Thaai Undu Thanthai Undu
From Koyil Kaalai · 1993
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Ilayaraja, Gangai Amaran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Koyil Kaalai1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae | There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them. |
| Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae | Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives. |
| Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae | There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them. |
| Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae | Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives. |
| Naan oru paradhaesi aiyaiyaiyaa | I am a wanderer, oh my... |
| Nallor kaal dhoosi aiyaiyaiyaa | I am just dust under the feet of good people, oh my... |
| Ellorum ennai thalla naanaaga cholli kolla | When everyone pushes me away, I speak to myself. |
| Male | |
| Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae | There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them. |
| Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae | Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives. |
| Male | |
| Petraval petreduthu dheivathin kaaladiyil | The mother who gave birth left me at the feet of God; |
| Potta kadhaiyai chollavaa | Shall I tell you that story? |
| Utravar kutrangalai endhan mael katti vaithu | My relatives pinned all their faults on me and abandoned me; |
| Vitta kadhaiyai chollavaa | Shall I tell you that story? |
| Male | |
| Aiyaa or thunbam vandhu | Oh sir, if a sorrow comes |
| Dheivathidam poi uraithaal | And we tell it to God, |
| Kai thandhu kaakkum allavaa | He will extend a helping hand and protect us, won't He? |
| Dheivamae thunbam thandhaal | If God himself bestows sorrow upon us, |
| Engae sendru poi uraippom | Where can we go and complain? |
| Nallorkku kaalam illaiyaa | Is there no good time for good people? |
| Ellaamum ingae undu unmai illa | Everything exists here except the truth. |
| Naanae solgindra vaakkil yaedhum poiyae illa | In the words I speak myself, there is no lie at all. |
| Naanae solgindra vaakkil yaedhum poiyae illa illa | In the words I speak myself, there is no lie at all, no. |
| Male | |
| Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae | There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them. |
| Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae | Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives. |
| Male | |
| Dhooratthu pachai kandu ichaiyo pattadhillai | Seeing green pastures at a distance did not make me desire them. |
| Maelum naan enna sollattum | What more shall I say? |
| Yaarukkum pichai ida paerukkum selvam illai | I have no wealth even for name's sake to give alms to anyone. |
| Naerathai enna sollattum | What shall I say about my fate? |
| Male | |
| Annaiyin paalai undu aareeraaro kaettadhillai | I drank my mother's milk, but never heard a lullaby. |
| Ammammaa enna kodumai | Oh dear, what a cruelty! |
| Thinnaiyil naan valarndhum | Though I grew up on verandahs, |
| Theruvil dharmam kaettadhillai | I never begged for charity in the streets. |
| Maelum yaen indha chirumai | Why this humiliation any further? |
| Dheivangal thandha pichai poiyaa poiyaa | Is the alms given by the gods a lie, a lie? |
| Ingae poi ondrae meiyaai pochae aiyaa aiyaa | Here, falsehood alone became the truth, oh sir, oh sir. |
| Ingae poi ondrae meiyaai pochae aiyaa aiyaiyaiyaa | Here, falsehood alone became the truth, oh sir, oh my... |
| Male | |
| Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae | There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them. |
| Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae | Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives. |
| Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae | There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them. |
| Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae | Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives. |
| Naan oru paradhaesi aiyaiyaiyaa | I am a wanderer, oh my... |
| Nallor kaal dhoosi aiyaiyaiyaa | I am just dust under the feet of good people, oh my... |
| Ellorum ennai thalla naanaaga cholli kolla | When everyone pushes me away, I speak to myself. |
| Male | |
| Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae | There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them. |
| Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae | Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives. |
தாய் உண்டு தந்தை உண்டு பெற்றோர் இல்லே
அய்யா ஊர் உண்டு உலகும் உண்டு உற்றார் இல்லே
தாய் உண்டு தந்தை உண்டு பெற்றோர் இல்லே
அய்யா ஊர் உண்டு உலகும் உண்டு உற்றார் இல்லே
நான் ஓரு பரதேசி அய்யய்யய்யா
நல்லோர் கால் தூசி அய்யய்யய்யா
எல்லோரும் என்னைத் தள்ள
நானாகச் சொல்லிக் கொள்ள
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
I am a wanderer, oh my...
I am just dust under the feet of good people, oh my...
When everyone pushes me away, I speak to myself.
தாய் உண்டு தந்தை உண்டு பெற்றோர் இல்லே
அய்யா ஊர் உண்டு உலகும் உண்டு உற்றார் இல்லே
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
பெற்றவள் பெற்றெடுத்து தெய்வத்தின் காலடியில்
போட்ட கதையைச் சொல்லவா
உற்றவர் குற்றங்களை எந்தன் மேல் கட்டி வைத்து
விட்ட கதையைச் சொல்லவா
The mother who gave birth left me at the feet of God;
Shall I tell you that story?
My relatives pinned all their faults on me and abandoned me;
Shall I tell you that story?
அய்யா ஓர் துன்பம் வந்து
தெய்வத்திடம் போய் உரைத்தால்
கை தந்து காக்கும் அல்லவா
தெய்வமே துன்பம் தந்தால்
எங்கே சென்று போய் உரைப்போம்
நல்லோர்க்கு காலம் இல்லையா
எல்லாமும் இங்கே உண்டு உண்மை இல்லே
நானே சொல்கின்ற வாக்கில்
ஏதும் பொய்யே இல்லே
நானே சொல்கின்ற வாக்கில்
ஏதும் பொய்யே இல்லே இல்லே
Oh sir, if a sorrow comes
And we tell it to God,
He will extend a helping hand and protect us, won't He?
If God himself bestows sorrow upon us,
Where can we go and complain?
Is there no good time for good people?
Everything exists here except the truth.
In the words I speak myself, there is no lie at all.
In the words I speak myself, there is no lie at all, no.
தாய் உண்டு தந்தை உண்டு பெற்றோர் இல்லே
அய்யா ஊர் உண்டு உலகும் உண்டு உற்றார் இல்லே
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
தூரத்துப் பச்சை கண்டு இச்சையோ பட்டதில்லை
மேலும் நான் என்ன சொல்லட்டும்
யாருக்கும் பிச்சை இட பேருக்கும் செல்வம் இல்லை
நேரத்தை என்ன சொல்லட்டும்
Seeing green pastures at a distance did not make me desire them.
What more shall I say?
I have no wealth even for name's sake to give alms to anyone.
What shall I say about my fate?
அன்னையின் பாலை உண்டு ஆரீராரோ கேட்டதில்லை
அம்மம்மா என்ன கொடுமை
திண்ணையில் நான் வளர்ந்தும்
தெருவில் தர்மம் கேட்கவில்லை
மேலும் ஏன் இந்தச் சிறுமை
தெய்வங்கள் தந்த பிச்சை பொய்யா பொய்யா
இங்கே பொய் ஒன்றே மெய்யாய் போச்சே அய்யா அய்யா
இங்கே பொய் ஒன்றே மெய்யாய் போச்சே
அய்யா அய்யய்யய்யா
I drank my mother's milk, but never heard a lullaby.
Oh dear, what a cruelty!
Though I grew up on verandahs,
I never begged for charity in the streets.
Why this humiliation any further?
Is the alms given by the gods a lie, a lie?
Here, falsehood alone became the truth, oh sir, oh sir.
Here, falsehood alone became the truth, oh sir, oh my...
தாய் உண்டு தந்தை உண்டு பெற்றோர் இல்லே
அய்யா ஊர் உண்டு உலகும் உண்டு உற்றார் இல்லே
தாய் உண்டு தந்தை உண்டு பெற்றோர் இல்லே
அய்யா ஊர் உண்டு உலகும் உண்டு உற்றார் இல்லே
நான் ஓரு பரதேசி அய்யய்யய்யா
நல்லோர் கால் தூசி அய்யய்யய்யா
எல்லோரும் என்னைத் தள்ள
நானாகச் சொல்லிக் கொள்ள
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
I am a wanderer, oh my...
I am just dust under the feet of good people, oh my...
When everyone pushes me away, I speak to myself.
தாய் உண்டு தந்தை உண்டு பெற்றோர் இல்லே
அய்யா ஊர் உண்டு உலகும் உண்டு உற்றார் இல்லே
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
Naan oru paradhaesi aiyaiyaiyaa
I am a wanderer, oh my...
Nallor kaal dhoosi aiyaiyaiyaa
I am just dust under the feet of good people, oh my...
Ellorum ennai thalla naanaaga cholli kolla
When everyone pushes me away, I speak to myself.
Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
Petraval petreduthu dheivathin kaaladiyil
The mother who gave birth left me at the feet of God;
Potta kadhaiyai chollavaa
Shall I tell you that story?
Utravar kutrangalai endhan mael katti vaithu
My relatives pinned all their faults on me and abandoned me;
Vitta kadhaiyai chollavaa
Shall I tell you that story?
Aiyaa or thunbam vandhu
Oh sir, if a sorrow comes
Dheivathidam poi uraithaal
And we tell it to God,
Kai thandhu kaakkum allavaa
He will extend a helping hand and protect us, won't He?
Dheivamae thunbam thandhaal
If God himself bestows sorrow upon us,
Engae sendru poi uraippom
Where can we go and complain?
Nallorkku kaalam illaiyaa
Is there no good time for good people?
Ellaamum ingae undu unmai illa
Everything exists here except the truth.
Naanae solgindra vaakkil yaedhum poiyae illa
In the words I speak myself, there is no lie at all.
Naanae solgindra vaakkil yaedhum poiyae illa illa
In the words I speak myself, there is no lie at all, no.
Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
Dhooratthu pachai kandu ichaiyo pattadhillai
Seeing green pastures at a distance did not make me desire them.
Maelum naan enna sollattum
What more shall I say?
Yaarukkum pichai ida paerukkum selvam illai
I have no wealth even for name's sake to give alms to anyone.
Naerathai enna sollattum
What shall I say about my fate?
Annaiyin paalai undu aareeraaro kaettadhillai
I drank my mother's milk, but never heard a lullaby.
Ammammaa enna kodumai
Oh dear, what a cruelty!
Thinnaiyil naan valarndhum
Though I grew up on verandahs,
Theruvil dharmam kaettadhillai
I never begged for charity in the streets.
Maelum yaen indha chirumai
Why this humiliation any further?
Dheivangal thandha pichai poiyaa poiyaa
Is the alms given by the gods a lie, a lie?
Ingae poi ondrae meiyaai pochae aiyaa aiyaa
Here, falsehood alone became the truth, oh sir, oh sir.
Ingae poi ondrae meiyaai pochae aiyaa aiyaiyaiyaa
Here, falsehood alone became the truth, oh sir, oh my...
Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
Naan oru paradhaesi aiyaiyaiyaa
I am a wanderer, oh my...
Nallor kaal dhoosi aiyaiyaiyaa
I am just dust under the feet of good people, oh my...
Ellorum ennai thalla naanaaga cholli kolla
When everyone pushes me away, I speak to myself.
Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae
There is a mother and there is a father, yet I haven't gained them.
Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae
Oh sir, there is a village and a world, yet I have no relatives.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Thaai undu thandhai undu' from the 1993 film 'Koyil Kaalai' is a poignant lament about abandonment, loneliness, and societal hypocrisy. The protagonist expresses the irony of having parents, relatives, and a place in the world while remaining completely orphaned and destitute in reality. Having been abandoned as an infant at a temple, the speaker laments carrying the blame for others' misdeeds and questioning why God afflicts those who are inherently righteous. Despite the extreme hardship and growing up on public porches without family warmth, the protagonist maintains personal dignity, refusing to beg or covet what belongs to others. The lyrics critique a world where honesty is disregarded and falsehood reigns supreme, portraying the solitary journey of an innocent soul seeking divine justice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Petraval petreduthu dheivathin kaaladiyil / Utravar kutrangalai endhan mael katti vaithu”
The second consonant 't' (ட்) rhymes in consecutive lines 'Petraval' and 'Utravar'.
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Petraval petreduthu dheivathin kaaladiyil / Potta kadhaiyai chollavaa”
Initial consonant sound 'P' is repeated in 'Petraval petreduthu' and 'Potta'.
Paradox / Irony
“Thaai undu thandhai undu petrom illae / Aiyaa oor undu ulagum undu utraar illae”
Presents the existential paradox of possessing biological parents and a community while being completely orphaned.
Metaphor
“Nallor kaal dhoosi aiyaiyaiyaa”
Comparing oneself to dust beneath the feet of virtuous people to signify utmost humility.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Koyil Kaalai' (1993) was directed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics for this track. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, who prominently featured soulful, folk-infused melancholic compositions in Vijayakanth starrers during this era.
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