Oorukku Nalladhoru
From Sathya Sundharam · 1981
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Sathya Sundharam1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya | To do a good service for the town, |
| Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram | We have taken up this incarnation. |
| Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya | To do a good service for the town, |
| Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram | We have taken up this incarnation. |
| Male | |
| Verukku neethaanae aadhaaram manithan | Just as water is the foundation for a root, |
| Vaazhvukku anbae aadhaaram | Love is the foundation for human life. |
| Female | |
| Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya | To do a good service for the town, |
| Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram | We have taken up this incarnation. |
| Female | |
| Vaanam kodukkindra mazhai undu | There is rain provided by the sky, |
| Vaiyam kodukindra payir undu | There are crops provided by the earth. |
| Vaanam kodukkindra mazhai undu | There is rain provided by the sky, |
| Vaiyam kodukindra payir undu | There are crops provided by the earth. |
| Female | |
| Yaavum kodukindra manam kondu | With a heart that gives everything generously, |
| Ingu vaazhum anaivarkkum pugazhundu | Everyone who lives here shall gain fame. |
| Male | |
| Nallennam illaamal | Without good intentions, |
| Nanmaigal seiyaamal | Without doing good deeds, |
| Nenjangal vaazhnthaal paavam | If hearts live on, it is a sin. |
| Nallennam illaamal | Without good intentions, |
| Nanmaigal seiyaamal | Without doing good deeds, |
| Nenjangal vaazhnthaal paavam | If hearts live on, it is a sin. |
| Male | |
| Engengu paainthaalum thagaththai theerkkaatha | No matter where it flows, if it doesn't quench thirst, |
| Thanneeraal undo laabam | Is there any use for such water? |
| Female | |
| Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya | To do a good service for the town, |
| Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram | We have taken up this incarnation. |
| Female | |
| Pillai sirippodu nagai minna | With a child's smile while jewelry sparkles, |
| Ingu kollai adikkindra gunam enna | What kind of nature is it to plunder and rob here? |
| Male :Devan koduththaanae pala kodi | God gave millions of blessings, |
| Avan perai keduththaanae padupaavi | Yet that wretched sinner ruined His good name! |
| Female | |
| Kaththikkum puththikkum eppothum poraattam | There is always a struggle between the sword and wisdom, |
| Thannaiyae maranthaan manithan | Man has completely forgotten his true self. |
| Male :Anbukkum panbukkum sambantham illaatha | Those hearts that have no connection to love or virtue, |
| Ullangal yaavum mirugam | Are all nothing more than beasts. |
| Female | |
| Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya | To do a good service for the town, |
| Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram | We have taken up this incarnation. |
| Female | |
| Kaigal koduththaanae edharkaga pirar | Why did He give us hands? |
| Kanneer thudaikkindra panikkaaga | For the noble task of wiping away others' tears. |
| Male :Kaalgal koduththaanae edharkaga pirar | Why did He give us feet? |
| Kashtam therinthangu thunai poga | To recognize others' distress and step up as support. |
| Female | |
| Eppothum thiththikkum muppaalai | The ever-sweet Thirukkural in three parts, |
| Thanthaanae thennaattil vaazhntha gnani | Was gifted by the wise saint who lived in the southern land. |
| Male :Naattukkum veettukkum paattukkal | Songs for both the nation and the home, |
| Thanthaanae bharathi ennum thaenee…. | Were gifted by that industrious honeybee named Bharathi.... |
ஊருக்கு நல்லதொரு உபகாரம் செய்ய
நாங்கள் எடுத்ததிந்த அவதாரம்
ஊருக்கு நல்லதொரு உபகாரம் செய்ய
நாங்கள் எடுத்ததிந்த அவதாரம்
To do a good service for the town,
We have taken up this incarnation.
To do a good service for the town,
We have taken up this incarnation.
வேருக்கு நீதானே ஆதாரம் மனிதன்
வாழ்வுக்கு அன்பே ஆதாரம்......
Just as water is the foundation for a root,
Love is the foundation for human life.
ஊருக்கு நல்லதொரு உபகாரம் செய்ய
நாங்கள் எடுத்ததிந்த அவதாரம்
To do a good service for the town,
We have taken up this incarnation.
வானம் கொடுக்கின்ற மழை உண்டு
வையம் கொடுக்கின்ற பயிர் உண்டு
வானம் கொடுக்கின்ற மழை உண்டு
வையம் கொடுக்கின்ற பயிர் உண்டு
There is rain provided by the sky,
There are crops provided by the earth.
There is rain provided by the sky,
There are crops provided by the earth.
யாவும் கொடுக்கின்ற மனம் கொண்டு
இங்கு வாழும் அனைவர்க்கும் புகழுண்டு
With a heart that gives everything generously,
Everyone who lives here shall gain fame.
நல்லெண்ணம் இல்லாமல்
நன்மைகள் செய்யாமல்
நெஞ்சங்கள் வாழ்ந்தால் பாவம்
நல்லெண்ணம் இல்லாமல்
நன்மைகள் செய்யாமல்
நெஞ்சங்கள் வாழ்ந்தால் பாவம்
Without good intentions,
Without doing good deeds,
If hearts live on, it is a sin.
Without good intentions,
Without doing good deeds,
If hearts live on, it is a sin.
எங்கெங்கு பாய்ந்தாலும் தாகத்தை தீர்க்காத
தண்ணீரால் உண்டோ லாபம்
No matter where it flows, if it doesn't quench thirst,
Is there any use for such water?
ஊருக்கு நல்லதொரு உபகாரம் செய்ய
நாங்கள் எடுத்ததிந்த அவதாரம்
To do a good service for the town,
We have taken up this incarnation.
பிள்ளை சிரிப்போடு நகை மின்ன இங்கு
கொள்ளை அடிக்கின்ற குணம் என்ன
தேவன் கொடுத்தானே பல கோடி
அவன் பேரைக் கெடுத்தானே படுபாவி
With a child's smile while jewelry sparkles,
What kind of nature is it to plunder and rob here?
God gave millions of blessings,
Yet that wretched sinner ruined His good name!
கத்திக்கும் புத்திக்கும் எப்போதும் போராட்டம்
தன்னையே மறந்தான் மனிதன்
அன்புக்கும் பண்புக்கும் சம்பந்தம் இல்லாத
உள்ளங்கள் யாவும் மிருகம்
There is always a struggle between the sword and wisdom,
Man has completely forgotten his true self.
Those hearts that have no connection to love or virtue,
Are all nothing more than beasts.
ஊருக்கு நல்லதொரு உபகாரம் செய்ய
நாங்கள் எடுத்ததிந்த அவதாரம்
To do a good service for the town,
We have taken up this incarnation.
கைகள் கொடுத்தானே எதற்காக பிறர்
கண்ணீர் துடைக்கின்ற பணிக்காக
கால்கள் கொடுத்தானே எதற்காக பிறர்
கஷ்டம் தெரிந்தங்கு துணை போக
Why did He give us hands?
For the noble task of wiping away others' tears.
Why did He give us feet?
To recognize others' distress and step up as support.
எப்போதும் தித்திக்கும் முப்பாலை
தந்தானே தென்னாட்டில் வாழ்ந்த ஞானி
நாட்டுக்கும் வீட்டுக்கும் பாட்டுக்கள்
தந்தானே பாரதி என்னும் தேனீ.........
The ever-sweet Thirukkural in three parts,
Was gifted by the wise saint who lived in the southern land.
Songs for both the nation and the home,
Were gifted by that industrious honeybee named Bharathi....
ஊருக்கு நல்லதொரு உபகாரம் செய்ய
நாங்கள் எடுத்ததிந்த அவதாரம்
வேருக்கு நீதானே ஆதாரம் மனிதன்
வாழ்வுக்கு அன்பே ஆதாரம்......
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
To do a good service for the town,
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
We have taken up this incarnation.
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
To do a good service for the town,
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
We have taken up this incarnation.
Verukku neethaanae aadhaaram manithan
Just as water is the foundation for a root,
Vaazhvukku anbae aadhaaram
Love is the foundation for human life.
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
To do a good service for the town,
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
We have taken up this incarnation.
Vaanam kodukkindra mazhai undu
There is rain provided by the sky,
Vaiyam kodukindra payir undu
There are crops provided by the earth.
Vaanam kodukkindra mazhai undu
There is rain provided by the sky,
Vaiyam kodukindra payir undu
There are crops provided by the earth.
Yaavum kodukindra manam kondu
With a heart that gives everything generously,
Ingu vaazhum anaivarkkum pugazhundu
Everyone who lives here shall gain fame.
Nallennam illaamal
Without good intentions,
Nanmaigal seiyaamal
Without doing good deeds,
Nenjangal vaazhnthaal paavam
If hearts live on, it is a sin.
Nallennam illaamal
Without good intentions,
Nanmaigal seiyaamal
Without doing good deeds,
Nenjangal vaazhnthaal paavam
If hearts live on, it is a sin.
Engengu paainthaalum thagaththai theerkkaatha
No matter where it flows, if it doesn't quench thirst,
Thanneeraal undo laabam
Is there any use for such water?
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
To do a good service for the town,
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
We have taken up this incarnation.
Pillai sirippodu nagai minna
With a child's smile while jewelry sparkles,
Ingu kollai adikkindra gunam enna
What kind of nature is it to plunder and rob here?
Male :Devan koduththaanae pala kodi
God gave millions of blessings,
Avan perai keduththaanae padupaavi
Yet that wretched sinner ruined His good name!
Kaththikkum puththikkum eppothum poraattam
There is always a struggle between the sword and wisdom,
Thannaiyae maranthaan manithan
Man has completely forgotten his true self.
Male :Anbukkum panbukkum sambantham illaatha
Those hearts that have no connection to love or virtue,
Ullangal yaavum mirugam
Are all nothing more than beasts.
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
To do a good service for the town,
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
We have taken up this incarnation.
Kaigal koduththaanae edharkaga pirar
Why did He give us hands?
Kanneer thudaikkindra panikkaaga
For the noble task of wiping away others' tears.
Male :Kaalgal koduththaanae edharkaga pirar
Why did He give us feet?
Kashtam therinthangu thunai poga
To recognize others' distress and step up as support.
Eppothum thiththikkum muppaalai
The ever-sweet Thirukkural in three parts,
Thanthaanae thennaattil vaazhntha gnani
Was gifted by the wise saint who lived in the southern land.
Male :Naattukkum veettukkum paattukkal
Songs for both the nation and the home,
Thanthaanae bharathi ennum thaenee….
Were gifted by that industrious honeybee named Bharathi....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This uplifting moral duet from 'Sathya Sundharam' expresses a high sense of social duty and spiritual purpose. The singers declare that their mission in life is to serve society and perform selfless acts. The lyrics emphasize that love is as vital to human existence as water is to plant roots, asserting that living without kindness or good deeds renders a life worthless and sinful.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Verukku neethaanae aadhaaram manithan Vaazhvukku anbae aadhaaram”
Compares love in human life directly to water serving as the vital foundation for a plant's roots.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Nallennam illaamal / Nanmaigal seiyaamal / Nenjangal vaazhnthaal paavam”
Repetition of the 'Na/Ne' sound across consecutive lines ('Nallennam', 'Nanmaigal', 'Nenjangal').
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Ullangal yaavum mirugam”
Hearts devoid of love and moral values are directly equated to wild beasts.
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“bharathi ennum thaenee”
Refers to the iconic poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi as a 'honeybee' collecting nectar to create sweet poetry for the nation.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Sathya Sundharam' (1981) stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, with music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song pay homage to classic Tamil literary icons—specifically Saint Thiruvalluvar (referencing the 'Muppaal' or Thirukkural) and Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi—to weave ethical and patriotic instruction into a popular film song.
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