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Sudharsan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unakken Veen Kavalai

From Sudharsan · 1951

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singers
P. U. Chinnappa, Kannamba
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Sudharsan
Movie release year
1951
Lyrics added on
22 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unakkaen veen kavalai
Ulagamellam paandurangan kuzhandhaigal
Unakkaen veen kavalai
Kavalai illadhavarkku pendatti pillai yen
Kavalai illadhavarkku pendatti pillai yen
Kaashaayam aniyalaamae
Pendatti pillai yen kaashayam aniyalaamae
Kaashaya veshathai kandaal mayanguveno
Kaashaya veshathai kandaal mayanguveno
Vittalan enndrennamo paedhaai
Kaashaya veshathai kandaal mayanguveno
Vittalan enndrennamo paedhaai
Ungal kabada vaedhaanthathai kettaal
Ungal kabada vaedhaanthathai kettaal
Ulagam kai kotti sirikkadhoo
Ulagam kai kotti sirikkadhoo
Ulagu sirithaalum unmaikku azhivundoo
Ulagu sirithaalum unmaikku azhivundoo
Uyar dheivam endhan vittobha
Uyar dheivam endhan vittobha
Avar ungal pasi theerpaar
Paanai satti samaippaar
Avar ungal pasi theerpaar
Paanai satti samaippaar
Asaiyaamal amarndhirungal
Neengal asaiyaamal amarnthirungal
Why this needless worry for you?
Everyone in the world is Pandurangan's child!
Why this needless worry for you?
For someone with no worries, why have a wife and child?
For someone with no worries, why have a wife and child?
You might as well wear saffron robes!
Why have a wife and child? You might as well wear saffron robes!
Do you think Vitthala is swayed by saffron robes,
Do you think Vitthala is swayed by saffron robes,
is that what you think, foolish woman?
Do you think Vitthala is swayed by saffron robes,
is that what you think, foolish woman?
If they hear your false philosophy,
If they hear your false philosophy,
won't the world clap their hands and laugh?
won't the world clap their hands and laugh?
Even if the world laughs, can the truth ever be destroyed?
Even if the world laughs, can the truth ever be destroyed?
My supreme Lord is Vitthoba!
My supreme Lord is Vitthoba!
Then He will satisfy your hunger,
and cook in the pots and pans!
Then He will satisfy your hunger,
and cook in the pots and pans!
Just sit there without moving!
You just sit there without lifting a finger!
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song takes the form of a philosophical debate between a devout devotee of Lord Vittala (Panduranga) and a pragmatic skeptic. The devotee advocates absolute surrender to God, asserting that Lord Vithoba will take care of every worldly need, even mundane chores like cooking food, if one surrenders completely. The opposing perspective challenges this idealist philosophy as deceptive and impractical for householders.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

Ulagam kai kotti sirikkadhoo

Questions like 'Ulagam kai kotti sirikkadhoo' (Won't the world clap and laugh?) are used dramatically to challenge the opposing viewpoint.

Anaphora / Repetition

Ulagu sirithaalum unmaikku azhivundoo

Lines are repeated sequentially to reinforce emotional emphasis and philosophical conviction.

Imagery / Anthropomorphism

Paanai satti samaippaar

Depicting Lord Vitthal taking up cookware to cook food ('Paanai satti samaippaar') provides vivid personal imagery of divine grace.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sudharsan (1951) was one of the final films featuring the famed Carnatic musician and cinema superstar P. U. Chinnappa, who passed away in September 1951 shortly before or around the time of the film's release.

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