Veettukku Oru
From Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu · 1979
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Veettukku oru magana pola | Like a son raised in the house, |
| Perumpaadu patta usura | a soul that struggled greatly, |
| Veettukku oru magana pola | Like a son raised in the house, |
| Perumpaadu patta usura | a soul that struggled greatly, |
| Kaattukkae anuppi vittaan | has been sent away to the forest |
| Kadangaaran payal oruthan | by a heartless, indebted guy. |
| Kannung kalangudhu paathu | My eyes tear up watching this, |
| Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu | this heart seethes with anger hearing this. |
| Kannung kalangudhu paathu | My eyes tear up watching this, |
| Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu | this heart seethes with anger hearing this. |
| Male | |
| Annan eppa saavaan | "When will the elder brother die, |
| Thinnai eppa kedaikkum | so I can inherit his porch?" |
| Ennugira indha kaalathilae | In these selfish times when people scheme like this, |
| Anbodu vaazhndha oru jeevan | why did a soul that lived with pure love |
| Unnai vittu ponadhaen | depart and leave you behind? |
| Manushan udalil mirugam | There is a beast inside a human's body, |
| Andha mirugam kaiyilil ulagam | and the world is in the hands of that beast. |
| Kannung kalangudhu paathu | My eyes tear up watching this, |
| Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu | this heart seethes with anger hearing this. |
| Male | |
| Vaeli onnu pottu | Even if you erect a protective fence, |
| Kaathu vandha podhum | when the strong wind blows, |
| Pogum vidhi vandhaa pogumadaa | if fate decrees departure, it will leave, my friend. |
| Thavikkaadhae thambhi thudikkaadhae | Do not suffer, younger brother, do not writhe in pain, |
| Nee thaembhi azhaadhae | do not weep bitterly. |
| Panathil suthudhu bhoomi | The world revolves around money; |
| Idha purinji kollada saami | understand this reality, my dear sir. |
| Kannung kalangudhu paathu | My eyes tear up watching this, |
| Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu | this heart seethes with anger hearing this. |
| Male | |
| Maattu pongal naala | On the auspicious day of Mattu Pongal, |
| Mannukkulla kaala | its feet were buried in the soil; |
| Maayamadaa vaazhkka bhoomiyilae | life on this earth is an illusion, my friend. |
| Avan podum kanakku puriyaadhu | The calculations made by God cannot be comprehended, |
| Thuyar kaettu varadhu | sorrow never announces its arrival. |
| Poruppil ulladhu yerappu | Death is inevitable for anyone taking responsibility, |
| Ingu unakkum vanthidum azhaippu | the final call will come for you here too. |
| Kannung kalangudhu paathu | My eyes tear up watching this, |
| Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu | this heart seethes with anger hearing this. |
| Kannung kalangudhu paathu | My eyes tear up watching this, |
| Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu | this heart seethes with anger hearing this. |
| Kannung kalangudhu paathu | My eyes tear up watching this, |
| Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu | this heart seethes with anger hearing this. |
வீட்டுக்கு ஒரு மகன போல
பெரும்பாடு பட்ட உசுரு
வீட்டுக்கு ஒரு மகன போல
பெரும்பாடு பட்ட உசுரு
காட்டுக்கே அனுப்பிவிட்டான்
கடங்காரன் பயல் ஒருத்தன்
கண்ணுங் கலங்குது பாத்து
இந்த நெஞ்சம் கொதித்திடும் கேட்டு
கண்ணுங் கலங்குது பாத்து
இந்த நெஞ்சம் கொதித்திடும் கேட்டு
Like a son raised in the house,
a soul that struggled greatly,
Like a son raised in the house,
a soul that struggled greatly,
has been sent away to the forest
by a heartless, indebted guy.
My eyes tear up watching this,
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
My eyes tear up watching this,
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
அன்னை எப்ப சாவான்
தின்னை எப்ப கெடைக்கும்
என்னுகிற இந்த காலத்திலே
அன்போடு வாழ்ந்த ஒரு ஜீவன்
உன்னை விட்டு போனதேன்
மனுஷன் உடலில் மிருகம்
அந்த மிருகம் கையிலில் உலகம்
கண்ணுங் கலங்குது பாத்து
இந்த நெஞ்சம் கொதித்திடும் கேட்டு
"When will the elder brother die,
so I can inherit his porch?"
In these selfish times when people scheme like this,
why did a soul that lived with pure love
depart and leave you behind?
There is a beast inside a human's body,
and the world is in the hands of that beast.
My eyes tear up watching this,
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
வேலி ஒன்னு போட்டு
காத்து வந்த போதும்
போகும் விதி வந்தா போகும்மடா
தவிக்காதே தம்பி துடிக்காதே
நீ தேம்பி அழாதே
பணத்தில் சுத்துது பூமி
இத புரிஞ்சிக் கொல்லடா சாமி
கண்ணுங் கலங்குது பாத்து
இந்த நெஞ்சம் கொதித்திடும் கேட்டு
Even if you erect a protective fence,
when the strong wind blows,
if fate decrees departure, it will leave, my friend.
Do not suffer, younger brother, do not writhe in pain,
do not weep bitterly.
The world revolves around money;
understand this reality, my dear sir.
My eyes tear up watching this,
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
மாட்டு பொங்கல்
நாள மண்ணுக்குள்ள காள
மாயமடா வாழ்க்க பூமியிலே
அவன் போடும் கணக்கு புரியாதா
துயர் கேட்டு வராது
பொருத்தில் உள்ளாத எறப்பு
இங்கு உனக்கும் வந்திடும் அழைப்பு
கண்ணுங் கலங்குது பாத்து
இந்த நெஞ்சம் கொதித்திடும் கேட்டு
கண்ணுங் கலங்குது பாத்து
இந்த நெஞ்சம் கொதித்திடும் கேட்டு
கண்ணுங் கலங்குது பாத்து
இந்த நெஞ்சம் கொதித்திடும் கேட்டு
On the auspicious day of Mattu Pongal,
its feet were buried in the soil;
life on this earth is an illusion, my friend.
The calculations made by God cannot be comprehended,
sorrow never announces its arrival.
Death is inevitable for anyone taking responsibility,
the final call will come for you here too.
My eyes tear up watching this,
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
My eyes tear up watching this,
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
My eyes tear up watching this,
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
Veettukku oru magana pola
Like a son raised in the house,
Perumpaadu patta usura
a soul that struggled greatly,
Veettukku oru magana pola
Like a son raised in the house,
Perumpaadu patta usura
a soul that struggled greatly,
Kaattukkae anuppi vittaan
has been sent away to the forest
Kadangaaran payal oruthan
by a heartless, indebted guy.
Kannung kalangudhu paathu
My eyes tear up watching this,
Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
Kannung kalangudhu paathu
My eyes tear up watching this,
Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
Annan eppa saavaan
"When will the elder brother die,
Thinnai eppa kedaikkum
so I can inherit his porch?"
Ennugira indha kaalathilae
In these selfish times when people scheme like this,
Anbodu vaazhndha oru jeevan
why did a soul that lived with pure love
Unnai vittu ponadhaen
depart and leave you behind?
Manushan udalil mirugam
There is a beast inside a human's body,
Andha mirugam kaiyilil ulagam
and the world is in the hands of that beast.
Kannung kalangudhu paathu
My eyes tear up watching this,
Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
Vaeli onnu pottu
Even if you erect a protective fence,
Kaathu vandha podhum
when the strong wind blows,
Pogum vidhi vandhaa pogumadaa
if fate decrees departure, it will leave, my friend.
Thavikkaadhae thambhi thudikkaadhae
Do not suffer, younger brother, do not writhe in pain,
Nee thaembhi azhaadhae
do not weep bitterly.
Panathil suthudhu bhoomi
The world revolves around money;
Idha purinji kollada saami
understand this reality, my dear sir.
Kannung kalangudhu paathu
My eyes tear up watching this,
Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
Maattu pongal naala
On the auspicious day of Mattu Pongal,
Mannukkulla kaala
its feet were buried in the soil;
Maayamadaa vaazhkka bhoomiyilae
life on this earth is an illusion, my friend.
Avan podum kanakku puriyaadhu
The calculations made by God cannot be comprehended,
Thuyar kaettu varadhu
sorrow never announces its arrival.
Poruppil ulladhu yerappu
Death is inevitable for anyone taking responsibility,
Ingu unakkum vanthidum azhaippu
the final call will come for you here too.
Kannung kalangudhu paathu
My eyes tear up watching this,
Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
Kannung kalangudhu paathu
My eyes tear up watching this,
Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
Kannung kalangudhu paathu
My eyes tear up watching this,
Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu
this heart seethes with anger hearing this.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply emotional lamentation reflecting on betrayal, cruelty, and the harsh, impermanent nature of life. The narrator mourns a beloved life—often depicted as a faithful bull or companion treated like a family member—that was discarded due to human greed and heartlessness. The lyrics critique human selfishness, pointing out that people today care only about immediate personal gain and money, living like beasts beneath human skins. While offering consolation to a grieving younger brother, the song delves into philosophical truths about mortality and fate. It reminds us that death is inevitable for all living beings regardless of safety measures, and that worldliness is an illusion. It urges acceptance of divine play and the unavoidable cycle of life and death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai)
“Veettukku oru magana pola”
Compares the beloved livestock/companion to a raised son of the house using 'pola'.
Proverb / Folk Idiom (Pazhamozhi)
“Annan eppa saavaan / Thinnai eppa kedaikkum”
Uses a traditional Tamil proverb reflecting opportunism and greed over someone's impending death.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Manushan udalil mirugam”
Metaphorically describes human cruelty as a wild beast residing inside the human frame.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Thavikkaadhae thambhi thudikkaadhae”
Repetition of the 'Th' sound at the beginning of words for rhythmic emphasis.
Refrain (Pallavi Repeat)
“Kannung kalangudhu paathu / Indha nenjam kodhithidum kaettu”
Repeated couplet reinforcing the primary emotion of deep sorrow and outrage.
Did you know?
Trivia
Though the context lists the artist details as unknown, *Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu* (1979) was directed by R. Selvaraj and featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The album is famous for bringing authentic Tamil rural folk tunes and Oppari (elegy) sensibilities to mainstream Tamil cinema audio tracks.
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