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Oru Naal Oru Kanavu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ilamaikkoor Vegam

From Oru Naal Oru Kanavu · 2005

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Sonu Nigam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Oru Naal Oru Kanavu
Movie release year
2005
Lyrics added on
16 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ilamaikkor vegam undu
Neeyum ezhundhu vaa
Idhayathil yezhai illai
Kaigal uyarthi vaa
Kaalam neramae
Ingae vandhirukkudhu
Vaazhndhu kaattalaam
Vaa vaa nee thudippirukkudhu
Ellaam unakkaaga… ae…
Thoongaadhae thuvalaadhae
Thookkam soru podumaa
Thookkaththin kanavaalae
Sugangal vandhu koodumaa
Ilamaikkor vegam undu
Neeyum ezhundhu vaa
Idhayathil yezhai illai
Kaigal uyarthi vaa
Verum kaiyaal muzham podaadhae
Vaelaikkaagaadhae
Theru oram verum kadhai pesi
Pozhudhai pokkaadhae
Porul yedhum vilai kodukkaamal
Kaiyil vaaraadhae
Kadalukkul thunindhirangaamal
Muththum kidaikkaadhae
Oorae pottrida vaazhum pergalai
Viyappadhu yen
Munnaal avargalum unnai polavae
Irundhavar thaan
Kaalgal nee munnaalae vaikkaamal
Oor thaanae vaaraadhae
Ilamaikkor vegam undu
Neeyum ezhundhu vaa
Idhayathil yezhai illai
Kaigal uyarthi vaa
Kaalam neramae
Ingae vandhirukkudhu
Vaazhndhu kaattalaam
Vaa vaa nee thudippirukkudhu
Ellaam unakkaaga… aa..
Thoongaadhae thuvalaadhae
Thookkam soru podumaa
Thookkaththin kanavaalae
Sugangal vandhu koodumaa
Ilamaikkor vegam undu
Neeyum ezhundhu vaa
Idhayathil yezhai illai
Kaigal uyarthi vaa
Yedhedho pala kanavodu
Ilamai kaalangal
Edhir kaalam yedhuvo endru
Idhaya kolangal
Avai thaanae vidhaigal endru
Ariyaa paruvangal
Vidhaigal thaan palanae endru
Kaattum paruvangal
Munnaal pona pin pinnaal
Thirumbi paar marakkaadhae
Thannaal vandhadhai
Unnaal vandhadhaai ninaikkaadhae
Un perai neeyae thaan oorengum
Thambattam adikkaadhae
Ilamaikkor vegam undu
Neeyum ezhundhu vaa
Idhayathil yezhai illai
Kaigal uyarthi vaa
Kaalam neramae
Ingae vandhirukkudhu
Vaazhndhu kaattalaam
Vaa vaa nee thudippirukkudhu
Ellaam unakkaaga… aa…
Thoongaadhae thuvalaadhae
Thookkam soru podumaa
Thookkaththin kanavaalae
Sugangal vandhu koodumaa
Ilamaikkor vegam undu
Neeyum ezhundhu vaa
Idhayathil yezhai illai
Kaigal uyarthi vaa
Youth has an energy of its own
Rise up and come forward
No one is poor in their heart
Raise your hands and come
The right time and moment
Has arrived right here
Let us show the world how to live
Come, come, you have the drive in you
Everything is for you... hey...
Do not sleep, do not lose heart
Will sleeping put food on your plate?
Through the dreams seen in sleep,
Will true happiness ever come to you?
Youth has an energy of its own
Rise up and come forward
No one is poor in their heart
Raise your hands and come
Do not make empty plans with idle hands,
For it will be of no use.
By chatting idly on street corners,
Do not waste your time.
Without paying a price for it,
Nothing of value will reach your hands.
Without daring to dive into the sea,
You cannot find any pearls.
Those who live with the praise of the whole world,
Why gaze at them in wonder?
In the past, they were just like you,
Starting from where you stand today.
If you do not take a step forward,
Your destination will not come to you.
Youth has an energy of its own
Rise up and come forward
No one is poor in their heart
Raise your hands and come
The right time and moment
Has arrived right here
Let us show the world how to live
Come, come, you have the drive in you
Everything is for you... ah...
Do not sleep, do not lose heart
Will sleeping put food on your plate?
Through the dreams seen in sleep,
Will true happiness ever come to you?
Youth has an energy of its own
Rise up and come forward
No one is poor in their heart
Raise your hands and come
Filled with so many different dreams,
Youthful days fly by.
Wondering what the future will bring,
The heart sketches patterns of hope.
That these very moments are the seeds,
Is what youth fails to understand.
That seeds alone bring the harvest,
Is what the coming years will reveal.
Once you move forward in life,
Look back and do not forget.
What came on its own,
Do not assume happened only because of you.
Across town, with your own words,
Do not beat your own drum.
Youth has an energy of its own
Rise up and come forward
No one is poor in their heart
Raise your hands and come
The right time and moment
Has arrived right here
Let us show the world how to live
Come, come, you have the drive in you
Everything is for you... ah...
Do not sleep, do not lose heart
Will sleeping put food on your plate?
Through the dreams seen in sleep,
Will true happiness ever come to you?
Youth has an energy of its own
Rise up and come forward
No one is poor in their heart
Raise your hands and come
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Ilamaikkor vegam undu' from the movie 'Oru Naal Oru Kanavu' (2005) is an energetic motivational anthem penned by legendary lyricist Vaali. The song urges youth to break free from lethargy, abandon idle gossip, and proactively work towards their dreams. Vaali uses sharp metaphors—such as diving into the ocean to harvest pearls and paying a price to achieve success—to emphasize that hard work and perseverance are indispensible for growth. Additionally, the lyrics advise humility, reminding listeners who attain success to look back at their roots and avoid self-boasting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa)

Thookkam soru podumaa

The lyricist uses a rhetorical question to challenge the listener about the futility of laziness.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thoongaadhae thuvalaadhae / Thookkam soru podumaa

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'oo' in consecutive lines creating rhythmic harmony.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kadalukkul thunindhirangaamal / Muththum kidaikkaadhae

Diving into the ocean to obtain pearls serves as a metaphor for taking bold risks to achieve valuable success.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Oru Naal Oru Kanavu' (2005) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, directed by veteran filmmaker Fazil, starring Srikanth and Sonia Agarwal.

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