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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ullathai Sonna Paithiyaminnu

From Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnuIf you speak the truth, that you are crazy
Ulagam solludhuThe world says.
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnuIf you speak the truth, that you are crazy
Ulagam solludhuThe world says.
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaamaWithout understanding what is good and bad,
Nadanthu kolluthuIt conducts itself.
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnuIf you speak the truth, that you are crazy
Ulagam solludhuThe world says.
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaamaWithout understanding what is good and bad,
Nadanthu kolluthuIt conducts itself.
Male
Ellalavum nermaiyillaeThere is not even a sesame seed's worth of honesty,
Idhayathilae anbu illaeThere is no love in the heart.
Haa…aaa….aaa…Ah... ah... ah...
Ellalavum nermaiyillaeThere is not even a sesame seed's worth of honesty,
Idhayathilae anbu illaeThere is no love in the heart.
Yetchi pizhaikkum maargathilaeIn the way of living through trickery and flattery,
Edhuvum kuraiyalaNothing is lacking.
Male
Yesu mudhal gandhi varaiFrom Jesus to Gandhi,
Ethanai per sonnalumNo matter how many great souls declared it,
Yesu mudhal gandhi varaiFrom Jesus to Gandhi,
Ethanai per sonnalumNo matter how many great souls declared it,
Yeninnu ketkalaeNo one asked why.
Irundha nilamai thirunthalaennuBecause the existing condition did not reform,
Male
Moochividum urimaiyai polJust like the fundamental right to breathe,
Mozhiyum manidhan urimaiHuman freedom of speech is an essential right.
Moochividum urimaiyai polJust like the fundamental right to breathe,
Mozhiyum manidhan urimaiHuman freedom of speech is an essential right.
Oor muzhudhum arindha unmaiA truth known to the entire town,
Idhai maruppadhuthaan kodumaiDenying this truth is the real cruelty.
Oor muzhudhum arindha unmaiA truth known to the entire town,
Idhai maruppadhuthaan kodumaiDenying this truth is the real cruelty.
Male
Vaaitha pillai irukkaiyilaeWhen you have your own legitimate child,
Valarppu pillai edharkkuWhy do you need an adopted child?
Vaaitha pillai irukkaiyilaeWhen you have your own legitimate child,
Valarppu pillai edharkkuWhy do you need an adopted child?
Adhu madamai madhiyinmai adhanaalThat is ignorance and lack of wisdom, because of which
Valarum theemaiyinnuEvil grows, when you speak such truth...
Male
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnuIf you speak the truth, that you are crazy
Ulagam solludhuThe world says.
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaamaWithout understanding what is good and bad,
Nadanthu kolluthuIt conducts itself.
Male
Makkal thondae manidhan seiyumService to the public is the greatest service
Maaperum thonduThat a human being can render.
Haaa…aaa….aaa…Ah... ah... ah...
Makkal thondae manidhan seiyumService to the public is the greatest service
Maaperum thonduThat a human being can render.
Nee vanangum andha kadavulukkumEven to that God whom you worship,
Magitchiyum unduThere will be true joy.
Nee vanangum andha kadavulukkumEven to that God whom you worship,
Magitchiyum unduThere will be true joy.
Karpanaiyum illae idhu katchi kolagai illaeThis is not mere imagination, nor is it party political ideology.
Karpanaiyum illae idhu katchi kolagai illaeThis is not mere imagination, nor is it party political ideology.
Kadavul thanmaiyarindhavargalIt is the path shown by those
Kaatiya vazhiyendruWho truly understood the nature of God, when you say...
Male
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnuIf you speak the truth, that you are crazy
Ulagam solludhuThe world says.
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaamaWithout understanding what is good and bad,
Nadanthu kolluthuIt conducts itself.
Male
Bhakthi irukkanum manasilaeDevotion must reside in the heart,
Buthiirukkanum thozhililaeIntellect must reside in your profession.
Bhakthi irukkanum manasilaeDevotion must reside in the heart,
Un buthiirukkanum thozhililaeYour intellect must reside in your profession.
Ethukkal pesi kadavulaiyaeBy offering empty arguments and deceptive excuses,
Ethukkal pesi kadavulaiyaeBy offering empty arguments and deceptive excuses,
Yematruvadhu sariyillaennuDeceiving God Himself is not right, when you say...
Male
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnuIf you speak the truth, that you are crazy
Ulagam solludhuThe world says.
Adhu nalaldhu kettadhu purinjikaamaWithout understanding what is good and bad,
Nadanthu kolluthuIt conducts itself.
Male
Ullathai sonna paithiyaminnuIf you speak the truth, that you are crazy
Ulagam solludhuThe world says.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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