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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Hari Hari Om Om

From Osai · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Osai1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Male
Hari hari om om hari bajan purivomHari Hari Om, Om Hari, let us sing the devotional chant!
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Ellorum paktha kodigalEveryone here forms a legion of devotees
Ingae onnaana ilanjodigalYoung couples united together right here
Female
Adadadae jaldrava thattungadiAha! Play the jalatarangam!
Haang….jaljalnnu kottungadiYes! Strike it with a jingling sound!
Gobala krishnanukku jodiyaAs a suitable companion to Gopala Krishna
Radha kondattam poda vanthaa jollyaRadha has arrived joyfully to celebrate!
Chorus :Haei gobala krishnanukku jodiyaChorus: Hey, as a suitable companion to Gopala Krishna
Radha kondattam poda vanthaa jollyaRadha has arrived joyfully to celebrate!
Female :Collage-u netroda pochuFemale: College days ended yesterday
Idhu marriage-u season than aachchuNow the wedding season has truly arrived!
Chorus
Haei haeiHey hey!
Hari hari om om hari bajan purivomHari Hari Om, Om Hari, let us sing the devotional chant!
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Ellorum paktha kodigalEveryone here forms a legion of devotees
Ingae onnaana ilanjodigalYoung couples united together right here
Male
Haei haei….Hey hey...
Chorus
………….
Male
Salwar comiss potava sight adichchu paaththavaThe girl who wore a salwar kameez and checked me out
Yaaradiyammaa needhaan paaradiyammaaWho is she, oh girl? Just look at her!
Salwar comiss potava sight adichchu paaththavaThe girl who wore a salwar kameez and checked me out
Yaaradiyammaa needhaan paaradiyammaaWho is she, oh girl? Just look at her!
Male
Ammaadi nee sirichchaa azhagaana babyyammaOh dear, when you smile, you are such a cute baby
Aattangal podurappo parveen-u babiyammaaWhen you dance on the floor, you're like Parveen Babi!
Kannaatti unnazhagu dappu dakkaruthaanDarling, your beauty is top-notch and fantastic!
Rendu kannangal sweettaana amul butterthaanYour two cheeks are like sweet Amul butter!
Chorus :Kannaatti unnazhagu dappu dakkaruthaanChorus: Darling, your beauty is top-notch and fantastic!
Rendu kannangal sweettaana amul butterthaanYour two cheeks are like sweet Amul butter!
Male
Hari hari om om hari bajan purivomHari Hari Om, Om Hari, let us sing the devotional chant!
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Ellorum paktha kodigalEveryone here forms a legion of devotees
Ingae onnaana ilanjodigalYoung couples united together right here
Female
Rajesh kannaa polathaan aaraathanaa paattuthaanJust like Rajesh Khanna, singing songs from Aradhana
Paadiyathenna yaengi vaadiyathennaWhy did you sing and pine away in longing?
Rajesh kannaa polathaan aaraathanaa paattuthaanJust like Rajesh Khanna, singing songs from Aradhana
Paadiyathenna yaengi vaadiyathennaWhy did you sing and pine away in longing?
Ooyaamal nee enakku love letter pottathennaWhy did you endlessly slip me love letters?
Vaaththiyaaru paakkurappo mannippu kettathennaWhy did you apologize profusely when the teacher caught you?
Kannennu mookkennu dooppadichchiyaeYou flattered me by exaggerating my eyes and nose!
Enna kalyaanam kattikkaththaan daavadichchiyaeYou flirted with me just so you could marry me!
Chorus :Haei….kannennu mookkennu dooppadichchiyaeChorus: Hey... you flattered me by exaggerating my eyes and nose!
Chorus
Haei hari hari om om hari bajan purivomHey Hari Hari Om, Om Hari, let us sing the devotional chant!
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Ellorum paktha kodigalEveryone here forms a legion of devotees
Ingae onnaana ilanjodigalYoung couples united together right here
Chorus
Haei hari hari om om hari bajan purivomHey Hari Hari Om, Om Hari, let us sing the devotional chant!
Harae rama harae krishnaHare Rama Hare Krishna
Ellorum paktha kodigalEveryone here forms a legion of devotees
Ingae onnaana ilanjodigalYoung couples united together right here
Male
………………..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic, playful song from the 1984 film 'Osai' uses the guise of a mock-devotional chant ('Hari Bhajan' / 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna') as a humorous backdrop for youth celebration and romantic banter. The lead couple and college friends transition from student life into adulthood, marking the end of college days and the onset of 'marriage season'. Throughout the song, the male and female leads engage in playful teasing, bringing up college memories—from secretly passing love letters and getting caught by teachers to comparing each other to popular cultural icons like Rajesh Khanna and Parveen Babi. Penning down 1980s urban Madras college slang and pop culture metaphors, lyricist Vaali creates a fun, high-energy duet brought to life by Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jairam under Shankar-Ganesh's upbeat musical composition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Metaphor

Rendu kannangal sweettaana amul butterthaan

Compares the smooth and soft cheeks of the beloved to sweet Amul butter.

Pop Culture Reference / Allusion

Aattangal podurappo parveen-u babiyammaa

Refers to Bollywood actress Parveen Babi, comparing the female lead's glamorous dance style to her.

Pop Culture Reference / Allusion

Rajesh kannaa polathaan aaraathanaa paattuthaan

Refers to Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna and his iconic romantic hit movie 'Aradhana' (1969).

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Ammaadi nee sirichchaa azhagaana babyyamma / Aattangal podurappo parveen-u babiyammaa

End-rhyming with 'babyyamma' and 'babiyammaa' to maintain rhythm and playful flow.

Muran (Irony / Contrast)

Hari hari om om hari bajan purivom

Using traditional, solemn devotional chant phrasing ('Hari Bhajan') ironically in a fast-paced, secular romance song.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Osai' (1984) starred Mohan and Nalini in lead roles and was directed by K. Vijayan. Lyricist Vaali was renowned for seamlessly weaving modern college slang, English loanwords ('college', 'marriage season', 'love letter', 'amul butter'), and Bollywood pop-culture references into Tamil film songs, making them instant hits among the youth of the 1980s.

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