Oorellam Thoonguthu
From Ninaivu Chinnam · 1989
- Lyricist
- Piraisoodan
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ninaivu Chinnam1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala | The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you. |
| Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala | Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Female | |
| Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala | The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you. |
| Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala | Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala | The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you. |
| Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala | Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Female | |
| Inneram engae nee rasavae | Where are you at this hour, my beloved king? |
| Ingaethaan vaaduthu rosavae | Right here, your rose is wilting in solitude. |
| Female | |
| Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala | The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you. |
| Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala | Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| Ooo….oo…oo…ooo…oo…. | Ooo….oo…oo…ooo…oo…. |
| Female | |
| Unnaththaan nenachchu aasa vachchaen | I thought only of you and surrendered my heart in love. |
| Adha sollaththaan thavichchu thoodhu vittaen | Struggling to express it, I sent a messenger to you. |
| Pennukku nenappae paavam endraal | If even a young woman's thoughts are considered a sin, |
| Intha paruvam vanthathil niyaayam enna | What was the justice in me reaching this age of youth? |
| Female | |
| Ennuyuir dheepanthaan kaaththula vaadaththaan | Is my life's flame meant to wither away in the wind? |
| Ennuyuir dheepanthaan kaattrilthaan aaduthu | The flame of my life is flickering helplessly in the wind. |
| En mana koottilthaan soganthaan paaduthu | Inside the cage of my heart, sorrow continues to sing. |
| Intha thunbam vaattuthennai en rasa | This torment is agonizing me, my beloved king. |
| Female | |
| Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala | The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you. |
| Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala | Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| …………… | |
| Female | |
| Muththuthaan sippiyil piranthathenna | Why was a pearl born trapped inside an oyster shell? |
| Antha saeththula thaamarai valanthathenna | Why did a pristine lotus bloom out of the muddy dirt? |
| Muththuththaan allaththaan yaekkam kondaen | I longed with yearning to scoop up those precious pearls. |
| Poovaththaan soodaththaan aasappattaen | I wished deeply to adorn my hair with that sweet flower. |
| Female | |
| Allina kaigalilae vanthathu sippigalthaan | When I scooped with my open hands, I received only empty shells. |
| Allina kaigalilae vanthathuthaan muththumillae | What came into my gathered hands was no pearl at all. |
| Soodiya koondhalilae poovumilla vaasamilla | In the hair I adorned, there is neither a flower nor any fragrance. |
| Naanum seitha paavamella en rasa | Is all of this due to the sins I committed, my beloved king? |
| Female | |
| Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala | The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you. |
| Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala | Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Female | |
| Inneram engae nee rasavae | Where are you at this hour, my beloved king? |
| Ingaethaan vaaduthu rosavae | Right here, your rose is wilting in solitude. |
| Female | |
| Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala | The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you. |
| Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala | Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain. |
ஊரெல்லாம் தூங்குது உன்ன மட்டும் காணல
மனசேனோ ஏங்குது கன்னி மனம் தாங்கல
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
ஊரெல்லாம் தூங்குது உன்ன மட்டும் காணல
மனசேனோ ஏங்குது கன்னி மனம் தாங்கல
ஊரெல்லாம் தூங்குது உன்ன மட்டும் காணல
மனசேனோ ஏங்குது கன்னி மனம் தாங்கல
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
இந்நேரம் எங்கே நீ ராசாவே
இங்கேதான் வாடுது ரோசாவே....
Where are you at this hour, my beloved king?
Right here, your rose is wilting in solitude.
ஊரெல்லாம் தூங்குது உன்ன மட்டும் காணல
மனசேனோ ஏங்குது கன்னி மனம் தாங்கல
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
ஓஒ.....ஓ.....ஓ.....ஓஒ.....ஓ....
Ooo….oo…oo…ooo…oo….
உன்னத்தான் நெனச்சு ஆச வச்சேன்
அத சொல்லத்தான் தவிச்சு தூது விட்டேன்
பெண்ணுக்கு நெனப்பே பாவம் என்றால்
இந்த பருவம் வந்ததில் நியாயம் என்ன
I thought only of you and surrendered my heart in love.
Struggling to express it, I sent a messenger to you.
If even a young woman's thoughts are considered a sin,
What was the justice in me reaching this age of youth?
என்னுயிர் தீபந்தான் காத்துல வாடத்தான்
என்னுயிர் தீபந்தான் காற்றில்தான் ஆடுது
என் மனக் கூட்டில்தான் சோகந்தான் பாடுது
இந்த துன்பம் வாட்டுதென்னை என் ராசா
Is my life's flame meant to wither away in the wind?
The flame of my life is flickering helplessly in the wind.
Inside the cage of my heart, sorrow continues to sing.
This torment is agonizing me, my beloved king.
ஊரெல்லாம் தூங்குது உன்ன மட்டும் காணல
மனசேனோ ஏங்குது கன்னி மனம் தாங்கல
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
........................
முத்துத்தான் சிப்பியில் பிறந்ததென்ன
அந்த சேத்துல தாமரை வளர்ந்ததென்ன
முத்துத்தான் அள்ளத்தான் ஏக்கம் கொண்டேன்
பூவத்தான் சூடத்தான் ஆசப்பட்டேன்
Why was a pearl born trapped inside an oyster shell?
Why did a pristine lotus bloom out of the muddy dirt?
I longed with yearning to scoop up those precious pearls.
I wished deeply to adorn my hair with that sweet flower.
அள்ளின கைகளிலே வந்தது சிப்பிகள்தான்
அள்ளின கைகளிலே வந்ததுதான் முத்துமில்லே
சூடிய கூந்தலிலே பூவுமில்ல வாசமில்ல
நானும் செய்த பாவமென்ன என் ராசா
When I scooped with my open hands, I received only empty shells.
What came into my gathered hands was no pearl at all.
In the hair I adorned, there is neither a flower nor any fragrance.
Is all of this due to the sins I committed, my beloved king?
ஊரெல்லாம் தூங்குது உன்ன மட்டும் காணல
மனசேனோ ஏங்குது கன்னி மனம் தாங்கல
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
இந்நேரம் எங்கே நீ ராசாவே
இங்கேதான் வாடுது ரோசாவே....
Where are you at this hour, my beloved king?
Right here, your rose is wilting in solitude.
ஊரெல்லாம் தூங்குது உன்ன மட்டும் காணல
மனசேனோ ஏங்குது கன்னி மனம் தாங்கல
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
Inneram engae nee rasavae
Where are you at this hour, my beloved king?
Ingaethaan vaaduthu rosavae
Right here, your rose is wilting in solitude.
Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
Ooo….oo…oo…ooo…oo….
Ooo….oo…oo…ooo…oo….
Unnaththaan nenachchu aasa vachchaen
I thought only of you and surrendered my heart in love.
Adha sollaththaan thavichchu thoodhu vittaen
Struggling to express it, I sent a messenger to you.
Pennukku nenappae paavam endraal
If even a young woman's thoughts are considered a sin,
Intha paruvam vanthathil niyaayam enna
What was the justice in me reaching this age of youth?
Ennuyuir dheepanthaan kaaththula vaadaththaan
Is my life's flame meant to wither away in the wind?
Ennuyuir dheepanthaan kaattrilthaan aaduthu
The flame of my life is flickering helplessly in the wind.
En mana koottilthaan soganthaan paaduthu
Inside the cage of my heart, sorrow continues to sing.
Intha thunbam vaattuthennai en rasa
This torment is agonizing me, my beloved king.
Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
……………
Muththuthaan sippiyil piranthathenna
Why was a pearl born trapped inside an oyster shell?
Antha saeththula thaamarai valanthathenna
Why did a pristine lotus bloom out of the muddy dirt?
Muththuththaan allaththaan yaekkam kondaen
I longed with yearning to scoop up those precious pearls.
Poovaththaan soodaththaan aasappattaen
I wished deeply to adorn my hair with that sweet flower.
Allina kaigalilae vanthathu sippigalthaan
When I scooped with my open hands, I received only empty shells.
Allina kaigalilae vanthathuthaan muththumillae
What came into my gathered hands was no pearl at all.
Soodiya koondhalilae poovumilla vaasamilla
In the hair I adorned, there is neither a flower nor any fragrance.
Naanum seitha paavamella en rasa
Is all of this due to the sins I committed, my beloved king?
Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
Inneram engae nee rasavae
Where are you at this hour, my beloved king?
Ingaethaan vaaduthu rosavae
Right here, your rose is wilting in solitude.
Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala
The whole town is sleeping, but I cannot find only you.
Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala
Why does my heart yearn so? A maiden's heart cannot bear this pain.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Oorellaam Thoonguthu' is a hauntingly sorrowful solo from the 1989 Tamil film Ninaivu Chinnam, composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung with profound emotion by K. S. Chithra. The song portrays the inner anguish and extreme loneliness of a young woman who stays awake through the quiet night while the rest of the world rests peacefully. She longs deeply for her beloved, expressing how her youthful heart is crumbling under the weight of unfulfilled love and longing. Through vivid visual imagery—such as a candle flame flickering in a harsh wind, an empty seashell devoid of pearls, and a flower missing its fragrance—lyricist Piraisoodan captures her profound existential grief. She questions the cruelty of fate and society, wondering why youth and love were bestowed upon her if they were only destined to end in misery and separation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Oorellaam thoonguthu unna mattum kaanala / Manaseno yaenguthu kanni manam thaangala”
The matching rhyming sound at the end of consecutive lines ('kaanala' and 'thaangala') creates a lyrical, rhythmic flow.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ennuyuir dheepanthaan kaattrilthaan aaduthu”
The protagonist's fragile life/soul is metaphorically compared to a flame ('dheepam') flickering helplessly in the wind.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ingaethaan vaaduthu rosavae”
The woman compares herself to a wilting rose ('rosavae') that is fading away due to separation from her beloved.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Inneram engae nee rasavae / Ingaethaan vaaduthu rosavae”
The repetition of the initial vowel sound ('In-') in consecutive lines establishes Tamil poetic harmony.
Rhetorical Question
“Pennukku nenappae paavam endraal / Intha paruvam vanthathil niyaayam enna”
She asks a tragic rhetorical question about why women are given youth and emotions if yearning for love is deemed sinful.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist Piraisoodan and composed by Ilaiyaraaja, 'Oorellaam Thoonguthu' remains one of K. S. Chithra's most critically acclaimed solo tracks from the late 1980s. The soundtrack of Ninaivu Chinnam also features a male version of the same song rendered by K. J. Yesudas, serving as a dual thematic motif for the movie's tragic romance.
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