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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Ongaari Aangaari Maari

From Ellam Un Kairasi · 1980

Lyricist
Vel Murugan
Singers
Jayachandran, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ellam Un Kairasi1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hoi…Hoi…
Male
Haei… adi ongaari aangaari maariHaei… Oh ferocious Goddess Mari!
Ingu ellorum vaazha venum kaaliEveryone here must live prosperously, Oh Kali!
Chorus
Haei… adi ongaari aangaari maariHaei… Oh ferocious Goddess Mari!
Ingu ellorum vaazha venum kaaliEveryone here must live prosperously, Oh Kali!
Male
Nee thaanadi thaai maadhiriYou are indeed like a mother to us,
Elloraiyum nee aadhariSupport and protect everyone.
Haei… adi ongaari aangaari maariHaei… Oh ferocious Goddess Mari!
Chorus
Ingu ellorum vaazha venum kaaliEveryone here must live prosperously, Oh Kali!
Male
Vaanum neeyae puvi ezhum neeyaeYou are the sky, and you are the seven worlds,
Ezhai vaazhvae un kaiyil thaayaeThe life of the poor rests in your hands, Oh Mother!
Aaasaikkae alavaedhu korikkai pala nooruDesire knows no limits, and our prayers are in the hundreds,
Vinai theerkkum dheivam un pol kidaiyaadhuThere is no deity like you who can absolve all past sins.
Chorus
Pan paadi poo thooviSinging melodies and showering flowers,
Kondaada vandhomadiWe have come to celebrate you!
Male
Haei… adi ongaari aangaari maariHaei… Oh ferocious Goddess Mari!
Ingu ellorum vaazha venum kaaliEveryone here must live prosperously, Oh Kali!
Male
Needhi thaedi dhinam nermai naadiSeeking justice daily and pursuing honesty,
Vaazhum vaazhvae nalla vaazhkkai aagumA life lived in such a way becomes a truly good life.
Malai polae asaiyaadhaUnshakable like a mountain,
Manam venum varam venumWe need a mind like that; grant us that boon!
Nadhi pola naanum vaazha arulvaayaeBless me to live freely and continuously like a flowing river.
Chorus
Anbaalae nee paathaaIf you look upon us with love,
Thannaalae kurai theerumaeAll our grievances will automatically disappear.
Male
Haei… adi ongaari aangaari maariHaei… Oh ferocious Goddess Mari!
Ingu ellorum vaazha venum kaaliEveryone here must live prosperously, Oh Kali!
Nee thaanadi thaai maadhiriYou are indeed like a mother to us!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a fervent devotional prayer addressed to Goddesses Mari and Kali, worshipping the divine motherly aspect of the deity. The devotees pray for universal well-being, requesting the Mother to safeguard the poor and absolve them of their past karma and earthly desires.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Nee thaanadi thaai maadhiri

Compares the motherly nature of the deity to a human mother ('thaai maadhiri'), as well as comparing an unwavering mind to a mountain ('Malai polae') and a peaceful life to a river ('Nadhi pola').

Rhyme / Rhyming pattern (Edhukai & Munaai)

Needhi thaedi dhinam nermai naadi

Rhyming words like 'Ongaari' and 'Aangaari', as well as line-internal rhymes like 'Needhi thaedi' and 'nermai naadi', enhance the rhythmic devotional chant quality.

Apostrophe

Ezhai vaazhvae un kaiyil thaayae

Directly addressing the Goddess Kali/Mari with emotional urgency and affection ('adi', 'thaayae').

Did you know?

Trivia

This energetic devotional track from the 1980 Tamil movie 'Ellam Un Kairasi' blends folk rhythm with classical folk deity invocations (Mariamman/Kali worship). Songs of this nature were popular in 1980s Tamil cinema to evoke village temple festival atmospheres.

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