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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oor Aayiram Vaanavil

From 99 Songs · 2021

Lyricist
Vivek
Singers
A. R. Rahman, Vijay Yesudas
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
99 Songs2021

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oor aayiram vaanavil bhoomiyilOn this earth with a thousand rainbows,
Un kangalum theduthae kaar irulYet your eyes search for dark shadows.
Poo vaasangal korthidum bhoomiyilOn this earth that strings together floral fragrances,
Un nesamum veezhnthidum veliyilIn the open space where your affection falls,
Male
Un idhaya idhaya idhaya thiriyilOn the wick of your heart, heart, heart,
Perozhi paravaFor a great light to spread,
Nall ozhiyum unakkul nuzhaindhuLet good light enter inside you,
Padara ooridam tharugaAnd give space for it to spread.
Male
Oo koochalae maunamaai maariduOh clamor, turn into silence!
Oo vanjamae nanmaiyaai yeriduOh deceit, rise as goodness!
Peraasaiyae thaanamaai aagiduOh greed, turn into charity!
Oo inmaiyae enil peidhiduOh emptiness, rain down upon me!
Male
Un idhaya idhaya idhaya thiriyilOn the wick of your heart, heart, heart,
Perozhi paravaFor a great light to spread,
Nall ozhiyum unakkul nuzhaindhuLet good light enter inside you,
Padara ooridam tharugaAnd give space for it to spread.
Male
Kilai veezhthinum poo tharum nan maramA good tree yields flowers even if its branches are cut,
Midhithaerinum thaangidum odamumA boat bears weight even when trodden upon,
Adithaalumae isai tharum melamumA drum yields sweet music even when beaten,
Ivai polavae yengidum thaai manamJust like these longs a mother's loving heart.
Male
Un idhaya idhaya idhaya thiriyilOn the wick of your heart, heart, heart,
Perozhi paravaFor a great light to spread,
Nall ozhiyum unakkul nuzhaindhuLet good light enter inside you,
Padara ooridam tharugaAnd give space for it to spread.
Male
Un idhaya idhaya idhaya thiriyilOn the wick of your heart, heart, heart,
Perozhi paravumA great light will spread.
Adhu ozhira ozhira ozhiyai parugumAs it shines brighter and brighter, it will drink the light,
Maanudam muzhudhumAlong with all of humanity.
Male
Amma un madi podhumMother, your lap alone is enough for me,
Neeyae en varamaagumYou alone are my ultimate blessing.
Ellam thandhaai verai pola nindrenYou gave me everything, while I stood rooted like a tree,
Unnil paniven undhan paadham engaeI bow to you; where are your feet?
Kaalam ellaam endhan aavi unadhae…aeFor all of time, my soul belongs to you...
Amma un karunai edhanai koduthu niraithiduvenMother, with what could I ever repay your boundless grace?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song explores themes of spiritual transformation, inner illumination, and the boundless, selfless grace of maternal love. It opens with an awakening call to the human spirit, urging the heart to dispel darkness and make room for divine light to enter and purge negative qualities such as clamor, deceit, and greed, replacing them with silence, goodness, and generosity. In the second half, the song transitions into a tender tribute to a mother's endurance and unconditional love. Using evocative nature imagery—a tree giving flowers despite losing branches, a boat bearing heavy burdens, and a drum producing music when struck—it illustrates how a mother's heart continually yields love despite pain. Ultimately, the singer surrenders completely to maternal grace, acknowledging an eternal debt of gratitude.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Un idhaya idhaya idhaya thiriyil

Compares the human heart to the wick ('thiri') of an oil lamp, ready to be ignited by divine light ('perozhi').

Analogy / Simile (Uvamai)

Kilai veezhthinum poo tharum nan maram... Ivai polavae yengidum thaai manam

Compares the sacrificial nature of a mother's heart ('thaai manam') to a tree that yields blossoms even when its branches are cut, a boat that carries people despite being trodden on, and a drum that makes music when beaten.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Oo koochalae maunamaai maaridu / Oo vanjamae nanmaiyaai yeridu / Peraasaiyae thaanamaai aagidu

The lines end with rhythmic matching imperative suffixes ('maaridu', 'yeridu', 'aagidu').

Ethugai (Second Letter Assonance)

Midhithaerinum thaangidum odamum / Adithaalumae isai tharum melamum

The second letter in 'Midhithaerinum' ('dhi') and 'Adithaalumae' ('di') match in sound.

Repetition / Anaphora

Un idhaya idhaya idhaya thiriyil

The word 'idhaya' (heart) is repeated thrice consecutively to emphasize the emotional and spiritual focal point of the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

'99 Songs' (2021) marked A. R. Rahman's debut as a film producer and co-writer. Designed as a deeply musical film centered around redemption and art, Rahman composed a total of 14 original songs for the soundtrack. The Tamil lyrics were penned by Vivek, known for infusing poetic depth and contemporary relevance into spiritual and thematic movie compositions.

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