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Lyrics & meaning

Oorai Thirutha

From Vandikkaran Magan · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Kovai Soundararajan, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Vandikkaran Magan1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oosi mel raappagalaaSitting night and day on a needle point
Ukkaarnthu thavamirunthaaPerforming intense penance in prayer
Urakkam vaaraamaWithout getting proper sleep
Orukalichu paduththirunthaaLying down resting on one side
Male
Pesi vachu pechupadiAs spoken and destined by fate
Paththaam maasam peththeduththaaShe gave birth in the tenth month
Aasai kadal kulichavathaanBathing in the ocean of maternal love
Azhagaana muththeduththaaShe retrieved a beautiful pearl
Male
Oorai thiruththa oru pillai poranthaanA child was born to reform the town
Appan perai niruththa rendu kannai thiranthaanHe opened his eyes to uphold his father's honor
Thaarai thambattam kottungadiBeat the drums and play the instruments, women!
Kai thaalam thappaama thattungadiClap your hands without missing the beat!
Chorus
Oorai thiruththa oru pillai poranthaanA child was born to reform the town
Appan perai niruththa rendu kannai thiranthaanHe opened his eyes to uphold his father's honor
Thaarai thambattam kottungadiBeat the drums and play the instruments, women!
Kai thaalam thappaama thattungadiClap your hands without missing the beat!
Male
Anipillai thennampillaiAn ornamental child, a coconut sapling child
Kilipillai keeripillaiA parrot child, a mongoose child
Aththanaikkum usanthathu enna pillaiWhich child is superior to all of these?
Ada sollu pillaiHey, answer me, child!
Female :Oru aathaa madi sumantha chinna pullaiFemale: The tender child carried on a mother's lap
Thottu paarththa kai manakkum vanna pullaiA colorful child whose gentle touch leaves a fragrance on hands
Thottu paarththa kai manakkum vanna pullaiA colorful child whose gentle touch leaves a fragrance on hands
Chorus
Oorai thiruththa oru pillai poranthaanA child was born to reform the town
Appan perai niruththa rendu kannai thiranthaanHe opened his eyes to uphold his father's honor
Thaarai thambattam kottungadiBeat the drums and play the instruments, women!
Kai thaalam thappaama thattungadiClap your hands without missing the beat!
Male
Vellarikkaai vithaiyai pola sirikkuthadiHe smiles like a seed inside a cucumber
Pillai vellaritham poovaattam irukkuthadiThe baby is as tender as a cucumber flower
Female :Kallirukkum thaamaraipoo kaadirukkumFemale: A lotus blooming amidst rocks, a wild lotus
MalligaippooA jasmine flower in the deep woods
Mullirukkum seriyilae poranthathadiBorn right inside a bush of thorns
Inge ullirukkum seithiyelaam arinjathadiKnowing all the inner truths hidden here
Female
Peththeduththa ammaiyoru panakkaariThe mother who birthed him is a rich woman
Nalla peru vacha appanoru thozhilaaliThe father who built a good name is a worker
Male :Melidaththai keezhidaththai oridaththilMale: To bring high status and low status together
SerththuvaikkaTo unite them in one common place
Kaaranamaai vanthathadi intha pillaiThis child came as the sole reason
Intha kaariyaththai verovarum senjathillaiNo one else has accomplished such a task before
Chorus
Oorai thiruththa oru pillai poranthaanA child was born to reform the town
Appan perai niruththa rendu kannai thiranthaanHe opened his eyes to uphold his father's honor
Thaarai thambattam kottungadiBeat the drums and play the instruments, women!
Kai thaalam thappaama thattungadiClap your hands without missing the beat!
Male
Aanantha theane arumai maganeOh sweet honey of joy, my precious son
Naan solla porathai kettukadaaListen carefully to what I am about to tell you
Aanantha theane arumai maganeOh sweet honey of joy, my precious son
Naan solla porathai kettukadaaListen carefully to what I am about to tell you
Nee nallathai kaadhla pottukkadaaIncorporate good values into your mind and ears
Nee nallathai kaadhla pottukkadaaIncorporate good values into your mind and ears
Male
Aalaiyil uzhaikkum thozhilaaliThe industrial worker striving in the factory
Unna arisaiyai kodukkum vivasaayiThe farmer who provides rice to feed you
Aalaiyil uzhaikkum thozhilaaliThe industrial worker striving in the factory
Unna arisaiyai kodukkum vivasaayiThe farmer who provides rice to feed you
Male
Moottaiyai thookkum paattaaliThe manual laborer lifting heavy sacks
Intha moovarum namakku koottaaliThese three working people are our true comrades
Moottaiyai thookkum paattaaliThe manual laborer lifting heavy sacks
Intha moovarum namakku koottaaliThese three working people are our true comrades
Male
Aanantha theane arumai maganeOh sweet honey of joy, my precious son
Naan solla porathai kettukadaaListen carefully to what I am about to tell you
Nee nallathai kaadhla pottukkadaaIncorporate good values into your mind and ears
Chorus
Oorai thiruththa oru pillai poranthaanA child was born to reform the town
Appan perai niruththa rendu kannai thiranthaanHe opened his eyes to uphold his father's honor
Thaarai thambattam kottungadiBeat the drums and play the instruments, women!
Kai thaalam thappaama thattungadiClap your hands without missing the beat!
Thaarai thambattam kottungadiBeat the drums and play the instruments, women!
Kai thaalam thappaama thattungadiClap your hands without missing the beat!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Oorai Thiruththa Oru Pillai Poranthaan from the movie Vandikkaran Magan (1978) is a celebratory folk song celebrating the birth of a child who is destined to bring reform, harmony, and social equality. The lyricist Vaali uses metaphors of motherly sacrifice, penance, and affection to describe the arrival of a child born to bridge the divide between the rich upper class and the working-class masses.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aasai kadal kulichavathaan / Azhagaana muththeduththaa

Compares maternal longing and love to an ocean, and the newborn baby to a precious pearl retrieved from it.

Simile (Upamaanam)

Vellarikkaai vithaiyai pola sirikkuthadi

Compares the child's bright, small smile to a cucumber seed.

Assonance/Rhyme (Ethukai)

Oosi mel raappagalaa / Ukkaarnthu thavamirunthaa

Rhyming of second letters across consecutive lines (Oosi / Ukkaarnthu).

Repetition & Rhythm (Adukkuthodar)

Anipillai thennampillai / Kilipillai keeripillai

Repetition of the suffix '-pillai' to create rhythmic momentum suited for a traditional celebration.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, this song features a rare combination of Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Kovai Soundararajan, and Vani Jairam. The song seamlessly blends folk celebration with socialist values, advocating dignity of labor by placing farmers, factory workers, and porters on a high pedestal.

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