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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oor Oora

From Kakkai Siraginilae · 2000

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singer
Sandhya
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kakkai Siraginilae2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa….aaa…aaa…aa..aa…aa…aa..Aaa….aaa…aaa…aa..aa…aa…aa..
Haa….aaa….aa….aaa….Haa….aaa….aa….aaa….
Female
Oor ooraa pogumThis body moves from town to town,
Indha odambuThis body,
Ullukkulla thavikkumIs yearning deep inside,
Indha manasuThis heart of mine.
Female
Oor ooraa pogumThis body moves from town to town,
Indha odambuThis body,
Ullukkulla thavikkumIs yearning deep inside,
Indha manasuThis heart of mine.
Female
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhuIt will not go anywhere away from you,
En raasaavaeOh my dear king,
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhuIt will not go anywhere away from you.
Sekku maadu pola suthi suthi aadumSpinning in circles like an ox tied to an oil press,
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhuIt will not go anywhere away from you,
En raasaavaeOh my dear king,
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhuIt will not go anywhere away from you.
Female
Yedho oru moolaiyilaeSomewhere in a corner,
Yengum usuruA soul is pining,
Veenaaga en odambaIn vain, my body
Thaangum usuruIs sustained by this life.
Kaaranam keluAsk for the reason,
Adhu paadudhu peruIt keeps singing your name.
Thaer onnu kaathirukkuA chariot is waiting,
OorvalatthukkuFor the grand procession.
Unnudan thaanaaIs it with you,
Illai naan mattum thaanaaOr am I all alone?
Female
Vedham ketkum kaadhukkullaeInside the ears that listen to sacred Vedas,
Ezhai naadham ketkaadhaaWill the plea of a poor voice not be heard?
Maadham thaedhi naatkal ellaamWill the months, dates, and days,
Indru nyaayam kooraadhaaNot render justice today?
Female
Kaattula varaiyila aatthula vayalulaIn the forest, by the river, and in the fields,
Nee thaanaeIt is only you.
Alaiyilra manasukku aarudhal tharuvadhuGiving comfort to this restless heart,
Nee thaanae nee thaanaeIt is only you, only you.
Female
Oor ooraa pogumThis body moves from town to town,
Indha odambuThis body,
Ullukkulla thavikkumIs yearning deep inside,
Indha manasuThis heart of mine.
Female
Tholil karugaamaniThe black beads necklace on my shoulder,
Vimmi aadudhuSwells and sways,
Thoongaadha kannu maniThese sleepless eyes,
Onna thaedudhuKeep searching for you.
Naan padum paaduThe plight I suffer,
Adhai yaar arivaaroWho would ever know?
Naadodi paattu onnuA nomadic song,
Yaara thaedudhuWhom is it searching for?
Nee pogum paadhaThe path that you walk,
Adha thaan thaedudhuThat is what it searches for.
Female
Nee illaadha oor kondaadumA town celebrating without you—
Naalum enakku thirunaalaaCan that day ever be a true festival for me?
Kaappu katti karagam aadaTying the sacred thread to dance with the Karagam pot,
Amman arulai tharuvaalaaWill the Goddess grant her grace?
Female
Saethula naan nadum naathulaIn the paddy saplings I plant in the mud,
Therivadhu nee thaanaeWhat appears to me is only you.
Kaathula mazhaiyla anudhinam thoduvadhuIn the wind and rain, touching me daily,
Nee thaanae nee thaanaeIt is only you, only you.
Female
Oor ooraa pogumThis body moves from town to town,
Indha odambuThis body,
Ullukkulla thavikkumIs yearning deep inside,
Indha manasuThis heart of mine.
Female
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhuIt will not go anywhere away from you,
En raasaavaeOh my dear king,
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhuIt will not go anywhere away from you.
Sekku maadu pola suthi suthi aadumSpinning in circles like an ox tied to an oil press,
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhuIt will not go anywhere away from you,
En raasaavaeOh my dear king,
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhuIt will not go anywhere away from you.
Female
Oor ooraa pogumThis body moves from town to town,
Indha odambuThis body,
Ullukkulla thavikkumIs yearning deep inside,
Indha manasuThis heart of mine.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-infused, soulful song from 'Kakkai Siraginilae' expresses the deep yearning, loyalty, and pain of a wandering soul whose heart remains attached to her beloved. She describes her endless movement from place to place as being like an ox tied to an oil press—moving continuously in circles without true freedom, yet steadfast in her loyalty to her 'raasaa' (king/beloved). Through rural, nature-centric imagery—such as muddy fields, riverbanks, forest paths, and temple rituals—the protagonist reveals that her beloved's presence permeates every aspect of her existence. She questions the social divide and fate, asking if the upper classes or sacred ears will ever hear the humble heart of the poor, while affirming that no village festival or sacred grace feels complete without her beloved by her side.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Sekku maadu pola suthi suthi aadum

Compares the protagonist's circular, endless wandering and tied-down destiny to an ox revolving around a traditional wooden oil press ('sekku').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Oor ooraa pogum / Ullukkulla thavikkum

The harmony of initial vowel sounds ('Oo' / 'U') at the beginning of the lines establishes a rhythmic, song-like folk cadence.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Vedham ketkum kaadhukkullae / Maadham thaedhi naatkal ellaam

The second consonant sound 'dha' (த) rhymes across the consecutive lines ('Vedham' / 'Maadham').

Pastoral Imagery

Saethula naan nadum naathula / Therivadhu nee thaanae

Uses vivid rural imagery of planting rice seedlings in muddy fields to symbolize how deeply her beloved is intertwined with her daily labor and nature.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as Unknown in the prompt context, 'Kakkai Siraginilae' (2000), starring Parthiban and Suvaluxmi, features a musical score composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by R. V. Udhaya Kumar. The film takes its title from Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's famous poem 'Kakkai Siraginilae Nandalala'.

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