Rottula Vandi Oodudhu
From Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan · 2017
- Lyricist
- Silambarasan
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan2017
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Rottula vandi oodudhu | A vehicle is running on the road |
| Rottula vandi oodudhu | A vehicle is running on the road |
| Andha vandikulla ukandhu | Sitting inside that vehicle |
| Ooturadhu yaaru.. | Who is driving it? |
| Male | |
| Vandi oodudhu | The vehicle runs |
| Rottula vandi oodudhu | A vehicle is running on the road |
| Andha vandikulla ukandhu | Sitting inside that vehicle |
| Ooturadhu yaaru.. | Who is driving it? |
| Male | |
| Leftla nee thirumbunaka | If you turn left |
| Leftu poogudhu | It goes left |
| Haai.. rightula nee thirumbunaka | Hey, if you turn right |
| Rightu poogudhu | It goes right |
| Male | |
| Un lifela nee leftu poona | In your life, if you go left |
| Rightu poogudhu | It turns right |
| Un life nee rightu poona | If you go right in your life |
| Leftu pogudhu | It turns left |
| Male | |
| Idhula enna theriyudhu | What does this reveal? |
| Unaku enna puriyudhu | What do you understand from this? |
| A.. enna theriyudhu | Ah.. what does this reveal? |
| Unaku enna theliyudhu.. | What becomes clear to you? |
| Male | |
| {Aandavan thaan ooturaan | God alone is driving |
| Unnaiyum pootu aaturan | And He is steering you around |
| Aandavan thaan ooturaan | God alone is driving |
| Unnaiyum pootu aaturan} (2) | And He is steering you around |
| Male | |
| : Aandavan thaan ooturaan | God alone is driving |
| Unnaiyum pootu aaturan | And He is steering you around |
| Aandavan thaan ooturaan | God alone is driving |
| Nammala pootu.. aaturan…hey… | He is steering all of us around... hey... |
| Male | |
| Idhu purinja.. gnayani | If you understand this, you are a wise sage |
| Arinju therinju.. vaa nee | Come after realizing and understanding this |
| Adhu thaan unna valakum | That alone will raise and nurture you |
| Unaku gnayanam porakum | Wisdom will dawn upon you |
| Male | |
| Idhu puriyama | Without understanding this |
| Suthuravan ellam | Anyone who wanders around |
| Indha ulagathil | In this world |
| Porandhathil artham illa | There is no meaning to their birth |
| Male | |
| Idhu puriyamalae | Without understanding this |
| Nee vaazhurae | You keep living |
| Idhu theriyamalae | Without realizing this |
| Nee saagura.. | You die |
| Male | |
| Buddhavum..babavum | Buddha and Baba |
| Manushan dhaanadaa.. | Were just human beings, my friend |
| Anbae ellamnu purinju | Realizing love is everything |
| Kadavul aanandaa.. | They became God |
| Male | |
| Idhu unmai | This is the truth |
| Sonna-siripa | If told, you will laugh |
| Adha marupa | You will deny it |
| Nee maaramaatada.. | You will not change, my friend |
| Maara vidamaataanda..aa… | He won't let you change either... |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………. | ... |
| Male | |
| Vaazhka oru schoolu | Life is a school |
| Adhu solluradhu kelu | Listen to what it teaches |
| Sollitharadha kekalanaa | If you don't listen to what it teaches |
| Aaiyiduva foolu | You will end up a fool |
| Male | |
| Mela illa aalu | There is no man sitting up above |
| Avan yengannu kelu.. | Ask where He actually is |
| Unakkulladhan irukaanu | That He resides right inside you |
| Therinja nee dhoolu | If you realize that, you are legendary |
| Male | |
| Yaarudaa naaninu | Who am I? |
| Kepaan budhisaalidaa | A wise man will ask |
| Naa yaaru theriyumaanu | Do you know who I am? |
| Kepan komalidaa | A clown will ask |
| Male | |
| Jaadhi madham | Caste and religion |
| Inam..mozhi kalarunnu | Race, language, and color |
| Pirikuraan | They divide people using these |
| Pirichi unna adimaiyaaki | By dividing and enslaving you |
| Aalanumnu nenaikuraan | They want to rule over you |
| Purinju nee muzhichaa | If you understand and wake up |
| Ellamae needhaandaa.. | You are everything, my friend |
| Iraivandaa…. | You are God! |
ரோட்டுல வண்டி
ஓடுது ரோட்டுல வண்டி
ஓடுது அந்த வண்டிக்குள்ள
உக்காந்து ஓட்டுறது யாரு
A vehicle is running on the road
A vehicle is running on the road
Sitting inside that vehicle
Who is driving it?
வண்டி ஓடுது
ரோட்டுல வண்டி ஓடுது
அந்த வண்டிக்குள்ள
உக்காந்து ஓட்டுறது
யாரு
The vehicle runs
A vehicle is running on the road
Sitting inside that vehicle
Who is driving it?
லெப்ட்ல நீ
திரும்புனாக்க லெப்ட்டு
போகுது ஹாய் ரைட்டுல
நீ திரும்புனாக்க ரைட்டு
போகுது
If you turn left
It goes left
Hey, if you turn right
It goes right
உன் லைப்ல நீ
லெப்ட்டு போனா ரைட்டு
போகுது உன் லைப் நீ
ரைட்டு போனா லெப்ட்டு
போகுது
In your life, if you go left
It turns right
If you go right in your life
It turns left
இதுல என்ன
தெரியுது உனக்கு என்ன
புரியுது ஆ என்ன தெரியுது
உனக்கு என்ன தெளியுது
What does this reveal?
What do you understand from this?
Ah.. what does this reveal?
What becomes clear to you?
{ ஆண்டவன் தான்
ஓட்டுறான் உன்னையும்
போட்டு ஆட்டுறான்
ஆண்டவன் தான் ஓட்டுறான்
உன்னையும் போட்டு
ஆட்டுறான் } (2)
God alone is driving
And He is steering you around
God alone is driving
And He is steering you around
ஆண்டவன் தான்
ஓட்டுறான் உன்னையும்
போட்டு ஆட்டுறான்
ஆண்டவன் தான் ஓட்டுறான்
நம்மள போட்டு ஆட்டுறான்
ஹே
God alone is driving
And He is steering you around
God alone is driving
He is steering all of us around... hey...
இது புரிஞ்சா ஞானி
அறிஞ்சு தெரிஞ்சு வா நீ அது
தான் உன்ன வளக்கும் உனக்கு
ஞானம் பொறக்கும்
If you understand this, you are a wise sage
Come after realizing and understanding this
That alone will raise and nurture you
Wisdom will dawn upon you
இது புரியாம
சுத்துறவன் எல்லாம்
இந்த உலகத்தில்
பொறந்ததில் அர்த்தம்
இல்ல
Without understanding this
Anyone who wanders around
In this world
There is no meaning to their birth
இது புரியாமலே
நீ வாழுறே இது
தெரியாமலே நீ சாகுற
Without understanding this
You keep living
Without realizing this
You die
புத்தாவும் பாபாவும்
மனுஷன் தானடா அன்பே
எல்லாம்னு புரிஞ்சு கடவுள்
ஆனான்டா
Buddha and Baba
Were just human beings, my friend
Realizing love is everything
They became God
இது உண்மை
சொன்னா சிரிப்பஅத
மறுப்ப நீ மாற மாட்டடா
மாற விட மாட்டான் டா
ஆ
This is the truth
If told, you will laugh
You will deny it
You will not change, my friend
He won't let you change either...
.......................
...
வாழ்கை ஒரு ஸ்கூலு
அது சொல்லுறது கேளு
சொல்லி தர்றத
கேக்கலேனா ஆயிடுவ
பூலு
Life is a school
Listen to what it teaches
If you don't listen to what it teaches
You will end up a fool
மேல இல்ல ஆளு
அவன் எங்கன்னு கேளு
உனக்குள்ள தான் இருக்கானு
தெரிஞ்சா நீ தூளு
There is no man sitting up above
Ask where He actually is
That He resides right inside you
If you realize that, you are legendary
யாருடா ஞானின்னு
கேப்பான் புத்தி சாலிடா நா
யாரு தெரியுமான்னு
கேப்பான் கோமாளி டா
Who am I?
A wise man will ask
Do you know who I am?
A clown will ask
ஜாதி மதம் இனம்
மொழி கலருன்னு பிரிக்குறான்
பிரிச்சி உன்ன அடிமையாக்கி
ஆளனும்னு நெனைக்குறான்
புரிஞ்சு நீ முழிச்சா எல்லாமே
நீ தான் டா இறைவன் டா
Caste and religion
Race, language, and color
They divide people using these
By dividing and enslaving you
They want to rule over you
If you understand and wake up
You are everything, my friend
You are God!
Rottula vandi oodudhu
A vehicle is running on the road
Rottula vandi oodudhu
A vehicle is running on the road
Andha vandikulla ukandhu
Sitting inside that vehicle
Ooturadhu yaaru..
Who is driving it?
Vandi oodudhu
The vehicle runs
Rottula vandi oodudhu
A vehicle is running on the road
Andha vandikulla ukandhu
Sitting inside that vehicle
Ooturadhu yaaru..
Who is driving it?
Leftla nee thirumbunaka
If you turn left
Leftu poogudhu
It goes left
Haai.. rightula nee thirumbunaka
Hey, if you turn right
Rightu poogudhu
It goes right
Un lifela nee leftu poona
In your life, if you go left
Rightu poogudhu
It turns right
Un life nee rightu poona
If you go right in your life
Leftu pogudhu
It turns left
Idhula enna theriyudhu
What does this reveal?
Unaku enna puriyudhu
What do you understand from this?
A.. enna theriyudhu
Ah.. what does this reveal?
Unaku enna theliyudhu..
What becomes clear to you?
{Aandavan thaan ooturaan
God alone is driving
Unnaiyum pootu aaturan
And He is steering you around
Aandavan thaan ooturaan
God alone is driving
Unnaiyum pootu aaturan} (2)
And He is steering you around
: Aandavan thaan ooturaan
God alone is driving
Unnaiyum pootu aaturan
And He is steering you around
Aandavan thaan ooturaan
God alone is driving
Nammala pootu.. aaturan…hey…
He is steering all of us around... hey...
Idhu purinja.. gnayani
If you understand this, you are a wise sage
Arinju therinju.. vaa nee
Come after realizing and understanding this
Adhu thaan unna valakum
That alone will raise and nurture you
Unaku gnayanam porakum
Wisdom will dawn upon you
Idhu puriyama
Without understanding this
Suthuravan ellam
Anyone who wanders around
Indha ulagathil
In this world
Porandhathil artham illa
There is no meaning to their birth
Idhu puriyamalae
Without understanding this
Nee vaazhurae
You keep living
Idhu theriyamalae
Without realizing this
Nee saagura..
You die
Buddhavum..babavum
Buddha and Baba
Manushan dhaanadaa..
Were just human beings, my friend
Anbae ellamnu purinju
Realizing love is everything
Kadavul aanandaa..
They became God
Idhu unmai
This is the truth
Sonna-siripa
If told, you will laugh
Adha marupa
You will deny it
Nee maaramaatada..
You will not change, my friend
Maara vidamaataanda..aa…
He won't let you change either...
……………………….
...
Vaazhka oru schoolu
Life is a school
Adhu solluradhu kelu
Listen to what it teaches
Sollitharadha kekalanaa
If you don't listen to what it teaches
Aaiyiduva foolu
You will end up a fool
Mela illa aalu
There is no man sitting up above
Avan yengannu kelu..
Ask where He actually is
Unakkulladhan irukaanu
That He resides right inside you
Therinja nee dhoolu
If you realize that, you are legendary
Yaarudaa naaninu
Who am I?
Kepaan budhisaalidaa
A wise man will ask
Naa yaaru theriyumaanu
Do you know who I am?
Kepan komalidaa
A clown will ask
Jaadhi madham
Caste and religion
Inam..mozhi kalarunnu
Race, language, and color
Pirikuraan
They divide people using these
Pirichi unna adimaiyaaki
By dividing and enslaving you
Aalanumnu nenaikuraan
They want to rule over you
Purinju nee muzhichaa
If you understand and wake up
Ellamae needhaandaa..
You are everything, my friend
Iraivandaa….
You are God!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Rottula Vandi Oodudhu' (often referred to as 'Spiritual Gaana' or 'God Song') from 'Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan' is a philosophical track dressed in a local street-gaana style. It uses simple metaphors—such as driving a car or life being a school—to convey deep spiritual advice about human existence, fate, ego, and self-realization. The song emphasizes that an overarching divine force drives human lives, yet true divinity resides within each person once ego and societal divisions like caste or creed are shed.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Vaazhka oru schoolu”
Life is compared directly to a driving car ('Rottula vandi oodudhu') and to a school ('Vaazhka oru schoolu') to explain fate and self-improvement easily.
Emonai (Initial Rhyme)
“Buddhavum..babavum / Manushan dhaanadaa..”
Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in successive lines such as 'Buddhavum' and 'Manushan' or 'Purinju' and 'Ellamae'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Vaazhka oru schoolu / Adhu solluradhu kelu / Sollitharadha kekalanaa / Aaiyiduva foolu”
Use of rhyming end sounds like 'schoolu', 'kelu', 'foolu', and 'dhoolu' to create a catchy, rhythmic structure.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Yaarudaa naaninu kepaan budhisaalidaa / Naa yaaru theriyumaanu kepan komalidaa”
Contrasting the philosophical question of a wise man ('Yaarudaa naani' - Who am I?) with the arrogant claim of a fool ('Naa yaaru theriyumaanu' - Do you know who I am?).
Did you know?
Trivia
This philosophical gaana track was written and sung by lead actor Silambarasan (TR) himself for the movie 'Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan' (2017), with music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.
Keep listening
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