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Isaimozhi
Ambikapathy album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oliyaaga Vandhaai

From Ambikapathy · 2013

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Javed Ali, K. M. M. C. Sufi Ensemble
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Ambikapathy
Movie release year
2013
Lyrics added on
25 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa} (2)
{Unnai thedi ovvoru naalum
Urugi alainthenae
Iravum pagalum thedi thedi
Engum kaanenae} (2)
En idhaya kannai thiranthenae…
Aaeee…..ae…….
Enniru kannil thondridavillai…
Idhaya kannil thondrinai
Uyiraaga vanthaai…
Uravaaga vanthaai
Oliyaaga vanthaai
Vanthaai vanthaai……
Oliyaaga vanthaai
Vanthaai vanthaai..
Male :Oliyaaga vanthaai ….aaa…
Unnai thedi ovvoru naalum
Urugi alainthenae
Iravum pagalum thedi thedi
Engum kaanenae
En idhaya kannai thiranthenae…
Aaeee…..ae…….
Enniru kannil thondridavillai…
Idhaya kannil thondrinai
Uyiraaga vanthaai…
Uravaaga vanthaai
Oliyaaga vanthaai
Vanthaai vanthaai……
Oliyaaga vanthaai
Vanthaai vanthaai..
Male :Oliyaaga vanthaai ….aaa…
Saaa..sa sa sa ne ne sa sa
Re sa sa re sa sa ne ne sa
Pa pa ne ne sa re
Sari gari sari gari sari gari sa
Re sa sa re re sa sa re ne ne sa
Sari gari sari gari sari gari sa
Pa ne sa re ga sa pa ne sa re ga sa
Pa ne sa re re re re….aaa….aaa..
Dha ni da pa ma ga ni sa da pa ma ga ni
Pa ne sa maaa…aaa….
Unnai thedi thedi
Pala desam ponenae
Chorus :Unnai thedi thedi
Pala desam ponenae
Meendum veetu vaasal
Vanthu unnai kandenae
Chorus :Meendum veetu vaasal
Vanthu unnai kandenae
Unnai adaiyum varaiyil
Ennai ariyavillaiyae
En vaan engum gnyanam ponga
Nee vandhaayae
Oliyaga vandhai
Vanthaai vanthaai
Oliyaaga vanthaai
Vanthaai vanthaai
Male :Oliyaga vandhai
Unnai thedi ovvoru naalum
Urugi alainthenae
Iravum pagalum thedi thedi
Engum kaanenae
Hmmm…mmm…mmm
Ash hadu allaa ilaaha ill allah
Wah ash hadu allah
Mohammed ur rasool illah
…………………………..
Indha vaiyam boomi ellam
Maayam endrenae
Chorus :Indha vaiyam boomi ellam
Maayam endrenae
Unnai paartha pinbu ellam
Nyayam endrenae
Chorus :Unnai paartha pinbu ellam
Nyayam endrenae
Naan kaatril mithapadharkkum
Neeril nadapadharkkum
Dhegam thaandi vaazhkai vaazha
Etho seithaaiyae
Oliyaga vandhai
Vanthaai vanthaai
Oliyaaga vanthaai
Vanthaai vanthaai
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Malargal melae paniyai polae
Malaiyin melae veyilai polae
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Ni ni sa sa ni ni sa sa
Malargal melae paniyai polae
Malaiyin melae veyilai polae
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa nisa
Kanavu polae …kavithai polae…
Kangal melae..aaah
Uyiraaga vandhaai…
Uravaaga vandhaai
{Oliyaga vandhai
Vandhaai vandhaai
Oliyaga vandhai
Vandhaai vandhaai
Male :Oliyaga vandhai} (2)
Ni Ni Sa Sa Ni Ni Sa Sa
Ni Ni Sa Sa Ni Ni Sa Sa
Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa
Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa
Searching for you every day,
I wandered, melting in longing.
Searching day and night,
I could not find you anywhere.
When I opened the eyes of my heart...
Aaa...
You did not appear before my physical eyes,
but you appeared in the eyes of my heart.
You came as life itself...
You came as my kin...
You came as light...
You came, you came...
You came as light...
You came, you came...
Male: You came as light...
Searching for you every day,
I wandered, melting in longing.
Searching day and night,
I could not find you anywhere.
When I opened the eyes of my heart...
Aaa...
You did not appear before my physical eyes,
but you appeared in the eyes of my heart.
You came as life itself...
You came as my kin...
You came as light...
You came, you came...
You came as light...
You came, you came...
Male: You came as light...
Sa... Sa Sa Sa Ni Ni Sa Sa
Ri Sa Sa Ri Sa Sa Ni Ni Sa
Pa Pa Ni Ni Sa Ri
Sa-Ri Ga-Ri Sa-Ri Ga-Ri Sa-Ri Ga-Ri Sa
Ri Sa Sa Ri Ri Sa Sa Ri Ni Ni Sa
Sa-Ri Ga-Ri Sa-Ri Ga-Ri Sa-Ri Ga-Ri Sa
Pa Ni Sa Ri Ga Sa Pa Ni Sa Ri Ga Sa
Pa Ni Sa Ri Ri Ri Ri... Aaa... Aaa...
Dha Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ni Sa Dha Pa Ma Ga Ni
Pa Ni Sa Maa... Aaa...
Searching endlessly for you,
I traveled across many lands.
Chorus: Searching endlessly for you,
I traveled across many lands.
Returning to the doorstep of my home,
I found you right here.
Chorus: Returning to the doorstep of my home,
I found you right here.
Until I found you,
I did not truly know myself.
For wisdom to flood across my sky,
you arrived.
You came as light,
you came, you came.
You came as light,
you came, you came.
Male: You came as light...
Searching for you every day,
I wandered, melting in longing.
Searching day and night,
I could not find you anywhere.
Hmmm... mmm... mmm...
I bear witness that there is no god but God,
and I bear witness that
Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
...
"This whole wide world and earth
is merely an illusion," I once said.
Chorus: "This whole wide world and earth
is merely an illusion," I once said.
After seeing you,
I felt that everything has meaning and truth.
Chorus: After seeing you,
I felt that everything has meaning and truth.
For me to float in the air,
to walk upon the water,
and to live a life beyond this mortal body,
you worked some wonder on me.
You came as light,
you came, you came.
You came as light,
you came, you came.
Ni Ni Sa Sa Ni Ni Sa Sa
Ni Ni Sa Sa Ni Ni Sa Sa
Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa
Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa
Like dew upon the blossoms,
like sunlight upon the mountains,
Ni Ni Sa Sa Ni Ni Sa Sa
Ni Ni Sa Sa Ni Ni Sa Sa
Like dew upon the blossoms,
like sunlight upon the mountains,
Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa
Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa Ni-Sa
Like a dream... like poetry...
upon my eyes...
You came as life itself...
You came as my kin...
You came as light,
you came, you came,
you came as light,
you came, you came.
Male: You came as light...
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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