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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adho Mega Oorvalam

From Eeramaana Rojavae · 1991

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Mano, Sunandha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Eeramaana Rojavae1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Aaaaa….aaaaa….aaaa…aaaAaaaa....aaaaa....aaaa...aaa
Male
Adho mega oorvalamThere goes the procession of clouds,
Adho minnal thoranam angaeThere hangs the festoon of lightning over there.
Idho kaadhal oorvalamHere goes the procession of love,
Idho kaaman urchavam ingaeHere is the festival of Kamadeva (god of love) over here.
Male
Orae naal azhagiyaJust in a single day, your beautiful
Mugam paarththenFace I saw,
Idho naan uyirinilHere, within my very soul
Unai cherththen vaaI embraced you, come!
Male
Adho mega oorvalamThere goes the procession of clouds,
Adho minnal thoranam angaeThere hangs the festoon of lightning over there.
Male
Unadhu paadhamYour feet,
Adadada ilavam panjuOh my, are like soft silk-cotton!
Nadakkum bothuWhen you walk,
Thudithadhu enadhu nenjuMy heart throbbed.
Male
Irandu vaazhai thandilaeUpon two banana-stem-like thighs,
Raaja gopuramRests a grand royal tower.
Naanum indru ketkirenToday I too ask
Unnai orr varamA single boon from you.
Male
Dhegam thannai moodavaeTo cover your body,
Koondhal podhum podhumaeYour long tresses are more than enough.
Aadai ingu vendumaaIs clothing needed here?
Naanam enna vaa vaaWhy this shyness? Come, come!
Male
Adho mega oorvalamThere goes the procession of clouds,
Adho minnal thoranam angaeThere hangs the festoon of lightning over there.
Female
Aaa..aaaa…aaaa…aa.aa..aaa…Aaa..aaaa...aaaa...aa.aa..aaa...
Aaaaa..aaa..aaa..aaaaaaaa…..Aaaaa..aaa..aaa..aaaaaaaa.....
Male
Kuzhalai paarththuLooking at your hair,
Mugilena mayilgal aadumMistaking it for dark clouds, peacocks dance.
Mugathai paarthuLooking at your face,
Adikkadi nilavu theiyumThe moon wanes frequently out of envy.
Male
Thennam paandi muththai polLike the pearl of the southern Pandya kingdom,
Devi punnagaiIs the goddess-like smile.
Vandu aada chollumaeInviting the beetle to dance,
Sendu malligaiIs the cluster of jasmine flowers.
Male
Unnai cheidha bhrammanaeEven Lord Brahma who created you,
Unnai paarthu yenguvaanWould yearn upon looking at you,
Kaadhal pichchai vaanguvaanAnd beg for alms of love.
Innum enna sollaWhat more is there to say?
Male
Adho mega oorvalamThere goes the procession of clouds,
Adho minnal thoranam angaeThere hangs the festoon of lightning over there.
Idho kaadhal oorvalamHere goes the procession of love,
Idho kaaman urchavam ingaeHere is the festival of Kamadeva over here.
Male
Orae naal azhagiyaJust in a single day, your beautiful
Mugam paarththenFace I saw,
Idho naan uyirinilHere, within my very soul
Unai cherththen vaaI embraced you, come!
Male
Adho mega oorvalamThere goes the procession of clouds,
Adho minnal thoranam angaeThere hangs the festoon of lightning over there.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Adho Mega Oorvalam is a classic romantic song from the 1991 Tamil film Eeramaana Rojavae. The song celebrates the visual grandeur of nature alongside the intense beauty and allure of the beloved. The protagonist parallels the natural phenomena—clouds marching like a procession and lightning forming festive arches—with the arrival of love and passion. He praises her delicate step, her soft hair, her radiant smile, and her ethereal charm, declaring that even her creator Brahma would be mesmerized by her beauty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Adho mega oorvalam / Adho minnal thoranam angae

Comparing clouds to a procession ('mega oorvalam') and lightning to decorative festoons ('minnal thoranam').

Simile (Upamai)

Adadada ilavam panju

Comparing the softness of her feet to silk-cotton ('ilavam panju') and her smile to a southern Pandyan pearl ('Thennam paandi muththai pol').

Hyperbole (Uyarchiyani)

Unnai cheidha bhrammanae / Unnai paarthu yenguvaan / Kaadhal pichchai vaanguvaan

Exaggerating her beauty by claiming that peacocks mistake her hair for storm clouds and that Brahma himself would beg her for love.

Anaphora / Antithesis (Monaai & Edhugai)

Adho mega oorvalam ... Idho kaadhal oorvalam

Contrasting 'Adho... angae' (There... over there) with 'Idho... ingae' (Here... over here) to create rhythm and symmetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Adho Mega Oorvalam' is a hit song composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the film 'Eeramaana Rojavae' (1991), directed by Keyaar. The song features iconic renditions by legendary singers K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki, with rich lyricism penned by Pulamaipithan.

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