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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Odakaran Pattu

From Naanum Indha Ooruthan · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Naanum Indha Ooruthan
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
20 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
Aathangarai oram veedu
Idhu andril paravaigal koodu
Poothu kidaikkura pasam
Indha boomi muzhuvadhum veesum
Nesam ennum noolaalae serthu vechu poomalai
Maasam thaedhi ponaalum vaadadhamma mann melae
Manasu ellam onnaana kudumbam idhu
Pirivu endrum illaame vizhangum idhu
Eppodhum ingae thaan sandhosa ragam
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Oda neeraa kaathu orasiyae thaalam podum
Kaathodu kettukko nenjodu pottukko
Maanae malaithaenae
Oodakkaaran pattu ullatha vattam podum
Thaane thanthananaa… Hey!
The boatman's song swirls around the heart.
The flowing water and the breeze brush by, keeping the beat.
Listen to it along with the breeze, and keep it close to your heart.
My gentle deer, sweet as mountain honey!
The boatman's song swirls around the heart.
The flowing water and the breeze brush by, keeping the beat.
Haan, listen to it along with the breeze, and keep it close to your heart.
My gentle deer, sweet as mountain honey!
The boatman's song swirls around the heart.
A house beside the riverbank,
this is a cozy nest of inseparable lovebirds.
The affection blossoming here
spreads its sweet fragrance across the whole earth.
Strung together like a flower garland on the thread of love,
it will never wither on this earth, no matter how much time passes.
This is a family where all hearts are united as one,
shining bright without ever knowing separation.
A melody of happiness always plays right here.
The boatman's song swirls around the heart.
The flowing water and the breeze brush by, keeping the beat.
Listen to it along with the breeze, and keep it close to your heart.
My gentle deer, sweet as mountain honey!
The boatman's song swirls around the heart.
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful Tamil folk-style song celebrates rural warmth, family togetherness, and the soothing rhythms of nature. Set against the serene backdrop of a riverbank, the boatman's song acts as a metaphor for peace and enduring affection that binds a family together like inseparable 'Andril' birds. The lyrics by Vaali highlight how true love and emotional unity serve as an unfading garland that survives the test of time. Nature—the gentle stream, the rustling wind, and mountain honey—mirrors the joy, harmony, and eternal happiness found within a loving household.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Oda neeraa kaathu orasiyae thaalam podum

The wind is personified as a musician keeping time/rhythm (thaalam) by gently brushing against the stream water.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Nesam ennum noolaalae serthu vechu poomalai

Love/affection is conceptualized as a physical thread ('nesam ennum nool') weaving a garland of memories and relationship.

Cultural Allusion

Idhu andril paravaigal koodu

Refers to the mythical 'Andril' birds in classical Tamil literature, which are famous for their absolute devotion and inability to survive without each other.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Nesam ennum noolaalae serthu vechu poomalai

Repetition of the 'N' consonant sound ('Nesam' and 'noolaalae') creating rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary lyricist Vaali for the 1990 Tamil movie 'Naanum Indha Ooruthan', the song incorporates authentic folk refrains ('Thanae thandhananaa') typical of rural boatman ballads (Oda Pattu) from Tamil Nadu.

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