Ullang Kavarumen Paavaai
From Ashok Kumar · 1941
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Music director
- Alandur Sivasubramaniyam
- Details
- Ashok Kumar1941
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ullan kavarumen paavaai naan | Am I a doll who captures the heart? |
| Uyarndha azhagan thaano | Is he truly a man of supreme beauty? |
| Ulagelaam pugazhvadhaen | Why does the whole world praise him? |
| Unmai sol pen maanae | Tell me the truth, my deer-like maiden. |
| Ullan kavarumen paavaai en | My doll who steals the heart, my... |
| Ullan kavarumen paavaai | My doll who steals the heart. |
| Female | |
| Yaarum nigarillaiyae maaraa | Is there no equal to him, Cupid-like enchanter? |
| Mana mohanaa | Enchanter of the mind! |
| Yaarum nigarillaiyae maaraa | Is there no equal to him, Cupid-like enchanter? |
| Mana mohanaa | Enchanter of the mind! |
| Male | |
| Verum veshamae anivadhaal | By merely wearing external disguises and attire, |
| Verum veshamae anivadhaal | By merely wearing external disguises and attire, |
| Azhaghae vandhidaadhae | True beauty will not arrive! |
| Male | |
| Ullan kavarumen paavaai en | My doll who steals the heart, my... |
| Ullan kavarumen paavaai | My doll who steals the heart. |
| Female | |
| Kandaarai vendridum | Winning over those who behold them, |
| Pendeeranindhidum | Worn by noble women, |
| Kandaarai vendridum | Winning over those who behold them, |
| Pendeeranindhidum | Worn by noble women, |
| Pattaadaiyum muthaaramum | Silk garments and pearl necklaces, |
| Pattaadaiyum muthaaramum | Silk garments and pearl necklaces, |
| Maenmai tharaadho udhaara | Will they not bestow nobility, O generous... |
| Guna ghambeeraa en | Majestic character, my... |
| Udhaara guna ghambeeraa | O majestic one with generous character! |
| Male | |
| Kannae thriloga sundharee | O my dear, beauty of the three worlds! |
| Veenae alangaaramaen | Why adorn yourself in vain? |
| Kannae thriloga sundharee | O my dear, beauty of the three worlds! |
| Veenae alangaaramaen | Why adorn yourself in vain? |
| Anbae sollaai azhagilae | My beloved, speak! In beauty, |
| Anbae sollaai azhagilae | My beloved, speak! In beauty, |
| Azhagae seivadhundo | Can one add beauty to inherent beauty? |
| Male | |
| Ullan kavarumen paavaai en | My doll who steals the heart, my... |
| Ullan kavarumen paavaai | My doll who steals the heart. |
உள்ளங் கவருமென் பாவாய் நான்
உயர்ந்த அழகன் தானோ
உலகெல்லாம் புகழ்வதேன்
உண்மை சொல் பெண் மானே
உள்ளங் கவருமென் பாவாய் என்
உள்ளங் கவருமென் பாவாய்
Am I a doll who captures the heart?
Is he truly a man of supreme beauty?
Why does the whole world praise him?
Tell me the truth, my deer-like maiden.
My doll who steals the heart, my...
My doll who steals the heart.
யாரும் நிகரில்லையே மாறா
மன மோஹனா
யாரும் நிகரில்லையே மாறா
மன மோஹனா
Is there no equal to him, Cupid-like enchanter?
Enchanter of the mind!
Is there no equal to him, Cupid-like enchanter?
Enchanter of the mind!
வெறும் வேஷமே அணிவதால்
வெறும் வேஷமே அணிவதால்
அழகே வந்திடாதே
By merely wearing external disguises and attire,
By merely wearing external disguises and attire,
True beauty will not arrive!
உள்ளங் கவருமென் பாவாய் என்
உள்ளங் கவருமென் பாவாய்
My doll who steals the heart, my...
My doll who steals the heart.
கண்டாரை வென்றிடும்
பெண்டீரணிந்திடும்
கண்டாரை வென்றிடும்
பெண்டீரணிந்திடும்
பட்டாடையும் முத்தாரமும்
பட்டாடையும் முத்தாரமும்
மேன்மை தராதோ உதார
குண கெம்பீரா என்
உதார குண கெம்பீரா
Winning over those who behold them,
Worn by noble women,
Winning over those who behold them,
Worn by noble women,
Silk garments and pearl necklaces,
Silk garments and pearl necklaces,
Will they not bestow nobility, O generous...
Majestic character, my...
O majestic one with generous character!
கண்ணே திரிலோக சுந்தரீ
வீணே அலங்காரமேன்
கண்ணே திரிலோக சுந்தரீ
வீணே அலங்காரமேன்
அன்பே சொல்லாய் அழகிலே
அன்பே சொல்லாய் அழகிலே
அழகே செய்வதுண்டோ
O my dear, beauty of the three worlds!
Why adorn yourself in vain?
O my dear, beauty of the three worlds!
Why adorn yourself in vain?
My beloved, speak! In beauty,
My beloved, speak! In beauty,
Can one add beauty to inherent beauty?
உள்ளங் கவருமென் பாவாய் என்
உள்ளங் கவருமென் பாவாய்
My doll who steals the heart, my...
My doll who steals the heart.
Ullan kavarumen paavaai naan
Am I a doll who captures the heart?
Uyarndha azhagan thaano
Is he truly a man of supreme beauty?
Ulagelaam pugazhvadhaen
Why does the whole world praise him?
Unmai sol pen maanae
Tell me the truth, my deer-like maiden.
Ullan kavarumen paavaai en
My doll who steals the heart, my...
Ullan kavarumen paavaai
My doll who steals the heart.
Yaarum nigarillaiyae maaraa
Is there no equal to him, Cupid-like enchanter?
Mana mohanaa
Enchanter of the mind!
Yaarum nigarillaiyae maaraa
Is there no equal to him, Cupid-like enchanter?
Mana mohanaa
Enchanter of the mind!
Verum veshamae anivadhaal
By merely wearing external disguises and attire,
Verum veshamae anivadhaal
By merely wearing external disguises and attire,
Azhaghae vandhidaadhae
True beauty will not arrive!
Ullan kavarumen paavaai en
My doll who steals the heart, my...
Ullan kavarumen paavaai
My doll who steals the heart.
Kandaarai vendridum
Winning over those who behold them,
Pendeeranindhidum
Worn by noble women,
Kandaarai vendridum
Winning over those who behold them,
Pendeeranindhidum
Worn by noble women,
Pattaadaiyum muthaaramum
Silk garments and pearl necklaces,
Pattaadaiyum muthaaramum
Silk garments and pearl necklaces,
Maenmai tharaadho udhaara
Will they not bestow nobility, O generous...
Guna ghambeeraa en
Majestic character, my...
Udhaara guna ghambeeraa
O majestic one with generous character!
Kannae thriloga sundharee
O my dear, beauty of the three worlds!
Veenae alangaaramaen
Why adorn yourself in vain?
Kannae thriloga sundharee
O my dear, beauty of the three worlds!
Veenae alangaaramaen
Why adorn yourself in vain?
Anbae sollaai azhagilae
My beloved, speak! In beauty,
Anbae sollaai azhagilae
My beloved, speak! In beauty,
Azhagae seivadhundo
Can one add beauty to inherent beauty?
Ullan kavarumen paavaai en
My doll who steals the heart, my...
Ullan kavarumen paavaai
My doll who steals the heart.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a poetic conversation questioning the true essence of beauty and nobility. One speaker wonders whether physical elegance, fine silk attire, and pearl necklaces are what command global praise and endow a person with greatness. The counter-narrative emphasizes that superficial embellishments and fancy disguises are futile, as true beauty resides in one's generous character and innate virtue rather than external adornments.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Ullan kavarumen paavaai naan / Uyarndha azhagan thaano”
Matching initial vowel sound 'U' across consecutive lines (Ullan, Uyarndha, Ulagelaam, Unmai).
Anaphora / Repetition (Iruttaakku)
“Ullan kavarumen paavaai en”
Refrain line repeated to reinforce emotional affection and musical rhythm.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Unmai sol pen maanae”
Addressing the maiden as 'pen maanae' (deer-like woman) and the lover as 'Maaraa' (Cupid/Kama).
Rhetorical Question
“Azhagae seivadhundo”
Asking whether external clothes or vain makeup can actually create or add beauty to what is natural.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the 1941 classic Tamil film 'Ashok Kumar', starring legendary singer-actor M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi incorporated classical poetic tropes, contrasting material ornamentation with spiritual/moral character.
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