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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oda Thanni Uppu Thanni

From Sigappu Thali · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Jesudass, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sigappu Thali
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
19 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu
Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
Muththadum mullai kodiyo
Mullukkul sikkikittaa
Kanneeraal kannaththa suttukittaan
Male :Thindaadum raman ivano
Engengo thedipputtaan
Kannukkul kaneera moodikkittaan
Thoodhu sellum vaan megam
Jannal pakkam vaaraathaa
Male: Mothi sellum poonkaattru
Saethi solli pogaathaa
Female :Seethaiyin kanneerum seekkiram kaayaathaa
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
Female :Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu
Male :Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu
Female :Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
Oorellaam solli thiriyum
Yaarukku puththiyillai
Naan solvaen Oorukku puththiyi
Female :Penn vaazhvil ellaamae avalam
Saavukkum sakthiyillai
Pinenna saamikkum vetkkamillai
Thaali katta aalaanaal
Thaali katti seayaanaal
Female :Maalai thantha kannaalan
Mangaikkoru thaayaanaan
Male :Kattilukkum vanthaalum
Thottilukku paattaanaal
Oda thanni uppu thanni aagavum aagaathu
Penn manasu maaraavum maaraathu
Male :Thangaththa suttaalum thanniram pogaathu
Female :Puththithaan kettaalum anbu mattum maaraathu
Male :Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro
Aariro aariraraaro…..
Aariraro aariraro aariraraaraaro
Aariro aariraraaro…..
Running stream water will never turn into salty water,
And a woman's heart will never ever change.
Running stream water will never turn into salty water,
And a woman's heart will never ever change.
Even if you burn gold in fire, it will not lose its color;
Even if the mind goes astray, love alone will never change.
Running stream water will never turn into salty water,
And a woman's heart will never ever change.
Like a delicate jasmine vine laden with pearls,
She got trapped in the midst of thorns,
And scorched her cheeks with her tears.
Male: This troubled Rama,
Searched for her everywhere,
And held back his tears inside his eyes.
Will the messenger cloud floating across the sky
Not come by her window?
Male: Will the gentle breeze that brushes past
Not pass by carrying a message?
Female: Won't this Sita's tears dry up soon?
Running stream water will never turn into salty water,
And a woman's heart will never ever change.
Female: Even if you burn gold in fire, it will not lose its color;
Male: Even if the mind goes astray, love alone will never change.
Female: Running stream water will never turn into salty water,
And a woman's heart will never ever change.
The whole town goes around gossiping,
Wondering who has lost their mind;
I would say it is the town that has no sense!
Female: Everything in a woman's life is tragic;
Even death has no power to end this pain,
And what is more, even God feels no shame!
He grew into a man fit to tie the thali (sacred marriage thread),
Yet after tying the thali, he became an innocent child!
Female: The beloved husband who gave the wedding garland
Became like a caring mother to this woman!
Male: Though he came to the bridal bed,
He became a lullaby for the cradle!
Running stream water will never turn into salty water,
And a woman's heart will never ever change.
Male: Even if you burn gold in fire, it will not lose its color;
Female: Even if the mind goes astray, love alone will never change.
Male: Aariraaro aariraaro aariraraaraaro...
Aariro aariraraaro...
Aariraaro aariraaro aariraraaraaro...
Aariro aariraraaro...
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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