Vidukathai Ondru Thodarkathai Ondru
From Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai · 1979
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aarirooo..oo..oo… | Aariroo... (Lullaby chant) |
| Aarirari raroo…aarirari raroo… | Aarirari raroo... aarirari raroo... |
| Male | |
| Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru | One riddle, one ongoing story |
| Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru | One riddle, one ongoing story |
| Yaar kadhai idhu thaan endru | Whose story is this really? |
| Nee thaan arivaayoo en kannae | Will you be the one to know, my dear? |
| Aarambam mudivum engae | Where is the beginning and where is the end? |
| Arindhaal solvaayoo | If you know, will you tell me? |
| Male | |
| Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru | One riddle, one ongoing story |
| Male | |
| Magan pola unnai madiyendhum ennai | Holding me in her lap like a son, holding you as well |
| Yaar endru nee kelada annaiyai | Ask your mother who I am, my boy |
| Aval solluvaal unnidam unmaiyai | She will tell you the truth |
| Maalai ilam kaatrae madal vaazhai keetrae | Oh gentle evening breeze, oh fresh leaf of the banana tree |
| Kaalam muzhudhum nalam pera kannae vaazhga | May you live well and prosper for a lifetime, my dear |
| Female | |
| Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru | One riddle, one ongoing story |
| Yaar kadhai idhu thaan endru | Whose story is this really? |
| Nee thaan arivaayoo en kannae | Will you be the one to know, my dear? |
| Aarambam mudivum engae | Where is the beginning and where is the end? |
| Arindhaal solvaayoo | If you know, will you tell me? |
| Female | |
| Naaldhoorum endhan nalam naadum deivam | The divine deity who seeks my well-being every day |
| Thaalattavae vandhadhu unnaiyae | Has come to sing a lullaby to you |
| Nee sollada annaiyin nandriyai | You tell her, my boy, of a mother's gratitude |
| Oru manadhil paasam oru manadhil paavam | Love in one heart, sin in another heart |
| Devan ezhudhum kadhai idhu kannae kaanga | This is the story written by God, behold it my dear |
| Male | |
| Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru | One riddle, one ongoing story |
| Yaar kadhai idhu thaan endru | Whose story is this really? |
| Nee thaan arivaayoo en kannae | Will you be the one to know, my dear? |
| Aarambam mudivum engae | Where is the beginning and where is the end? |
| Arindhaal solvaayoo | If you know, will you tell me? |
| Male | |
| Vidhiyodu vaazhkai vilaiyaadum velai | When life plays games with fate |
| Vidhiyallavoo endrumae velvadhu | Is it not fate that always wins? |
| Idhuvallavoo indru naan kandathu | Is this not what I have witnessed today? |
| Kaalodindha killai nadamaadavillai | A branch broken at its leg cannot move about |
| Thevaiyarindhu thunai varum nenjae vazhga | Long live the heart that comes to support knowing the need |
| Male | |
| Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru | One riddle, one ongoing story |
| Female | |
| Yaar kadhai idhu thaan endru | Whose story is this really? |
| Nee thaan arivaayoo | Will you be the one to know |
| Male :En kannae aarambam mudivum engae | Male: My dear, where is the beginning and where is the end? |
| Arindhaal solvaayoo | If you know, will you tell me? |
| Male | |
| Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru | One riddle, one ongoing story |
| Male | |
| Aarirooo..oo..oo… | Aariroo... |
| Aarirari raroo…aarirari raroo… | Aarirari raroo... aarirari raroo... |
ஆரிராரோ.......ஓ....ஓ......
ஆரிராரி ராரோ.....ஆரிராரி ராரோ.....
Aariroo... (Lullaby chant)
Aarirari raroo... aarirari raroo...
விடுகதை ஒன்று தொடர்கதை ஒன்று
விடுகதை ஒன்று தொடர்கதை ஒன்று
யார் கதை எதுதான் என்று
நீ தான் அறிவாயோ என் கண்ணே
ஆரம்பம் முடிவும் எங்கே
அறிந்தால் சொல்வாயோ
One riddle, one ongoing story
One riddle, one ongoing story
Whose story is this really?
Will you be the one to know, my dear?
Where is the beginning and where is the end?
If you know, will you tell me?
விடுகதை ஒன்று தொடர்கதை ஒன்று
One riddle, one ongoing story
மகன் போல உன்னை மடியேந்தும் என்னை
யார் என்று நீ கேளடா அன்னையை
அவள் சொல்லுவாள் உன்னிடம் உண்மையை
மாலை இளம் காற்றே மடல் வாழை கீற்றே
காலம் முழுதும் நலம் பெற கண்ணே நீ வாழ்க
Holding me in her lap like a son, holding you as well
Ask your mother who I am, my boy
She will tell you the truth
Oh gentle evening breeze, oh fresh leaf of the banana tree
May you live well and prosper for a lifetime, my dear
விடுகதை ஒன்று தொடர்கதை ஒன்று
யார் கதை எதுதான் என்று
நீ தான் அறிவாயோ என் கண்ணே
ஆரம்பம் முடிவும் எங்கே
அறிந்தால் சொல்வாயோ
One riddle, one ongoing story
Whose story is this really?
Will you be the one to know, my dear?
Where is the beginning and where is the end?
If you know, will you tell me?
நாள்தோறும் எந்தன் நலம் நாடும் தெய்வம்
தாலாட்டவே வந்தது உன்னையே
நீ சொல்லடா அன்னையின் நன்றியை
ஒரு மனதில் பாசம் ஒரு மனதில் தாகம்
தேவன் எழுதும் கதை இது கண்ணே காண்க
The divine deity who seeks my well-being every day
Has come to sing a lullaby to you
You tell her, my boy, of a mother's gratitude
Love in one heart, sin in another heart
This is the story written by God, behold it my dear
விடுகதை ஒன்று தொடர்கதை ஒன்று
யார் கதை எதுதான் என்று
நீ தான் அறிவாயோ என் கண்ணே
ஆரம்பம் முடிவும் எங்கே
அறிந்தால் சொல்வாயோ
One riddle, one ongoing story
Whose story is this really?
Will you be the one to know, my dear?
Where is the beginning and where is the end?
If you know, will you tell me?
விதியோடு வாழ்க்கை விளையாடும் வேளை
விதியல்லவோ என்றுமே வெல்வது
இதுவல்லவோ இன்று நான் கண்டது
காலொடிந்த கிள்ளை நடமாடவில்லை
தேவையறிந்து துணை வரும் நெஞ்சே வாழ்க
When life plays games with fate
Is it not fate that always wins?
Is this not what I have witnessed today?
A branch broken at its leg cannot move about
Long live the heart that comes to support knowing the need
விடுகதை ஒன்று தொடர்கதை ஒன்று
One riddle, one ongoing story
யார் கதை எதுதான் என்று
நீ தான் அறிவாயோ
என் கண்ணே ஆரம்பம் முடிவும் எங்கே
அறிந்தால் சொல்வாயோ
Whose story is this really?
Will you be the one to know
Male: My dear, where is the beginning and where is the end?
If you know, will you tell me?
விடுகதை ஒன்று தொடர்கதை ஒன்று
One riddle, one ongoing story
ஆரிராரோ.......ஓ....ஓ......
ஆரிராரி ராரோ.....ஆரிராரி ராரோ.....
Aariroo...
Aarirari raroo... aarirari raroo...
Aarirooo..oo..oo…
Aariroo... (Lullaby chant)
Aarirari raroo…aarirari raroo…
Aarirari raroo... aarirari raroo...
Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru
One riddle, one ongoing story
Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru
One riddle, one ongoing story
Yaar kadhai idhu thaan endru
Whose story is this really?
Nee thaan arivaayoo en kannae
Will you be the one to know, my dear?
Aarambam mudivum engae
Where is the beginning and where is the end?
Arindhaal solvaayoo
If you know, will you tell me?
Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru
One riddle, one ongoing story
Magan pola unnai madiyendhum ennai
Holding me in her lap like a son, holding you as well
Yaar endru nee kelada annaiyai
Ask your mother who I am, my boy
Aval solluvaal unnidam unmaiyai
She will tell you the truth
Maalai ilam kaatrae madal vaazhai keetrae
Oh gentle evening breeze, oh fresh leaf of the banana tree
Kaalam muzhudhum nalam pera kannae vaazhga
May you live well and prosper for a lifetime, my dear
Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru
One riddle, one ongoing story
Yaar kadhai idhu thaan endru
Whose story is this really?
Nee thaan arivaayoo en kannae
Will you be the one to know, my dear?
Aarambam mudivum engae
Where is the beginning and where is the end?
Arindhaal solvaayoo
If you know, will you tell me?
Naaldhoorum endhan nalam naadum deivam
The divine deity who seeks my well-being every day
Thaalattavae vandhadhu unnaiyae
Has come to sing a lullaby to you
Nee sollada annaiyin nandriyai
You tell her, my boy, of a mother's gratitude
Oru manadhil paasam oru manadhil paavam
Love in one heart, sin in another heart
Devan ezhudhum kadhai idhu kannae kaanga
This is the story written by God, behold it my dear
Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru
One riddle, one ongoing story
Yaar kadhai idhu thaan endru
Whose story is this really?
Nee thaan arivaayoo en kannae
Will you be the one to know, my dear?
Aarambam mudivum engae
Where is the beginning and where is the end?
Arindhaal solvaayoo
If you know, will you tell me?
Vidhiyodu vaazhkai vilaiyaadum velai
When life plays games with fate
Vidhiyallavoo endrumae velvadhu
Is it not fate that always wins?
Idhuvallavoo indru naan kandathu
Is this not what I have witnessed today?
Kaalodindha killai nadamaadavillai
A branch broken at its leg cannot move about
Thevaiyarindhu thunai varum nenjae vazhga
Long live the heart that comes to support knowing the need
Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru
One riddle, one ongoing story
Yaar kadhai idhu thaan endru
Whose story is this really?
Nee thaan arivaayoo
Will you be the one to know
Male :En kannae aarambam mudivum engae
Male: My dear, where is the beginning and where is the end?
Arindhaal solvaayoo
If you know, will you tell me?
Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru
One riddle, one ongoing story
Aarirooo..oo..oo…
Aariroo...
Aarirari raroo…aarirari raroo…
Aarirari raroo... aarirari raroo...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant lullaby frames human existence as both an intriguing riddle ('Vidukathai') and an endlessly unfolding story ('Thodarkathai'). The speaker reflects on complex family ties, secret truths, human emotions, and the mysterious origin and destiny of human life. Through gentle imagery of evening breezes and maternal affection, the song navigates painful realities of betrayal, physical limitation, and the inevitability of fate. Despite the underlying sorrow, the song celebrates maternal devotion and the compassionate souls who extend help in times of distress. It stands as a philosophical contemplation on divine orchestration, where human beings must endure the narrative written by destiny while seeking solace in love and gratitude.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru”
Life and human relationships are framed as a riddle ('Vidukathai') and a continuous serial ('Thodarkathai').
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru”
Rhyming of second consonant letters in consecutive lines ('du' in Vidukathai and Thodarkathai).
Moonaiz / Alliteration
“Maalai ilam kaatrae madal vaazhai keetrae”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' creating melodic flow.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Vidukathai ondru thodarkathai ondru”
The thematic refrain is repeated at the end of each stanza to reinforce the core existential questioning.
Did you know?
Trivia
This famous song comes from the 1979 Tamil film titled 'Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai'. Penned by legendary lyricist Vaali, it deftly uses the format of a lullaby ('Lullaby / Taalaattu') to communicate deep philosophical themes about fate, family secrets, and life's unpredictable trajectory.
Keep listening
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