Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagam Oru Vaadagai

From Thaiyalkaran · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Details
Thaiyalkaran1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ulagam oru vaadaga veeduThe world is a rented house
Varalaam adhil aayiram peruA thousand people may come into it
Vandha perellaam en sondhamaaAre all those who came my own kin?
Male
Kaadhal oru kaanalai polaeLove is like a mirage
Nenachaen adhai kaaviri polaeI thought of it like the Cauvery river
Thoondil pottdhae en paavamaaIs it my sin that hooked me?
Male
Irundhadhu oru kiliThere was a parrot
Parandhadhu thani vazhiIt flew away on its own path
Ammamaa ammamaaa amammaa ammmaaaOh mother, oh mother, oh mother, oh mother
Male
Ulagam oru vaadaga veeduThe world is a rented house
Varalaam adhil aayiram peruA thousand people may come into it
Vandha perellaam en sondhamaaAre all those who came my own kin?
Male
Yaeaeae…Yeah...
Thannanaa thannaaaaThannanaa thannaaaa
Thananaann thannanananThananaann thannananan
Thannanana thannanananThannanana thannananan
Thannanan aaThannanan aa
Ho hoiiii…Oh ho...
Thanananthananna thannananan thannaa haanThanananthananna thannananan thannaa haan
Male
Vaendaadha paasam varavaetra paavamUnwanted affection, the sin of welcoming it
Vidiyaamal pochae en vaanam dhaanMy sky failed to dawn
Meettaadha veenai naan meettum vaelaiI am an unplayed veena, at the time I am played
Mudiyaamal pochae en gaanam dhaanMy song ended unfinished
Thaen vaartha mullai ennodu illaiThe honey-dripping jasmine is not with me
Kadandhaachu ellaai netrodudhaanThe boundary was crossed yesterday itself
Irundhadhu oru kili parandhadhu thani vazhiThere was a parrot, it flew away on its own path
Ammamaa ammamaaa amammaa ammmaaaOh mother, oh mother, oh mother, oh mother
Male
Ulagam oru vaadaga veeduThe world is a rented house
Varalaam adhil aayiram peruA thousand people may come into it
Vandha perellaam en sondhamaaAre all those who came my own kin?
Male
Eeraezhu jenmam idhu ondru podhumOut of fourteen births, this one is enough
Inimaelum kaadhal vaendam ammaaNo more love for me, oh mother
Sugam vaanga ponaen sumai thaangi aanenI went to buy happiness, but became a load-bearer
Ini melum baaram thangaadhammaaI cannot bear any more weight, oh mother
Male
Engae un veedu angae un vaazhvuWherever your home is, there lies your life
Nalamaaga thaanae naan vaazhthuvaenI will wish you well with goodness
Irundhadhu oru kili parandhadhu thani vazhiThere was a parrot, it flew away on its own path
Ammamaa ammamaaa amammaa ammmaaaOh mother, oh mother, oh mother, oh mother
Male
Ulagam oru vaadaga veeduThe world is a rented house
Varalaam adhil aayiram peruA thousand people may come into it
Vandha perellaam en sondhamaaAre all those who came my own kin?
Vandha perellaam en sondhamaaAre all those who came my own kin?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This melancholic and philosophical track from Thaiyalkaran reflects on the transient nature of human relationships and the pain of lost love. The song opens with a powerful metaphor comparing the world to a rented house where many people enter and leave, emphasizing that not everyone who crosses our path belongs in our life permanently. The protagonist laments how love turned out to be a deceptive mirage rather than a life-giving river like the Cauvery. Despite feeling burdened by sorrow and betrayed by fate, the singer chooses graceful acceptance over bitterness, wishing his beloved well in her new life while coming to terms with his own solitary journey.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile) / Metaphor

Ulagam oru vaadaga veedu

Compares the temporary nature of world and human attachments to a rented house.

Simile (Polae)

Kaadhal oru kaanalai polae / Nenachaen adhai kaaviri polae

Contrasts love as a illusionary mirage versus a nourishing river.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Irundhadhu oru kili parandhadhu thani vazhi

Refers to the departed loved one or fleeting joy as a parrot that flew away on its own path.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Vaendaadha paasam / Vidiyaamal pochae

Rhyming of the second letter 'ndha' in sequential lines for poetic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva for the 1991 Parthiban-starrer 'Thaiyalkaran', this song features lyrics by Vaali and vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. It remains a popular Tamil philosophical song reflecting heartbreak and life's impermanence.

Keep listening

More from Thaiyalkaran