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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Odam Ondru

From Thiripura Sundari · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thiripura Sundari1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindromWe are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Yaedho ondru naalai endru innum vaazhgindromHoping for something tomorrow, we continue to live.
Male
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindromWe are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Male
Paadhai endru yaedhumillaiThere is no defined path anywhere,
Kaalam ellaam naangal pogindromYet through time, we keep moving forward.
Dhaagam vandhaal neerum illaiWhen thirst strikes, there is no water to drink,
Neeril ingae naalum vaazhgindromEven though we live surrounded by water every single day.
Indha neeril sendrae kaanal neeraanomJourneying in this water, we became a mirage ourselves.
Male
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindromWe are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Male
Thoondil ittom meengal illaiWe cast a fishing line, but caught no fish,
Naangal ingae thoondil meenaanomInstead, we became the trapped fish ourselves here.
Odam vittom dheebam illaiWe set a boat afloat, but there was no guiding light,
Naangal ingae odam pol aanomHere, we became just like an aimless boat.
Endha naeram engae povom endraanomWe wonder at what time and where we will go.
Male
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindromWe are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.
Male
Maegam endraal minnal unduIf there is a cloud, there is lightning;
Thondrum minnal thaanae maaraadhaaWill not that sudden lightning naturally fade away?
Vaazhkkai endraal innal unduIf there is life, there are hardships;
Kaanum innal thaanae theeraadhaaWill not these visible troubles come to an end?
Nalla kaalam ondru naalai vaaraadhaaWon't a good time arrive for us tomorrow?
Male
Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindromWe are traveling in the direction a boat drifts in the wind.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Odam Ondru Kaatril Pona Vazhi is a deeply philosophical and melancholic song penned by lyricist Kannadasan. The lyrics draw a vivid metaphor between human life and a small boat drifting helplessly in the wind across an unpredictable body of water. The characters reflect on their lack of control over fate, feeling stranded and helpless despite being surrounded by the vast ocean of existence, encapsulated by the irony of suffering thirst while living in water.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Odam ondru kaatril pona vazhi naamum pogindrom

Compares human life drifting through fate to a boat moving aimlessly in whichever direction the wind blows.

Paradox / Irony

Dhaagam vandhaal neerum illai / Neeril ingae naalum vaazhgindrom

Highlights the existential irony of living in water (sea) yet having no drinkable water when thirsty.

Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)

Vaazhkkai endraal innal undu / Kaanum innal thaanae theeraadhaa / Nalla kaalam ondru naalai vaaraadhaa

The rhetorical questions end with rhyming suffixes ('theeraadhaa', 'vaaraadhaa') creating a poetic rhythm.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Maegam endraal minnal undu

Repetition of the initial 'Ma/Mi' sound in 'Maegam' and 'minnal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the iconic Kannadasan, this song showcases his signature style of transforming personal despair into universal philosophical truths using simple yet resonant marine metaphors.

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