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Isaimozhi
Valmiki album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oli Tharum Sooriyan

From Valmiki · 2009

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Ilayaraja, Bela Shende
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Valmiki
Movie release year
2009
Lyrics added on
8 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manathil urudhi vendum
Vaakkinilae inimai vendum
Vaakkinilae inimai vendum
Ninaivu nalladhu vendum
Ninaivu nalladhu vendum
Nerungina porul kaippada vendum
Nerungina porul kaippada vendum
Oli tharum sooriyanum naanillai
Iravinil vaan varum nilavum illai
Oli tharum sooriyanum naanillai
Iravinil vaan varum nilavum illai
Vilagaadha irulinaiyum
Vilakki vaikkum vilakkaanen
Adhu podhum adhu podhum
En vidiyalukkor kizhakkaanen
Oli tharum sooriyanum neeyillai
Iravinil vaan varum nilavum illai
Vilagaadha irulinaiyum
Vilakki vaikkum vilakkaanaai
Adhu podhum adhu podhum
Un vidiyalukkor kizhakkaanaai
Oli tharum sooriyanum neeyillai
Ennai maatra yen enninaai
Ingu ennai yemaatri vaazhndhavan
Kallai kooda nee kaniya vaikkiraai
Mullai poovena maatrinaai
Maarip pogindra ulagilae
Endrum anbu maaraadhu sollalaam
Ondrum illaadhu oindhu nindraalum
Ookkathai anbil oottalaam
Ethanai ullam noga
Ennenna seidhavan
Sathiyam seidhae solven
Indru thaan manidhanae
Thirundhiya pinnae
Varundhuvadheno
Thirundhiya pinnae
Varundhuvadheno
Varuvadhu vasanthangalae
Vanna poo poothu
Vaasam eengengum
Vandhu soozhgindra naal idhu
Koiyl maniyosai thendral kaatrodu
Kaadhil thaen paayum naal idhu
Konjum kili pola kola kuyil pola
Pinju manasaagi pogudhu
Gangai nadhi pola pongum alai pola
Ullam ondraagi cherndhadhu
Indru pol endrum endrum
Nalladhae seiyalaam
Ulladhae podhum endru
Nimmadhi kollalaam
Oru vazhi adaithaal
Maru vazhi thirakkum
Oru vazhi adaithaal
Maru vazhi thirakkum
Adhisayam adhisayamae
{Oli tharum sooriyanum naanillai
Male :Oli tharum sooriyanum naanillai
Female :Iravinil vaan varum nilavum illai} (2)
Vilagaadha irulinaiyum
Vilakki vaikkum vilakkaanen
Adhu podhum adhu podhum
Un vidiyalukkor kizhakkaanen
Oli tharum sooriyanum neeyillai
Iravinil vaan varum nilavum illai
Female :Nilavum illai
Male :Vilagaadha irulinaiyum
Vilakki vaikkum vilakkaanaai
Adhu podhum adhu podhum
Un vidiyalukkor kizhakkaanaai
Female :Vilakkaanen… kizhakkaanen..(Overlap)
Oli tharum sooriyanum neeyillai
There must be strength in the mind,
Sweetness in the words we speak,
Sweetness in the words we speak,
Thoughts must be good and noble,
Thoughts must be good and noble,
The goals we pursue must be achieved,
The goals we pursue must be achieved.
I am not the sun that brings the light,
Nor am I the moon in the night sky.
I am not the sun that brings the light,
Nor am I the moon in the night sky.
Even in darkness that refuses to leave,
I have become a lamp that drives it away.
That is enough, that is enough,
I have become the east for my own dawn.
You are not the sun that brings the light,
Nor are you the moon in the night sky.
Even the darkness that refused to leave,
You became a lamp that drove it away.
That is enough, that is enough,
You became the east for your own dawn.
You are not the sun that brings the light.
Why did you think to change me?
I lived here deceiving myself.
You can make even a stone soften and ripen,
You transformed me into a gentle jasmine flower.
In this constantly changing world,
We can be sure that love never changes.
Even when standing weary with nothing left,
We can find strength through love.
Causing so many hearts to ache,
Look at all the wrong things I did!
I swear with all my heart,
Only today have I truly become human.
Now that you have changed your ways,
Why keep grieving?
Now that you have changed your ways,
Why keep grieving?
What lies ahead is only springtime!
Colorful flowers blossom,
Fragrance fills the air everywhere,
This is the day that surrounds us with joy.
The sound of temple bells in the gentle breeze,
Pours like sweet honey into our ears today.
Like a playful parrot, like a graceful cuckoo,
The heart becomes pure and innocent again.
Like the river Ganga, like surging waves,
Our hearts have joined together as one.
Just like today, forever and always,
Let us do only good deeds.
Being content with what we have,
We can find true peace of mind.
If one door is closed,
Another path will open.
If one door is closed,
Another path will open.
It is a miracle, a true miracle!
I am not the sun that brings the light,
Male: I am not the sun that brings the light,
Female: Nor am I the moon in the night sky.
Even in darkness that refuses to leave,
I have become a lamp that drives it away.
That is enough, that is enough,
I have become the east for your dawn.
You are not the sun that brings the light,
Nor are you the moon in the night sky.
Female: Nor the moon...
Male: Even the darkness that refused to leave,
You became a lamp that drove it away.
That is enough, that is enough,
You became the east for your own dawn.
Female: I became the lamp... became the east... (overlapping)
You are not the sun that brings the light.
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deeply philosophical and emotional duet about personal transformation, redemption, and the power of love. The lyrics begin with lines inspired by legendary poet Subramanya Bharathi's verses about seeking strength of mind, sweetness of tongue, and purity of thought. The protagonist reflects on their troubled, deceitful past and acknowledges that while they are not a grand celestial force like the sun or moon, becoming a tiny lamp that dispels inner darkness is more than enough to mark a fresh start.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion

Manathil urudhi vendum

The opening lines 'Manathil urudhi vendum / Vaakkinilae inimai vendum' directly quote Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's famous poem 'Nalladhor Veenai Seidhe', invoking classical Tamil philosophical thought on moral strength.

Simile (Upamai)

Konjum kili pola kola kuyil pola

Uses 'pola' (like) to compare tender transformation to parrots/cuckoos and flowing rivers joining together.

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Vilakki vaikkum vilakkaanen

Metaphorically compares a small act of hope to becoming a lamp ('vilakkaanen') and the direction of dawn ('kizhakkaanen').

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Oli tharum sooriyanum naanillai

The second consonant sound 'li' matches across lines ('Oli' / 'Iravinil').

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening stanza directly borrows lines from Subramania Bharati's iconic 20th-century poem. Lyricist Vaali weaves Bharathiyar's classical poetic philosophical ideals into a modern cinema setting for Valmiki (2009).

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