Oh Lilly Oh Lilly
From Ooty · 1999
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singers
- Sabesh Kumar, Krishnaraj
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Ooty1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oo lilly oo lilly oo lilliyae | Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly! |
| Vaazhkkaiyil vedhanai thaangalaiyae | The pain in life is unbearable! |
| Oo milly oo milly oo milliyae | Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly! |
| Ooththikka ooththikka nee milliyae | Pour it, pour it, a millilitre! |
| Male | |
| Aruvaamanai pol arukkira ponnu | A girl who cuts like a kitchen blade, |
| Manaiviyaa amainchaadaa | If she becomes one's wife... |
| Adhanaalae ooththikkirae bodhaiya yaeththikkiraem | That's why we pour it and raise our high! |
| Both: Devathai koottaththilae sogaththa aatthikkirom | Both: We console our sadness in the company of angels. |
| Male | |
| Oo lilly oo lilly oo lilliyae | Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly! |
| Vaazhkkaiyil vedhanai thaangalaiyae | The pain in life is unbearable! |
| Male | |
| Oo milly oo milly oo milliyae | Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly! |
| Ooththikka ooththikka nee milliyae | Pour it, pour it, a millilitre! |
| Male | |
| Ulaga urundaiya paaru | Look at the round world, |
| Moonu pakkamum neeru | Water is on three sides of it! |
| Thannaiththaan suththuthu bhoomi | The Earth rotates on its own, |
| Kaaranam thanni saami | The reason is water, my lord! |
| Male | |
| Aa….Maiya kalaippathu pola | Ah... like smudging kajal, |
| Manathai kalaippaal pennae | A woman will disrupt your mind! |
| Nirantharam evalum illa | No woman is permanent, |
| Unarnthu kol illai tholla | Realize this, and there will be no trouble! |
| Male | |
| Thulli thulli Chinna ponnu kudhikkuthu | Bounding and leaping, the young girl jumps, |
| Adhu iduppula undiyala kulukkuthu | She shakes her piggy bank-like waist! |
| Thalli sendru ilamaiya alakkuthu | Stepping away, she measures youth, |
| En manasula theekkuchchiya orasuthu | Rubbing a matchstick against my heart! |
| Male | |
| Oo nanbaa oo nanbaa oo nanbaa | Oh friend, oh friend, oh friend! |
| Vaazhkkaiyil aanantham vaa nanbaa | Come, friend, to find joy in life! |
| Nee manamennum sirai vittu vaa nanbaa | Come out, friend, from the prison of your mind! |
| Male | |
| Oo lilly oo lilly oo lilliyae | Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly! |
| Vaazhkkaiyil vedhanai thaangalaiyae | The pain in life is unbearable! |
| Male | |
| Oo milly oo milly oo milliyae | Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly! |
| Ooththikka ooththikka nee milliyae | Pour it, pour it, a millilitre! |
| Male | |
| Unathu thunaiviyin azhagu | The beauty of your partner |
| Uyiril urainthidum azhagu | Is a beauty that embeds itself in your soul. |
| Noi nodi endru nee saainthaal | If you fall ill and collapse, |
| Nettriyil varudidum azhagu | It is the beauty that caresses your forehead. |
| Male | |
| Illaraththil inbam thunbam irukkuthu | In domestic life, there are both joys and sorrows, |
| Adhu idhayaththil poochedi valarkkuthu | It nurtures a flowering plant in the heart. |
| Imaiyaththil kodi katta unakkathu | To hoist your flag on the Himalayas, |
| Thevaipadum valimaiyai kodukkuthu | It gives you the necessary strength! |
| Male | |
| Oo nanbaa oo nanbaa oo nanbaa | Oh friend, oh friend, oh friend! |
| Bodhai vittu padhai maari vaa nanbaa | Leave the intoxication, change your path and come, my friend! |
| Pudhu ulagaththai padaiththida vaa nanbaa | Come, my friend, to create a new world! |
| Male | |
| Oo malli oo malli oo malliyae | Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine! |
| Aanantham azhaikkuthu vaa malliyae | Happiness is calling, come, jasmine! |
| Oo malli oo malli oo malliyae | Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine! |
| Bodhaiyil midhappathu sariyillaiyae | Floating in intoxication is not right! |
| Male | |
| : Pachaikkili uravukkum vettukkili uravukkum | Between the relationship of a green parrot and a grasshopper, |
| Bedhamundu theriyaathaa | There is a difference, don't you know? |
| Tharikettu nee nadanthaal vaazhkkaiyum inikkaathu | If you wander astray, your life will not be sweet. |
| Thadaakaththil theeppidiththaal thaamarai sirikkaathu | If the pond catches fire, the lotus will not smile! |
| Male | |
| Oo malli oo malli oo malliyae | Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine! |
| Aanantham azhaikkuthu vaa malliyae | Happiness is calling, come, jasmine! |
| Oo malli oo malli oo malliyae | Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine! |
| Bodhaiyil midhappathu sariyillaiyae | Floating in intoxication is not right! |
ஓ லில்லி ஓ லில்லி ஓ லில்லியே
வாழ்க்கையில் வேதனை தாங்கலையே
ஓ மில்லி ஓ மில்லி ஓ மில்லியே
ஊத்திக்க ஊத்திக்க நீ மில்லியே
Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly!
The pain in life is unbearable!
Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly!
Pour it, pour it, a millilitre!
அருவாமனைப் போல் அறுக்கிற பொண்ணு
மனைவியா அமைஞ்சாடா
அதனாலே ஊத்திக்கிறேன் போதைய ஏத்திக்கிறேன்
இருவர் :
தேவதை கூட்டத்திலே சோகத்த ஆத்திக்கிறோம்
A girl who cuts like a kitchen blade,
If she becomes one's wife...
That's why we pour it and raise our high!
Both: We console our sadness in the company of angels.
ஓ லில்லி ஓ லில்லி ஓ லில்லியே
வாழ்க்கையில் வேதனை தாங்கலையே
Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly!
The pain in life is unbearable!
ஓ மில்லி ஓ மில்லி ஓ மில்லியே
ஊத்திக்க ஊத்திக்க நீ மில்லியே
Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly!
Pour it, pour it, a millilitre!
உலக உருண்டைய பாரு
மூணு பக்கமும் நீரு
தன்னைத்தான் சுத்துது பூமி
காரணம் தண்ணி சாமி
Look at the round world,
Water is on three sides of it!
The Earth rotates on its own,
The reason is water, my lord!
ஆ.....மைய கலைப்பது போல
மனதை கலைப்பாள் பெண்ணே
நிரந்தரம் எவளும் இல்ல
உணர்ந்து கொள் இல்லை தொல்ல
Ah... like smudging kajal,
A woman will disrupt your mind!
No woman is permanent,
Realize this, and there will be no trouble!
துள்ளி துள்ளி சின்னப் பொண்ணு குதிக்குது
அது இடுப்புல உண்டியல குலுக்குது
தள்ளிச் சென்று இளமைய அளக்குது
என் மனசுல தீக்குச்சிய ஒரசுது
Bounding and leaping, the young girl jumps,
She shakes her piggy bank-like waist!
Stepping away, she measures youth,
Rubbing a matchstick against my heart!
ஓ நண்பா ஓ நண்பா ஓ நண்பா
வாழ்க்கையில் ஆனந்தம் வா நண்பா
நீ மனமென்னும் சிறை விட்டு வா நண்பா
Oh friend, oh friend, oh friend!
Come, friend, to find joy in life!
Come out, friend, from the prison of your mind!
ஓ லில்லி ஓ லில்லி ஓ லில்லியே
வாழ்க்கையில் வேதனை தாங்கலையே
Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly!
The pain in life is unbearable!
ஓ மில்லி ஓ மில்லி ஓ மில்லியே
ஊத்திக்க ஊத்திக்க நீ மில்லியே
Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly!
Pour it, pour it, a millilitre!
வாழ்க்கை வீதிகள் தோறும்
கொட்டி கிடக்குது அழகு
மலைகளின் தலைகளின் மேலே
கொட்டிடும் பௌர்ணமி அழகு
The beauty of your partner
Is a beauty that embeds itself in your soul.
If you fall ill and collapse,
It is the beauty that caresses your forehead.
உனது துணைவியின் அழகு
உயிரில் உறைந்திடும் அழகு
நோய் நொடி என்று நீ சாய்ந்தால்
நெற்றியில் வருடிடும் அழகு
In domestic life, there are both joys and sorrows,
It nurtures a flowering plant in the heart.
To hoist your flag on the Himalayas,
It gives you the necessary strength!
இல்லறத்தில் இன்பம் துன்பம் இருக்குது
அது இதயத்தில் பூச்செடி வளர்க்குது
இமயத்தில் கொடி கட்ட உனக்கது
தேவைப்படும் வலிமையை கொடுக்குது
Oh friend, oh friend, oh friend!
Leave the intoxication, change your path and come, my friend!
Come, my friend, to create a new world!
ஓ நண்பா ஓ நண்பா ஓ நண்பா
போதை விட்டு பாதை மாறி வா நண்பா
புது உலகத்தை படைத்திட வா நண்பா
Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine!
Happiness is calling, come, jasmine!
Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine!
Floating in intoxication is not right!
ஓ மல்லி ஓ மல்லி ஓ மல்லியே
ஆனந்தம் அழைக்குது வா மல்லியே
ஓ மல்லி ஓ மல்லி ஓ மல்லியே
போதையில் மிதப்பது சரியில்லையே
Between the relationship of a green parrot and a grasshopper,
There is a difference, don't you know?
If you wander astray, your life will not be sweet.
If the pond catches fire, the lotus will not smile!
பச்சைக்கிளி உறவுக்கும் வெட்டுக்கிளி உறவுக்கும்
பேதமுண்டு தெரியாதா
தறிக்கெட்டு நீ நடந்தால் வாழ்க்கையும் இனிக்காது
தடாகத்தில் தீப்பிடித்தால் தாமரை சிரிக்காது
Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine!
Happiness is calling, come, jasmine!
Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine!
Floating in intoxication is not right!
ஓ மல்லி ஓ மல்லி ஓ மல்லியே
ஆனந்தம் அழைக்குது வா மல்லியே
ஓ மல்லி ஓ மல்லி ஓ மல்லியே
போதையில் மிதப்பது சரியில்லையே
Oo lilly oo lilly oo lilliyae
Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly!
Vaazhkkaiyil vedhanai thaangalaiyae
The pain in life is unbearable!
Oo milly oo milly oo milliyae
Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly!
Ooththikka ooththikka nee milliyae
Pour it, pour it, a millilitre!
Aruvaamanai pol arukkira ponnu
A girl who cuts like a kitchen blade,
Manaiviyaa amainchaadaa
If she becomes one's wife...
Adhanaalae ooththikkirae bodhaiya yaeththikkiraem
That's why we pour it and raise our high!
Both: Devathai koottaththilae sogaththa aatthikkirom
Both: We console our sadness in the company of angels.
Oo lilly oo lilly oo lilliyae
Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly!
Vaazhkkaiyil vedhanai thaangalaiyae
The pain in life is unbearable!
Oo milly oo milly oo milliyae
Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly!
Ooththikka ooththikka nee milliyae
Pour it, pour it, a millilitre!
Ulaga urundaiya paaru
Look at the round world,
Moonu pakkamum neeru
Water is on three sides of it!
Thannaiththaan suththuthu bhoomi
The Earth rotates on its own,
Kaaranam thanni saami
The reason is water, my lord!
Aa….Maiya kalaippathu pola
Ah... like smudging kajal,
Manathai kalaippaal pennae
A woman will disrupt your mind!
Nirantharam evalum illa
No woman is permanent,
Unarnthu kol illai tholla
Realize this, and there will be no trouble!
Thulli thulli Chinna ponnu kudhikkuthu
Bounding and leaping, the young girl jumps,
Adhu iduppula undiyala kulukkuthu
She shakes her piggy bank-like waist!
Thalli sendru ilamaiya alakkuthu
Stepping away, she measures youth,
En manasula theekkuchchiya orasuthu
Rubbing a matchstick against my heart!
Oo nanbaa oo nanbaa oo nanbaa
Oh friend, oh friend, oh friend!
Vaazhkkaiyil aanantham vaa nanbaa
Come, friend, to find joy in life!
Nee manamennum sirai vittu vaa nanbaa
Come out, friend, from the prison of your mind!
Oo lilly oo lilly oo lilliyae
Oh Lilly, oh Lilly, oh Lilly!
Vaazhkkaiyil vedhanai thaangalaiyae
The pain in life is unbearable!
Oo milly oo milly oo milliyae
Oh Milly, oh Milly, oh Milly!
Ooththikka ooththikka nee milliyae
Pour it, pour it, a millilitre!
Unathu thunaiviyin azhagu
The beauty of your partner
Uyiril urainthidum azhagu
Is a beauty that embeds itself in your soul.
Noi nodi endru nee saainthaal
If you fall ill and collapse,
Nettriyil varudidum azhagu
It is the beauty that caresses your forehead.
Illaraththil inbam thunbam irukkuthu
In domestic life, there are both joys and sorrows,
Adhu idhayaththil poochedi valarkkuthu
It nurtures a flowering plant in the heart.
Imaiyaththil kodi katta unakkathu
To hoist your flag on the Himalayas,
Thevaipadum valimaiyai kodukkuthu
It gives you the necessary strength!
Oo nanbaa oo nanbaa oo nanbaa
Oh friend, oh friend, oh friend!
Bodhai vittu padhai maari vaa nanbaa
Leave the intoxication, change your path and come, my friend!
Pudhu ulagaththai padaiththida vaa nanbaa
Come, my friend, to create a new world!
Oo malli oo malli oo malliyae
Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine!
Aanantham azhaikkuthu vaa malliyae
Happiness is calling, come, jasmine!
Oo malli oo malli oo malliyae
Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine!
Bodhaiyil midhappathu sariyillaiyae
Floating in intoxication is not right!
: Pachaikkili uravukkum vettukkili uravukkum
Between the relationship of a green parrot and a grasshopper,
Bedhamundu theriyaathaa
There is a difference, don't you know?
Tharikettu nee nadanthaal vaazhkkaiyum inikkaathu
If you wander astray, your life will not be sweet.
Thadaakaththil theeppidiththaal thaamarai sirikkaathu
If the pond catches fire, the lotus will not smile!
Oo malli oo malli oo malliyae
Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine!
Aanantham azhaikkuthu vaa malliyae
Happiness is calling, come, jasmine!
Oo malli oo malli oo malliyae
Oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine, oh Jasmine!
Bodhaiyil midhappathu sariyillaiyae
Floating in intoxication is not right!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song is a musical dialogue that starts as a typical lament on heartbreak and transitions into a sobering philosophical lesson about the values of life and true companionship. The protagonist initially justifies his reliance on alcohol (referred to playfully as 'Milly' or a millilitre shot) by expressing frustration over a toxic relationship, using witty, colloquial excuses like attributing the Earth's rotation to 'thanni' (which double-means water and alcohol in Tamil slang). However, his friend steps in with a mature counter-argument, steering him away from self-destructive habits. The friend highlights the sanctity of a supportive life partner who comforts him in times of sickness and explains how domestic life ('Illaram') acts as a pillar of strength to achieve great heights. The song concludes with a beautiful warning that one cannot find happiness through erratic behavior, just as a lotus cannot bloom if the pond itself is set on fire.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Aruvaamanai pol arukkira ponnu”
The lyricist compares a difficult, sharp-tongued woman directly to a kitchen blade ('Aruvaamanai') using the comparison word 'pol' (like).
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nee manamennum sirai vittu vaa nanbaa”
The mind is directly metaphorized as a prison ('manamennum sirai'), urging the friend to break free from his self-imposed mental confinement.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thulli thulli Chinna ponnu... / Thalli sendru ilamaiya...”
The second letters 'l' (ள்/ல்) in 'Thulli' (துள்ளி) and 'Thalli' (தள்ளி) rhyme, creating a rhythmic flow between successive lines.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Oo lilly oo lilly oo lilliyae / Vaazhkkaiyil vedhanai thaangalaiyae”
The lines end with identical phonetic sounds ('yae'), creating a melodious structure typical of choruses.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Ooty' (1999) features music composed by the celebrated 'Thenisai Thendral' Deva. The lyrics were penned by Na. Muthu Kumar during the early phase of his career. Muthu Kumar would later go on to become one of the most celebrated and prolific Tamil lyricists of the 2000s and 2010s, winning two National Film Awards before his untimely demise.
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