Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagam Perithu

From Gruhapravesam · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Gruhapravesam
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
16 Jul 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
Sumaigal adhigam sonthamum adhigam
Iraivanin kanakkil idhuthaan ulagam
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
Vaadaa kanna vazhithunai neethaan
Vaazhvenum saalai amaiththavan nee
Vaadaa kanna vazhithunai neethaan
Vaazhvenum saalai amaiththavan nee
Vaasalil nindru poojaigal oliththal
Vazhi viduvaai ena arinthavan naan
Payanam muzhuvathum unnai
Paadi kondirunthaal payamillaiyae
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
Thaanae iyangum karuvigal ellaam
Saalaiyil ingae uranguthadaa
Vaanil irunthae iyangukiraai nee
Maanida ulagam nadakkuthadaa
Vithiyin iyakkam
Intha veethigal thorum theriyuthadaa
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
Varushaa varusham ovvoru kodi
Makkal koottam peruguthadaa
Vazhigal thorum thalaigalai paarththaal
Pothu koottam pol theriyuthadaa
Padaikkum thozhilai
Konjam niruththi kondaal
Enna paranthaamaa paranthaamaa
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
Sumaigal adhigam sonthamum adhigam
Iraivanin kanakkil idhuthaan ulagam
Ulagam perithu saalaigal sirithu
Oli koduththaal vazhi kidaikkum
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow
Sound the horn, and the way will clear
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow
Sound the horn, and the way will clear
The burdens are heavy, and relations are many
In God's ledger, this is what the world is
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow
Sound the horn, and the way will clear
Come, Krishna, you are my guide along the way
You are the one who paved this road called life
Come, Krishna, you are my guide along the way
You are the one who paved this road called life
If prayers ring out at your doorway,
I know you will clear the path for me
If I keep singing your name
throughout the journey, there is no fear...
Sound the horn, and the way will clear
All these self-driven machines
lie sleeping here upon the road
You steer everything from the heavens above,
and so this human world keeps moving along
The drive of destiny
can be seen on every street
Sound the horn, and the way will clear
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow
Sound the horn, and the way will clear
Year after year, by ten million more,
the crowds of people keep growing
Looking at all the heads along every road,
it looks like a massive public rally!
If you only paused for a while
this task of creating life,
what harm would it do, my Lord Krishna?
Sound the horn, and the way will clear
The burdens are heavy, and relations are many
In God's ledger, this is what the world is
The world is vast, but the roads are narrow
Sound the horn, and the way will clear
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Kuthiraiyilee Naan1977
Avar Enakke SonthamFateJourney
Angum Ingum1977
AvargalFateJourney
Enathu Vazhkkai Pathayil1976
Mogam Muppathu VarshamFateContemplative
Iravukku Aayiram1963
Kulamagal RadhaiFateContemplative
Maravene Entha Naalum1956
Maaya MohiniSpiritualityDevotion
Maamagane Nee Yaaro2022
BumperSpiritualityResilience

From the same album

More songs from Gruhapravesam

View album
Sathiyathin Sothanaikku1976
GruhapravesamMelancholic
Kandru Kural Theadi Varum1976
GruhapravesamDevotional
Enga Veettu Rani1976
GruhapravesamAffectionate
Ayothi Nagaralum1976
GruhapravesamDreamy

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.