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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oliyaaga Vandhaai

From Ambikapathy · 2013

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Javed Ali, K. M. M. C. Sufi Ensemble
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Ambikapathy2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
{Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa saSwaras: Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa saSwaras: Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisaSwaras: Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa} (2)Swaras: Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Male
{Unnai thedi ovvoru naalumSearching for you every single day
Urugi alainthenaeI wandered around melting in love
Iravum pagalum thedi thediSearching day and night
Engum kaanenae} (2)I could not find you anywhere
Male
En idhaya kannai thiranthenae…I opened my inner eye of the heart...
Aaeee…..ae…….Aaaah... ae...
Enniru kannil thondridavillai…You did not appear to my physical eyes...
Idhaya kannil thondrinaiYou appeared in the eye of my heart
Uyiraaga vanthaai…You came as my life...
Uravaaga vanthaaiYou came as my kin
Chorus
Oliyaaga vanthaaiYou came as the light
Vanthaai vanthaai……You came, you came...
Oliyaaga vanthaaiYou came as the light
Vanthaai vanthaai..You came, you came..
Male :Oliyaaga vanthaai ….aaa…Male: You came as the light... aaa...
Male
Unnai thedi ovvoru naalumSearching for you every single day
Urugi alainthenaeI wandered around melting in love
Iravum pagalum thedi thediSearching day and night
Engum kaanenaeI could not find you anywhere
Chorus
En idhaya kannai thiranthenae…I opened my inner eye of the heart...
Aaeee…..ae…….Aaaah... ae...
Enniru kannil thondridavillai…You did not appear to my physical eyes...
Idhaya kannil thondrinaiYou appeared in the eye of my heart
Uyiraaga vanthaai…You came as my life...
Uravaaga vanthaaiYou came as my kin
Chorus
Oliyaaga vanthaaiYou came as the light
Vanthaai vanthaai……You came, you came...
Oliyaaga vanthaaiYou came as the light
Vanthaai vanthaai..You came, you came..
Male :Oliyaaga vanthaai ….aaa…Male: You came as the light... aaa...
Chorus
Saaa..sa sa sa ne ne sa saSwaras: Saaa..sa sa sa ne ne sa sa
Re sa sa re sa sa ne ne saSwaras: Re sa sa re sa sa ne ne sa
Pa pa ne ne sa reSwaras: Pa pa ne ne sa re
Sari gari sari gari sari gari saSwaras: Sari gari sari gari sari gari sa
Re sa sa re re sa sa re ne ne saSwaras: Re sa sa re re sa sa re ne ne sa
Sari gari sari gari sari gari saSwaras: Sari gari sari gari sari gari sa
Pa ne sa re ga sa pa ne sa re ga saSwaras: Pa ne sa re ga sa pa ne sa re ga sa
Pa ne sa re re re re….aaa….aaa..Swaras: Pa ne sa re re re re....aaa....aaa..
Dha ni da pa ma ga ni sa da pa ma ga niSwaras: Dha ni da pa ma ga ni sa da pa ma ga ni
Pa ne sa maaa…aaa….Swaras: Pa ne sa maaa…aaa….
Male
Unnai thedi thediSearching and searching for you
Pala desam ponenaeI went to many far lands
Chorus :Unnai thedi thediChorus: Searching and searching for you
Pala desam ponenaeI went to many far lands
Male
Meendum veetu vaasalReturning back to my own doorstep
Vanthu unnai kandenaeI found you there
Chorus :Meendum veetu vaasalChorus: Returning back to my own doorstep
Vanthu unnai kandenaeI found you there
Male
Unnai adaiyum varaiyilUntil I attained you
Ennai ariyavillaiyaeI did not truly know myself
En vaan engum gnyanam pongaFor wisdom to overflow across my sky
Nee vandhaayaeYou arrived
Chorus
Oliyaga vandhaiYou came as the light
Vanthaai vanthaaiYou came, you came
Oliyaaga vanthaaiYou came as the light
Vanthaai vanthaaiYou came, you came
Male :Oliyaga vandhaiMale: You came as the light
Chorus
Unnai thedi ovvoru naalumSearching for you every single day
Urugi alainthenaeI wandered around melting in love
Iravum pagalum thedi thediSearching day and night
Engum kaanenaeI could not find you anywhere
Chorus
Hmmm…mmm…mmmHmmm... mmm... mmm
Ash hadu allaa ilaaha ill allahI bear witness that there is no god but Allah
Wah ash hadu allahAnd I bear witness
Mohammed ur rasool illahThat Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
Chorus
…………………………..........................
Male
Indha vaiyam boomi ellamThis world and earth
Maayam endrenaeI called them a mere illusion
Chorus :Indha vaiyam boomi ellamChorus: This world and earth
Maayam endrenaeI called them a mere illusion
Male
Unnai paartha pinbu ellamAfter seeing you, everything
Nyayam endrenaeI deemed just and right
Chorus :Unnai paartha pinbu ellamChorus: After seeing you, everything
Nyayam endrenaeI deemed just and right
Male
Naan kaatril mithapadharkkumFor me to float in the air
Neeril nadapadharkkumAnd to walk on water
Dhegam thaandi vaazhkai vaazhaTo live a life beyond the physical body
Etho seithaaiyaeYou did something magical to me
Chorus
Oliyaga vandhaiYou came as the light
Vanthaai vanthaaiYou came, you came
Oliyaaga vanthaaiYou came as the light
Vanthaai vanthaaiYou came, you came
Chorus
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa saSwaras: Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa saSwaras: Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisaSwaras: Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisaSwaras: Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Chorus
Malargal melae paniyai polaeLike dew drops upon the flowers
Malaiyin melae veyilai polaeLike sunlight upon the mountain
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa saSwaras: Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa saSwaras: Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Malargal melae paniyai polaeLike dew drops upon the flowers
Malaiyin melae veyilai polaeLike sunlight upon the mountain
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisaSwaras: Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisaSwaras: Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Kanavu polae …kavithai polae…Like a dream... like a poem...
Kangal melae..aaahUpon the eyes... aaah
Chorus
Uyiraaga vandhaai…You came as my life...
Uravaaga vandhaaiYou came as my kin
{Oliyaga vandhaiYou came as the light
Vandhaai vandhaaiYou came, you came
Oliyaga vandhaiYou came as the light
Vandhaai vandhaaiYou came, you came
Male :Oliyaga vandhai} (2)Male: You came as the light

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Ambikapathy' (the Tamil soundtrack of 'Raanjhanaa') is a deeply spiritual and mystical expression of devotion where love transcends physical existence. The seeker searches far and wide across lands and days, only to discover that the beloved was inside all along. True vision occurs not through physical eyes, but by opening the 'eye of the heart' (idhaya kan), which fills the seeker's entire universe with divine light and wisdom. Inulating Sufi philosophies of divine realization, the lyrics describe a transformation where physical reality transforms from an illusion ('maayam') into ultimate divine justice ('nyayam'). The addition of classical Indian swara improvisations and sacred chants highlights the universal connection between human love, spiritual awakening, and the light of divine truth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

En idhaya kannai thiranthenae…

Refers to spiritual insight and inner divine vision rather than physical eyesight.

Uvamai (Simile)

Malargal melae paniyai polae / Malaiyin melae veyilai polae

Compares the gentle and illuminating arrival of the beloved to dew on flowers and sunshine on mountains.

Thirupudhal (Anaphora / Repetition)

Iravum pagalum thedi thedi

Repetition of words like 'Thedi thedi' and 'Vanthaai vanthaai' intensifies the sense of earnest searching and blissful arrival.

Anupirasam (Alliteration)

Malargal melae paniyai polae

Repetition of the 'm' and 'p' consonantal sounds creates rhythmic musicality across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ambikapathy' (2013) is the Tamil dubbed version of the hit Hindi film 'Raanjhanaa', starring Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor. The original soundtrack was composed by A.R. Rahman, with Tamil lyrics written by National Award-winning poet Vairamuthu. This song corresponds to 'Tu Mun Shudi' in the Hindi original album and incorporates Islamic Sufi chanting (the Shahada) alongside Carnatic/Hindustani classical solkattu swaras.

Keep listening

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