Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Nandalala album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mella Oornthu Oornthu

From Nandalala · 2009

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nandalala
Movie release year
2009
Lyrics added on
30 Apr 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mella oorndhu oorndhu ooru engum
Thaeru pogum naeram
Oorum therilae ye…yaaru povadhu
Mella oonjal aadi kulungi kulungi
Asainju pogum kaalam
Pinju manadhudan hoi pillaigal pogudhu
Vinnin meengal saerndhu
Poga aasai kolludhae
Indha koottil andha meenum saeraadhoo
Mella oorndhu oorndhu ooru engum
Thaeru pogum naeram
Oorum therilae ye…yaaru povadhu
Vaanam rombha pazhaiyadhu megam pudhiyadhu
Thullidum nilavumae endru pirandhu vandhadhu
Paadhai rombha neendathu payanam siriyadhu
Yaathirai oyaadhadhu nee sellum mudivai poruthathu
Mudhal murai pogum payanathil inbam
Marubadi endrum thirumbhi varaadhu
Dhooram kattum vilakkoli kaatti pogum namm vazhi
Naalai kaalai pozhudhu kattum namakkum nall vazhi………
Mella oorndhu oorndhu ooru engum
Thaeru pogum naeram
Oorum therilae ye…yaaru povadhu
Vinnin meengal saerndhu
Poga aasai kolludhae
Indha koottil andha meenum saeraadhoo
Mella oorndhu oorndhu ooru engum
Thaeru pogum naeram
Oorum therilae ye…yaaru povadhu
Naalu kaalu aamai thaan nagarndhu pogudhae
Dhooram thaandaamalae thuvandu nindru thoongudhae
Naalu adikku ooradi nindru poguthae
Maedugal kandaal idhu pinnookki urundu oodudhae
Dabadaba osai thaalngal podum
Kubukubu endru pugaivittu paadum
Paatti kadhaiyai polavae parakkum maayakambalam
Thedi pidithu eduthu vaa nee parandhu pogalaam……
Mella oorndhu oorndhu ooru engum
Thaeru pogum naeram
Oorum therilae ye…yaaru povadhu
Vinnin meengal saerndhu
Poga aasai kolludhae
Indha koottil andha meenum saeraadhoo
Mella oorndhu oorndhu ooru engum
Thaeru pogum naeram
Oorum therilae ye…yaaru povadhu
Mella oonjal aadi kulungi kulungi
Asainju pogum kaalam
Pinju manadhudan hoi pillaigal pogudhu
Slowly crawling and creeping across the town,
As the chariot moves along,
Who is traveling on this creeping chariot?
Gently swaying like a swing, shaking and rattling,
Moving along in its rhythmic way,
Children with tender hearts are traveling on.
The stars in the sky
Long to come along;
Won't those stars join this nest too?
Slowly crawling and creeping across the town,
As the chariot moves along,
Who is traveling on this creeping chariot?
The sky is so old, but the clouds are new;
When was this playful moon ever born?
The road is very long, but the journey is short;
The journey never ends, depending on where you choose to go.
The joy of traveling for the very first time
Will never return again.
A distant beacon of light guides our path ahead,
Tomorrow's dawn will also show us the right way...
Slowly crawling and creeping across the town,
As the chariot moves along,
Who is traveling on this creeping chariot?
The stars in the sky
Long to come along;
Won't those stars join this nest too?
Slowly crawling and creeping across the town,
As the chariot moves along,
Who is traveling on this creeping chariot?
Like a four-legged tortoise, it creeps along,
Without covering much distance, it tires and falls asleep!
Every four steps, it pauses and stops;
When it sees a climb, it rolls backward and runs!
With a loud clatter, it beats the rhythm,
Puffing out clouds of smoke, it sings,
Just like the flying magic carpet in grandma's tales,
Search and bring it here, and you can fly away...
Slowly crawling and creeping across the town,
As the chariot moves along,
Who is traveling on this creeping chariot?
The stars in the sky
Long to come along;
Won't those stars join this nest too?
Slowly crawling and creeping across the town,
As the chariot moves along,
Who is traveling on this creeping chariot?
Gently swaying like a swing, shaking and rattling,
Moving along in its rhythmic way,
Children with tender hearts are traveling on.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Nandalala' is a poignant, reflective journey song that encapsulates childhood innocence, exploration, and the philosophical passage of time. Through childlike imagery—comparing old trucks or vehicles to slow-moving turtles and magic carpets—the song portrays the simple joy of traveling through life with an unburdened, pure heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Mella oorndhu oorndhu ooru engum”

The words 'oorndhu oorndhu' and 'kulungi kulungi' are repeated consecutively to highlight the slow, gentle rhythm of motion.

Ethirai / Contrast (Antithesis)

“Vaanam rombha pazhaiyadhu megam pudhiyadhu”

Contrasts the ancient sky ('pazhaiyadhu') with the new cloud ('pudhiyadhu') and the long path ('neendathu') with the short trip ('siriyadhu') to evoke philosophical depth.

Onomatopoeia (Irattai Kilavi)

“Dabadaba osai thaalngal podum”

Uses sound-imitative words like 'Dabadaba' and 'Kubukubu' to mimic the mechanical sound and smoke output of an old vehicle.

Metaphor & Imagery

“Naalu kaalu aamai thaan nagarndhu pogudhae”

Compares an old motor vehicle to a 'four-legged turtle' and a 'magic carpet' from a grandmother's tale.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nandalala', directed by Mysskin, was heavily inspired by Takeshi Kitano's acclaimed Japanese film 'Kikujiro'. The soundtrack composed by Ilayaraja was widely praised, with this particular track capturing the melancholic yet hopeful spirit of the duo's road journey across Tamil Nadu.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Poongathu1992
Neenga Nalla IrukkanumNostalgiaInnocence
Thangakkili2006
ParamasivanNostalgiaInnocence
Rojakale2003
Priyamana ThozhiChildhoodNostalgic
Yaarai Polum Illa Neeyum2015
PencilNostalgiaWonder
Vaanam2017
Power PaandiJourneyChildhood
Adida Melathai2000
Kannukkul NilavuNostalgiaDreams

From the same album

More songs from Nandalala

View album
Thalaattu Kekka Naanum2009
NandalalaWistful
Oru Vaandu Koottame2009
NandalalaCelebratory
Onnukkonnu Thunai2009
NandalalaMelancholic
Kaiveesi Nadakkira2009
NandalalaTender

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.