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Thenpandi Seemaiyile album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oodhura Sanga Neeyum

From Thenpandi Seemaiyile · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. Bhagyaraj
Music director
K. Bhagyaraj
Movie name
Thenpandi Seemaiyile
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
9 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oodhura sanga neeyum oodhi vai
Paadura paatta neeyum paadi vai
Niyaayamunnu yaeththukittaa
Naalaikkoru vaasal thorakkum
Thoranthuttaa yaezhaikkellaam motcham kedaikkum
Oodhura sanga neeyum oodhi vai
Paadura paatta neeyum paadi vai
Niyaayamunnu yaeththukittaa
Naalaikkoru vaasal thorakkum
Thoranthuttaa yaezhaikkellaam motcham kedaikkum
Naalaikkoru vaasal thorakkum
Thoranthuttaa yaezhaikkellaam motcham kedaikkum
Kottinaaththaan theala ooru mathikkum
Illa pulla poochchinny pottu mithikkum
Kutta kutta kuninjaa enna nadakkum
Konjam thatti kelu appo needhi kidaikkum
Soodu onnu pottu vachchaa
Maattukkoru soranai varum
Sollu onnu solliputtaa
Yaarukkumae rosham varum
Pollaappa vittuputtu ellaarum onnupattu
Puratchi paathaiyil ezhuchchi kaanavae
Oodhura sanga neeyum oodhi vai
Paadura paatta neeyum paadi vai
Niyaayamunnu yaeththukittaa
Naalaikkoru vaasal thorakkum
Thoranthuttaa yaezhaikkellaam motcham kedaikkum
Yaeniyai pola oora yaeththividanum aanaa
Etti udhaippavana mutti thattanum
Thoniyai pola palarai sumanthidanum
Kavukka nenaippavana aaththil vidanum
Nallavanga perai dhinam
Oorukulla naam sollalaam aanaa
Nalla nalla kaariyaththa naama kooda
Senju kaattanum
Veen vambu pesikittu verum vaaya mennukittu
Kosham poduravan vesham kalaiyavae
Oodhura sanga neeyum oodhi vai
Paadura paatta neeyum paadi vai
Niyaayamunnu yaeththukittaa
Naalaikkoru vaasal thorakkum
Thoranthuttaa yaezhaikkellaam motcham kedaikkum
Naalaikkoru vaasal thorakkum
Thoranthuttaa yaezhaikkellaam motcham kedaikkum
Oodhura sanga neeyum oodhi vai
Paadura paatta neeyum paadi vai
Blow the conch you are meant to blow,
Sing the song you are meant to sing.
If they accept that it is just,
A new door will open tomorrow.
And if it opens, the poor will find their salvation.
Blow the conch you are meant to blow,
Sing the song you are meant to sing.
If they accept that it is just,
A new door will open tomorrow.
And if it opens, the poor will find their salvation.
A new door will open tomorrow,
And if it opens, the poor will find their salvation...
The world respects a scorpion only if it stings,
Otherwise, they will crush it underfoot like a harmless bug.
What comes of bowing your head every time you are hit?
Stand up and question them, and justice will be served.
If you brand it with heat,
Even an ox will feel sensation.
If the right word is spoken,
Anyone's self-respect will be stirred.
Setting aside ill will and uniting as one,
To rise up on the path of revolution...
Blow the conch you are meant to blow,
Sing the song you are meant to sing.
If they accept that it is just,
A new door will open tomorrow.
And if it opens, the poor will find their salvation.
Like a ladder, we should lift others up, but
We must strike back at the one who kicks us away.
Like a boat, we should carry many across, but
Leave in the river the one who tries to sink it.
Every day, the names of good people
We may praise across our town, but
Good and noble deeds, we too
Must perform and show.
Spreading idle gossip and chewing on empty words,
To expose the masks of those who merely shout slogans...
Blow the conch you are meant to blow,
Sing the song you are meant to sing.
If they accept that it is just,
A new door will open tomorrow.
And if it opens, the poor will find their salvation.
A new door will open tomorrow,
And if it opens, the poor will find their salvation.
Blow the conch you are meant to blow,
Sing the song you are meant to sing...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Oodhura Sanga' is a revolutionary and philosophical song from the 1988 film 'Thenpandi Seemaiyile', featuring music composed and sung by K. Bhagyaraj with lyrics by Vaali. The song acts as a clarion call for the marginalized and oppressed to wake up, demand justice, and fight for their rights rather than silently enduring mistreatment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

“Yaeniyai pola oora yaeththividanum”

Comparing oneself to a ladder ('yaeniyai pola') that helps elevate others in society.

Simile (Uvamaani)

“Thoniyai pola palarai sumanthidanum”

Comparing a helpful person to a boat ('thoniyai pola') that safely carries many people across waters.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Kottinaaththaan / Illa”

The second consonant sound 't' / 'l' creates folk rhythm across the couplet lines.

Metaphor

“Kottinaaththaan theala ooru mathikkum”

Uses the metaphor of a stinging scorpion to illustrate that people only respect those who stand up for themselves aggressively.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thenpandi Seemaiyile' (1988) is one of the rare films where actor-director K. Bhagyaraj himself stepped into the role of a full-fledged music director. He composed all the songs and rendered this particular track in his iconic, conversational folk-singing style. Lyricist Vaali skillfully blended folk proverbs with socio-political messages tailored to Bhagyaraj's screen image.

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