lyricist
- Bharath Sankar
- Singer
- Bharath Sankar
- Music director
- Oorka
- Details
- Aadai2019
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Poranthu eranthum | Being born and passing away, |
| Oru unmai velangaadha | Will you not understand this one truth? |
| Sirisa nenaikkum | With a narrow mind, |
| Sindhanaiyum maaraadha | Will your thinking never change? |
| Male | |
| Kaana onna | What you cannot see with your eyes, |
| Karuppunnu nenaikaadha | Do not assume it to be dark or evil. |
| Manushan ariva | Do not dig a pit to bury, |
| Kuzhi pottu thondaadha | The wisdom of a human being. |
| Male | |
| Yen naa… | Because... |
| Onnum illa onnum illa | There is nothing, there is nothing, |
| Un kaiyila onnumilla | There is nothing in your control/hands. |
| Onnum illa onnum illa | There is nothing, there is nothing, |
| Un kaiyila onnumilla | There is nothing in your control/hands. |
| Aattruvan aattivacha | When the master puppeteer pulls the strings, |
| Aaduravan aadanum | The puppet who dances must dance. |
| Chorus | |
| Hey…hey…hey…hey | Hey…hey…hey…hey |
| Male | |
| Kaalam neram poi-u | Time and auspicious hours are illusions, |
| Un kanava mattum vai-u | Hold on firmly to your dream alone. |
| Bayamo pirivo vendaam | No need for fear or feelings of separation, |
| Un paasam parivae podhum | Your love and compassion alone are enough, |
| Unna manushanaaga maathidum | They will transform you into a true human being. |
| Male | |
| Kalavu poga | When possessions get stolen, |
| Nilaiyum poi thaan | Status too proves to be temporary. |
| Kanavu kaana | To dream a dream, |
| Muzhichen seri thaan | Waking up to reality is indeed right. |
| Male | |
| Uyirum maraiyum | Life itself will eventually fade away, |
| Kavalai poi thaan | So worrying about it is futile. |
| Kathira karaikkum | Shining through the dark, |
| Nilavum meithaan…hey | The moon alone feels true... hey |
| Male | |
| Nelama seriya | As long as the circumstances |
| Irukkum varaikkum | Remain favorable and proper, |
| Nilavu meiyaa | If the moon faithfully |
| Velicham thandhaa | Provides light, |
| Dhenamum kaalam | Yet every day as time |
| Maarum nilaiyil | Keeps shifting conditions, |
| Nilavu poiyaa | Does the moon become a lie? |
| Manushan ketta | If a human questions this, |
| Male | |
| Thappu illai thappu illai | It is not wrong, not wrong, |
| Inga onnum thappu illai | Nothing here is wrong. |
| Thappu illai thappu illai | It is not wrong, not wrong, |
| Inga onnum thappu illai | Nothing here is wrong. |
| Aattruvan aattivacha | When the master puppeteer pulls the strings, |
| Aaduravan aadanum | The puppet who dances must dance. |
| Chorus | |
| Hey…hey…hey…hey | Hey…hey…hey…hey |
| Male | |
| Kaalam neram poi-u | Time and auspicious hours are illusions, |
| Un kanava mattum vai-u | Hold on firmly to your dream alone. |
| Bayamo pirivo vendaam | No need for fear or feelings of separation, |
| Un paasam parivae podhum | Your love and compassion alone are enough, |
| Unna manushanaaga maathidum | They will transform you into a true human being. |
பொறந்து இறந்தும்
ஒரு உண்மை வெளங்காதா
சிறிசா நினைக்கும்
சிந்தனையும் மாறாதா
Being born and passing away,
Will you not understand this one truth?
With a narrow mind,
Will your thinking never change?
காண ஒன்ன
கருப்புன்னு நினைக்காதா
மனுஷன் அறிவ
குழி போட்டு தோண்டாதா
What you cannot see with your eyes,
Do not assume it to be dark or evil.
Do not dig a pit to bury,
The wisdom of a human being.
ஏன் னா.....
ஒன்னும் இல்லை ஒன்னும் இல்லை
உன் கையில ஒன்னுமில்லை
ஒன்னும் இல்லை ஒன்னும் இல்லை
உன் கையில ஒன்னுமில்லை
ஆட்டுறவன் ஆட்டிவச்சா
ஆடுறவன் ஆடனும்
Because...
There is nothing, there is nothing,
There is nothing in your control/hands.
There is nothing, there is nothing,
There is nothing in your control/hands.
When the master puppeteer pulls the strings,
The puppet who dances must dance.
ஹேய்....ஹேய்....ஹேய்.....ஹேய்
Hey…hey…hey…hey
காலம் நேரம் பொய்யி
உன் கனவ மட்டும் வையி
பயமோ பிரிவோ வேண்டாம்
உன் பாசம் பரிவே போதும்
உன்ன மனுஷனாக மாத்திடும்
Time and auspicious hours are illusions,
Hold on firmly to your dream alone.
No need for fear or feelings of separation,
Your love and compassion alone are enough,
They will transform you into a true human being.
களவு போக
நிலையும் பொய்தான்
கனவு காண
முழிச்சேன் சரிதான்
When possessions get stolen,
Status too proves to be temporary.
To dream a dream,
Waking up to reality is indeed right.
உயிரும் மறையும்
கவலை பொய்தான்
கதிர கரைக்கும்
நிலவும் மெய்தான்....ஹேய்
Life itself will eventually fade away,
So worrying about it is futile.
Shining through the dark,
The moon alone feels true... hey
நெலைமை சரியா
இருக்கும் வரைக்கும்
நிலவு மெய்யா
வெளிச்சம் தந்தா
தெனமும் காலம்
மாறும் நிலையில்
நிலவு பொய்யா
மனுஷன் கேட்டா
As long as the circumstances
Remain favorable and proper,
If the moon faithfully
Provides light,
Yet every day as time
Keeps shifting conditions,
Does the moon become a lie?
If a human questions this,
தப்பு இல்லை தப்பு இல்லை
இங்க ஒன்னும் தப்பு இல்லை
தப்பு இல்லை தப்பு இல்லை
இங்க ஒன்னும் தப்பு இல்லை
ஆட்டுறவன் ஆட்டிவச்சா
ஆடுறவன் ஆடனும்
It is not wrong, not wrong,
Nothing here is wrong.
It is not wrong, not wrong,
Nothing here is wrong.
When the master puppeteer pulls the strings,
The puppet who dances must dance.
ஹேய்....ஹேய்....ஹேய்.....ஹேய்
Hey…hey…hey…hey
காலம் நேரம் பொய்யி
உன் கனவ மட்டும் வையி
பயமோ பிரிவோ வேண்டாம்
உன் பாசம் பரிவே போதும்
உன்ன மனுஷனாக மாத்திடும்
Time and auspicious hours are illusions,
Hold on firmly to your dream alone.
No need for fear or feelings of separation,
Your love and compassion alone are enough,
They will transform you into a true human being.
Poranthu eranthum
Being born and passing away,
Oru unmai velangaadha
Will you not understand this one truth?
Sirisa nenaikkum
With a narrow mind,
Sindhanaiyum maaraadha
Will your thinking never change?
Kaana onna
What you cannot see with your eyes,
Karuppunnu nenaikaadha
Do not assume it to be dark or evil.
Manushan ariva
Do not dig a pit to bury,
Kuzhi pottu thondaadha
The wisdom of a human being.
Yen naa…
Because...
Onnum illa onnum illa
There is nothing, there is nothing,
Un kaiyila onnumilla
There is nothing in your control/hands.
Onnum illa onnum illa
There is nothing, there is nothing,
Un kaiyila onnumilla
There is nothing in your control/hands.
Aattruvan aattivacha
When the master puppeteer pulls the strings,
Aaduravan aadanum
The puppet who dances must dance.
Hey…hey…hey…hey
Hey…hey…hey…hey
Kaalam neram poi-u
Time and auspicious hours are illusions,
Un kanava mattum vai-u
Hold on firmly to your dream alone.
Bayamo pirivo vendaam
No need for fear or feelings of separation,
Un paasam parivae podhum
Your love and compassion alone are enough,
Unna manushanaaga maathidum
They will transform you into a true human being.
Kalavu poga
When possessions get stolen,
Nilaiyum poi thaan
Status too proves to be temporary.
Kanavu kaana
To dream a dream,
Muzhichen seri thaan
Waking up to reality is indeed right.
Uyirum maraiyum
Life itself will eventually fade away,
Kavalai poi thaan
So worrying about it is futile.
Kathira karaikkum
Shining through the dark,
Nilavum meithaan…hey
The moon alone feels true... hey
Nelama seriya
As long as the circumstances
Irukkum varaikkum
Remain favorable and proper,
Nilavu meiyaa
If the moon faithfully
Velicham thandhaa
Provides light,
Dhenamum kaalam
Yet every day as time
Maarum nilaiyil
Keeps shifting conditions,
Nilavu poiyaa
Does the moon become a lie?
Manushan ketta
If a human questions this,
Thappu illai thappu illai
It is not wrong, not wrong,
Inga onnum thappu illai
Nothing here is wrong.
Thappu illai thappu illai
It is not wrong, not wrong,
Inga onnum thappu illai
Nothing here is wrong.
Aattruvan aattivacha
When the master puppeteer pulls the strings,
Aaduravan aadanum
The puppet who dances must dance.
Hey…hey…hey…hey
Hey…hey…hey…hey
Kaalam neram poi-u
Time and auspicious hours are illusions,
Un kanava mattum vai-u
Hold on firmly to your dream alone.
Bayamo pirivo vendaam
No need for fear or feelings of separation,
Un paasam parivae podhum
Your love and compassion alone are enough,
Unna manushanaaga maathidum
They will transform you into a true human being.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the film 'Aadai' delivers a deeply philosophical and existential commentary on human life, control, and societal judgment. It questions the narrow-minded views of society and reminds the listener that ultimate control lies beyond human hands. Comparing human existence to puppets controlled by a higher universal force ('Aattruvan'), the lyrics emphasize that material possessions, social status, and rigid notions of time are temporary illusions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Aattruvan aattivacha / Aaduravan aadanum”
Compares human actions to puppets performing at the behest of a cosmic puppeteer or destiny.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Kaalam neram poi-u / Un kanava mattum vai-u”
The lines end with rhyming phonetic sounds ('poi-u' and 'vai-u').
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Onnum illa onnum illa / Un kaiyila onnumilla”
Repetition of the phrase 'Onnum illa' to heavily reinforce the existential theme of non-possession.
Muran (Antithesis)
“Kathira karaikkum / Nilavum meithaan”
Contrasts the harsh sun/daylight ('Kathir') with the subtle moonlight ('Nilavu') to highlight shifting truths.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Aadai' (2019) is a dark comedy drama starring Amala Paul, directed by Rathna Kumar. The soundtrack was jointly composed by Pradeep Kumar and the Chennai-based indie rock band Oorka, with member Bharath Sankar contributing heavily to the writing and vocal delivery.
Keep listening
More from Aadai
Aadai
Aadai