Ulagam Oru Kavithai
From Oh Manju · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Oh Manju1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ulagam oru kavidhai | The world is a poem |
| Madhuvil idhai konden oh | I found it in wine, oh |
| Ulagam oru kavidhai | The world is a poem |
| Madhuvil idhai konden | I found it in wine |
| Ellaam undu ondrumillai idhilae | Everything exists, yet nothing is in it |
| Ulagam oru kavidhai | The world is a poem |
| Madhuvil idhai konden | I found it in wine |
| Male | |
| Idhu naal varaiyil nanae nadanthen | Until this day, I walked by myself |
| Adhu indru nadai poduthae | Today, that walk moves on its own |
| Irava pagala ival yaar avala | Is it night or day? Who is she, is she that person? |
| Madhu unnai idai poduthae | The wine sways your waist |
| Irandae manidhan pudhiyavan ingae | There are only two men; a new man is here |
| Pazhaiyavan engae kaanavillai oo manju | Where is the old man? He is nowhere to be seen, oh Manju |
| Female | |
| Bodhaiyundu buthiyillai idhilae | There is intoxication, but no wisdom in this |
| Ulagam oru kavidhai | The world is a poem |
| Uravil adhai kanden | I saw it in a relationship |
| Kandaal kooda inbam undu adhilae | There is joy in it even just by beholding it |
| Ulagam oru kavidhai | The world is a poem |
| Uravil adhai kanden | I saw it in a relationship |
| Female | |
| Aatril kidaithaal meenum manakkum | If found in a river, even a fish smells sweet |
| Adhu oru pugazh allavaa | Isn't that a glory? |
| Saetril kidaithaal thaenum kasakkum | If found in the mud, even honey turns bitter |
| Adhu oru izhivallavaa | Isn't that a disgrace? |
| Irundhaal iruppom ulladhu podhum | If we live, let us live content with what we have |
| Idhupol varavu thevai illai | An influx like this is not needed |
| Female | |
| Ulagam oru kavidhai | The world is a poem |
| Uravil adhai kanden | I saw it in a relationship |
| Male | |
| Unnai ninaithaal ulagam siridhu | When thinking of you, the world seems small |
| Ini oru madhu venduma | Is another drink of wine needed now? |
| Female :Unnai ninaithaal pasiyaa peridhu | Female: When thinking of you, is hunger significant? |
| Ini oru panam venduma | Is more money needed now? |
| Both :Irundhaal iruppom ulladhu podhum | Both: If we live, let us live content with what we have |
| Idhupol varavu thevai illai | An influx like this is not needed |
உலகம் ஒரு கவிதை
மதுவில் இதைக் கொண்டேன் ஓ
உலகம் ஒரு கவிதை
மதுவில் இதைக் கொண்டேன்
எல்லாம் உண்டு ஒன்றுமில்லை இதிலே
உலகம் ஒரு கவிதை
மதுவில் இதைக் கொண்டேன்
The world is a poem
I found it in wine, oh
The world is a poem
I found it in wine
Everything exists, yet nothing is in it
The world is a poem
I found it in wine
இது நாள் வரையில் நானே நடந்தேன்
அது இன்று நடை போடுதே
இரவா பகலா இவள் யார் அவளா
மது உன்னை எடை போடுவேன்
இரண்டே மனிதன் புதியவன் இங்கே
பழையவன் எங்கே காணவில்லை ஒ....மஞ்சு...
Until this day, I walked by myself
Today, that walk moves on its own
Is it night or day? Who is she, is she that person?
The wine sways your waist
There are only two men; a new man is here
Where is the old man? He is nowhere to be seen, oh Manju
போதையுண்டு புத்தியில்லை இதிலே
உலகம் ஒரு கவிதை
உறவில் அதைக் கண்டேன்
கண்டால் கூட இன்பமுண்டு அதிலே
உலகம் ஒரு கவிதை
உறவில் அதைக் கண்டேன்
There is intoxication, but no wisdom in this
The world is a poem
I saw it in a relationship
There is joy in it even just by beholding it
The world is a poem
I saw it in a relationship
ஆற்றில் கிடைத்தால் மீனும் மணக்கும்
அது ஒரு புகழ் அல்லவா
சேற்றில் கிடைத்தால் தேனும் கசக்கும்
அது ஒரு இழிவல்லவா
இருந்தால் இருப்போம் உள்ளது போதும்
இதுபோல் வரவு தேவையில்லை
If found in a river, even a fish smells sweet
Isn't that a glory?
If found in the mud, even honey turns bitter
Isn't that a disgrace?
If we live, let us live content with what we have
An influx like this is not needed
உலகம் ஒரு கவிதை
உறவில் அதைக் கண்டேன்
The world is a poem
I saw it in a relationship
உன்னை நினைத்தால் உலகம் சிறிது
இனி ஒரு மது வேண்டுமா
உன்னை நினைத்தால் பசியா பெரிது
இனி ஒரு பணம் வேண்டுமா
இருவர் :
இருந்தால் இருப்போம் உள்ளது போதும்
இதுபோல் வரவு தேவையில்லை....
When thinking of you, the world seems small
Is another drink of wine needed now?
Female: When thinking of you, is hunger significant?
Is more money needed now?
Both: If we live, let us live content with what we have
An influx like this is not needed
உலகம் ஒரு கவிதை
உறவில் அதைக் கண்டோம்
கண்டால் கூட இன்பமுண்டு அதிலே
உலகம் ஒரு கவிதை
Ulagam oru kavidhai
The world is a poem
Madhuvil idhai konden oh
I found it in wine, oh
Ulagam oru kavidhai
The world is a poem
Madhuvil idhai konden
I found it in wine
Ellaam undu ondrumillai idhilae
Everything exists, yet nothing is in it
Ulagam oru kavidhai
The world is a poem
Madhuvil idhai konden
I found it in wine
Idhu naal varaiyil nanae nadanthen
Until this day, I walked by myself
Adhu indru nadai poduthae
Today, that walk moves on its own
Irava pagala ival yaar avala
Is it night or day? Who is she, is she that person?
Madhu unnai idai poduthae
The wine sways your waist
Irandae manidhan pudhiyavan ingae
There are only two men; a new man is here
Pazhaiyavan engae kaanavillai oo manju
Where is the old man? He is nowhere to be seen, oh Manju
Bodhaiyundu buthiyillai idhilae
There is intoxication, but no wisdom in this
Ulagam oru kavidhai
The world is a poem
Uravil adhai kanden
I saw it in a relationship
Kandaal kooda inbam undu adhilae
There is joy in it even just by beholding it
Ulagam oru kavidhai
The world is a poem
Uravil adhai kanden
I saw it in a relationship
Aatril kidaithaal meenum manakkum
If found in a river, even a fish smells sweet
Adhu oru pugazh allavaa
Isn't that a glory?
Saetril kidaithaal thaenum kasakkum
If found in the mud, even honey turns bitter
Adhu oru izhivallavaa
Isn't that a disgrace?
Irundhaal iruppom ulladhu podhum
If we live, let us live content with what we have
Idhupol varavu thevai illai
An influx like this is not needed
Ulagam oru kavidhai
The world is a poem
Uravil adhai kanden
I saw it in a relationship
Unnai ninaithaal ulagam siridhu
When thinking of you, the world seems small
Ini oru madhu venduma
Is another drink of wine needed now?
Female :Unnai ninaithaal pasiyaa peridhu
Female: When thinking of you, is hunger significant?
Ini oru panam venduma
Is more money needed now?
Both :Irundhaal iruppom ulladhu podhum
Both: If we live, let us live content with what we have
Idhupol varavu thevai illai
An influx like this is not needed
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Oh Manju' (1976), penned by Kannadasan, explores the contrast between superficial intoxication and true emotional fulfillment. Initially, the protagonist sees life through the haze of alcohol, describing the world as a confusing poem where everything and nothing exist at the same time, leading to a loss of self-identity and wisdom.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ulagam oru kavidhai”
Compares the world directly to a poem ('Ulagam oru kavidhai') to represent life's complex art and structure.
Paradox / Antithesis (Muran)
“Ellaam undu ondrumillai idhilae”
Combines contradictory ideas ('everything exists' vs 'nothing exists') to describe the confusing state of intoxication.
Contrast / Parallelism (Edhukai)
“Aatril kidaithaal meenum manakkum / Saetril kidaithaal thaenum kasakkum”
Contrasts something undesirable made fragrant by a clean environment ('Aatril... meenum manakkum') against something sweet spoiled by bad environment ('Saetril... thaenum kasakkum').
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Oh Manju' (1976) was directed by C. V. Sridhar and featured music composed by S. V. Venkatraman, starring Master Sekhar and Kavitha.
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