Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ooraiyellam Kappathum

From Thulasi (1987 Film) · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Yesudass
Music director
Sampath Selvam
Details
Thulasi (1987 Film)1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ae…..ae…..ae…..hae…..ae…..ae….hae….Ae... ae... ae... hae... ae... ae... hae...
Thagida thillaalangadi thaanaaThagida thillaalangadi thaanaa
Thagida thillaalangadi thaanaaThagida thillaalangadi thaanaa
Yae…..Thagida thillaalangadi thillaalangadi thaanaaYae... Thagida thillaalangadi thillaalangadi thaanaa
Male
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Mudhalil undiyalai kaappaththu thaandavakkonaeFirst save the temple donation box, oh Thaandavakkona!
Kaadu maedu kaaval kaakkum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who guards the forests and fields,
Kaadu maedu kaaval kaakkum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who guards the forests and fields,
Mudhalil kadavul silaiya kaappaaththu thaandavakkonaeFirst save the idol of God, oh Thaandavakkona!
Male
Ae…..ae…..ae…..hae…..ae…..ae….hae….Ae... ae... ae... hae... ae... ae... hae...
Tharigida thillaalangadi thaanaaTharigida thillaalangadi thaanaa
Tharigida thillaalangadi thaanaaTharigida thillaalangadi thaanaa
Yae…..Thagida thillaalangadi thillaalangadi thaanaaYae... Thagida thillaalangadi thillaalangadi thaanaa
Male
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Male
Pallil mattum vishamirukku thaandavakkonaeVenom resides only in the teeth, oh Thaandavakkona!
Pambukku pallil mattum vishamirukku thaandavakkonaeA snake has venom only in its tooth, oh Thaandavakkona!
Thelukku kodukkil mattum vishamirukku thaandavakkonaeA scorpion has venom only in its sting, oh Thaandavakkona!
Kazhuththil mattum vishamirukku thaandavakkonaeVenom resides only in the throat, oh Thaandavakkona!
Unakku kazhuththil mattum vishamirukku thaandavakkonaeYou have venom only in your throat, oh Thaandavakkona!
Manushanukku odambellaam vishamirukku thaandavakkonaeFor a human, toxicity fills their entire body, oh Thaandavakkona!
Male
Ae…..ae…..ae…..hae…..ae…..ae….hae….Ae... ae... ae... hae... ae... ae... hae...
Tharigida thillaalangadi thaanaaTharigida thillaalangadi thaanaa
Tharigida thillaalangadi thaanaaTharigida thillaalangadi thaanaa
Yae…..Thagida thillaalangadi thillaalangadi thaanaaYae... Thagida thillaalangadi thillaalangadi thaanaa
Male
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Male
Manushangala dheivaminnu thaandavakkonaeCalling human beings divine, oh Thaandavakkona,
Manushangala dheivaminnu thaandavakkonaeCalling human beings divine, oh Thaandavakkona,
Ingae maanaadu kooduthadaa thaandavakkonaeA conference is being held here, oh Thaandavakkona!
Idhukku piragum varalennaa thaandavakkonaeIf you do not appear even after this, oh Thaandavakkona,
Idhukku piragum varalennaa thaandavakkonaeIf you do not appear even after this, oh Thaandavakkona,
Nee illaennu theriyuthadaa thaandavakkonaeIt becomes clear that you do not exist, oh Thaandavakkona!
Male
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Mudhalil undiyalai kaappaththu thaandavakkonaeFirst save the temple donation box, oh Thaandavakkona!
Kaadu maedu kaaval kaakkum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who guards the forests and fields,
Kaadu maedu kaaval kaakkum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who guards the forests and fields,
Mudhalil kadavul silaiya kaappaaththu thaandavakkonaeFirst save the idol of God, oh Thaandavakkona!
Male
Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonaeOh Thaandavakkona who protects the whole village,
Mudhalil undiyalai kaappaththu thaandavakkonaeFirst save the temple donation box, oh Thaandavakkona!
Haa undiyalai kaappaththu thaandavakkonaeAh, first save the temple donation box, oh Thaandavakkona!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-style socio-philosophical song addresses 'Thaandavakkona', a guardian deity or village protector figure, using sharp satire and irony. The lyrics highlight the hypocrisy and corruption prevalent in society, noting how deity idols and donation boxes themselves require protection from thieves rather than divine power protecting the people. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses vivid metaphors contrasting animals with humans, explaining that while a snake's poison is confined to its fang and a scorpion's to its sting, humans are completely saturated with moral poison throughout their body. The song delivers a bold existential critique, questioning the presence of divine intervention in the face of human greed and corruption.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irony / Satire (நகைச்சுவை இகழ்ச்சி)

Mudhalil undiyalai kaappaththu thaandavakkonae

Addressing the village guardian deity to protect his own donation box and idol first before protecting the village serves as sharp societal irony.

Metaphor & Contrast (உவமை முரண்)

Manushanukku odambellaam vishamirukku thaandavakkonae

Contrasts localized physical poison in animals (snake's tooth, scorpion's sting, Shiva's throat) with total moral corruption spread across the human body.

Refrain / Anaphora (மடக்கு / சொல் திரும்பவரல்)

Oorai ellaam kaappaaththum thaandavakkonae

Repeatedly ending lines with 'thaandavakkonae' creates rhythmic emphasis typical of street plays and Tamil folk songs (Therukoothu style).

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from the 1987 movie Thulasi utilizes traditional rural folk meter (Therukoothu / Kummi cadence) structured around direct social questioning. Lyricist Vairamuthu adapted traditional folk refrains ('Thagida thillaalangadi') to weave philosophical commentary on human deceit.

Keep listening

More from Thulasi (1987 Film)