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Pattanathil Bhootham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagathil Sirandhadhu

From Pattanathil Bhootham · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan, P. Susheela
Music director
Govardhanam
Movie name
Pattanathil Bhootham
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
27 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ulagaththil sirandhadhu edhu..
Orr uruvamillaadhadhu edhu
Ovvoru naattilum ovvoru veettilum
Anubavamaavadhu adhu..
Anubavamaavadhu adhu..
Vatti kodupoorum
Vangi mudipporum
Kaana thudipadhu adhu
Vatti kodupoorum
Vangi mudipporum
Kaana thudipadhu adhu
Silar etti uthaithaalum
Katti adiththaalum
Idhayathil irupadhu adhu
Idhayathil irupadhu adhu
Ulagaththil sirandhadhu edhu..
Orr uruvamillaadhadhu edhu
Ovvoru naattilum ovvoru veettilum
Anubavamaavadhu adhu..
Anubavamaavadhu adhu..
Arivaiyum keduppadhu
Azhaginil pirappadhu
Agilaththin perunkkadhai adhu
Arivaiyum keduppadhu
Azhaginil pirappadhu
Agilaththin perunkkadhai adhu
Andru aadhaam yevaal
Adikkal naattiya
Aanandha maaligai adhu..
Aanandha maaligai adhu..
Ulagaththil sirandhadhu kaadhal…
Ulagaththil sirandhadhu kaadhal…
Andha kaadhal illaiyael saadhal…
Ulagaththil sirandhadhu kaadhal…
Vatti kodupoorum
Vangi mudipporum
Marakka mudiyaadhadhu
Vatti kodupoorum
Vangi mudipporum
Marakka mudiyaadhadhu
Kaadhal katti anaipporum
Kalandhu midhapporum
Kadakka mudiyaadhadhu..
Kadakka mudiyaadhadhu..
Ulagaththil sirandhadhu edhu..
Orr uruvamillaadhadhu edhu
Ovvoru naattilum ovvoru veettilum
Anubavamaavadhu adhu..
Anubavamaavadhu adhu..
Ullae uyir valarththu..
Udhiraththaal paal koduththu
Alli idumbodhellaam
Anbaiyae serththeduththu
Thollai thanakkendrum
Sugamellaam unakkendrum
Sollaamal solliyidum
Devadhaiyin koviladhu..
Panbu theriyaadha
Mirugam pirandhaalum
Paal tharum karunai adhu
Silar pasiththa mugam paarththu
Padharum nilai paarththu
Pazham tharum solai adhu
Irukkum pidi soru
Thanakkendru ennaamal
Kodukkindra kovil adhu
Irukkum pidi soru
Thanakkendru ennaamal
Kodukkindra kovil adhu
Dhinam thudikkum uyir kandu
Tholil idam thandhu
Anaikkindra dheivam adhu
Adhu thooymai…..
Adhu nermai…
Adhu vaaimai..
Adhan per thaaimai…
Ulagaththil sirandhadhu thaaimai
Adhai oppu kolvadhae nermai..
Ulagaththil sirandhadhu thaaimai
What is the greatest thing in the world?
What is that which has no shape or form?
In every nation, in every home,
it is known through felt experience...
it is known through felt experience...
Those who lend with interest
and those who borrow it,
long eagerly to see it!
Those who lend with interest
and those who borrow it,
long eagerly to see it!
Even if some kick it away,
or tie it down and beat it,
it still dwells within the heart!
it still dwells within the heart!
What is the greatest thing in the world?
What is that which has no shape or form?
In every nation, in every home,
it is known through felt experience...
it is known through felt experience...
It clouds one's wisdom,
it is born out of beauty,
it is the timeless grand story of the world!
It clouds one's wisdom,
it is born out of beauty,
it is the timeless grand story of the world!
It is the palace of joy
for which Adam and Eve
laid the foundation stone back then...
that palace of pure joy...
The greatest thing in the world is love...
The greatest thing in the world is love...
Without that love, there is only death...
The greatest thing in the world is love...
Those who lend with interest
and those who borrow it,
can never forget it!
Those who lend with interest
and those who borrow it,
can never forget it!
Even those who embrace in love,
and drift together in its warmth,
can never cross beyond it...
can never cross beyond it...
What is the greatest thing in the world?
What is that which has no shape or form?
In every nation, in every home,
it is known through felt experience...
it is known through felt experience...
Nurturing a new life within her body,
giving milk transformed from her own blood,
every time she serves a handful of food,
serving her boundless love along with it,
"Let all the hardships be mine,
and all the happiness be yours,"
she speaks silently without saying a word;
she is the temple of an angel...
Even if an uncivilized
beast is born to her,
she is the grace that still feeds it milk!
Looking at hungry faces,
seeing their troubled plight,
she is the grove that yields sweet fruit!
The handful of rice she has,
without keeping it for herself,
she is the sacred shrine that gives it away!
The handful of rice she has,
without keeping it for herself,
she is the sacred shrine that gives it away!
Seeing a struggling soul every day,
giving a comforting shoulder,
she is the divine presence that holds them close!
That is purity...
That is righteousness...
That is truth...
Its name is Motherhood!
The greatest thing in the world is motherhood!
Admitting that is true honesty...
The greatest thing in the world is motherhood!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ulagaththil Sirandhadhu Edhu is a captivating riddle song penned by Kaviarasu Kannadasan for the 1967 movie Pattanathil Bhootham. The song begins as a philosophical query, asking what formless force is experienced across every household and corner of the world. Initially, the lyrics guide the listener toward romantic love, highlighting how love drives human history, transcends material wealth, and acts as the foundation of joy since the era of Adam and Eve. However, as the song progresses, Kannadasan shifts the revelation from romantic love to an even higher, supreme virtue: Motherhood (Thaaimai). Through poetic descriptions of maternal selflessness, feeding a child from her own blood, and bearing hardship for the child's bliss, the lyricist crowns Motherhood as the ultimate expression of purity, truth, and divine love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Arivaiyum keduppadhu / Azhaginil pirappadhu / Agilaththin perunkkadhai adhu”

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'A' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic flow.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Adhu thooymai... / Adhu nermai... / Adhu vaaimai.. / Adhan per thaaimai...”

Syllabic rhyme at line endings (-mai sound) building up emotional climax.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Pazham tharum solai adhu”

Comparing a mother's selfless giving to a fruit-yielding orchard that feeds the hungry.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

“Ulagaththil sirandhadhu edhu.. / Orr uruvamillaadhadhu edhu”

Posing open-ended queries at the start to provoke thought and engagement before revealing the final answer.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pattanathil Bhootham (1967), starring Jaishankar and K.R. Vijaya, was a hit fantasy-comedy inspired by the 1964 American film 'The Brass Bottle'. The soundtrack was composed by R. Govardhanam, with lyrics written by Kannadasan. This particular track stands out as a unique riddle-based song where the narrative cleverly trick-guides the listener to think 'Love' is the answer before elevating 'Motherhood' as the ultimate truth.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Ponnulagam Nokki Pogindrom1963
ParisuSensual LoveBeauty
Ambuliyai kuzhambaaki1957
Ambikapathy (Old)Sensual LoveBeauty
Kadamaiyile Uyir Vazhndhu1956
Madurai VeeranDevotionMemory
Poovagi Kaayagi Sad1962
AnnaiSacrificeContemplative
Pasumai Niraintha1963
Ratha ThilagamMemoryTender
Chinna Kanna Chella Kanna (Sad)1988
Thaimel AanaiMotherhoodTender

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