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Lyrics & meaning

Ullathai Sonna Paithiyaminnu

From Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Movie name
Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
1 Sept 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnu
Ulagam solludhu
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnu
Ulagam solludhu
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaama
Nadanthu kolluthu
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnu
Ulagam solludhu
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaama
Nadanthu kolluthu
Ellalavum nermaiyillae
Idhayathilae anbu illae
Haa…aaa….aaa…
Ellalavum nermaiyillae
Idhayathilae anbu illae
Yetchi pizhaikkum maargathilae
Edhuvum kuraiyala
Yesu mudhal gandhi varai
Ethanai per sonnalum
Yesu mudhal gandhi varai
Ethanai per sonnalum
Yeninnu ketkalae
Irundha nilamai thirunthalaennu
Moochividum urimaiyai pol
Mozhiyum manidhan urimai
Moochividum urimaiyai pol
Mozhiyum manidhan urimai
Oor muzhudhum arindha unmai
Idhai maruppadhuthaan kodumai
Oor muzhudhum arindha unmai
Idhai maruppadhuthaan kodumai
Vaaitha pillai irukkaiyilae
Valarppu pillai edharkku
Vaaitha pillai irukkaiyilae
Valarppu pillai edharkku
Adhu madamai madhiyinmai adhanaal
Valarum theemaiyinnu
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnu
Ulagam solludhu
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaama
Nadanthu kolluthu
Makkal thondae manidhan seiyum
Maaperum thondu
Haaa…aaa….aaa…
Makkal thondae manidhan seiyum
Maaperum thondu
Nee vanangum andha kadavulukkum
Magitchiyum undu
Nee vanangum andha kadavulukkum
Magitchiyum undu
Karpanaiyum illae idhu katchi kolagai illae
Karpanaiyum illae idhu katchi kolagai illae
Kadavul thanmaiyarindhavargal
Kaatiya vazhiyendru
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnu
Ulagam solludhu
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaama
Nadanthu kolluthu
Bhakthi irukkanum manasilae
Buthiirukkanum thozhililae
Bhakthi irukkanum manasilae
Un buthiirukkanum thozhililae
Ethukkal pesi kadavulaiyae
Ethukkal pesi kadavulaiyae
Yematruvadhu sariyillaennu
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnu
Ulagam solludhu
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaama
Nadanthu kolluthu
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnu
Ulagam solludhu
If I speak what is in my heart,
the world calls me crazy.
If I speak what is in my heart,
the world calls me crazy.
Without understanding what is good or bad,
it just carries on its way.
If I speak what is in my heart,
the world calls me crazy.
Without understanding what is good or bad,
it just carries on its way.
There is not even a grain of honesty,
there is no love in the heart.
Ha… ah… ah…
There is not even a grain of honesty,
there is no love in the heart.
Yet in the shameless ways of living off scraps,
nothing is lacking!
From Jesus to Gandhi,
no matter how many great souls have spoken,
from Jesus to Gandhi,
no matter how many great souls have spoken,
no one stopped to ask why,
and our state has never improved, so when I say—
Just like the right to breathe,
language is a human right.
Just like the right to breathe,
language is a human right.
This is a truth known to the whole world,
and denying it is pure cruelty.
This is a truth known to the whole world,
and denying it is pure cruelty.
When you have a child of your own,
why go searching for an adopted child?
When you have a child of your own,
why go searching for an adopted child?
It is foolishness and lack of wisdom,
which only breeds harm, so when I say—
If I speak what is in my heart,
the world calls me crazy.
Without understanding what is good or bad,
it just carries on its way.
Serving the people is the greatest service
a human being can do.
Ha… ah… ah…
Serving the people is the greatest service
a human being can do.
Even the God you worship
finds joy in it.
Even the God you worship
finds joy in it.
This is not imagination, nor is it party politics,
this is not imagination, nor is it party politics,
this is the path shown by those
who understood true godliness, so when I say—
If I speak what is in my heart,
the world calls me crazy.
Without understanding what is good or bad,
it just carries on its way.
Devotion should be in the heart,
and wisdom should be in your work.
Devotion should be in the heart,
your wisdom should be in your work.
Making hollow excuses and trying to fool
making hollow excuses and trying to fool
even God is not right, so when I say—
If I speak what is in my heart,
the world calls me crazy.
Without understanding what is good or bad,
it just carries on its way.
If I speak what is in my heart,
the world calls me crazy.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ullathai Sonna Paithiyaminnu is a satirical philosophical track written by Kannadasan for the 1959 film Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali. The song laments the tragic nature of modern society where truth-tellers, reformers, and honest humanitarians are labelled as madmen by a hypocritical world. It urges people to practice genuine honesty, love, and public service rather than hiding behind religious rituals and sophistry. Throughout the lyric, Kannadasan advocates for human rights, particularly comparing the freedom of speech to the necessity of breathing. He highlights that great teachers from Jesus to Mahatma Gandhi offered wisdom to humanity, yet society remains reluctant to reform, continuing down paths of ignorance and self-deception.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaadhina / Adhi Monai (Initial Assonance)

Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnu / Ulagam solludhu

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'U' across words in adjacent lines.

Upamani / Simile

Moochividum urimaiyai pol / Mozhiyum manidhan urimai

Compares human freedom of speech directly to the basic biological right to breathe ('Moochividum urimaiyai pol').

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Bhakthi irukkanum manasilae / Buthiirukkanum thozhililae

Matching second consonant sounds 'th' across consecutive lines (Bhakthi / Buthi).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by T. R. Pappa and rendered in the commanding tone of T. M. Soundararajan, this track reflects Kannadasan's trademark style of embedding Dravidian movement reformist themes alongside universal spiritual philosophy.

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