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Maamannan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manna Maamanna

From Maamannan · 2023

Lyricist
Arivu
Singer
Arivu
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Maamannan
Movie release year
2023
Lyrics added on
10 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oosa oosa oosa
Kekutha enbaasa
Oosa oosa oosa
Kekutha enbaasa
Hoi yeh yeh yeh
Enakulle oru oosa
Therakuthe pudhu vaasa
Na pazhasellam thooki veesa
Kekutha enbaasa
Enakulle oru oosa
Therakuthe pudhu vaasa
Na pazhasellam thooki veesa
Kekutha enbaasa
Oosa oosa oosa
Kekutha enbaasa
Oosa oosa oosa
Enathu ural idam
Nilai nidham tharum oosa
Kadal mazhai kadanthidum
Adangida oosa
Yaarukum kettkahu
Enkaathil olam nikkaathu
Oorettum pakkaathu
En Uullam achcham erkaathu
Karuginidra saambalengum
Siragadikum oosa
Kandanthu vantha paadhai yenkum
Ezhunthu nirkum oosa
Nadhiyiltta valaigal yaavum
Meenarukkum oosa
Naai ethirthu pei ethiruthu
Naan kuraikum oosa
Pisakidaathu mella kaadhil vanthu
Munnar pesa
Iravai thondi vantha
Ozhiyai kandu kangal koosa
Adiyin oosai vanthu
Idhaymengum vazhiyai pesa
Vaazhumasa
En vinmeenathu paadhaikaata
Oosa oosa oosa
Kekutha enbaasa
Oosa oosa oosa
Kekutha enbaasa
Hoi yeh yeh yeh
Iravin oosa
Athu poochi oosa
Pagalin oosa
Athu veyilin oosa
Vaanin oosa
Athu pravai oosa
Vaazhyin oosa
Athu paraiyoosa
Oosa oosa oosa
Oosa
Kekutha enbaasa
Baasa
Oosa oosa oosa
Kekutha enbaasa
Pazhaya ennam tholaiya
Pudhiya vannam varaya
Enathu kannethirail mannathirida
Mannan viraiya
Kodi vannanu ariya
Uriya nenjam eriya
Thagida thathoom tha thathoom
Thaga yutham thodara
Iruvizhi erigira siru pori
Vedipada karunira karamathu
Kaanavinai adainthida
Kathavugal thiranthida
Marupadi piranthida
Edhu naadakuthu yen nadakuthu
Ena priyuthu vazhi theriyuthu
Enakkuloru kural
Ezhumbida thunaivaruvaan
Maamannan
Yeh manna
Chorus :Yeh manna
Male :Maamannaa
Chorus :Maamannaa
Male :Yeh manna
Chorus :Yeh manna
Male :Maamannaa
Chorus :Maamannaa
Yeh manna
Chorus :Yeh manna
Male :Maamannaa
Chorus :Maamannaa
Male :Yeh manna
Chorus :Yeh manna
Male :Maamannaa
Chorus :Maamannaa
Enakulle oru oosa..oosa
Therakuthe pudhu vaasa..vaasa
Na pazhasellam thooki veesa..veesa
Kekutha enbaasa..baasa
Enakulle oru oosa
Therakuthe pudhu vaasa
Na pazhasellam thooki veesa
Kekutha enbaasa
Oosa, Oosa, Oosa
Can you hear my language?
Oosa, Oosa, Oosa
Can you hear my language?
Hoy ye ye ye
An Oosa inside me,
opens up a new doorway!
As I throw away the past,
can you hear my language?
An Oosa inside me,
opens up a new doorway!
As I throw away the past,
can you hear my language?
Oosa, Oosa, Oosa
Can you hear my language?
Oosa, Oosa, Oosa
My shelter,
an Oosa that gives me strength every day,
crossing through seas and rains,
an untamable Oosa!
No one else can hear it,
yet the cries in my ears never stop.
The whole town looks away,
yet my heart refuses to fear.
Over the burnt ashes all around,
an Oosa flaps its wings!
Along every path we have crossed,
an Oosa stands tall!
Tearing through every net cast in the river,
an Oosa that frees the fish!
Standing up to dogs, standing up to evil spirits,
I am the Oosa that roars back!
Coming softly and surely to my ear,
to speak ahead,
digging out of the dark night,
dazzling the eyes with bright light,
the sound of footsteps arrives
to guide my whole heart,
with the desire to live!
As my star lights the way,
Oosa, Oosa, Oosa,
can you hear my language?
Oosa, Oosa, Oosa,
can you hear my language?
Hoy ye ye ye
The Oosa of the night,
that is the insect's hum.
The Oosa of the day,
that is the scorching sunlight.
The Oosa of the sky,
that is the bird in flight.
The Oosa of life,
that is the beat of the Parai drum!
Oosa, Oosa, Oosa
Oosa
Can you hear my language?
My language?
Oosa, Oosa, Oosa
Can you hear my language?
As old thoughts fade away,
and new colours are painted,
the earth trembles before my eyes
as the king charges ahead!
For millions of people to see,
with a rightful heart burning bright,
Thagida thadhoom tha thadhoom,
as the righteous battle goes on!
A small spark burning in both eyes
bursts into flame, as this dark hand
reaches for the dream,
to open the doors,
to be born once again!
What is happening, why it happens,
I understand now, I see the path!
As a voice within me
rises, he will stand with me—
the Great King!
Oh, King!
Chorus: Oh, King!
Male: Oh, Great King!
Chorus: Oh, Great King!
Male: Oh, King!
Chorus: Oh, King!
Male: Oh, Great King!
Chorus: Oh, Great King!
Oh, King!
Chorus: Oh, King!
Male: Oh, Great King!
Chorus: Oh, Great King!
Male: Oh, King!
Chorus: Oh, King!
Male: Oh, Great King!
Chorus: Oh, Great King!
An Oosa inside me... Oosa!
Opens up a new doorway... doorway!
As I throw away the past... throw away!
Can you hear my language... language?
An Oosa inside me,
opens up a new doorway!
As I throw away the past,
can you hear my language?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This anthem from Mari Selvaraj's 'Maamannan', composed by A. R. Rahman and written and sung by Arivu, uses the concept of 'oosa' (sound/vibration) as a metaphor for the voice of the oppressed breaking free from centuries of silence. The song captures the transition from fear and darkness to empowerment, self-respect, and socio-political liberation. Through references to nature, the Parai drum, and rising from ashes like a phoenix, the track expresses the unstoppable resurgence of a marginalized community asserting its dignity and claiming its rightful place under the leadership of a true king of the people.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Enakulle oru oosa / Therakuthe pudhu vaasa / Na pazhasellam thooki veesa / Kekutha enbaasa

Repetition of the 'oosa' ending across consecutive lines (oosa, baasa, vaasa, veesa) creates a driving rhythm reminiscent of a chant.

Metaphor

Vaazhyin oosa / Athu paraiyoosa

Comparing the sound of life itself to the rhythmic strike of the native Parai drum, asserting indigenous musical identity as the heartbeat of existence.

Imagery / Allusion

Karuginidra saambalengum / Siragadikum oosa

Evokes the image of a phoenix rising from burnt embers to symbolize resilience against systemic oppression.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written and performed by independent artist and lyricist Arivu, the song intricately weaves folk storytelling and modern hip-hop cadence with A. R. Rahman's grand orchestration. The Parai drum, traditionally associated with marginalized communities, is positioned as the primary symbol of resistance and voice throughout Mari Selvaraj's film.

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