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Kakkai Siraginilae album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oor Oora

From Kakkai Siraginilae · 2000

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singer
Sandhya
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kakkai Siraginilae
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
4 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa….aaa…aaa…aa..aa…aa…aa..
Haa….aaa….aa….aaa….
Oor ooraa pogum
Indha odambu
Ullukkulla thavikkum
Indha manasu
Oor ooraa pogum
Indha odambu
Ullukkulla thavikkum
Indha manasu
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhu
En raasaavae
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhu
Sekku maadu pola suthi suthi aadum
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhu
En raasaavae
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhu
Yedho oru moolaiyilae
Yengum usuru
Veenaaga en odamba
Thaangum usuru
Kaaranam kelu
Adhu paadudhu peru
Thaer onnu kaathirukku
Oorvalatthukku
Unnudan thaanaa
Illai naan mattum thaanaa
Vedham ketkum kaadhukkullae
Ezhai naadham ketkaadhaa
Maadham thaedhi naatkal ellaam
Indru nyaayam kooraadhaa
Kaattula varaiyila aatthula vayalula
Nee thaanae
Alaiyilra manasukku aarudhal tharuvadhu
Nee thaanae nee thaanae
Oor ooraa pogum
Indha odambu
Ullukkulla thavikkum
Indha manasu
Tholil karugaamani
Vimmi aadudhu
Thoongaadha kannu mani
Onna thaedudhu
Naan padum paadu
Adhai yaar arivaaro
Naadodi paattu onnu
Yaara thaedudhu
Nee pogum paadha
Adha thaan thaedudhu
Nee illaadha oor kondaadum
Naalum enakku thirunaalaa
Kaappu katti karagam aada
Amman arulai tharuvaalaa
Saethula naan nadum naathula
Therivadhu nee thaanae
Kaathula mazhaiyla anudhinam thoduvadhu
Nee thaanae nee thaanae
Oor ooraa pogum
Indha odambu
Ullukkulla thavikkum
Indha manasu
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhu
En raasaavae
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhu
Sekku maadu pola suthi suthi aadum
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhu
En raasaavae
Unna vittu verengum pogaadhu
Oor ooraa pogum
Indha odambu
Ullukkulla thavikkum
Indha manasu
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Haa... aa... aa... aa...
Wandering from town to town,
this body goes...
Deep inside, it yearns and suffers,
this heart of mine.
Wandering from town to town,
this body goes...
Deep inside, it yearns and suffers,
this heart of mine.
It will not go anywhere away from you,
my dear king...
It will not go anywhere away from you.
Going round and round like an oil-mill ox,
it will not go anywhere away from you,
my dear king...
It will not go anywhere away from you.
In some distant corner,
my soul keeps yearning.
All in vain, this life
still carries this body.
Ask for the reason,
and it sings your name.
A temple chariot waits
for its procession...
Will it be with you,
or will I be all alone?
To ears that listen to sacred chants,
won't the cry of this poor girl be heard?
Won't the months, dates, and passing days
finally bring justice today?
In the woods, on the hills, by the river, and in the fields,
it is only you.
The one who comforts my wandering heart,
is only you, only you.
Wandering from town to town,
this body goes...
Deep inside, it yearns and suffers,
this heart of mine.
Across my shoulders, the black-bead chain
throbs and sways,
The sleepless pupil of my eye
keeps searching for you.
The sorrow that I suffer,
who will ever understand it?
This wandering folk song,
whom is it searching for?
The path where you walk,
that is what it seeks.
A festival celebrated by a town without you—
can it ever be a joyful day for me?
If I tie the sacred wrist-band and balance the karagam (ritual pot),
will the goddess grant her blessings?
In the muddy field, in the seedlings I plant,
the only face I see is yours.
In the wind and rain, touching me every day,
it is only you, only you.
Wandering from town to town,
this body goes...
Deep inside, it yearns and suffers,
this heart of mine.
It will not go anywhere away from you,
my dear king...
It will not go anywhere away from you.
Going round and round like an oil-mill ox,
it will not go anywhere away from you,
my dear king...
It will not go anywhere away from you.
Wandering from town to town,
this body goes...
Deep inside, it yearns and suffers,
this heart of mine.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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