Urundodum Naalil
From Punar Jenmam · 1961
- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- T. Chalapathi Rao
- Details
- Punar Jenmam1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Urundodum naalil | In the days that roll by, |
| Karainthodum vaazhvil | In this life that dissolves away, |
| Oli venduma irul vendumaa | Do you want light, or do you want darkness? |
| Female | |
| Urundodum naalil | In the days that roll by, |
| Karainthodum vaazhvil | In this life that dissolves away, |
| Oli venduma irul vendumaa | Do you want light, or do you want darkness? |
| Female | |
| Thirundhaadha dhegam irundhenna laabam | What is the use of a body that remains uncorrected? |
| Thirundhaadha dhegam irundhenna laabam | What is the use of a body that remains uncorrected? |
| Idhu podhumaa innum vendumaa | Is this enough, or do you want more? |
| Oii ..oii …oii | Oh... oh... oh... |
| Female | |
| Urundodum naalil | In the days that roll by, |
| Karainthodum vaazhvil | In this life that dissolves away, |
| Oli venduma irul vendumaa | Do you want light, or do you want darkness? |
| Female | |
| Virumbadha podhum virundhaaga maevum | Even when unwelcome, serving itself like a feast, |
| Virumbadha podhum virundhaaga maevum | Even when unwelcome, serving itself like a feast, |
| Gunam venduma visham vendumaa | Do you want good character, or do you want poison? |
| Haa..haa..haa.. | Ha... ha... ha... |
| Female | |
| Urundodum naalil | In the days that roll by, |
| Karainthodum vaazhvil | In this life that dissolves away, |
| Oli venduma irul vendumaa | Do you want light, or do you want darkness? |
உருண்டோடும் நாளில்
கரைந்தோடும் வாழ்வில்
ஒளி வேண்டுமா இருள் வேண்டுமா
In the days that roll by,
In this life that dissolves away,
Do you want light, or do you want darkness?
உருண்டோடும் நாளில்
கரைந்தோடும் வாழ்வில்
ஒளி வேண்டுமா இருள் வேண்டுமா
In the days that roll by,
In this life that dissolves away,
Do you want light, or do you want darkness?
திருந்தாத தேகம் இருந்தென்ன லாபம்
திருந்தாத தேகம் இருந்தென்ன லாபம்
இது போதுமா இன்னும் வேண்டுமா
ஓய்..........ஓய்........ஓய்......
What is the use of a body that remains uncorrected?
What is the use of a body that remains uncorrected?
Is this enough, or do you want more?
Oh... oh... oh...
உருண்டோடும் நாளில்
கரைந்தோடும் வாழ்வில்
ஒளி வேண்டுமா இருள் வேண்டுமா
In the days that roll by,
In this life that dissolves away,
Do you want light, or do you want darkness?
விரும்பாத போதும் விருந்தாக மேவும்
விரும்பாத போதும் விருந்தாக மேவும்
குணம் வேண்டுமா விஷம் வேண்டுமா
ஹா......ஹா......ஹா......... ......
Even when unwelcome, serving itself like a feast,
Even when unwelcome, serving itself like a feast,
Do you want good character, or do you want poison?
Ha... ha... ha...
உருண்டோடும் நாளில்
கரைந்தோடும் வாழ்வில்
ஒளி வேண்டுமா இருள் வேண்டுமா
In the days that roll by,
In this life that dissolves away,
Do you want light, or do you want darkness?
Urundodum naalil
In the days that roll by,
Karainthodum vaazhvil
In this life that dissolves away,
Oli venduma irul vendumaa
Do you want light, or do you want darkness?
Urundodum naalil
In the days that roll by,
Karainthodum vaazhvil
In this life that dissolves away,
Oli venduma irul vendumaa
Do you want light, or do you want darkness?
Thirundhaadha dhegam irundhenna laabam
What is the use of a body that remains uncorrected?
Thirundhaadha dhegam irundhenna laabam
What is the use of a body that remains uncorrected?
Idhu podhumaa innum vendumaa
Is this enough, or do you want more?
Oii ..oii …oii
Oh... oh... oh...
Urundodum naalil
In the days that roll by,
Karainthodum vaazhvil
In this life that dissolves away,
Oli venduma irul vendumaa
Do you want light, or do you want darkness?
Virumbadha podhum virundhaaga maevum
Even when unwelcome, serving itself like a feast,
Virumbadha podhum virundhaaga maevum
Even when unwelcome, serving itself like a feast,
Gunam venduma visham vendumaa
Do you want good character, or do you want poison?
Haa..haa..haa..
Ha... ha... ha...
Urundodum naalil
In the days that roll by,
Karainthodum vaazhvil
In this life that dissolves away,
Oli venduma irul vendumaa
Do you want light, or do you want darkness?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a profound philosophical reflection on human life, moral choices, and self-reformation. Set against the backdrop of time rolling relentlessly forward and life melting away, the narrator poses existential choices to the listener: light versus darkness, and virtue versus poison. It highlights the futility of living a life bound to an uncorrected, unreformable physical body and self-destructive habits.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Binary Contrast
“Oli venduma irul vendumaa”
Contrasting light (oli) with darkness (irul), and good character (gunam) with poison (visham) to pose existential moral choices.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Urundodum naalil / Karainthodum vaazhvil”
The second letter consonant 'ra/rai' in 'Urundodum' and 'Karainthodum' creates a traditional Tamil poetic rhythmic harmony.
Rhetorical Question
“Thirundhaadha dhegam irundhenna laabam”
Questions asked to prompt self-reflection rather than expect a direct answer.
Metaphor
“Karainthodum vaazhvil”
Life is depicted as something melting or dissolving away ('karainthodum vaazhvil').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the visionary rationalist poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, this song reflects his signature style of addressing moral self-improvement and social consciousness through simple yet deeply resonant Tamil lyrics. The film 'Punar Jenmam' (1961) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini, with music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao.
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