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Lyrics & meaning

Odakaran Pattu Male

From Naanum Indha Ooruthan · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Mano
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Naanum Indha Ooruthan
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
17 Nov 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanae thandhananaa…(4) haei
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Oda neeraa kaathu orasiyae thaalam podum
Kaathodu kettukko nenjodu pottukko
Maanae malaithaenae
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Oda neeraa kaathu orasiyae thaalam podum
Haan kaathodu kettukko nenjodu pottukko
Maanae malaithaenae
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Raman nadanthanae kaadu
Andha seethai magarasiyodu
Thambhi kizhichaanae kodu
Adha thaandi thavichaalae paedu
Kottukkullae nikkama kobam kondu pogaathae
Veetukkullae thangaama vaazhavetti aagathae
Veliya vandha ponnu maanam nelachidumaa
Nilathil vandhaal semmenu pozhaichidumaa
Umperu repair aagatho maanae
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Oda neeraa kaathu orasiyae thaalam podum
Haei kaathodu kettukko nenjodu pottukko
Maanae malaithaenae
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Ponnaa porandhakkaa yaarum
Oru aanai manandhaaga vendum
Maanam mariyadhai kaakka andha
Manjakayironnu podhum
Vambhu thumbhu pannama sethukkadi machaana
Andhi pagal eppodum pottukadi mundhaana
Varappu onnu illama vayalirukka
Odambhu onnu illama nizhalirukka
Sittae naan sonnaakkaa thattama kelu
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Oda neeraa kaathu orasiyae thaalam podum
Haei kaathodu kettukko nenjodu pottukko
Maanae malaithaenae
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Oda neeraa kaathu orasiyae thaalam podum
Thane thanthananaa… Hey!
The boatman's song circles around the heart,
The flowing water and breeze brush by, keeping the beat.
Listen closely with your ears, take it to your heart,
My deer, my mountain honey!
The boatman's song circles around the heart,
The flowing water and breeze brush by, keeping the beat.
Haan, listen closely with your ears, take it to your heart,
My deer, my mountain honey!
The boatman's song circles around the heart,
Rama walked into the deep forest,
Along with the blessed queen Sita,
His brother drew a protective line,
And crossing it, she suffered like a helpless bird!
Don't step outside your bounds in anger,
Don't leave your home and end up abandoned!
Can a woman who walks out keep her honor safe?
Can a fish survive if it lands on dry ground?
Won't your good name be ruined, my deer?
The boatman's song circles around the heart,
The flowing water and breeze brush by, keeping the beat.
Hey, listen closely with your ears, take it to your heart,
My deer, my mountain honey!
The boatman's song circles around the heart,
Anyone born as a woman,
Must marry a man.
To protect her honor and self-respect,
A single yellow sacred thread is enough.
Without picking fights, accept your man,
And keep your sari draped modestly day and night!
Can there be a field without a boundary ridge?
Can there be a shadow without a body?
My little bird, listen to my words without turning away!
The boatman's song circles around the heart,
The flowing water and breeze brush by, keeping the beat.
Hey, listen closely with your ears, take it to your heart,
My deer, my mountain honey!
The boatman's song circles around the heart,
The flowing water and breeze brush by, keeping the beat.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Oodakkaaran Pattu' is a folk-style advisory song sung from the perspective of a boatman imparting traditional life wisdom, restraint, and cultural ethics to a young woman. Set against the serene backdrop of flowing water and gentle breeze, the boatman uses nature imagery and mythological analogies—specifically referencing Sita crossing the Lakshman Rekha in the Ramayana—to warn against impulsive anger, breaking familial boundaries, and bringing disrepute to oneself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Kaathodu kettukko nenjodu pottukko”

The matching end sounds 'kettukko' and 'pottukko' create a rhythmic closing rhyme.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

“Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum / Oda neeraa kaathu orasiyae thaalam podum”

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'O' across lines 2 and 3.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Maanae malaithaenae”

Directly addressing the woman as 'deer' (Maanae) and 'mountain honey' (Malaithaenae) to convey sweetness and gentle nature.

Mythological Allusion

“Raman nadanthanae kaadu ... Thambhi kizhichaanae kodu”

References the epic Ramayana, specifically Lakshmana drawing the line (Lakshman Rekha) to protect Sita, illustrating the consequences of crossing boundaries.

Rhetorical Question

“Varappu onnu illama vayalirukka / Odambhu onnu illama nizhalirukka”

Uses rhetorical questions comparing a field without a ridge or a body without a shadow to emphasize that life requires boundaries and foundational ties.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary lyricist Vaali for the 1990 movie 'Naanum Indha Ooruthan' starring Murali and Khushbu. Vaali excels at blending earthy rural folk sensibilities with deep philosophical advice embedded in traditional Tamil song formats.

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From the same album

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