Oru Kudumbam Inge
From Athirshtam Azhaikirathu · 1976
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Athirshtam Azhaikirathu1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu | A family here has become a temple, |
| Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu | A family here has become a temple, |
| Thirukkuraalil sonna paadal aanathu | It has become a song spoken of in Thirukkural. |
| Female | |
| Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu | A family here has become a temple. |
| Female | |
| Ambigai pol annai | The mother is like Goddess Ambigai, |
| Antha aandavan pol thanthai | The father is like God Himself; |
| Ambigai pol annai | The mother is like Goddess Ambigai, |
| Antha aandavan pol thanthai | The father is like God Himself; |
| Moondru kaala poojai seiyya moondru pergal pillai | There are three children to perform worship during the three times of the day. |
| Female | |
| Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu | A family here has become a temple. |
| Female | |
| Thalai magan endru piranthavan ingu | The one who was born here as the eldest son, |
| Thamarai mel neerai pola thaniththiruppaan indru | Remains detached today, like water droplets on a lotus leaf, |
| Thamarai mel neerai pola thaniththiruppaan indru | Remains detached today, like water droplets on a lotus leaf. |
| Thaan pidiththa muyalgalukkae moondru kaalgal endru | Insisting that the rabbit he caught has only three legs, |
| Thaan pidiththa muyalgalukkae moondru kaalgal endru | Insisting that the rabbit he caught has only three legs, |
| Than vazhiyae thani vazhiyaai sellum gunam undu | He has the nature to always tread his own distinct path. |
| Female | |
| Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu | A family here has become a temple. |
| Female | |
| Aduththathu endru piranthathu ondru | The one born next to him, |
| Sidusidunnu mugam irukkum kaduvan poonaiyondru | Is a tomcat with an ever-frowning face! |
| Sidusidunnu mugam irukkum kaduvan poonaiyondru | Is a tomcat with an ever-frowning face! |
| Kadaikuttiyaai kannan vanthaan vilaiyaattuppillai | As the youngest, Lord Krishna arrived, a playful boy! |
| Kadaikuttiyaai kannan vanthaan vilaiyaattuppillai | As the youngest, Lord Krishna arrived, a playful boy! |
| Karantha paalai pol irukkum kuzhantha manam vellai | His child-like heart is pure and white, like freshly milked milk. |
| Female | |
| Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu | A family here has become a temple. |
| Female | |
| Naanoru pillai ena solavatharkillai | I have no right to call myself a child here, |
| Naanoru pillai ena solavatharkillai | I have no right to call myself a child here; |
| Naaikkutti pol naan vanthaen neengal vaazhum ellai | I came like a little puppy into the bounds where you live, |
| Naaikkutti pol naan vanthaen neengal vaazhum ellai | I came like a little puppy into the bounds where you live. |
| Anbu ennum selvaththai naan abagariththa yaezhai | I am a poor soul who has stolen the treasure called love, |
| Anbu ennum selvaththai naan abagariththa yaezhai | I am a poor soul who has stolen the treasure called love, |
| Intha veettil thalaiyai neettum aduththa veettu vaazhai | Just a banana tree from the neighbor's yard extending its head into this house! |
| Intha veettil thalaiyai neettum aduththa veettu vaazhai | Just a banana tree from the neighbor's yard extending its head into this house! |
ஒரு குடும்பம் இங்கே கோவில் ஆனது
ஒரு குடும்பம் இங்கே கோவில் ஆனது
திருக்குறளில் சொன்ன பாடல் ஆனது
A family here has become a temple,
A family here has become a temple,
It has become a song spoken of in Thirukkural.
ஒரு குடும்பம் இங்கே கோவில் ஆனது
A family here has become a temple.
அம்பிகை போல் அன்னை
அந்த ஆண்டவன் போல் தந்தை
அம்பிகை போல் அன்னை
அந்த ஆண்டவன் போல் தந்தை
மூன்று கால பூஜை செய்ய மூன்று பேர்கள் பிள்ளை
The mother is like Goddess Ambigai,
The father is like God Himself;
The mother is like Goddess Ambigai,
The father is like God Himself;
There are three children to perform worship during the three times of the day.
ஒரு குடும்பம் இங்கே கோவில் ஆனது
A family here has become a temple.
தலை மகன் என்று பிறந்தவன் இங்கு
தாமரை மேல் நீரைப் போல தனித்திருப்பான் இன்று
தாமரை மேல் நீரைப் போல தனித்திருப்பான் இன்று
தான் பிடித்த முயல்களுக்கே மூன்று கால்கள் என்று
தான் பிடித்த முயல்களுக்கே மூன்று கால்கள் என்று
தன் வழியே தனி வழியாய் செல்லும் குணம் உண்டு
The one who was born here as the eldest son,
Remains detached today, like water droplets on a lotus leaf,
Remains detached today, like water droplets on a lotus leaf.
Insisting that the rabbit he caught has only three legs,
Insisting that the rabbit he caught has only three legs,
He has the nature to always tread his own distinct path.
ஒரு குடும்பம் இங்கே கோவில் ஆனது
A family here has become a temple.
அடுத்தது என்று பிறந்தது ஒன்று
சிடுசிடுன்னு முகம் இருக்கும் கடுவன் பூனையென்று
சிடுசிடுன்னு முகம் இருக்கும் கடுவன் பூனையென்று
கடைக்குட்டியாய் கண்ணன் வந்தான் விளையாட்டுப்பிள்ளை
கடைக்குட்டியாய் கண்ணன் வந்தான் விளையாட்டுப்பிள்ளை
கறந்த பாலை போல் இருக்கும் குழந்தை மனம் வெள்ளை
The one born next to him,
Is a tomcat with an ever-frowning face!
Is a tomcat with an ever-frowning face!
As the youngest, Lord Krishna arrived, a playful boy!
As the youngest, Lord Krishna arrived, a playful boy!
His child-like heart is pure and white, like freshly milked milk.
ஒரு குடும்பம் இங்கே கோவில் ஆனது
A family here has become a temple.
நானொரு பிள்ளை என சொல்வதற்கில்லை
நானொரு பிள்ளை என சொல்வதற்கில்லை
நாய்க்குட்டி போல் நான் வந்தேன் நீங்கள் வாழும் எல்லை
நாய்க்குட்டி போல் நான் வந்தேன் நீங்கள் வாழும் எல்லை
அன்பு என்னும் செல்வத்தை நான் அபகரித்த ஏழை
அன்பு என்னும் செல்வத்தை நான் அபகரித்த ஏழை
இந்த வீட்டில் தலையை நீட்டும் அடுத்த வீட்டு வாழை
இந்த வீட்டில் தலையை நீட்டும் அடுத்த வீட்டு வாழை
I have no right to call myself a child here,
I have no right to call myself a child here;
I came like a little puppy into the bounds where you live,
I came like a little puppy into the bounds where you live.
I am a poor soul who has stolen the treasure called love,
I am a poor soul who has stolen the treasure called love,
Just a banana tree from the neighbor's yard extending its head into this house!
Just a banana tree from the neighbor's yard extending its head into this house!
Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu
A family here has become a temple,
Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu
A family here has become a temple,
Thirukkuraalil sonna paadal aanathu
It has become a song spoken of in Thirukkural.
Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu
A family here has become a temple.
Ambigai pol annai
The mother is like Goddess Ambigai,
Antha aandavan pol thanthai
The father is like God Himself;
Ambigai pol annai
The mother is like Goddess Ambigai,
Antha aandavan pol thanthai
The father is like God Himself;
Moondru kaala poojai seiyya moondru pergal pillai
There are three children to perform worship during the three times of the day.
Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu
A family here has become a temple.
Thalai magan endru piranthavan ingu
The one who was born here as the eldest son,
Thamarai mel neerai pola thaniththiruppaan indru
Remains detached today, like water droplets on a lotus leaf,
Thamarai mel neerai pola thaniththiruppaan indru
Remains detached today, like water droplets on a lotus leaf.
Thaan pidiththa muyalgalukkae moondru kaalgal endru
Insisting that the rabbit he caught has only three legs,
Thaan pidiththa muyalgalukkae moondru kaalgal endru
Insisting that the rabbit he caught has only three legs,
Than vazhiyae thani vazhiyaai sellum gunam undu
He has the nature to always tread his own distinct path.
Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu
A family here has become a temple.
Aduththathu endru piranthathu ondru
The one born next to him,
Sidusidunnu mugam irukkum kaduvan poonaiyondru
Is a tomcat with an ever-frowning face!
Sidusidunnu mugam irukkum kaduvan poonaiyondru
Is a tomcat with an ever-frowning face!
Kadaikuttiyaai kannan vanthaan vilaiyaattuppillai
As the youngest, Lord Krishna arrived, a playful boy!
Kadaikuttiyaai kannan vanthaan vilaiyaattuppillai
As the youngest, Lord Krishna arrived, a playful boy!
Karantha paalai pol irukkum kuzhantha manam vellai
His child-like heart is pure and white, like freshly milked milk.
Oru kudumbam ingae kovil aanathu
A family here has become a temple.
Naanoru pillai ena solavatharkillai
I have no right to call myself a child here,
Naanoru pillai ena solavatharkillai
I have no right to call myself a child here;
Naaikkutti pol naan vanthaen neengal vaazhum ellai
I came like a little puppy into the bounds where you live,
Naaikkutti pol naan vanthaen neengal vaazhum ellai
I came like a little puppy into the bounds where you live.
Anbu ennum selvaththai naan abagariththa yaezhai
I am a poor soul who has stolen the treasure called love,
Anbu ennum selvaththai naan abagariththa yaezhai
I am a poor soul who has stolen the treasure called love,
Intha veettil thalaiyai neettum aduththa veettu vaazhai
Just a banana tree from the neighbor's yard extending its head into this house!
Intha veettil thalaiyai neettum aduththa veettu vaazhai
Just a banana tree from the neighbor's yard extending its head into this house!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This heartwarming song from 'Athirshtam Azhaikirathu' (1976) paints a glowing portrait of an ideal Tamil family, elevating it to the status of a sacred temple and a poetic couplet from Thirukkural. The mother and father are revered as divine figures akin to Goddess Ambigai and God. The lyricist affectionally introduces each of the three sons and their distinct temperaments: the eldest is detached and stubbornly set in his ways (like water on a lotus leaf); the second son is short-tempered and grumpy like a tomcat; while the youngest is a playful, Krishna-like child with a heart as pure as freshly milked milk. In the final stanza, the narrator humbly speaks of her own presence in the household. Feeling unworthy to claim equal standing with the biological children, she compares herself to a little puppy seeking shelter or a banana plant from the neighboring yard leaning over the fence into their home. Expressing deep gratitude, she considers herself fortunate to have inherited the priceless treasure of their collective love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Ambigai pol annai / Antha aandavan pol thanthai”
Compares the mother to Goddess Ambigai and the father to God using the explicit comparison word 'pol' (like/as).
Uvamai (Simile)
“Thamarai mel neerai pola thaniththiruppaan indru”
Compares the eldest son's detachment and independent nature to water droplets resting unattached on a lotus leaf.
Pazhamozhi / Idiom
“Thaan pidiththa muyalgalukkae moondru kaalgal endru”
Uses the famous Tamil idiom 'Thaan pidiththa muyalukku moondru kaal' (The rabbit I caught has three legs) to depict someone who stubbornly refuses to yield or acknowledge another's viewpoint.
Metaphor & Metonymy
“Sidusidunnu mugam irukkum kaduvan poonaiyondru”
Metaphorically describes the grumpy, short-tempered second son as a frowning tomcat ('kaduvan poonai').
Uvamai (Simile)
“Karantha paalai pol irukkum kuzhantha manam vellai”
Compares the purity and innocence of the youngest son's heart to white, freshly milked milk.
Urvagam (Metaphor)
“Anbu ennum selvaththai naan abagariththa yaezhai”
Equates 'love' (anbu) directly to 'wealth/treasure' (selvam) without explicit comparison words.
Metaphor / Visual Imagery
“Intha veettil thalaiyai neettum aduththa veettu vaazhai”
Uses vivid imagery comparing an outsider who joins the household to a neighbor's banana plant leaning into the courtyard.
Did you know?
Trivia
The music for 'Athirshtam Azhaikirathu' (1976) was composed by V. Kumar, affectionately known as 'Mellisai Maamani', who was renowned for his rich melody-driven compositions during the 1960s and 1970s. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly weaves classic Tamil proverbs ('Thaan pidiththa muyalukku moondru kaal') and cultural metaphors into the verse, perfectly rendered by legendary playback singer P. Susheela.
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