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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ondralla Rendalla Oru

From Radha · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Radha1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ondralla rendalla oru kodiNot just one or two, but ten million
Ennangal nenjodu poraadudhuThoughts are wrestling within my heart
Enna solla naan enna sollaWhat can I say? Oh, what can I say?
Female
Ondralla rendalla oru kodiNot just one or two, but ten million
Ennangal nenjodu poraadudhuThoughts are wrestling within my heart
Enna solla naan enna sollaWhat can I say? Oh, what can I say?
Female
Ooraarin uttraarin munbuIn front of the townspeople and relatives
Uravendru naam aana pinbuAfter we became united as family
Ooraarin uttraarin munbuIn front of the townspeople and relatives
Uravendru naam aana pinbuAfter we became united as family
Female
Maaradhu maraiyaadhu anbuOur love will neither change nor fade away
Maaradhu maraiyaadhu anbuOur love will neither change nor fade away
Un manavaalan endru varuvaano ingae"When will your bridegroom arrive here?"
Endru ennai keli seidha manjamThe bed that once teased me with this question
Indru nammai serthu vaithu konjamHas now gently brought us together today
Female
En kangal nee vaazhum koyilMy eyes are the temple where you reside
En ullam nee thoongum manjamMy heart is the bed where you sleep
En kangal nee vaazhum koyilMy eyes are the temple where you reside
En ullam nee thoongum manjamMy heart is the bed where you sleep
Female
En kaigal nee soodum maalaiMy arms are the garland you wear
En kaigal nee soodum maalaiMy arms are the garland you wear
En po maeni thaane pon oonjal endruDeclaring that my flower-soft body is a golden swing
Pakkam vandhu palli kolla vendumYou must come close and rest upon me
Vetkam vandhu ennai vella vendumWhile bashfulness overcomes me
Pakkam vandhu palli kolla vendumYou must come close and rest upon me
Vetkam vandhu ennai vella vendum..aa..While bashfulness overcomes me.. ah..
Female
Ondralla rendalla oru kodiNot just one or two, but ten million
Ennangal nenjodu poraadudhuThoughts are wrestling within my heart
Enna solla naan enna sollaWhat can I say? Oh, what can I say?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ondralla Rendalla' expresses the joyful inner thoughts and overwhelming romantic feelings of a newly wedded bride. She reflects on how her heart is swarming with millions of emotions as she embarks on this lifelong journey of love with her husband, witnessed and blessed by her relatives and townspeople.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Ondralla rendalla oru kodi

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'O' ('Ondralla' - 'oru') creates rhythmic harmony.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En kangal nee vaazhum koyil

The singer metaphorically equates her eyes to a temple where her lover resides.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En ullam nee thoongum manjam

Her heart/mind is metaphorically described as a soft bed where he can rest peacefully.

Personification

Endru ennai keli seidha manjam

The marital bed is personified as a companion that used to tease the heroine about when her groom would arrive.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Ondralla Rendalla' from the 1973 film 'Radha' features music composed by the celebrated composer duo Shankar-Ganesh and lyrics penned by the prolific Vaali. Sung delightfully by legendary playback singer P. Susheela, this song is remembered as a classic example of bridal romantic melodies in 1970s Tamil cinema.

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