Oda Thanni Uppu Thanni
From Sigappu Thali · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- K. J. Jesudass, K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Sigappu Thali1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu | Stream water will never become salt water, |
| Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu | A woman's heart will never change either. |
| Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu | Stream water will never become salt water, |
| Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu | A woman's heart will never change either. |
| Male | |
| Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu | Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade, |
| Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu | Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change. |
| Female | |
| Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu | Stream water will never become salt water, |
| Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu | A woman's heart will never change either. |
| Female | |
| Muththadum mullai kodiyo | Is it a tender jasmine vine that kisses, |
| Mullukkul sikkikittaa | That got trapped among sharp thorns? |
| Kanneeraal kannaththa suttukittaan | He burnt his cheeks with his overflowing tears. |
| Male :Thindaadum raman ivano | Male: Is he a struggling Rama, |
| Engengo thedipputtaan | Who searched everywhere far and wide? |
| Kannukkul kaneera moodikkittaan | He concealed the tears within his eyes. |
| Female | |
| Thoodhu sellum vaan megam | Will the cloud passing as a messenger |
| Jannal pakkam vaaraathaa | Not come near the window? |
| Male: Mothi sellum poonkaattru | Male: Will the soft breeze blowing past |
| Saethi solli pogaathaa | Not deliver the news? |
| Female :Seethaiyin kanneerum seekkiram kaayaathaa | Female: Will Sita's tears not dry up soon? |
| Male | |
| Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu | Stream water will never become salt water, |
| Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu | A woman's heart will never change either. |
| Female :Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu | Female: Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade, |
| Male :Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu | Male: Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change. |
| Female :Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu | Female: Stream water will never become salt water, |
| Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu | A woman's heart will never change either. |
| Male | |
| Oorellaam solli thiriyum | Going around talking to the whole town, |
| Yaarukku puththiyillai | Who is the one lacking sense? |
| Naan solvaen Oorukku puththiyi | I will say it is the town that lacks sense. |
| Female :Penn vaazhvil ellaamae avalam | Female: Everything in a woman's life is a tragedy, |
| Saavukkum sakthiyillai | Even death does not have the power to free her. |
| Pinenna saamikkum vetkkamillai | What then, even God feels no shame. |
| Male | |
| Thaali katta aalaanaal | She came of age to have the sacred thread tied, |
| Thaali katti seayaanaal | And after marrying, she became like a child. |
| Female :Maalai thantha kannaalan | Female: The husband who offered the garland |
| Mangaikkoru thaayaanaan | Became like a mother to the young woman. |
| Male :Kattilukkum vanthaalum | Male: Even when she comes to the bed, |
| Thottilukku paattaanaal | She becomes a soothing lullaby for the cradle. |
| Female | |
| Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu | Stream water will never become salt water, |
| Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu | A woman's heart will never change either. |
| Male :Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu | Male: Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade, |
| Female :Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu | Female: Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change. |
| Male :Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro | Male: Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby... |
| Aariro aariraraaro….. | Lullaby, lullaby... |
| Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro | Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro... |
| Aariro aariraraaro….. | Aariro aariraraaro... |
ஓடத் தண்ணி உப்புத் தண்ணி ஆகவும் ஆகாது
பெண் மனசு மாறவும் மாறாது
ஓடத் தண்ணி உப்புத் தண்ணி ஆகவும் ஆகாது
பெண் மனசு மாறவும் மாறாது
Stream water will never become salt water,
A woman's heart will never change either.
Stream water will never become salt water,
A woman's heart will never change either.
தங்கத்த சுட்டாலும் தன்னிறம் போகாது
புத்திதான் கெட்டாலும் அன்பு மட்டும் மாறாது
Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade,
Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change.
ஓடத் தண்ணி உப்புத் தண்ணி ஆகவும் ஆகாது
பெண் மனசு மாறவும் மாறாது
Stream water will never become salt water,
A woman's heart will never change either.
முத்தாடும் முல்லை கொடியோ
முள்ளுக்குள் சிக்கிக்கிட்டா
கண்ணீரால் கன்னத்த சுட்டுக்கிட்டாள்
திண்டாடும் ராமன் இவனோ
எங்கெங்கோ தேடிப்புட்டான்
கண்ணுக்குள் கண்ணீர மூடிக்கிட்டான்
Is it a tender jasmine vine that kisses,
That got trapped among sharp thorns?
He burnt his cheeks with his overflowing tears.
Male: Is he a struggling Rama,
Who searched everywhere far and wide?
He concealed the tears within his eyes.
தூது செல்லும் வான் மேகம்
ஜன்னல் பக்கம் வாராதா
மோதிச் செல்லும் பூங்காற்று
சேதி சொல்லிப் போகாதா
சீதையின் கண்ணீரும் சீக்கிரம் காயாதா
Will the cloud passing as a messenger
Not come near the window?
Male: Will the soft breeze blowing past
Not deliver the news?
Female: Will Sita's tears not dry up soon?
ஓடத் தண்ணி உப்புத் தண்ணி ஆகவும் ஆகாது
பெண் மனசு மாறவும் மாறாது
தங்கத்த சுட்டாலும் தன்னிறம் போகாது
புத்திதான் கெட்டாலும் அன்பு மட்டும் மாறாது
ஓடத் தண்ணி உப்புத் தண்ணி ஆகவும் ஆகாது
பெண் மனசு மாறவும் மாறாது
Stream water will never become salt water,
A woman's heart will never change either.
Female: Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade,
Male: Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change.
Female: Stream water will never become salt water,
A woman's heart will never change either.
ஊரெல்லாம் சொல்லித் திரியும்
யாருக்கு புத்தியில்லை
நான் சொல்வேன் ஊருக்கு புத்தியில்லை
பெண் வாழ்வில் எல்லாமே அவலம்
சாவுக்கும் சக்தியில்லை
பின்னென்ன சாமிக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை
Going around talking to the whole town,
Who is the one lacking sense?
I will say it is the town that lacks sense.
Female: Everything in a woman's life is a tragedy,
Even death does not have the power to free her.
What then, even God feels no shame.
தாலிக் கட்ட ஆளானாள்
தாலிக் கட்டி சேயானாள்
மாலை தந்த கண்ணாளன்
மங்கைக்கொரு தாயானான்
கட்டிலுக்கும் வந்தாலும்
தொட்டிலுக்கு பாட்டானாள்
She came of age to have the sacred thread tied,
And after marrying, she became like a child.
Female: The husband who offered the garland
Became like a mother to the young woman.
Male: Even when she comes to the bed,
She becomes a soothing lullaby for the cradle.
ஓடத் தண்ணி உப்புத் தண்ணி ஆகவும் ஆகாது
பெண் மனசு மாறவும் மாறாது
தங்கத்த சுட்டாலும் தன்னிறம் போகாது
புத்திதான் கெட்டாலும் அன்பு மட்டும் மாறாது
ஆரிராரோ ஆரிரரோ ஆரிரராராரோ
ஆரிரோ ஆரிரராரோ.....
ஆரிராரோ ஆரிரரோ ஆரிரராராரோ
ஆரிரோ ஆரிரராரோ.....
Stream water will never become salt water,
A woman's heart will never change either.
Male: Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade,
Female: Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change.
Male: Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby...
Lullaby, lullaby...
Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro...
Aariro aariraraaro...
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Stream water will never become salt water,
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
A woman's heart will never change either.
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Stream water will never become salt water,
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
A woman's heart will never change either.
Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu
Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade,
Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu
Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change.
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Stream water will never become salt water,
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
A woman's heart will never change either.
Muththadum mullai kodiyo
Is it a tender jasmine vine that kisses,
Mullukkul sikkikittaa
That got trapped among sharp thorns?
Kanneeraal kannaththa suttukittaan
He burnt his cheeks with his overflowing tears.
Male :Thindaadum raman ivano
Male: Is he a struggling Rama,
Engengo thedipputtaan
Who searched everywhere far and wide?
Kannukkul kaneera moodikkittaan
He concealed the tears within his eyes.
Thoodhu sellum vaan megam
Will the cloud passing as a messenger
Jannal pakkam vaaraathaa
Not come near the window?
Male: Mothi sellum poonkaattru
Male: Will the soft breeze blowing past
Saethi solli pogaathaa
Not deliver the news?
Female :Seethaiyin kanneerum seekkiram kaayaathaa
Female: Will Sita's tears not dry up soon?
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Stream water will never become salt water,
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
A woman's heart will never change either.
Female :Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu
Female: Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade,
Male :Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu
Male: Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change.
Female :Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Female: Stream water will never become salt water,
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
A woman's heart will never change either.
Oorellaam solli thiriyum
Going around talking to the whole town,
Yaarukku puththiyillai
Who is the one lacking sense?
Naan solvaen Oorukku puththiyi
I will say it is the town that lacks sense.
Female :Penn vaazhvil ellaamae avalam
Female: Everything in a woman's life is a tragedy,
Saavukkum sakthiyillai
Even death does not have the power to free her.
Pinenna saamikkum vetkkamillai
What then, even God feels no shame.
Thaali katta aalaanaal
She came of age to have the sacred thread tied,
Thaali katti seayaanaal
And after marrying, she became like a child.
Female :Maalai thantha kannaalan
Female: The husband who offered the garland
Mangaikkoru thaayaanaan
Became like a mother to the young woman.
Male :Kattilukkum vanthaalum
Male: Even when she comes to the bed,
Thottilukku paattaanaal
She becomes a soothing lullaby for the cradle.
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Stream water will never become salt water,
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
A woman's heart will never change either.
Male :Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu
Male: Even if gold is melted in fire, its true luster will not fade,
Female :Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu
Female: Even if sanity is lost, love alone will never change.
Male :Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro
Male: Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby...
Aariro aariraraaro…..
Lullaby, lullaby...
Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro
Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro...
Aariro aariraraaro…..
Aariro aariraraaro...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song reflects on the eternal purity, resilience, and sacrificial nature of a woman's love. Using natural metaphors—such as stream water never turning salty and gold retaining its luster even when refined in fire—the lyrics convey that a woman's devotion and innate affection remain untainted despite life's immense hardships and social tragedies.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani (Simile / Natural Metaphor)
“Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu”
Compares the unchanging purity of a woman's heart to running stream water that can never become salty sea water.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu / Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu”
The second letter 'ng' / 'th' patterning creates rhythmic harmony across lines.
Allusion (Puranic / Epic Reference)
“Thindaadum raman ivano / Seethaiyin kanneerum seekkiram kaayaathaa”
References the epic figures Rama and Sita to allegorize agonizing separation, longing, and undeserved suffering.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Aagavum aagaathu / Maaraavum maaraathu”
The repetitive endings 'aagaathu' and 'maaraathu' create a melodious internal and line-ending rhyme structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics were penned by acclaimed lyricist Vairamuthu for the 1988 Tamil drama film 'Sigappu Thali'. The song uses folk-style imagery and traditional lullaby refrains ('Aariraro') to blend themes of maternal compassion, marital devotion, and feminine endurance.
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