Ulagam Suthuthada
From Karimedu Karuvayan · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Gangai Amaran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Karimedu Karuvayan1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ulagam suthudhadaa | The world keeps spinning, my friend, |
| Idam irundhu valamaaga | From left to right continuously. |
| Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa | There hasn't been a single common word, |
| Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga | Until now in general. |
| Male | |
| Yeppaadu pattaalum | No matter how much effort is made, |
| Thirundhaadhu boomi | This earth will never reform. |
| Male | |
| Ada yekkedu kettaalum | Hey, no matter what ruin occurs, |
| Namakkendaa saami | Why should we care, my Lord? |
| Male | |
| Sonnaalae pollaappu | Speaking up only brings trouble, |
| Venaandaa veen vambu | We don't need unnecessary conflict. |
| Chorus | |
| Ulagam suthudhadaa | The world keeps spinning, my friend, |
| Idam irundhu valamaaga | From left to right continuously. |
| Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa | There hasn't been a single common word, |
| Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga hae haei | Until now in general, hey hey! |
| Chorus | |
| Thannannaa thannannaa | Thannannaa thannannaa, |
| Thannannaa naa | Thannannaa naa, |
| Thannannaa thannannaa thannannaa | Thannannaa thannannaa thannannaa, |
| Chorus | |
| Aahahaa Aahahaa | Aahahaa Aahahaa, |
| Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa | Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa, |
| Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa | Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa. |
| Male | |
| Theru oram dhenam thorum | Every single day by the roadside, |
| Meda pottu | Setting up a stage, |
| Harichandhiraa sri valli aadi paathom | We performed plays like Harishchandra and Sri Valli. |
| Male | |
| Ae appadi podu | Hey, keep it up! |
| Male :Yeppadi | Male: How so? |
| Male :Ae achak ae achak | Male: Hey achak hey achak! |
| Male | |
| Kittappaa chinnappaa | In the tune of masters like Kittappa and Chinnappa, |
| Mettu pottu | Setting rhythmic tunes, |
| Thillaanaa themmaangu | We sang folk melodies and rhythmic songs. |
| Paadi paathom | We shared messages with everyone. |
| Male | |
| Ellaarkkum sedhi sonnom | Was it just one or two? |
| Ada onnaa rendaa | We delivered so much moral advice! |
| Ethanaiyo needhi sonnom..onn | Elder brother, what happened in the end? |
| Male | |
| Annaachi enna aachu | Everyone ended up yawning and leaving! |
| Ellorukkum kottaavi vandhu pochu | Straightening a dog's tail, |
| Chorus | |
| Naai vaala neraakka | Who can ever achieve that? |
| Yaaraala aagum | Going along with the way the town moves, |
| Oor pora pokkoda ponaa thaan | Is the only practical way. |
| Thodhaagum | The world keeps spinning, my friend, |
| Chorus | |
| Ulagam suthudhadaa | From left to right continuously. |
| Idam irundhu valamaaga | Aah durrr! |
| Aah durrr | There hasn't been a single common word, |
| Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa | Until now in general. |
| Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga | In everything and everywhere, |
| Male | |
| Edhulaeyum engaeyum | Calling out 'corruption!', |
| Oozhal endru | I now raise a loud outcry. |
| Ippodhu kooppaadu poduven naan | Oh yes, my Lord, oh my! |
| Male | |
| Ada aamaa saami haiyo | Male: Hey, let it be! |
| Male :Ada adichu udu | If I myself one day, |
| Male | |
| Naanae thaan oru naalil | Become a minister, |
| Mandhiri aanaa | Without fail, the exact same thing, |
| Adhaiyae thaan thappaama | I will do as well! |
| Pannuven naan | There are no righteous people left, |
| Male | |
| Nallavanga yaarum illa | There is no such town in India. |
| Indhiyaavil appadi or oorum illa | Haa haa hae hae! |
| Male | |
| Haa haa hae hae | The elder who keeps his word, |
| Male | |
| Annaatha sonna solla | Has never made it forward in life. |
| Kaakkuravan munneri vandhadhilla | Hae hae... |
| Male | |
| Hae hae………….. | Whether I say it or you say it, |
| Chorus | |
| Naan solli nee solli | Who is going to listen? |
| Yevan kekka poraan | When everyone is naked, |
| Ellaarum nirvaanam | Why do we need a new dhoti? |
| Namakkendaa pudhu vaetti | The world keeps spinning, my friend, |
| Male | |
| Ulagam suthudhadaa | From left to right continuously. |
| Idam irundhu valamaaga | Aah durrr... |
| Aah durrr….. | There hasn't been a single common word, |
| Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa | Until now in general. |
| Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga | Hae hae... |
| Hae hae………………. | Having watched the play, |
| Male | |
| Annan naan paanjaali | Of Panchali and her brothers, |
| Naadagam paathu | A woman went looking for five men! |
| Anju pera pennorutthi thedi ponaa | Aa jiyaan jikkaa, |
| Male | |
| Aa jiyaan jikkaa | Aa jikaan jikkaa! |
| Aa jikaan jikkaa | The man who watched the play, |
| Male | |
| Kannagiyin naadagatha | Of the chaste Kannagi, |
| Paathavan thaanae | Ran right into Madhavi's house! |
| Maadhaviyin veettukkullae | If you put toddy alongside milk, |
| Odi ponaan | Our people will surely choose the toddy, |
| Male | |
| Kalloda paala vechaa | And drink it all up! |
| Namma sanam kalla thaanae | Haei haei haei haei! |
| Alli kudikkum | If you offer a full liquor bottle alongside flowers, |
| Male | |
| Haei haei haei haei | Our people will grab the bottle, |
| Male | |
| Fulloda poova vechaa | And drink it completely! |
| Namma sanam fulla thaanae | Haei haei haei haei! |
| Alli kudikkum | Never, not on any day, |
| Male | |
| Haei haei haei haei | Will this country reform. |
| Chorus | |
| Oru naalum oru podhum | The situation will not change, |
| Thirundhaadha naadu | Why take on unnecessary trouble? |
| Nela maari pogaadhu | The world keeps spinning, my friend, |
| Namakkendaa veen paadu | From left to right continuously. |
| Chorus | |
| Ulagam suthudhadaa | There hasn't been a single common word, |
| Idam irundhu valamaaga | Until now in general, hey hey! |
| Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa | No matter how much effort is made, |
| Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga hehaei | This earth will never reform. |
| Male | |
| Yeppaadu pattaalum | Hey, no matter what ruin occurs, |
| Thirundhaadhu boomi | Why should we care, my Lord? |
| Male | |
| Ada yekkedu kettaalum | Speaking up only brings trouble, |
| Namakkendaa saami | We don't need unnecessary conflict. |
| Male | |
| Sonnaalae pollaappu | The world keeps spinning, my friend, |
| Venaandaa veen vambu | From left to right continuously. |
| Chorus | |
| Ulagam suthudhadaa | Male: Ho ho ho hoi! |
| Idam irundhu valamaaga | Chorus: There hasn't been a single common word, |
| Male :Ho ho ho hoi | Until now in general. |
| Chorus :Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa | Male: Ho ho hoooooi! |
| Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga | |
| Male :Ho ho hoooooi | |
மற்றும் தீபன் சக்கரவர்த்தி
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
From left to right continuously.
There hasn't been a single common word,
Until now in general.
உலகம் சுத்துதடா
இடம் இருந்து வலமாக
ஒரு வார்த்தை இல்லையடா
இது வரையில் பொதுவாக
No matter how much effort is made,
This earth will never reform.
எப்பாடு பட்டாலும்
திருந்தாது பூமி
அட எக்கேடு கெட்டாலும்
நமக்கேண்டா சாமி
சொன்னாலே பொல்லாப்பு
வேனாண்டா வீண் வம்பு
Hey, no matter what ruin occurs,
Why should we care, my Lord?
உலகம் சுத்துதடா
இடம் இருந்து வலமாக
ஏ ஒரு வார்த்தை இல்லையடா
இது வரையில் பொதுவாக ஹே ஹே
Speaking up only brings trouble,
We don't need unnecessary conflict.
தன்னன்னா தன்னன்னா
தன்னன்னா னா
தன்னன்னா தன்னன்னா தன்னன்னா
னா ஓஒ.....ஓஓஹோ ஓஒ ஓஓஹோ
தான்னன்ன தன்னன்னா
தான்னன்ன தன்னன்னா.....
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
From left to right continuously.
There hasn't been a single common word,
Until now in general, hey hey!
தெருவோரம்
தெனம் தோறும் மேடை போட்டு
அரிச்சந்திரா ஸ்ரீ வள்ளி
ஆடிப் பார்த்தோம்
Thannannaa thannannaa,
Thannannaa naa,
Thannannaa thannannaa thannannaa,
ஹே அப்படி போடு எப்படி
அஜக் ஹே அஜக்
Aahahaa Aahahaa,
Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa,
Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa.
கிட்டப்பா சின்னப்பா
மெட்டுப் போட்டு
தில்லானா தெம்மாங்கு
பாடிப் பார்த்தோம்
Every single day by the roadside,
Setting up a stage,
We performed plays like Harishchandra and Sri Valli.
எல்லார்க்கும் சேதி சொன்னோம்
அட ஒண்ணா ரெண்டா
எத்தனையோ நீதி சொன்னோம்
Hey, keep it up!
Male: How so?
Male: Hey achak hey achak!
அண்ணாச்சி என்ன ஆச்சு
எல்லோருக்கும் கொட்டாவி
வந்து போச்சு
குழு :
நாய் வால நேராக்க
யாரால ஆகும்
ஊர் போற போக்கோட
போனாதான் தோதாகும்
In the tune of masters like Kittappa and Chinnappa,
Setting rhythmic tunes,
We sang folk melodies and rhythmic songs.
We shared messages with everyone.
உலகம் சுத்துதடா
இடம் இருந்து வலமாக ஆ டுர்ர்
ஒரு வார்த்தை இல்லையடா
இது வரையில் பொதுவாக
Was it just one or two?
We delivered so much moral advice!
Elder brother, what happened in the end?
எதுலேயும் எங்கேயும்
ஊழல் என்று
இப்போது கூப்பாடு
போடுவேன் நான்
ஹே ஆமா சாமி
அட அடிச்சு உடு
Everyone ended up yawning and leaving!
Straightening a dog's tail,
நானேதான் ஒரு நாளில்
மந்திரி ஆனா
அதையேதான் தப்பாம
பண்ணுவேன் நான்
Who can ever achieve that?
Going along with the way the town moves,
Is the only practical way.
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
நல்லவங்க யாரும் இல்ல
இந்தியாவில் அப்படி
ஓர் ஊரும் இல்ல
எ ஹே ஹே...
From left to right continuously.
Aah durrr!
There hasn't been a single common word,
Until now in general.
In everything and everywhere,
எப்பாடு பட்டாலும்
திருந்தாது பூமி
அட எக்கேடு கெட்டாலும்
நமக்கேண்டா சாமி
சொன்னாலே பொல்லாப்பு
வேனாண்டா வீண் வம்பு
Calling out 'corruption!',
I now raise a loud outcry.
Oh yes, my Lord, oh my!
உலகம் சுத்துதடா
இடம் இருந்து வலமாக
ஒரு வார்த்தை இல்லையடா
இது வரையில் பொதுவாக ஹே ஹே
Male: Hey, let it be!
If I myself one day,
அண்ணாத்த சொன்ன சொல்ல
காக்குறவன் முன்னேறி வந்ததில்ல
எ ஹே ஹே...
Become a minister,
Without fail, the exact same thing,
I will do as well!
There are no righteous people left,
நான் சொல்லி நீ சொல்லி
எவன் கேக்கப் போறான்
எல்லாரும் நிர்வாணம்
நமக்கேண்டா புது வேட்டி
There is no such town in India.
Haa haa hae hae!
உலகம் சுத்துதடா
இடம் இருந்து வலமாக
டுர்ர்ர்ர்......
ஒரு வார்த்தை இல்லையடா
இது வரையில் பொதுவாக
எ ஹே ஹே...
The elder who keeps his word,
அண்ணன் நான்
பாஞ்சாலி நாடகம் பாத்து
அஞ்சு பேர பெண்ணொருத்தி
தேடிப் போனா
ஜியான் ஜிக்கான் ஹான்
ஜிக்கான் ஜிக்கான்
Has never made it forward in life.
Hae hae...
கண்ணகியின் நாடகத்த
பார்த்தவன் தானே
மாதவியின் வீட்டுக்குள்ளே
ஓடிப் போனான்
Whether I say it or you say it,
கள்ளோட பால வெச்சா
நம்ம சனம் கள்ளத்தானே
அள்ளிக் குடிக்கும்
எ ஹே ஹே...
Who is going to listen?
When everyone is naked,
Why do we need a new dhoti?
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
ஃபுல்லோட பூவ வெச்சா
நம்ம சனம் ஃபுல்லத்தானே
அள்ளிக் குடிக்கும்
எ ஹே ஹே...
From left to right continuously.
Aah durrr...
There hasn't been a single common word,
Until now in general.
Hae hae...
Having watched the play,
ஒரு நாளும் ஒரு போதும்
திருந்தாத நாடு
நெல மாறிப் போகாது
நமக்கேண்டா வீண் பாடு
Of Panchali and her brothers,
A woman went looking for five men!
Aa jiyaan jikkaa,
உலகம் சுத்துதடா
இடம் இருந்து வலமாக
ஒரு வார்த்தை இல்லையடா
இது வரையில் பொதுவாக
Aa jikaan jikkaa!
The man who watched the play,
எப்பாடு பட்டாலும்
திருந்தாது பூமி
அட எக்கேடு கெட்டாலும்
நமக்கேண்டா சாமி
சொன்னாலே பொல்லாப்பு
வேனாண்டா வீண் வம்பு
Of the chaste Kannagi,
Ran right into Madhavi's house!
If you put toddy alongside milk,
Our people will surely choose the toddy,
உலகம் சுத்துதடா
இடம் இருந்து வலமாக
ஏ ஹே ஹே
குழு :
ஒரு வார்த்தை இல்லையடா
இது வரையில் பொதுவாக
ஏ ஹே ஹே
And drink it all up!
Haei haei haei haei!
If you offer a full liquor bottle alongside flowers,
Our people will grab the bottle,
And drink it completely!
Haei haei haei haei!
Never, not on any day,
Will this country reform.
The situation will not change,
Why take on unnecessary trouble?
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
From left to right continuously.
There hasn't been a single common word,
Until now in general, hey hey!
No matter how much effort is made,
This earth will never reform.
Hey, no matter what ruin occurs,
Why should we care, my Lord?
Speaking up only brings trouble,
We don't need unnecessary conflict.
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
From left to right continuously.
Male: Ho ho ho hoi!
Chorus: There hasn't been a single common word,
Until now in general.
Male: Ho ho hoooooi!
Ulagam suthudhadaa
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
Idam irundhu valamaaga
From left to right continuously.
Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa
There hasn't been a single common word,
Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga
Until now in general.
Yeppaadu pattaalum
No matter how much effort is made,
Thirundhaadhu boomi
This earth will never reform.
Ada yekkedu kettaalum
Hey, no matter what ruin occurs,
Namakkendaa saami
Why should we care, my Lord?
Sonnaalae pollaappu
Speaking up only brings trouble,
Venaandaa veen vambu
We don't need unnecessary conflict.
Ulagam suthudhadaa
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
Idam irundhu valamaaga
From left to right continuously.
Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa
There hasn't been a single common word,
Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga hae haei
Until now in general, hey hey!
Thannannaa thannannaa
Thannannaa thannannaa,
Thannannaa naa
Thannannaa naa,
Thannannaa thannannaa thannannaa
Thannannaa thannannaa thannannaa,
Aahahaa Aahahaa
Aahahaa Aahahaa,
Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa
Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa,
Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa
Thannaanaa thannaa naanaa.
Theru oram dhenam thorum
Every single day by the roadside,
Meda pottu
Setting up a stage,
Harichandhiraa sri valli aadi paathom
We performed plays like Harishchandra and Sri Valli.
Ae appadi podu
Hey, keep it up!
Male :Yeppadi
Male: How so?
Male :Ae achak ae achak
Male: Hey achak hey achak!
Kittappaa chinnappaa
In the tune of masters like Kittappa and Chinnappa,
Mettu pottu
Setting rhythmic tunes,
Thillaanaa themmaangu
We sang folk melodies and rhythmic songs.
Paadi paathom
We shared messages with everyone.
Ellaarkkum sedhi sonnom
Was it just one or two?
Ada onnaa rendaa
We delivered so much moral advice!
Ethanaiyo needhi sonnom..onn
Elder brother, what happened in the end?
Annaachi enna aachu
Everyone ended up yawning and leaving!
Ellorukkum kottaavi vandhu pochu
Straightening a dog's tail,
Naai vaala neraakka
Who can ever achieve that?
Yaaraala aagum
Going along with the way the town moves,
Oor pora pokkoda ponaa thaan
Is the only practical way.
Thodhaagum
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
Ulagam suthudhadaa
From left to right continuously.
Idam irundhu valamaaga
Aah durrr!
Aah durrr
There hasn't been a single common word,
Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa
Until now in general.
Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga
In everything and everywhere,
Edhulaeyum engaeyum
Calling out 'corruption!',
Oozhal endru
I now raise a loud outcry.
Ippodhu kooppaadu poduven naan
Oh yes, my Lord, oh my!
Ada aamaa saami haiyo
Male: Hey, let it be!
Male :Ada adichu udu
If I myself one day,
Naanae thaan oru naalil
Become a minister,
Mandhiri aanaa
Without fail, the exact same thing,
Adhaiyae thaan thappaama
I will do as well!
Pannuven naan
There are no righteous people left,
Nallavanga yaarum illa
There is no such town in India.
Indhiyaavil appadi or oorum illa
Haa haa hae hae!
Haa haa hae hae
The elder who keeps his word,
Annaatha sonna solla
Has never made it forward in life.
Kaakkuravan munneri vandhadhilla
Hae hae...
Hae hae…………..
Whether I say it or you say it,
Naan solli nee solli
Who is going to listen?
Yevan kekka poraan
When everyone is naked,
Ellaarum nirvaanam
Why do we need a new dhoti?
Namakkendaa pudhu vaetti
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
Ulagam suthudhadaa
From left to right continuously.
Idam irundhu valamaaga
Aah durrr...
Aah durrr…..
There hasn't been a single common word,
Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa
Until now in general.
Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga
Hae hae...
Hae hae……………….
Having watched the play,
Annan naan paanjaali
Of Panchali and her brothers,
Naadagam paathu
A woman went looking for five men!
Anju pera pennorutthi thedi ponaa
Aa jiyaan jikkaa,
Aa jiyaan jikkaa
Aa jikaan jikkaa!
Aa jikaan jikkaa
The man who watched the play,
Kannagiyin naadagatha
Of the chaste Kannagi,
Paathavan thaanae
Ran right into Madhavi's house!
Maadhaviyin veettukkullae
If you put toddy alongside milk,
Odi ponaan
Our people will surely choose the toddy,
Kalloda paala vechaa
And drink it all up!
Namma sanam kalla thaanae
Haei haei haei haei!
Alli kudikkum
If you offer a full liquor bottle alongside flowers,
Haei haei haei haei
Our people will grab the bottle,
Fulloda poova vechaa
And drink it completely!
Namma sanam fulla thaanae
Haei haei haei haei!
Alli kudikkum
Never, not on any day,
Haei haei haei haei
Will this country reform.
Oru naalum oru podhum
The situation will not change,
Thirundhaadha naadu
Why take on unnecessary trouble?
Nela maari pogaadhu
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
Namakkendaa veen paadu
From left to right continuously.
Ulagam suthudhadaa
There hasn't been a single common word,
Idam irundhu valamaaga
Until now in general, hey hey!
Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa
No matter how much effort is made,
Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga hehaei
This earth will never reform.
Yeppaadu pattaalum
Hey, no matter what ruin occurs,
Thirundhaadhu boomi
Why should we care, my Lord?
Ada yekkedu kettaalum
Speaking up only brings trouble,
Namakkendaa saami
We don't need unnecessary conflict.
Sonnaalae pollaappu
The world keeps spinning, my friend,
Venaandaa veen vambu
From left to right continuously.
Ulagam suthudhadaa
Male: Ho ho ho hoi!
Idam irundhu valamaaga
Chorus: There hasn't been a single common word,
Male :Ho ho ho hoi
Until now in general.
Chorus :Oru vaarthai illaiyadaa
Male: Ho ho hoooooi!
Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga
Male :Ho ho hoooooi
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a satirical philosophy on society, morality, and human nature. The speaker reflects on how street plays and moral stories like Harishchandra or Kannagi fail to reform people; instead, society misinterprets morals or defaults to hypocrisy. It humorously points out that even those who decry corruption would indulge in it given power, and that social vices like alcohol are preferred over virtue.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhai (Second letter rhyming / Assonance)
“Ulagam suthudhadaa / Idam irundhu valamaaga”
The second letters of 'Ulagam' and 'Idam' share similar soft syllable patterns across consecutive lines.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Idam irundhu valamaaga / Idhu varaiyil podhuvaaga”
Lines end with similar sounding rhythmic syllables like 'valamaaga' and 'podhuvaaga'.
Satire / Irony
“Kannagiyin naadagatha paathavan thaanae / Maadhaviyin veettukkullae odi ponaan”
Irony is used to highlight how moral street plays lead to the opposite intended behavior in audience members.
Proverb / Metaphor
“Naai vaala neraakka yaaraala aagum”
Uses the proverb of trying to straighten a dog's tail to show the impossibility of reforming society.
Did you know?
Trivia
This satirical track features lyrics written by Vairamuthu for the 1985 Tamil film Karimedu Karuvayan, capturing classic Tamil street-theatre style commentary on socio-political hypocrisy.
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