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Isaimozhi
Manaivi Ready album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Onna Vitta Yarum Illa

From Manaivi Ready · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Manaivi Ready
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
18 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Onna vittaa yaarum illa saami
Intha ushura konjam vaazha vachchu kaami
Thaaya pola kooppidaama vaa nee
Oru thaali pitcha kekkurappo thaa nee
Kannu paakkaamalum kaathu ketkkaamalum
Koyil kondathellaam yaen nee….
Onna vittaa yaarum illa saami
Intha ushura konjam vaazha vachchu kaami
Thaaya pola kooppidaama vaa nee
Oru thaali pitcha kekkurappo thaa nee
Intha saathi sanam ellaam kaakkai inam
Maman machchaannuthaan peru
Yaarum suththam illa nalla raththam illa
Sonnaa kuththam illa paaru
Thaanae vanthavanga thaanam senjavanga
Sontha bantham illa yaar yaaro
Maman kann muzhikka mayilu thaththalikka
Saami unnaalathaan aagaatho
Mayangurappo kalangurappo
Mayangurappo kalangurappo
Anji kedukkuthu nenjam thudikkuthu
Onna vittaa yaarum illa saami
Intha ushura konjam vaazha vachchu kaami
Thaaya pola kooppidaama vaa nee
Oru thaali pitcha kekkurappo thaa nee
Sodi kanda pulla sogaththa kandathilla
Vaadi nikkuthaiyaa paavam
Poovu vaadaamalum pottu pogaamalum
Kaaval neethaan intha neram
Paal pol vellai manam pachcha pillai gunam
Paai mel thindaaduthu paaraiyaa
Unna nampiduvom nambi kumbiduvom
Thunbam theekkurathu yaariyaa
Serakodinja siru kuruvi
Serakodinja siru kuruvi
Seththu pozhachchingu kanna thoranthida
Onna vittaa yaarum illa saami
Intha ushura konjam vaazha vachchu kaami
Thaaya pola kooppidaama vaa nee
Oru thaali pitcha kekkurappo thaa nee
Kannu paakkaamalum kaathu ketkkaamalum
Koyil kondathellaam yaen nee….
Onna vittaa yaarum illa saami
Intha ushura konjam vaazha vachchu kaami
Thaaya pola kooppidaama vaa nee
Oru thaali pitcha kekkurappo thaa nee
Except for you, there is no one, my Lord,
Please let this life survive and live.
Come without waiting to be called, just like a mother,
When she begs for her thali (sacred marriage thread), please grant it.
Without seeing with your eyes and hearing with your ears,
Why do you stay enshrined in this temple...?
Except for you, there is no one, my Lord,
Please let this life survive and live.
Come without waiting to be called, just like a mother,
When she begs for her thali (sacred marriage thread), please grant it.
All these relatives and kin are like a flock of crows,
They are called uncles and in-laws only in name.
None of them are genuine, none have good hearts,
It is no wrong to say this, just look.
Those who came forward on their own and offered help,
Are not family at all, but complete strangers.
While her man struggles to open his eyes, this poor girl is trembling,
O Lord, is it not in your power to save him?
While losing consciousness, while breaking down in sorrow,
While losing consciousness, while breaking down in sorrow,
The heart lies in deep fear, beating in distress...
Except for you, there is no one, my Lord,
Please let this life survive and live.
Come without waiting to be called, just like a mother,
When she begs for her thali (sacred marriage thread), please grant it.
The girl who found a partner has never known happiness,
She stands withered in grief, poor thing.
So her flowers do not fade and her bindi stays intact,
You must be her guardian at this hour.
With a heart as pure as milk and an innocent childlike nature,
Look at him struggling for life on the mat.
We trust in you and worship you with faith,
Who else will remove this sorrow?
Like a little bird with a broken wing,
Like a little bird with a broken wing,
May he come back from the edge of death and open his eyes...
Except for you, there is no one, my Lord,
Please let this life survive and live.
Come without waiting to be called, just like a mother,
When she begs for her thali (sacred marriage thread), please grant it.
Without seeing with your eyes and hearing with your ears,
Why do you stay enshrined in this temple...?
Except for you, there is no one, my Lord,
Please let this life survive and live.
Come without waiting to be called, just like a mother,
When she begs for her thali (sacred marriage thread), please grant it.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

‘Onna Vittaa Yaarum Illa Saami’ is a heart-wrenching devotional plea from the 1987 Tamil film 'Manaivi Ready'. Composed and sung by Ilayaraja with lyrics by Vaali, the song captures a moment of ultimate helplessness where the protagonist turns to God as the final refuge. The lyrics question the aloofness of the deity while desperately begging for the life of a loved one who is battling illness, asking God to act like a compassionate mother and protect the young bride's sacred marital bond ('thaali'). The song contrasts the utter selflessness needed in moments of crisis with the cold indifference of selfish relatives, whom the speaker compares to opportunistic crows. Through rich metaphors—such as comparing the innocent patient to a bird with broken wings struggling on a mat—the track moves through grief, angst, and raw faith, pleading for a miraculous recovery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai Ani)

“Thaaya pola kooppidaama vaa nee”

Compares God's unconditional care and protection to that of a mother ('Thaaya pola' = like a mother).

Simile (Uwamai Ani)

“Paal pol vellai manam pachcha pillai gunam”

Compares the absolute purity and innocence of the character's heart to white milk ('Paal pol') and a newborn child.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Intha saathi sanam ellaam kaakkai inam”

Directly compares selfish relatives and kin to a flock of crows ('kaakkai inam') who only gather for self-interest.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Serakodinja siru kuruvi”

Metaphorically describes the bedridden, helpless loved one as a 'little bird with broken wings'.

Rhyme / Monai (Initial Rhyme)

“Mayangurappo kalangurappo”

Repetition of sound patterns and internal rhythm across lines creating emotional cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manaivi Ready' (1987) is a Tamil comedy-drama film directed by Pandiarajan. Although the movie is predominantly a lighthearted comedy, this song sung and composed by Ilayaraja stands out as a poignant, intense emotional peak. The composition is widely praised for Ilayaraja's soulful vocal delivery, which captures deep anguish and spiritual fervour, paired with Vaali's evocative folk-rooted lyricism.

Keep listening

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Idhaya Koyil Irukka1961
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Kalaivaniye Nee Enai1949
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Jaya Jaya Girija Ramana1960
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Aayiram Kangal Kondaval1987
Thaye Neeye ThunaiDevotionGrief
Engey Nimmathi1964
Puthiya ParavaiGriefSolitude
Nenjukku Theriyum1964
Amma EngeLongingDevotion

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