Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ola Kudisaiyile

From Ore Oru Gramathiley · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ore Oru Gramathiley1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oo oo hoo oo oooOo oo hoo oo ooo
Ola kudisaiyilae palansaelaiyilIn a thatched palm leaf hut, in a worn-out old saree
Oonjal aadum kuyilin kunjuSwinging like a chick of a cuckoo bird
Indha poompinjuThis tender flower-like young one
Ola kudisaiyilae palansaelaiyilIn a thatched palm leaf hut, in a worn-out old saree
Oonjal aadum kuyilin kunjuSwinging like a chick of a cuckoo bird
Indha poompinjuThis tender flower-like young one
Female
Rekkai innum molaikka villaiWings have not grown yet
Indha pinjukkuFor this tender little one
Thaayin thunai venum ammaA mother's support is needed, oh Lord
Chinna pinjukkuFor this tiny little child
Rekkai innum molaikka villaiWings have not grown yet
Indha pinjukkuFor this tender little one
Thaayin thunai venum ammaA mother's support is needed, oh Lord
Chinna pinjukkuFor this tiny little child
Female
Ola kudisaiyilae palansaelaiyilIn a thatched palm leaf hut, in a worn-out old saree
Oonjal aadum kuyilin kunjuSwinging like a chick of a cuckoo bird
Indha poompinjuThis tender flower-like young one
Female
Muthukku yaarum muzhugathaan venumSomeone usually has to dive deep into the sea for pearls
Muzhugaama naanae mutheduthaenaeWithout diving, I retrieved a pearl myself
Malaiyodi paayum manimuthu aaruA river of gem-like pearls flowing down the mountain
Madiyaeri aadum maganaachu paaruLook, he has become a son playing on my lap
Naan paadum paattu thoongaathae kaettuThe song I sing doesn't sleep; listen to it
Anjaatha singam pol aiyaa nee munnaeruLike an intrepid lion, my young lord, forge ahead!
Female
Ola kudisaiyilae palansaelaiyilIn a thatched palm leaf hut, in a worn-out old saree
Oonjal aadum kuyilin kunjuSwinging like a chick of a cuckoo bird
Indha poompinjuThis tender flower-like young one
Female
Rekkai innum molaikka villaiWings have not grown yet
Indha pinjukkuFor this tender little one
Thaayin thunai venum ammaA mother's support is needed, oh Lord
Chinna pinjukkuFor this tiny little child
Female
Ola kudisaiyilae palansaelaiyilIn a thatched palm leaf hut, in a worn-out old saree
Oonjal aadum kuyilin kunjuSwinging like a chick of a cuckoo bird
Indha poompinjuThis tender flower-like young one
Female
Naan senja paavam maar vathi pochuThe sins I committed have caused my breast milk to dry up
Vaanathai paartha mann pola aachuI became like parched earth staring up at the sky
Female
Mann paanai koozha kudichaalum ezhaEven if a poor man drinks porridge from an earthen pot
Mannaalum vela vara koodum naalaA time will come tomorrow when he shall rule the land
Female
Meenatchi aathaa kann kondu paarthaaIf Goddess Meenakshi looks upon us with her compassionate eyes
Mann ellaam ponnaagumAll the dirt will turn into gold
Mull ellaam poovaagumAll the thorns will turn into flowers
Female
Ola kudisaiyilae palansaelaiyilIn a thatched palm leaf hut, in a worn-out old saree
Oonjal aadum kuyilin kunjuSwinging like a chick of a cuckoo bird
Indha poompinjuThis tender flower-like young one
Female
Rekkai innum molaikka villaiWings have not grown yet
Indha pinjukkuFor this tender little one
Thaayin thunai venum ammaA mother's support is needed, oh Lord
Chinna pinjukkuFor this tiny little child
Female
Ola kudisaiyilae palansaelaiyilIn a thatched palm leaf hut, in a worn-out old saree
Oonjal aadum kuyilin kunjuSwinging like a chick of a cuckoo bird
Indha poompinjuThis tender flower-like young one

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This tender lullaby from the movie Ore Oru Gramathiley depicts a mother's profound love, resilience, and hope for her young child amidst extreme poverty. Living in a humble thatched hut and cradling her baby in a hammock made from an old saree, she likens her infant to a flightless bird chick requiring maternal warmth and protection. Despite facing immense hardship and drying milk, she places her faith in divine grace and encourages her child to grow up strong like a fearless lion to overcome adversity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Oonjal aadum kuyilin kunju

Compares the tender infant resting in a improvised cradle to a cuckoo bird chick swinging on a branch.

Uvamai (Simile)

Anjaatha singam pol aiyaa nee munnaeru

Compares the child to a fearless lion who should march forward bravely.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Muzhugaama naanae mutheduthaenae

Refers to the infant as a precious pearl ('muthu') that was obtained without having to dive deep into the sea.

Ethirpaaru (Contrast / Metaphor)

Mann ellaam ponnaagum / Mull ellaam poovaagum

Presents dramatic transformation metaphors where dirt/soil turns to gold and thorns turn into flowers under divine grace.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ore Oru Gramathiley' (1989) is a social drama film directed by K. Jyothi Pandian, starring Nizhalgal Ravi and Shobana. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by the renowned poet Vaali.

Keep listening

More from Ore Oru Gramathiley