Ullam Yenbadhu
From Paarthaal Pasi Theerum · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Paarthaal Pasi Theerum1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ullam enbadhu aamai | The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside, |
| Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai | Within which the truth remains mute and quiet. |
| Sollil varuvadhu paadhi | Only half of what is felt comes out in words, |
| Nenjil thoongi kidappadhu meedhi | The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart. |
| Sollil varuvadhu paadhi | Only half of what is felt comes out in words, |
| Nenjil thoongi kidappadhu meedhi | The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart. |
| Male | |
| Ullam enbadhu aamai | The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside, |
| Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai | Within which the truth remains mute and quiet. |
| Male | |
| Dheivam endraal adhu dheivam | If you consider it God, it is indeed God, |
| Adhu silai endraal verum silai thaan | If you consider it a statue, it is merely a statue. |
| Dheivam endraal adhu dheivam | If you consider it God, it is indeed God, |
| Adhu silai endraal verum silai thaan | If you consider it a statue, it is merely a statue. |
| Undendraal adhu undu | If you say it exists, it exists, |
| Illai endraal adhu illai | If you say it does not exist, it does not exist. |
| Illai endraal adhu illai | If you say it does not exist, it does not exist. |
| Male | |
| Ullam enbadhu aamai | The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside, |
| Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai | Within which the truth remains mute and quiet. |
| Male | |
| Thanneer thanal pol eriyum | Water can burn like a flaming fire, |
| Senthanalum neer pol kulirum | And red hot ember can feel cool like water. |
| Thanneer thanal pol eriyum | Water can burn like a flaming fire, |
| Senthanalum neer pol kulirum | And red hot ember can feel cool like water. |
| Nanbanum pagai pol theriyum | Even a friend might appear as an enemy, |
| Adhu naatpada naatpada puriyum | Which will be understood as time passes by. |
| Nanbanum pagai pol theriyum | Even a friend might appear as an enemy, |
| Adhu naatpada naatpada puriyum | Which will be understood as time passes by. |
| Naatpada naatpada puriyum | As time passes by, it will be understood. |
| Male | |
| Ullam enbadhu aamai | The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside, |
| Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai | Within which the truth remains mute and quiet. |
| Sollil varuvadhu paadhi | Only half of what is felt comes out in words, |
| Nenjil thoongi kidappadhu meedhi | The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart. |
| Male | |
| Ullam enbadhu aamai | The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside, |
| Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai | Within which the truth remains mute and quiet. |
உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை
அதில் உண்மை என்பது ஊமை
சொல்லில் வருவது பாதி
நெஞ்சில் தூங்கிக் கிடக்குது மீதி
சொல்லில் வருவது பாதி
நெஞ்சில் தூங்கிக் கிடக்குது மீதி
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
Only half of what is felt comes out in words,
The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart.
Only half of what is felt comes out in words,
The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart.
உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை
அதில் உண்மை என்பது ஊமை
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
தெய்வம் என்றால் அது தெய்வம்
அது சிலையென்றால் வெறும் சிலைதான்
தெய்வம் என்றால் அது தெய்வம்
அது சிலையென்றால் வெறும் சிலைதான்
உண்டென்றால் அது உண்டு
இல்லையென்றால் அது இல்லை
இல்லையென்றால் அது இல்லை
If you consider it God, it is indeed God,
If you consider it a statue, it is merely a statue.
If you consider it God, it is indeed God,
If you consider it a statue, it is merely a statue.
If you say it exists, it exists,
If you say it does not exist, it does not exist.
If you say it does not exist, it does not exist.
உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை
அதில் உண்மை என்பது ஊமை
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
தண்ணீர் தணல் போல் எரியும்
செந்தணலும் நீர் போல் குளிரும்
தண்ணீர் தணல் போல் எரியும்
செந்தணலும் நீர் போல் குளிரும்
நண்பனும் பகை போல் தெரியும்
அது நாள்பட நாள்படப் புரியும்
நண்பனும் பகை போல் தெரியும்
அது நாள்பட நாள்படப் புரியும்
நாள்பட நாள்படப் புரியும்
Water can burn like a flaming fire,
And red hot ember can feel cool like water.
Water can burn like a flaming fire,
And red hot ember can feel cool like water.
Even a friend might appear as an enemy,
Which will be understood as time passes by.
Even a friend might appear as an enemy,
Which will be understood as time passes by.
As time passes by, it will be understood.
உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை
அதில் உண்மை என்பது ஊமை
சொல்லில் வருவது பாதி
நெஞ்சில் தூங்கிக் கிடக்குது மீதி
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
Only half of what is felt comes out in words,
The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart.
உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை
அதில் உண்மை என்பது ஊமை
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
Ullam enbadhu aamai
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
Sollil varuvadhu paadhi
Only half of what is felt comes out in words,
Nenjil thoongi kidappadhu meedhi
The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart.
Sollil varuvadhu paadhi
Only half of what is felt comes out in words,
Nenjil thoongi kidappadhu meedhi
The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart.
Ullam enbadhu aamai
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
Dheivam endraal adhu dheivam
If you consider it God, it is indeed God,
Adhu silai endraal verum silai thaan
If you consider it a statue, it is merely a statue.
Dheivam endraal adhu dheivam
If you consider it God, it is indeed God,
Adhu silai endraal verum silai thaan
If you consider it a statue, it is merely a statue.
Undendraal adhu undu
If you say it exists, it exists,
Illai endraal adhu illai
If you say it does not exist, it does not exist.
Illai endraal adhu illai
If you say it does not exist, it does not exist.
Ullam enbadhu aamai
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
Thanneer thanal pol eriyum
Water can burn like a flaming fire,
Senthanalum neer pol kulirum
And red hot ember can feel cool like water.
Thanneer thanal pol eriyum
Water can burn like a flaming fire,
Senthanalum neer pol kulirum
And red hot ember can feel cool like water.
Nanbanum pagai pol theriyum
Even a friend might appear as an enemy,
Adhu naatpada naatpada puriyum
Which will be understood as time passes by.
Nanbanum pagai pol theriyum
Even a friend might appear as an enemy,
Adhu naatpada naatpada puriyum
Which will be understood as time passes by.
Naatpada naatpada puriyum
As time passes by, it will be understood.
Ullam enbadhu aamai
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
Sollil varuvadhu paadhi
Only half of what is felt comes out in words,
Nenjil thoongi kidappadhu meedhi
The remaining half lies asleep inside the heart.
Ullam enbadhu aamai
The human heart is like a turtle that retracts inside,
Adhil unmai enbadhu oomai
Within which the truth remains mute and quiet.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from 'Paarthaal Pasi Theerum' (1962), penned by Kannadasan, explores the complex and elusive nature of human feelings, expression, and perception. By metaphorically comparing the human heart to a turtle that withdraws into its shell, the lyrics highlight how people often conceal their true thoughts and convey only a fraction of what they actually feel inside.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uuvamai)
“Ullam enbadhu aamai”
Compares the human mind/heart (Ullam) to a turtle (Aamai) that pulls its limbs inside, symbolizing emotional withdrawal and hidden truths.
Paradox / Simile (Uuvamai)
“Thanneer thanal pol eriyum”
Uses paradoxical imagery comparing water burning like fire and hot embers cooling like water to depict inverted emotional states and subjective perception.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Sollil varuvadhu paadhi / Nenjil thoongi kidappadhu meedhi”
Features traditional Tamil second-letter rhyming between 'Sollil' and 'Nenjil'.
Antithesis
“Undendraal adhu undu / Illai endraal adhu illai”
Contrasts opposing concepts such as God vs. mere stone, existence vs. non-existence, and friend vs. enemy to show how truth depends on perception.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the legendary Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy duo and sung by PB Sreenivas, this song showcases Kannadasan's mastery in translating deep Advaita-inspired philosophy and human psychology into simple, memorable cinema lyrics.
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