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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Ooraar Urangaiyile

From Naalu Veli Nilam · 1959

Lyricist: Lyricist Not Known
Singers: Thiruchi Loganathan, L. R. Eswari
Music director: K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name: Naalu Veli Nilam
Movie release year: 1959
Lyrics added on: 21 Aug 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Ooraar urangaiyile

Uttraarum thoongaiyile

Ooraar urangaiyile

Uttraarum thoongaiyile

Nalla paambhu vedamkondu

Naan varuven saamthilae

Nalla paambhu vedamkondu

Naan varuven saamthilae

Ooraar urangaiyile

Uttraarum thoongaiyile

Nalla paambhu vedamkondu

Nadu saamam vandhaaiyaanal

Nalla paambhu vedamkondu

Nadu saamam vandhaaiyaanal

Oor kuruvi vedam kondu

Uyarathil paranthiduven

Oor kuruvi vedam kondu

Uyarathil paranthiduven

Nalla paambhu vedamkondu

Nadu saamam vandhaaiyaanal

Oor kuruvi vedam kondu

Uyarathil paranthaai aanal

Oor kuruvi vedam kondu

Uyarathil paranthaai aanal

Semparundhu vedam kondu

Senthukaai thookiduven

Semparundhu vedam kondu

Senthukaai thookiduven

Semparunthu vedam kondu

Senthukaai thooka vandhaal

Semparunthu vedam kondu

Senthukaai thooka vandhaal

Boomiyai keeri allo

Pullai mulaithiduven

Boomiyai keeri allo

Pullai mulaithiduven

Boomiyai keeri allo

Pullai mulaithaiyanaal

Boomiyai keeri allo

Pullai mulaithaiyanaal

Kaaraampasu vedam kondu

Kadithiduven antha pullai

Kaaraampasu vedam kondu

Kadithiduven antha pullai

Kaaraampasu nee aanal

Kazhuthu mani naan aaven

Kaaraampasu nee aanal

Kazhuthu mani naan aaven

Aala marathadiyil

Arali chediyaaven

Aala marathadiyil

Arali chediyaaven

Aala maram uranga

Adi marathil vanduranga

Un madiyil naan uranga

Enna varam petraendi….

Aala maram uranga

Adi marathil vanduranga

Atthi maramum aaven

Nathanaiyum pinjaaven

Nathi varum machaanukku

Muthucharam naan aaven

Atthi maramum aaven

Nathanaiyum pinjaaven

{Ahhhhh

Ohhhhh} (2)

When the villagers are asleep,

And our kinfolk are fast asleep,

When the villagers are asleep,

And our kinfolk are fast asleep,

Taking the form of a cobra,

I will come to you in the dead of night.

Taking the form of a cobra,

I will come to you in the dead of night.

When the villagers are asleep,

And our kinfolk are fast asleep,

If you come in the dead of night,

Taking the form of a cobra,

If you come in the dead of night,

Taking the form of a cobra,

Taking the form of a little sparrow,

I will fly far up into the sky.

Taking the form of a little sparrow,

I will fly far up into the sky.

Taking the form of a cobra,

If you come in the dead of night,

Taking the form of a little sparrow,

If you fly far up into the sky,

Taking the form of a little sparrow,

If you fly far up into the sky,

Taking the form of a red hawk,

I will swoop down and snatch you away.

Taking the form of a red hawk,

I will swoop down and snatch you away.

Taking the form of a red hawk,

If you come to swoop down and snatch me away,

Taking the form of a red hawk,

If you come to swoop down and snatch me away,

Breaking open the earth,

I will sprout up as grass.

Breaking open the earth,

I will sprout up as grass.

Breaking open the earth,

If you sprout up as grass,

Breaking open the earth,

If you sprout up as grass,

Taking the form of a black cow,

I will graze on that very grass.

Taking the form of a black cow,

I will graze on that very grass.

If you become a black cow,

I will become the bell around your neck.

If you become a black cow,

I will become the bell around your neck.

Beneath the banyan tree,

I will become an oleander bush.

Beneath the banyan tree,

I will become an oleander bush.

While the banyan tree rests in slumber,

Coming to sleep right by its trunk,

To lie asleep in your lap,

What a wonderful blessing I have received, my girl!

While the banyan tree rests in slumber,

Coming to sleep right by its trunk,

I will become a fig tree,

Bearing tender young fruit.

For my sweetheart who comes by the river,

I will become a string of pearls.

I will become a fig tree,

Bearing tender young fruit.

{Aah...

Oh...} (2)

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song is a vibrant Tamil folk-style duet framed as a romantic riddle game (vidukathai paattu) between two lovers. The male lover proposes sneaky ways to meet his sweetheart at night under various animal guises—starting as a cobra slithering in at midnight. The female lover playfully counters each move with her own shape-shifting escape plan—turning into a sparrow to fly high, sprouting as grass, or turning into an oleander plant. He counters each escape by becoming her predator or companion (an eagle, a grazing cow, or a neck bell). As the playful competition progresses, the tone shifts from elusive banter to tender intimacy. The lovers abandon their wild transformations to embrace closeness, comparing their bond to a neck bell on a cow, resting under a banyan tree, and a string of pearls adornment. The song beautifully captures the wit, imaginative folklore motifs, and deep devotion characteristic of traditional Tamil rural romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Ooraar urangaiyile / Uttraarum thoongaiyile”

The second letter 'r' (or 'tr') sound creates a harmonious rhythmic flow between the lines.

Monai (First Letter Alliteration)

“Kaaraampasu vedam kondu / Kadithiduven antha pullai”

The initial sound 'Ka' is repeated in 'Kaaraampasu' and 'Kadithiduven', establishing initial alliteration.

Metaphor / Metamorphosis Motif (Uruvagamy)

“Nalla paambhu... / Oor kuruvi... / Semparundhu... / Kaaraampasu...”

The entire lyrics rely on a chain of playful metaphors where the lovers continuously transform into nature-inspired forms (Cobra, Sparrow, Eagle, Grass, Cow, Neck Bell) to outwit and complement one another.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Uyarathil paranthiduven / Senthukaai thookiduven / Pullai mulaithiduven”

Lines sequentially end with the matching verbal suffix '-iduven', creating a musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naalu Veli Nilam' (1959) was produced by the prominent TKS Brothers theatre troupe (T. K. Shanmugam) and directed by Muktha V. Srinivasan. The song is a stellar example of K. V. Mahadevan's mastery in integrating authentic Tamil rural folk song structures ('vidukathai' duel style) into mainstream cinema soundtrack. It features an early career duet performance by legendary singers Thiruchi Loganathan and L. R. Eswari.

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