Ulagam Oli Mayame
From Poovum Pottum · 1968
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Details
- Poovum Pottum1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ulagam olimayame | The world is full of light |
| Ullanthaan irul mayamae | Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness |
| Oliyum irulum | Both light and darkness |
| Andha iraivan arul mayamae | Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God |
| Female | |
| Ulagam olimayame | The world is full of light |
| Ullanthaan irul mayamae | Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness |
| Oliyum irulum | Both light and darkness |
| Andha iraivan arul mayamae | Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God |
| Female | |
| Naalai poludhu varum | Tomorrow a new day will dawn |
| Nalla nalla saedhi varum | Very good news will arrive |
| Naalai poludhu varum | Tomorrow a new day will dawn |
| Nalla nalla saedhi varum | Very good news will arrive |
| Paalai vanathinilum | Even in a barren desert |
| Pasunjolai thondri vidum | A lush green oasis will blossom |
| Paalai vanathinilum | Even in a barren desert |
| Pasunjolai thondri vidum | A lush green oasis will blossom |
| Female | |
| Kaalathil kodai undu | In the cycle of time, there is summer |
| Kaattru varum vasantham undu | And there is a spring season bringing gentle breeze |
| Kaalathil kodai undu | In the cycle of time, there is summer |
| Kaattru varum vasantham undu | And there is a spring season bringing gentle breeze |
| Vaazhvil irandum undu | Life contains both of these aspects |
| Varum naalil amaidhi undu | Peace will definitely prevail in the days ahead |
| Vaazhvil irandum undu | Life contains both of these aspects |
| Varum naalil amaidhi undu | Peace will definitely prevail in the days ahead |
| Female | |
| Ulagam olimayame | The world is full of light |
| Ullanthaan irul mayamae | Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness |
| Oliyum irulum | Both light and darkness |
| Andha iraivan arul mayamae | Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God |
| Female | |
| Andrae ezhudhiyavan | The One who wrote destiny on that day |
| Aduthathaiyum ezhudhivittaan | Has already written what is to come next |
| Andrae ezhudhiyavan | The One who wrote destiny on that day |
| Aduthathaiyum ezhudhivittaan | Has already written what is to come next |
| Aayiram sonnaalum | No matter what a thousand people say |
| Azhithezhudha povadhillai | It will never be erased and rewritten |
| Aayiram sonnaalum | No matter what a thousand people say |
| Azhithezhudha povadhillai | It will never be erased and rewritten |
| Female | |
| Ezhai azhudha kural | The weeping voice of the poor and helpless |
| Iraivanukkae kaettu vidum | Will surely be heard by God Almighty |
| Ezhai azhudha kural | The weeping voice of the poor and helpless |
| Iraivanukkae kaettu vidum | Will surely be heard by God Almighty |
| Iravu vidinthu vidum | The dark night will turn into a bright dawn |
| Uravellaam saerndhu vidum | All estranged loved ones will reunite |
| Iravu vidinthu vidum | The dark night will turn into a bright dawn |
| Uravellaam saerndhu vidum | All estranged loved ones will reunite |
| Female | |
| Ulagam olimayame | The world is full of light |
| Ullanthaan irul mayamae | Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness |
| Oliyum irulum | Both light and darkness |
| Andha iraivan arul mayamae | Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God |
உலகம் ஒளிமயமே
உள்ளந்தான் இருள் மயமே
ஒளியும் இருளும்
அந்த இறைவன் அருள் மயமே...
The world is full of light
Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness
Both light and darkness
Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God
உலகம் ஒளிமயமே
உள்ளந்தான் இருள் மயமே
ஒளியும் இருளும்
அந்த இறைவன் அருள் மயமே...
The world is full of light
Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness
Both light and darkness
Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God
நாளை பொழுது வரும்
நல்ல நல்ல சேதி வரும்
நாளை பொழுது வரும்
நல்ல நல்ல சேதி வரும்
பாலவனத்தினிலும்
பசுஞ்சோலை தோன்றிவிடும்
பாலவனத்தினிலும்
பசுஞ்சோலை தோன்றிவிடும்
Tomorrow a new day will dawn
Very good news will arrive
Tomorrow a new day will dawn
Very good news will arrive
Even in a barren desert
A lush green oasis will blossom
Even in a barren desert
A lush green oasis will blossom
காலத்தில் கோடை உண்டு
காற்று வரும் வசந்தம் உண்டு
காலத்தில் கோடை உண்டு
காற்று வரும் வசந்தம் உண்டு
வாழ்வில் இரண்டும் உண்டு
வரும் நாளில் அமைதி உண்டு
வாழ்வில் இரண்டும் உண்டு
வரும் நாளில் அமைதி உண்டு
In the cycle of time, there is summer
And there is a spring season bringing gentle breeze
In the cycle of time, there is summer
And there is a spring season bringing gentle breeze
Life contains both of these aspects
Peace will definitely prevail in the days ahead
Life contains both of these aspects
Peace will definitely prevail in the days ahead
உலகம் ஒளிமயமே
உள்ளந்தான் இருள் மயமே
ஒளியும் இருளும்
அந்த இறைவன் அருள் மயமே...
The world is full of light
Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness
Both light and darkness
Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God
அன்றே எழுதியவன்
அடுத்ததையும் எழுதிவிட்டான்
அன்றே எழுதியவன்
அடுத்ததையும் எழுதிவிட்டான்
ஆயிரம் சொன்னாலும்
அழித்தெழுத போவதில்லை
ஆயிரம் சொன்னாலும்
அழித்தெழுத போவதில்லை
The One who wrote destiny on that day
Has already written what is to come next
The One who wrote destiny on that day
Has already written what is to come next
No matter what a thousand people say
It will never be erased and rewritten
No matter what a thousand people say
It will never be erased and rewritten
ஏழை அழுத குரல்
இறைவனுக்கே கேட்டு விடும்
ஏழை அழுத குரல்
இறைவனுக்கே கேட்டு விடும்
இரவு விடிந்து விடும்
உறவெல்லாம் சேர்ந்து விடும்....
இரவு விடிந்து விடும்
உறவெல்லாம் சேர்ந்து விடும்....
The weeping voice of the poor and helpless
Will surely be heard by God Almighty
The weeping voice of the poor and helpless
Will surely be heard by God Almighty
The dark night will turn into a bright dawn
All estranged loved ones will reunite
The dark night will turn into a bright dawn
All estranged loved ones will reunite
உலகம் ஒளிமயமே
உள்ளந்தான் இருள் மயமே
ஒளியும் இருளும்
அந்த இறைவன் அருள் மயமே...
The world is full of light
Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness
Both light and darkness
Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God
Ulagam olimayame
The world is full of light
Ullanthaan irul mayamae
Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness
Oliyum irulum
Both light and darkness
Andha iraivan arul mayamae
Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God
Ulagam olimayame
The world is full of light
Ullanthaan irul mayamae
Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness
Oliyum irulum
Both light and darkness
Andha iraivan arul mayamae
Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God
Naalai poludhu varum
Tomorrow a new day will dawn
Nalla nalla saedhi varum
Very good news will arrive
Naalai poludhu varum
Tomorrow a new day will dawn
Nalla nalla saedhi varum
Very good news will arrive
Paalai vanathinilum
Even in a barren desert
Pasunjolai thondri vidum
A lush green oasis will blossom
Paalai vanathinilum
Even in a barren desert
Pasunjolai thondri vidum
A lush green oasis will blossom
Kaalathil kodai undu
In the cycle of time, there is summer
Kaattru varum vasantham undu
And there is a spring season bringing gentle breeze
Kaalathil kodai undu
In the cycle of time, there is summer
Kaattru varum vasantham undu
And there is a spring season bringing gentle breeze
Vaazhvil irandum undu
Life contains both of these aspects
Varum naalil amaidhi undu
Peace will definitely prevail in the days ahead
Vaazhvil irandum undu
Life contains both of these aspects
Varum naalil amaidhi undu
Peace will definitely prevail in the days ahead
Ulagam olimayame
The world is full of light
Ullanthaan irul mayamae
Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness
Oliyum irulum
Both light and darkness
Andha iraivan arul mayamae
Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God
Andrae ezhudhiyavan
The One who wrote destiny on that day
Aduthathaiyum ezhudhivittaan
Has already written what is to come next
Andrae ezhudhiyavan
The One who wrote destiny on that day
Aduthathaiyum ezhudhivittaan
Has already written what is to come next
Aayiram sonnaalum
No matter what a thousand people say
Azhithezhudha povadhillai
It will never be erased and rewritten
Aayiram sonnaalum
No matter what a thousand people say
Azhithezhudha povadhillai
It will never be erased and rewritten
Ezhai azhudha kural
The weeping voice of the poor and helpless
Iraivanukkae kaettu vidum
Will surely be heard by God Almighty
Ezhai azhudha kural
The weeping voice of the poor and helpless
Iraivanukkae kaettu vidum
Will surely be heard by God Almighty
Iravu vidinthu vidum
The dark night will turn into a bright dawn
Uravellaam saerndhu vidum
All estranged loved ones will reunite
Iravu vidinthu vidum
The dark night will turn into a bright dawn
Uravellaam saerndhu vidum
All estranged loved ones will reunite
Ulagam olimayame
The world is full of light
Ullanthaan irul mayamae
Yet the mind inside is filled with darkness
Oliyum irulum
Both light and darkness
Andha iraivan arul mayamae
Are filled with the grace of that Almighty God
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ulagam Olimayame is a deeply philosophical Tamil song about accepting life's dualities, holding on to hope, and trusting divine destiny. Written by Kannadasan, the song opens with a stark contrast: while the external world shines with brightness, the human heart often lingers in sorrowful darkness. However, it reminds us that both joy and suffering are ordained by divine grace, encouraging us not to lose heart. The lyrics reassure that suffering is temporary. Just as a desert can spring a green oasis and spring follows summer, peace and reunion will arrive after difficult times. Kannadasan touches on the unshakeable nature of fate, asserting that God has already scripted the future, and human complaints cannot alter it. Ultimately, the song serves as a comforting hymn promising that God listens to the cries of the suffering and that light will always follow darkness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Muran (முரண்)
“Oliyum irulum”
The lyrics juxtapose contrasting concepts such as light ('Oli') and darkness ('Irul'), and desert ('Paalai') and oasis ('Pasunjolai') to highlight the dual nature of life.
Monai / Initial Assonance (மோனை)
“Ulagam olimayame / Ullanthaan irul mayamae”
Matching initial vowel sounds in 'Ulagam' and 'Ullanthaan' creates a poetic flow across lines.
Metaphor (உவமை/உருவகம்)
“Paalai vanathinilum / Pasunjolai thondri vidum”
The desert represents grief and barren life, while the green oasis symbolizes sudden hope, renewal, and relief.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Poovum Pottum' (1968) was directed by Dada Mirasi. The song features music by R. Govarthanam (brother of legendary music director R. Sudarsanam) and rendered with deep emotion by P. Susheela. Kannadasan's lyricism in this track remains one of the finest examples of philosophical consolation in Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
More from Poovum Pottum
Poovum Pottum
Poovum Pottum
Poovum Pottum
Poovum Pottum
Poovum Pottum
Poovum Pottum