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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oora Therinjukitten

From Samsaram Adhu Minsaram · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Samsaram Adhu Minsaram1986

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Oora therinjikittenI came to understand the town,
Ulagam purinjikittenI came to understand the world,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Naadi thalarnthiruchuMy pulse/body has grown weak,
Vela mudinchiruchuMy life's work/duty is over,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Male
Oora therinjikittenI came to understand the town,
Ulagam purinjikittenI came to understand the world,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Naadi thalarnthiruchuMy pulse/body has grown weak,
Vela mudinchiruchuMy life's work/duty is over,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Male
Paadam padikuthunuThinking that she was studying her lessons,
Paarati valarthenI raised her with praise and pride,
Paadam padicha pullaThe child who studied her lessons,
Paadangal sonnadhadiTaught hard lessons back to me, my dear!
Male
Oora therinjikittenI came to understand the town,
Ulagam purinjikittenI came to understand the world,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Naadi thalarnthiruchuMy pulse/body has grown weak,
Vela mudinchiruchuMy life's work/duty is over,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Male
Aathaa appan pechuThe words of father and mother,
Kaathil athu pochuBlew away in the wind unheard,
Pechaa meeri pochuDisobedience crossed all limits,
Ini vaazha vetti aachuNow my life has become completely ruined/useless!
Male
Kaatukku nadu kaatukkuInto the middle of the deep forest,
Andru seethai ava ponaaIn those ancient days, Sita went,
Roatukku nadu roatukkuInto the middle of the open road,
Indru pedhai iva ponaaToday, this innocent woman has gone!
Male
En veetu chellakattiThe precious darling of my house,
Ennoda mallukattiFought and wrestled against me,
Enkotta thaandu dhadiAnd crossed the boundary of my fort, my dear!
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
En iduppu vetti kudaEven the veshti tied at my waist,
En pecha ketka villaiDoes not listen to my command anymore!
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Male
Oora therinjikittenI came to understand the town,
Ulagam purinjikittenI came to understand the world,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Naadi thalarnthiruchuMy pulse/body has grown weak,
Vela mudinchiruchuMy life's work/duty is over,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Male
En di intha paaduWhy this plight and sorrow, my dear?
Neeyum konjam poduYou too put up with a little of it,
Soodu patta nenjamA heart that has been scorched and burnt,
Thanni vittu aathuCool it down by pouring water over it!
Male
En magan oru balaganMy son is a young lad,
Ivan padippae thagaraarooHis education itself is in trouble and conflict!
Pillaiyum en peranumWill my son and my grandson,
Oru vaguppil padippaarooEnd up studying in the exact same class?
Male
Alugindra ennai kanduSeeing me weep in distress,
Adangadha pillai ondruAn unruly child of mine,
Kadangaara endrathadiCalled me a debtor/worthless burden, my dear!
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Male
En peru ammai appanMy name is Ammayappan,
Enakku illai vellai appanYet I don't have a kind, pure father above me!
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Male
Oora therinjikittenI came to understand the town,
Ulagam purinjikittenI came to understand the world,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Naadi thalarnthiruchuMy pulse/body has grown weak,
Vela mudinchiruchuMy life's work/duty is over,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Male
Paadam padikuthunuThinking that she was studying her lessons,
Paarati valarthenI raised her with praise and pride,
Paadam padicha pullaThe child who studied her lessons,
Paadangal sonnadhadiTaught hard lessons back to me, my dear!
Male
Oora therinjikittenI came to understand the town,
Ulagam purinjikittenI came to understand the world,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!
Naadi thalarnthiruchuMy pulse/body has grown weak,
Vela mudinchiruchuMy life's work/duty is over,
Kannammaa en kannammaaOh Kannamma, my Kannamma!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oora Therinjikitten' is a iconic, grief-stricken lament sung by a family patriarch (played by Visu in 'Samsaram Adhu Minsaram') addressing his wife, Kannamma. Having spent his entire life nurturing his children with affection, pride, and authority, he faces the devastating reality of familial collapse, disobedience, and disrespect in his old age. The song articulates the disillusionment of an aging father who feels his life's efforts have proved futile as his children challenge his principles and shatter household unity. Through poignant colloquial metaphors and mythological references—comparing modern domestic exile to Sita's banishment in the Ramayana—the song highlights generational disconnect, lost dignity, and bitter acceptance. It conveys a heartbreaking emotional arc from anguish to weary resignation, as the protagonist accepts that his duty is done and his physical strength is spent in the face of an ungrateful world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)

“Oora therinjikitten / Ulagam purinjikitten”

Repetition of the suffix '-ikitten' at the end of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, melancholic cadence.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Aathaa appan pechu / Kaathil athu pochu”

The second consonant sound 'th' (த்) is repeated across the lines ('Aathaa' and 'Kaathil'), establishing classical Tamil poetic harmony.

Allusion & Contrast (Mythological Parallel)

“Andru seethai ava ponaa / Indru pedhai iva ponaa”

Draws a poetic contrast between ancient myth (Sita banished to the forest) and modern reality (an innocent woman forced out onto the street).

Hyperbole / Metaphor

“En iduppu vetti kuda / En pecha ketka villai”

A dramatic, colloquial metaphor where even his waist garment slipping off symbolizes his total loss of control, respect, and authority over his own life.

Wordplay (Pun / Slesai)

“En peru ammai appan / Enakku illai vellai appan”

Plays on his character's name 'Ammai-appan' (which means Mother-Father / Lord Shiva) and contrasts it with his feeling of lacking a benevolent fatherly protector.

Did you know?

Trivia

Though listed as unknown in the prompt, 'Oora Therinjikitten' was composed by the legendary music director duo Shankar-Ganesh and soulfully sung by K. J. Yesudas. The lyrics were penned by Vairamuthu. The song belongs to the award-winning family drama 'Samsaram Adhu Minsaram' (1986), directed by Visu, which won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The song remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous emotional anthems on parental sacrifice and family rift.

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