Unmai Ondre Pesum
From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957
- Lyricist
- Papanasam Sivan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Pudhu Vazhvu1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unmai ondrae pesum | One must possess the noble virtue of speaking only the truth. |
| Nalla uyar gunam vendum | One must possess good and noble character. |
| Unmai ondrae pesum | One must possess the noble virtue of speaking only the truth. |
| Nalla uyar gunam vendum | One must possess good and noble character. |
| Male | |
| Nanmai theemai edhu vandhaalum | Whatever good or bad comes one's way, |
| Nanmai theemai edhu vandhaalum | Whatever good or bad comes one's way, |
| Nadu nilaiyil maaridatha | Without straying from an impartial and balanced stance, |
| Unmai ondrae pesum | Speak only the truth, |
| Nalla uyar gunam vendum | One must possess good and noble character. |
| Male | |
| Ponnil boga baakiyam | Even if wallowing in worldly pleasures and gold, |
| Thannil purala nernthaalum | Even if rolling in immense fortune, |
| Ponnil boga baakiyam | Even if wallowing in worldly pleasures and gold, |
| Thannil purala nernthaalum | Even if rolling in immense fortune, |
| Mannan arinjan endrellorum | Even if praised by everyone as a king or a scholar, |
| Madhikka vaazhndhaalum | And lived with immense respect, |
| Mannan arinjan endrellorum | Even if praised by everyone as a king or a scholar, |
| Madhikka vaazhndhaalum | And lived with immense respect, |
| Male | |
| Innal varinum jeevan thannai | Even if severe hardships strike and life itself, |
| Izhakka nerndhaalum | Is on the verge of being lost, |
| Annal gaandhi aathma gnyaani | Without forgetting the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the wise soul, |
| Sonna sollai marandhidaamal | Without forgetting the words he spoke, |
| Unmai ondrae pesum | Speak only the truth, |
| Annal gaandhi aathma gnyaani | Without forgetting the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the wise soul, |
| Sonna sollai marandhidaamal | Without forgetting the words he spoke, |
| Unmai ondrae pesum | Speak only the truth, |
| Nalla uyar gunam vendum | One must possess good and noble character. |
| Male | |
| Annai thandhaithanai marava | Never forgetting one's mother and father, |
| Arungunam vendum | One must possess such rare virtue. |
| Annai thandhaithanai marava | Never forgetting one's mother and father, |
| Arungunam vendum | One must possess such rare virtue. |
| Pinnar avarkku sevai seiya | To serve them subsequently, |
| Perum payan vendum | One must obtain great virtue and purpose. |
| Pinnar avarkku sevai seiya | To serve them subsequently, |
| Perum payan vendum | One must obtain great virtue and purpose. |
| Male | |
| Enna vandhum thanai marava | Whatever situation arises, without forgetting oneself, |
| Iyalvadhum vendum | One must have the natural capability to endure. |
| Enna vandhum thanai marava | Whatever situation arises, without forgetting oneself, |
| Iyalvadhum vendum | One must have the natural capability to endure. |
| Kann irundhum kurudanaagi | Without becoming blind despite having eyes, |
| Kadamai maranthu uzhandridaamal | And wandering aimlessly forgetting one's duty, |
| Unmai ondrae pesum | Speak only the truth, |
| Kann irundhum kurudanaagi | Without becoming blind despite having eyes, |
| Kadamai maranthu uzhandridaamal | And wandering aimlessly forgetting one's duty, |
| Unmai ondrae pesum | Speak only the truth, |
| Nalla uyar gunam vendum | One must possess good and noble character. |
உண்மை ஒன்றே பேசும்
நல்ல உயர் குணம் வேண்டும்
உண்மை ஒன்றே பேசும்
நல்ல உயர் குணம் வேண்டும்
One must possess the noble virtue of speaking only the truth.
One must possess good and noble character.
One must possess the noble virtue of speaking only the truth.
One must possess good and noble character.
நன்மை தீமை ஏது வந்தாலும்
நன்மை தீமை ஏது வந்தாலும்
நடு நிலையில் மாறிடாத
உண்மை ஒன்றே பேசும்
நல்ல உயர் குணம் வேண்டும்
Whatever good or bad comes one's way,
Whatever good or bad comes one's way,
Without straying from an impartial and balanced stance,
Speak only the truth,
One must possess good and noble character.
பொன்னில் போக பா
பொன்னில் போக பாக்கியம்
தன்னில் புரள நேர்ந்தாலும்
மன்னன் அறிஞன் என்றெல்லோரும்
மதிக்க வாழ்ந்தாலும்
மன்னன் அறிஞன் என்றெல்லோரும்
மதிக்க வாழ்ந்தாலும்
Even if wallowing in worldly pleasures and gold,
Even if rolling in immense fortune,
Even if wallowing in worldly pleasures and gold,
Even if rolling in immense fortune,
Even if praised by everyone as a king or a scholar,
And lived with immense respect,
Even if praised by everyone as a king or a scholar,
And lived with immense respect,
இன்னல் வரினும் ஜீவன் தன்னை
இழக்க நேரந்தாலும்
அண்ணல் காந்தி ஆத்ம ஞானி
சொன்ன சொல்லை மறந்திடாமல்
உண்மை ஒன்றே பேசும்
அண்ணல் காந்தி ஆத்ம ஞானி
சொன்ன சொல்லை மறந்திடாமல்
உண்மை ஒன்றே பேசும்
நல்ல உயர் குணம் வேண்டும்
Even if severe hardships strike and life itself,
Is on the verge of being lost,
Without forgetting the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the wise soul,
Without forgetting the words he spoke,
Speak only the truth,
Without forgetting the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the wise soul,
Without forgetting the words he spoke,
Speak only the truth,
One must possess good and noble character.
அன்னை தந்தைதனை மறவா
அருங்குணம் வேண்டும்
அன்னை தந்தைதனை மறவா
அருங்குணம் வேண்டும்
பின்னர் அவர்க்கு சேவை செய்ய
பெரும் பயன் வேண்டும்
பின்னர் அவர்க்கு சேவை செய்ய
பெரும் பயன் வேண்டும்
Never forgetting one's mother and father,
One must possess such rare virtue.
Never forgetting one's mother and father,
One must possess such rare virtue.
To serve them subsequently,
One must obtain great virtue and purpose.
To serve them subsequently,
One must obtain great virtue and purpose.
என்ன வந்தும் தனை மறவா
இயல்வதும் வேண்டும்
என்ன வந்தும் தனை மறவா
இயல்வதும் வேண்டும்
கண்ணிருந்தும் குருடாக
கடமை மறந்து உழன்றிடாமல்
உண்மை ஒன்றே பேசும்
கண்ணிருந்தும் குருடாக
கடமை மறந்து உழன்றிடாமல்
உண்மை ஒன்றே பேசும்
நல்ல உயர் குணம் வேண்டும்
Whatever situation arises, without forgetting oneself,
One must have the natural capability to endure.
Whatever situation arises, without forgetting oneself,
One must have the natural capability to endure.
Without becoming blind despite having eyes,
And wandering aimlessly forgetting one's duty,
Speak only the truth,
Without becoming blind despite having eyes,
And wandering aimlessly forgetting one's duty,
Speak only the truth,
One must possess good and noble character.
Unmai ondrae pesum
One must possess the noble virtue of speaking only the truth.
Nalla uyar gunam vendum
One must possess good and noble character.
Unmai ondrae pesum
One must possess the noble virtue of speaking only the truth.
Nalla uyar gunam vendum
One must possess good and noble character.
Nanmai theemai edhu vandhaalum
Whatever good or bad comes one's way,
Nanmai theemai edhu vandhaalum
Whatever good or bad comes one's way,
Nadu nilaiyil maaridatha
Without straying from an impartial and balanced stance,
Unmai ondrae pesum
Speak only the truth,
Nalla uyar gunam vendum
One must possess good and noble character.
Ponnil boga baakiyam
Even if wallowing in worldly pleasures and gold,
Thannil purala nernthaalum
Even if rolling in immense fortune,
Ponnil boga baakiyam
Even if wallowing in worldly pleasures and gold,
Thannil purala nernthaalum
Even if rolling in immense fortune,
Mannan arinjan endrellorum
Even if praised by everyone as a king or a scholar,
Madhikka vaazhndhaalum
And lived with immense respect,
Mannan arinjan endrellorum
Even if praised by everyone as a king or a scholar,
Madhikka vaazhndhaalum
And lived with immense respect,
Innal varinum jeevan thannai
Even if severe hardships strike and life itself,
Izhakka nerndhaalum
Is on the verge of being lost,
Annal gaandhi aathma gnyaani
Without forgetting the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the wise soul,
Sonna sollai marandhidaamal
Without forgetting the words he spoke,
Unmai ondrae pesum
Speak only the truth,
Annal gaandhi aathma gnyaani
Without forgetting the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the wise soul,
Sonna sollai marandhidaamal
Without forgetting the words he spoke,
Unmai ondrae pesum
Speak only the truth,
Nalla uyar gunam vendum
One must possess good and noble character.
Annai thandhaithanai marava
Never forgetting one's mother and father,
Arungunam vendum
One must possess such rare virtue.
Annai thandhaithanai marava
Never forgetting one's mother and father,
Arungunam vendum
One must possess such rare virtue.
Pinnar avarkku sevai seiya
To serve them subsequently,
Perum payan vendum
One must obtain great virtue and purpose.
Pinnar avarkku sevai seiya
To serve them subsequently,
Perum payan vendum
One must obtain great virtue and purpose.
Enna vandhum thanai marava
Whatever situation arises, without forgetting oneself,
Iyalvadhum vendum
One must have the natural capability to endure.
Enna vandhum thanai marava
Whatever situation arises, without forgetting oneself,
Iyalvadhum vendum
One must have the natural capability to endure.
Kann irundhum kurudanaagi
Without becoming blind despite having eyes,
Kadamai maranthu uzhandridaamal
And wandering aimlessly forgetting one's duty,
Unmai ondrae pesum
Speak only the truth,
Kann irundhum kurudanaagi
Without becoming blind despite having eyes,
Kadamai maranthu uzhandridaamal
And wandering aimlessly forgetting one's duty,
Unmai ondrae pesum
Speak only the truth,
Nalla uyar gunam vendum
One must possess good and noble character.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Unmai Ondrae Pesum is a deeply ethical and moralistic song from the 1957 Tamil film Pudhu Vazhvu. Sung by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, composed by G. Ramanathan, and written by Papanasam Sivan, the song emphasizes the absolute imperative of truthfulness, moral fortitude, filial piety, and devotion to duty across all life circumstances. The lyrics urge individuals to maintain an unwavering commitment to truth and neutrality, regardless of whether they experience immense wealth, high societal stature, or severe life-threatening adversity. Explicitly referencing the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the song warns against metaphorical blindness—having eyes yet ignoring moral duty—and calls for steadfast respect toward parents and adherence to self-awareness and virtue.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Annai thandhaithanai marava / Arungunam vendum”
Matching first consonant sounds in words across lines or phrases, such as 'Annai' and 'Arungunam', or 'Kann' and 'Kadamai'.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ponnil boga baakiyam ... / Mannan arinjan endrellorum”
Matching second consonant sounds across consecutive lines, seen in 'Ponnil' (n) and 'Mannan' (n).
Paradox / Metaphor
“Kann irundhum kurudanaagi”
The phrase 'Kann irundhum kurudanaagi' (becoming blind despite having eyes) acts as a powerful metaphor for ignoring moral responsibilities and truth despite being fully capable of seeing reality.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Unmai ondrae pesum / Nalla uyar gunam vendum”
The thematic phrase 'Unmai ondrae pesum / Nalla uyar gunam vendum' is repeated continuously as a chorus refrain to reinforce the central ethical message of truth and character.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pudhu Vazhvu (1957) was among the final film projects starring the legendary M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), Tamil cinema's first undisputed superstar. The song's lyrics were written by Papanasam Sivan, often called the 'Tamil Tyagaraja', who seamlessly merged Carnatic classical sensibilities with Gandhian principles of truth (Sathya) tailored for MKT's high-pitched, resonant vocal style.
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