Vanathai Kadavul Thalaiyal
From Teacheramma · 1968
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Teacheramma1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ovvoru aalukkum oru jaan vayiru | Every person has a stomach measuring just one hand-span. |
| Unakku mattum enna onbathu vayiru | Why do you alone have a stomach measuring nine hand-spans? |
| Thevaikku mele semichha aalu | A person who hoards far beyond his needs, |
| Aaa…..aa…..aa…..aa….aa…. | Aaa.....aa.....aa.....aa....aa.... |
| Thirudannuthaan oorula peru | Earns only the name of a thief in the town. |
| Male | |
| Vanaththai kadavul thalaiyaal alanthaan | God measured the heavens with His head, |
| Bhoomiyai avanae kaalaal alanthaan | He measured the earth with His feet, |
| Manushanai ellam manasaal alanthaan…..oohhoi | He measured all human beings with His heart... oohhoi |
| En maamanai mattum panaththaal alanthaan | Yet my uncle alone, He measured with money. |
| Male | |
| Azhagaa poranthathu unakkoru ponnu | A beautiful daughter was born to you, |
| Aaaduthu paar athu medaiyil ninnu | Look at her dancing on the stage. |
| Manushaa unakkum irukkuthu kannu | O human, you too possess eyes, |
| Un mandaiyil mattum yaen kalimannu | Why is there only clay inside your head? |
| Male | |
| Vanaththai kadavul thalaiyaal alanthaan | God measured the heavens with His head, |
| Bhoomiyai avanae kaalaal alanthaan | He measured the earth with His feet, |
| Male | |
| Androruvan thaer koduththaan | In the past, one king donated his chariot, |
| Auththoruvan thalai koduththaan | Another ruler offered his very head, |
| Kedu ketta maamaavo | But this wretched uncle of mine, |
| Kizhinja kudai koduththaan | Gave away a torn umbrella! |
| Kizhinja kudaikkallavo | And for that torn umbrella, |
| Vallal endru paereduththaan | He earned the title of a great philanthropist! |
| Antha vallal maanamellam | All the prestige of those true patrons of charity, |
| Santhiyilae ivan keduththaan | He ruined right out in the public square. |
| Male | |
| Karnan poranthathu naattukku perumai | The birth of Karna brought pride to the nation, |
| Kamban poranthathu thamizhukku perumai aaa….aa… | The birth of Kamban brought pride to Tamil, aaa...aa... |
| Kamban poranthathu thamizhukku perumai | The birth of Kamban brought pride to Tamil, |
| Perumai illathavan poranthathu kodumai | The birth of a worthless man is a complete tragedy, |
| Mama kodumai | Uncle, a tragedy! |
| Perumai illathavan poranthathu kodumai | The birth of a worthless man is a complete tragedy, |
| Un porantha naalilae iththuthaan puthumai | On your birthday, this is the only novelty! |
| Male | |
| Vanaththai kadavul thalaiyaal alanthaan | God measured the heavens with His head, |
| Bhoomiyai avanae kaalaal alanthaan | He measured the earth with His feet. |
ஒவ்வொரு ஆளுக்கும் ஒரு ஜான் வயிறு
உனக்கு மட்டும் என்ன ஒன்பது வயிறு......
தேவைக்கு மேலே சேமிச்ச ஆளு
ஆஅ......ஆ.......ஆ.......ஆ........
திருடனுன்னுதான் ஊர்லே பேரு.......
Every person has a stomach measuring just one hand-span.
Why do you alone have a stomach measuring nine hand-spans?
A person who hoards far beyond his needs,
Aaa.....aa.....aa.....aa....aa....
Earns only the name of a thief in the town.
வானத்தை கடவுள் தலையால் அளந்தான்
பூமியை அவனே காலால் அளந்தான்
மனுஷனை எல்லாம் மனசால் அளந்தான்....
ஓஹ்ஹோய்
என் மாமனை மட்டும் பணத்தால் அளந்தான்
God measured the heavens with His head,
He measured the earth with His feet,
He measured all human beings with His heart... oohhoi
Yet my uncle alone, He measured with money.
அழகா பொறந்தது உனக்கொரு பொண்ணு
ஆடுது பார் அது மேடையில் நின்னு
மனுஷா உனக்கும் இருக்குது கண்ணு
உன் மண்டையில் மட்டும் ஏன் களிமண்ணு
A beautiful daughter was born to you,
Look at her dancing on the stage.
O human, you too possess eyes,
Why is there only clay inside your head?
வானத்தை கடவுள் தலையால் அளந்தான்
பூமியை அவனே காலால் அளந்தான்
God measured the heavens with His head,
He measured the earth with His feet,
அன்றொருவன் தேர் கொடுத்தான்
அடுத்தொருவன் தலை கொடுத்தான்
கேடு கெட்ட மாமாவோ
கிழிஞ்ச குடை கொடுத்தான்
கிழிஞ்ச குடைக்கல்லவோ
வள்ளல் என்று பேரெடுத்தான்
அந்த வள்ளல் மானமெல்லாம்
சந்தியிலே இவன் கெடுத்தான்
In the past, one king donated his chariot,
Another ruler offered his very head,
But this wretched uncle of mine,
Gave away a torn umbrella!
And for that torn umbrella,
He earned the title of a great philanthropist!
All the prestige of those true patrons of charity,
He ruined right out in the public square.
கர்ணன் பொறந்தது நாட்டுக்குப் பெருமை
கம்பன் பொறந்தது தமிழுக்குப் பெருமை ஆ.....ஆ....
கம்பன் பொறந்தது தமிழுக்குப் பெருமை
பெருமையில்லாதவன் பொறந்தது கொடுமை
மாமா கொடுமை
பெருமையில்லாதவன் பொறந்தது கொடுமை
உன் பொறந்த நாளிலே இதுதான் புதுமை......
The birth of Karna brought pride to the nation,
The birth of Kamban brought pride to Tamil, aaa...aa...
The birth of Kamban brought pride to Tamil,
The birth of a worthless man is a complete tragedy,
Uncle, a tragedy!
The birth of a worthless man is a complete tragedy,
On your birthday, this is the only novelty!
வானத்தை கடவுள் தலையால் அளந்தான்
பூமியை அவனே காலால் அளந்தான்
God measured the heavens with His head,
He measured the earth with His feet.
Ovvoru aalukkum oru jaan vayiru
Every person has a stomach measuring just one hand-span.
Unakku mattum enna onbathu vayiru
Why do you alone have a stomach measuring nine hand-spans?
Thevaikku mele semichha aalu
A person who hoards far beyond his needs,
Aaa…..aa…..aa…..aa….aa….
Aaa.....aa.....aa.....aa....aa....
Thirudannuthaan oorula peru
Earns only the name of a thief in the town.
Vanaththai kadavul thalaiyaal alanthaan
God measured the heavens with His head,
Bhoomiyai avanae kaalaal alanthaan
He measured the earth with His feet,
Manushanai ellam manasaal alanthaan…..oohhoi
He measured all human beings with His heart... oohhoi
En maamanai mattum panaththaal alanthaan
Yet my uncle alone, He measured with money.
Azhagaa poranthathu unakkoru ponnu
A beautiful daughter was born to you,
Aaaduthu paar athu medaiyil ninnu
Look at her dancing on the stage.
Manushaa unakkum irukkuthu kannu
O human, you too possess eyes,
Un mandaiyil mattum yaen kalimannu
Why is there only clay inside your head?
Vanaththai kadavul thalaiyaal alanthaan
God measured the heavens with His head,
Bhoomiyai avanae kaalaal alanthaan
He measured the earth with His feet,
Androruvan thaer koduththaan
In the past, one king donated his chariot,
Auththoruvan thalai koduththaan
Another ruler offered his very head,
Kedu ketta maamaavo
But this wretched uncle of mine,
Kizhinja kudai koduththaan
Gave away a torn umbrella!
Kizhinja kudaikkallavo
And for that torn umbrella,
Vallal endru paereduththaan
He earned the title of a great philanthropist!
Antha vallal maanamellam
All the prestige of those true patrons of charity,
Santhiyilae ivan keduththaan
He ruined right out in the public square.
Karnan poranthathu naattukku perumai
The birth of Karna brought pride to the nation,
Kamban poranthathu thamizhukku perumai aaa….aa…
The birth of Kamban brought pride to Tamil, aaa...aa...
Kamban poranthathu thamizhukku perumai
The birth of Kamban brought pride to Tamil,
Perumai illathavan poranthathu kodumai
The birth of a worthless man is a complete tragedy,
Mama kodumai
Uncle, a tragedy!
Perumai illathavan poranthathu kodumai
The birth of a worthless man is a complete tragedy,
Un porantha naalilae iththuthaan puthumai
On your birthday, this is the only novelty!
Vanaththai kadavul thalaiyaal alanthaan
God measured the heavens with His head,
Bhoomiyai avanae kaalaal alanthaan
He measured the earth with His feet.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This satirical track from 'Teacheramma' (1968), penned by lyricist Kannadasan, uses sharp humor to critique greed, false generosity, and foolishness. The narrator chides a miserly uncle who hoards excess wealth while boasting about his meager, useless acts of charity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Satire and Irony
“Kizhinja kudai koduththaan / Vallal endru paereduththaan”
Compares grand classical patrons like Pari (who donated his chariot) and Kumanan (who offered his head) to the uncle who gave away a worthless torn umbrella yet considers himself a grand philanthropist.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Unakku mattum enna onbathu vayiru”
Exaggerates the uncle's gluttony and greed by contrasting the standard human belly measurement ('one span') with his 'nine-span stomach'.
Metaphor
“Un mandaiyil mattum yaen kalimannu”
Uses 'clay' (kalimannu) as a metaphor for stupidity or lack of intelligence inside the head.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Karnan poranthathu naattukku perumai / Kamban poranthathu thamizhukku perumai”
Uses matching second consonants across successive lines ('r' sound in Karnan and Kamban).
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Kannadasan, this song relies on classical Tamil literary references—such as King Vel Pari giving his chariot to a climbing plant and King Kumanan offering his head for a bounty—to mock everyday miserliness in a humorous, theatrical setting.
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