Ulagam Perithu
From Gruhapravesam · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Gruhapravesam1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu | The world is vast, but the roads are narrow, |
| Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum | If light is shone, a way will be found. |
| Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu | The world is vast, but the roads are narrow, |
| Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum | If light is shone, a way will be found. |
| Sumaigal adhigam sonthamum adhigam | Burdens are many, and relationships are many, |
| Iraivanin kanakkil idhuthaan ulagam | In God's calculation, this alone is the world. |
| Male | |
| Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu | The world is vast, but the roads are narrow, |
| Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum | If light is shone, a way will be found. |
| Male | |
| Vaadaa kanna vazhithunai neethaan | Come, my Krishna, you are my travel companion, |
| Vaazhvenum saalai amaiththavan nee | You are the one who laid the road called life. |
| Vaadaa kanna vazhithunai neethaan | Come, my Krishna, you are my travel companion, |
| Vaazhvenum saalai amaiththavan nee | You are the one who laid the road called life. |
| Vaasalil nindru poojaigal oliththal | If prayers resonate while standing at the threshold, |
| Vazhi viduvaai ena arinthavan naan | I am one who knows that you will make way. |
| Male | |
| Payanam muzhuvathum unnai | Throughout the entire journey, if I keep |
| Paadi kondirunthaal payamillaiyae | Singing your praise, there is no fear. |
| Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum | If light is shone, a way will be found. |
| Male | |
| Thaanae iyangum karuvigal ellaam | All self-operating machines/vehicles |
| Saalaiyil ingae uranguthadaa | Are resting here on the road. |
| Vaanil irunthae iyangukiraai nee | You operate from high up in the heavens, |
| Maanida ulagam nadakkuthadaa | And so the human world moves forward. |
| Male | |
| Vithiyin iyakkam | The workings of fate |
| Intha veethigal thorum theriyuthadaa | Are visible across all these streets. |
| Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum | If light is shone, a way will be found. |
| Male | |
| Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu | The world is vast, but the roads are narrow, |
| Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum | If light is shone, a way will be found. |
| Male | |
| Varushaa varusham ovvoru kodi | Year after year, in tens of millions, |
| Makkal koottam peruguthadaa | The crowd of people keeps increasing. |
| Vazhigal thorum thalaigalai paarththaal | Looking at the heads fill every path, |
| Pothu koottam pol theriyuthadaa | It appears like a massive public gathering. |
| Padaikkum thozhilai | If you hold back on your work of creation |
| Konjam niruththi kondaal | Just a little bit, |
| Enna paranthaamaa paranthaamaa | What would be wrong, Oh Lord Supreme? |
| Male | |
| Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum | If light is shone, a way will be found. |
| Sumaigal adhigam sonthamum adhigam | Burdens are many, and relationships are many, |
| Iraivanin kanakkil idhuthaan ulagam | In God's calculation, this alone is the world. |
| Male | |
| Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu | The world is vast, but the roads are narrow, |
| Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum | If light is shone, a way will be found. |
உலகம் பெரிது சாலைகள் சிறிது
ஒலி கொடுத்தால் வழி கிடைக்கும்
உலகம் பெரிது சாலைகள் சிறிது
ஒலி கொடுத்தால் வழி கிடைக்கும்
சுமைகள் அதிகம் சொந்தமும் அதிகம்
இறைவனின் கணக்கில் இதுதான் உலகம்
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
If light is shone, a way will be found.
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Burdens are many, and relationships are many,
In God's calculation, this alone is the world.
உலகம் பெரிது சாலைகள் சிறிது
ஒலி கொடுத்தால் வழி கிடைக்கும்
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
If light is shone, a way will be found.
வாடா கண்ணா வழித்துணை நீதான்
வாழ்வெனும் சாலை அமைத்தவன் நீ
வாடா கண்ணா வழித்துணை நீதான்
வாழ்வெனும் சாலை அமைத்தவன் நீ
வாசலில் நின்று பூஜைகள் ஒலித்தல்
வழி விடுவாய் என அறிந்தவன் நான்
Come, my Krishna, you are my travel companion,
You are the one who laid the road called life.
Come, my Krishna, you are my travel companion,
You are the one who laid the road called life.
If prayers resonate while standing at the threshold,
I am one who knows that you will make way.
பயணம் முழுவதும் உன்னைப்
பாடிக் கொண்டிருந்தால் பயமில்லையே..
ஒலி கொடுத்தால் வழி கிடைக்கும்
Throughout the entire journey, if I keep
Singing your praise, there is no fear.
If light is shone, a way will be found.
தானே இயங்கும் கருவிகள் எல்லாம்
சாலையில் இங்கே உறங்குதடா
வானில் இருந்தே இயக்குகிறாய் நீ
மானிட உலகம் நடக்குதடா
All self-operating machines/vehicles
Are resting here on the road.
You operate from high up in the heavens,
And so the human world moves forward.
விதியின் இயக்கம்
இந்த வீதிகள் தோறும் தெரியுதடா
ஒலி கொடுத்தால் வழி கிடைக்கும்
The workings of fate
Are visible across all these streets.
If light is shone, a way will be found.
உலகம் பெரிது சாலைகள் சிறிது
ஒலி கொடுத்தால் வழி கிடைக்கும்
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
If light is shone, a way will be found.
வருஷா வருஷம் ஒவ்வொரு கோடி
மக்கள் கூட்டம் பெருகுதடா
வழிகள் தோறும் தலைகளைப் பார்த்தால்
பொதுக் கூட்டம் போல் தெரியுதடா
படைக்கும் தொழிலை
கொஞ்சம் நிறுத்திக் கொண்டால்
என்ன பரந்தாமா பரந்தாமா
Year after year, in tens of millions,
The crowd of people keeps increasing.
Looking at the heads fill every path,
It appears like a massive public gathering.
If you hold back on your work of creation
Just a little bit,
What would be wrong, Oh Lord Supreme?
ஒலி கொடுத்தால் வழி கிடைக்கும்
சுமைகள் அதிகம் சொந்தமும் அதிகம்
இறைவனின் கணக்கில் இதுதான் உலகம்
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Burdens are many, and relationships are many,
In God's calculation, this alone is the world.
உலகம் பெரிது சாலைகள் சிறிது
ஒலி கொடுத்தால் வழி கிடைக்கும்
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Sumaigal adhigam sonthamum adhigam
Burdens are many, and relationships are many,
Iraivanin kanakkil idhuthaan ulagam
In God's calculation, this alone is the world.
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Vaadaa kanna vazhithunai neethaan
Come, my Krishna, you are my travel companion,
Vaazhvenum saalai amaiththavan nee
You are the one who laid the road called life.
Vaadaa kanna vazhithunai neethaan
Come, my Krishna, you are my travel companion,
Vaazhvenum saalai amaiththavan nee
You are the one who laid the road called life.
Vaasalil nindru poojaigal oliththal
If prayers resonate while standing at the threshold,
Vazhi viduvaai ena arinthavan naan
I am one who knows that you will make way.
Payanam muzhuvathum unnai
Throughout the entire journey, if I keep
Paadi kondirunthaal payamillaiyae
Singing your praise, there is no fear.
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Thaanae iyangum karuvigal ellaam
All self-operating machines/vehicles
Saalaiyil ingae uranguthadaa
Are resting here on the road.
Vaanil irunthae iyangukiraai nee
You operate from high up in the heavens,
Maanida ulagam nadakkuthadaa
And so the human world moves forward.
Vithiyin iyakkam
The workings of fate
Intha veethigal thorum theriyuthadaa
Are visible across all these streets.
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Varushaa varusham ovvoru kodi
Year after year, in tens of millions,
Makkal koottam peruguthadaa
The crowd of people keeps increasing.
Vazhigal thorum thalaigalai paarththaal
Looking at the heads fill every path,
Pothu koottam pol theriyuthadaa
It appears like a massive public gathering.
Padaikkum thozhilai
If you hold back on your work of creation
Konjam niruththi kondaal
Just a little bit,
Enna paranthaamaa paranthaamaa
What would be wrong, Oh Lord Supreme?
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Sumaigal adhigam sonthamum adhigam
Burdens are many, and relationships are many,
Iraivanin kanakkil idhuthaan ulagam
In God's calculation, this alone is the world.
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow,
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
If light is shone, a way will be found.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this philosophical song from 'Gruhapravesam' (1976), lyricist Kannadasan uses traffic, roads, and driving as an extended allegory for human life. The protagonist addresses Lord Krishna (Paranthaman) as the ultimate driver and navigator of human existence, observing how the world is overcrowded with worldly burdens, family ties, and relentless population growth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Vaazhvenum saalai amaiththavan nee”
Life is explicitly compared to a road ('Vaazhvenum saalai'), where human struggles are traffic and God acts as the driver/guide.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu”
The second letter in 'Ulagam' (la) and 'Saalaigal' (la) or 'Sumaigal' (ma) and 'Iraivanin' (ra/internal rhythm) creates classic Tamil prosodic harmony.
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vaadaa kanna vazhithunai neethaan / Vaazhvenum saalai amaiththavan nee”
Alliteration of the initial consonants or vowel sounds in 'Vaadaa' and 'Vaazhvenum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song brilliantly utilizes vehicle and traffic motifs, which was a common stylistic technique in 1970s Tamil film music where modern everyday visuals (like heavy traffic and driving) were seamlessly interwoven with classical philosophical musings.
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