Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ungalil Oruvan Naan

From Nootrukku Nooru · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Nootrukku Nooru1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………....
Male
Ungalin oruvan naanI am one among you
Iru kangalil pedham yaenWhy partiality between two eyes?
Ungalin oruvan naanI am one among you
Iru kangalil pedham yaenWhy partiality between two eyes?
Nanum manavanthaanI am a student too
Male
Naam kattrathu kaiyalavu kallaathathu kadalalavuWhat we have learned is like a handful, what is unlearned is as vast as an ocean
Vaazhkkai enbathu sodhanaiyai paaruLook at life, it is a test
Vaanga vendum adhil nootrukku nooruWe must score a hundred out of a hundred in it
Chorus :Nootrukku nooru nootrukku nooruChorus: Hundred out of hundred, hundred out of hundred
Male
Ungalin oruvan naanI am one among you
Iru kangalil pedham yaenWhy partiality between two eyes?
Nanum manavanthaanI am a student too
Nanum manavanthaanI am a student too
Male
Arivu selvam yaetinilDoes the wealth of knowledge arise
Mattum undaavathoOnly from books?
Anupavam endroruWithout the education called
Kalviyillaamal ennaavathoExperience, what will become of us?
Male
Arivu selvam yaetinilDoes the wealth of knowledge arise
Mattum undaavathoOnly from books?
Anupavam endroruWithout the education called
Kalviyillaamal ennaavathoExperience, what will become of us?
Male
Kodiyinil malargal siripathai paaruLook at the flowers smiling on the vine
Pani idhzh mella virippathai paaruLook at the dew-laden petals opening gently
Iyarkkai magalin ilakkiyam paaruLook at the literature of Mother Nature
Azhagukku vilakkam avalthaan nooruShe is a full hundred percent definition of beauty
Chorus
Nootrukku nooru nootrukku nooruHundred out of hundred, hundred out of hundred
Male
Ungalin oruvan naanI am one among you
Iru kangalil pedham yaenWhy partiality between two eyes?
Naanum maanavanthaanI am a student too
Naanum maanavanthaanI am a student too
Male
Naalaiya pozhuthu namakkaga vidiyumTomorrow will dawn for us
Maanavan ninaiththaal uruvaakka mudiyumIf a student wills it, they can create a new future
Naalaiya pozhuthu namakkaga vidiyumTomorrow will dawn for us
Maanavan ninaiththaal uruvaakka mudiyumIf a student wills it, they can create a new future
Male
Thottam poda oru samuthaayamCreating a society like a beautiful garden
Thottruvippathae paniyaagumEstablishing it is our true duty
Vaeli pola naam kaaththiruppomWe shall stand guard like a protective fence
Payirai thinnavaa paarththiruppomWill we just stand by and watch crops being eaten?
Male
Uzhaippukku sila per kai vilangiduvaarSome people may put handcuffs on honest labor
Unarntha pinnaalae kai vanagiduvaarOnce they realize the truth, they will fold their hands in reverence
Ponnaana naatkal vanthidum neramWhen the golden days arrive
Poimaiyum angae vidai pera nerumFalsehood will be forced to take its departure
Male
Unmaiyum penmaiyum kaappavar yaaroWhoever protects truth and womanhood
Maanida piraviyil avarthaan nooruThey are a hundred out of hundred in human incarnation
Male
Ungalin oruvan naanI am one among you
Iru kangalil pedham yaenWhy partiality between two eyes?
Nanum manavanthaanI am a student too
Male
Naam kattrathu kaiyalavu kallaathathu kadalalavuWhat we have learned is like a handful, what is unlearned is as vast as an ocean
Vaazhkkai enbathu sodhanaiyai paaruLook at life, it is a test
Vaanga vendum adhil nootrukku nooruWe must score a hundred out of a hundred in it
Chorus
Nootrukku nooru nootrukku nooruHundred out of hundred, hundred out of hundred
Nootrukku nooru nootrukku nooruHundred out of hundred, hundred out of hundred
Nootrukku nooru nootrukku nooruHundred out of hundred, hundred out of hundred

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic track from the movie Nootrukku Nooru features a college student expressing unity, moral integrity, and the power of youth. The song highlights that true education goes beyond textbooks and resides in real-world experience, moral duties, and protecting truth and dignity. It encourages students to perceive life as an examination where one must strive for perfection (scoring 100 out of 100).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Naam kattrathu kaiyalavu kallaathathu kadalalavu

Matching second consonants across lines, e.g., 'Kattrathu' and 'Kallaathathu' or 'Thottam' and 'Thottruvippathae'.

Simile (Upamai)

Naam kattrathu kaiyalavu kallaathathu kadalalavu

Comparing the scope of knowledge learned to a handful and unlearned to an ocean using 'alavu'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Vaazhkkai enbathu sodhanaiyai paaru

Describing life as a test/exam ('Vaazhkkai enbathu sodhanai').

Personification

Kodiyinil malargal siripathai paaru

Attributing human qualities of smiling to flowers on a vine and calling nature 'Iyarkkai magal' (Mother Nature's daughter).

Did you know?

Trivia

Nootrukku Nooru (1971) was a hit psychological thriller film directed by K. Balachander, starring Jaishankar. The title song became an anthem for college students, popularizing Avvaiyar's classical Tamil proverb 'Kattrathu Kaiyalavu Kallaathathu Kadalalavu' in film music.

Keep listening

More from Nootrukku Nooru