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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagam Idhilae

From Kulamagal Radhai · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kulamagal Radhai1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ulagam idhilae adangudhuThe world is contained within this,
Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhuTruth and falsehood become clear here.
Ulagam idhilae adangudhuThe world is contained within this,
Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhuTruth and falsehood become clear here.
Male
Kalagam varudhu theerudhuConflicts arise and get resolved,
Achu kalaiyaal nilamai maarudhuThrough the art of printing, situations change.
Kalagam varudhu theerudhuConflicts arise and get resolved,
Achu kalaiyaal nilamai maarudhuThrough the art of printing, situations change.
Male
Ulagam idhilae adangudhuThe world is contained within this,
Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhuTruth and falsehood become clear here.
Male
Poi sonnaalum mei sonnaalumWhether you tell a lie or speak the truth,
Vaayaal solli palanillaeThere is no use in merely saying it out loud.
Poi sonnaalum mei sonnaalumWhether you tell a lie or speak the truth,
Vaayaal solli palanillaeThere is no use in merely saying it out loud.
Adhai maiyilae nanaichu papperil adichaaIf you dip it in ink and print it on paper,
Maruthu pesa aalillaeThere is no one left to contradict it.
Maiyilae nanaichu papperil adichaaIf dipped in ink and printed on paper,
Maruthu pesa aalillaeThere is no one left to contradict it.
Male
Ulagam idhilae adangudhuThe world is contained within this,
Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhuTruth and falsehood become clear here.
Male
Cinemaa staarunga padangalai pottaaIf you publish pictures of cinema stars,
Theruvil papper kidaikkallaeNot a single paper will be left lying on the street.
Cinemaa staarunga padangalai pottaaIf you publish pictures of cinema stars,
Theruvil papper kidaikkallaeNot a single paper will be left lying on the street.
Adhil sirippu cartoon kaadhal case-u galIf funny cartoons and romantic scandal cases,
Serthaal businessu modaiyillaeAre added in, the business never slumps.
Sirippu cartoon kaadhal case-u galIf funny cartoons and romantic scandal cases,
Serthaal businessu modaiyillaeAre added in, the business never slumps.
Male
Ulagam idhilae adangudhuThe world is contained within this,
Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhuTruth and falsehood become clear here.
Male
Kaadhal kadhaigal padippadharkkendraeJust to read romantic stories,
Vaalibar koottam vaangudhuCrowds of young people purchase it.
Kaadhal kadhaigal padippadharkkendraeJust to read romantic stories,
Vaalibar koottam vaangudhuCrowds of young people purchase it.
Andha kadhaiyilae varuvadhaiThinking of what unfolds in those stories,
Manasilae ninaichu raathiri pagalaa yengudhuTheir minds long day and night.
Kadhaiyilae varuvadhai manasilae ninaichuThinking in their minds of what unfolds in stories,
Raathiri pagalaa yengudhuThey long for it day and night.
Male
Ulagam idhilae adangudhuThe world is contained within this,
Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhuTruth and falsehood become clear here.
Kalagam varudhu theerudhuConflicts arise and get resolved,
Achu kalaiyaal nilamai maarudhuThrough the art of printing, situations change.
Male
Ulagam idhilae adangudhuThe world is contained within this,
Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhuTruth and falsehood become clear here.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a witty social commentary on the power, influence, and commercial nature of print media and newspapers. Lyricist Kannadasan observes that spoken words hold little sway compared to the printed word, which people instantly accept as absolute truth regardless of whether it is genuine or fake. The song humorously critiques how newspapers boost sales by publishing pictures of movie stars, humor cartoons, and sensationalized romance stories that captivate impressionable youth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Ethirsol)

Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhu

Juxtaposition of opposing concepts 'Unmai' (Truth) and 'Poi' (Lie), as well as 'Mei' and 'Poi' to emphasize the duality handled by print press.

Initial Alliteration (Moonaai)

Ulagam idhilae adangudhu / Unmaiyum poiyum vilangudhu

Matching initial vowel sounds in 'Ulagam' and 'Unmaiyum' creating rhythmic flow.

Refrain / Repetition

Ulagam idhilae adangudhu

Repeated chorus lines reinforcing the central idea that the entire world is captured inside a sheet of newspaper.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1963 Sivaji Ganesan film 'Kulamagal Radhai', this track features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Kannadasan used this song as a humorous reflection on print journalism and consumer psychology during the 1960s.

Keep listening

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