Oorirunthum Veedillai
From Kavitha · 1962
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- M. S. Rajeswari
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kavitha1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oorirunthum veedillai | Though there is a town, there is no home. |
| Uravirundhum thunaiyillai | Though there are relatives, there is no companion. |
| Oorirunthum veedillai | Though there is a town, there is no home. |
| Uravirundhum thunaiyillai | Though there are relatives, there is no companion. |
| Ondrumae puriyavumillai | Nothing makes any sense at all. |
| Vazhvadhum yen endrae theriyavillai | I do not even know why I am living. |
| Oorirunthum veedillai | Though there is a town, there is no home. |
| Uravirundhum thunaiyillai | Though there are relatives, there is no companion. |
| Female | |
| Aar irunthum neerillai | Though there is a river, there is no water. |
| Amuthirunthum inimaiyillai | Though there is nectar, there is no sweetness. |
| Aar irunthum neerillai | Though there is a river, there is no water. |
| Amuthirunthum inimaiyillai | Though there is nectar, there is no sweetness. |
| Thaer irundhum thiruvizha nadapadharkkillai | Though there is a temple chariot, there is no festival to be conducted. |
| Thaer irundhum thiruvizha nadapadharkkillai | Though there is a temple chariot, there is no festival to be conducted. |
| Deivam adhai konjang kooda virambidavillai | God did not desire it even in the slightest. |
| Oorirunthum veedillai | Though there is a town, there is no home. |
| Uravirundhum thunaiyillai | Though there are relatives, there is no companion. |
| Female | |
| Vaai irunthum mozhi irunthum | Though having a mouth and having language, |
| Vandha vazhi thedi thirindhum | Though searching endlessly for the path from where I came, |
| Vaai irunthum mozhi irunthum | Though having a mouth and having language, |
| Vandha vazhi thedi thirindhum | Though searching endlessly for the path from where I came, |
| Yaaridamum solvadharkkillai | There is no one to explain it to. |
| Yaaridamum solvadharkkillai | There is no one to explain it to. |
| Ver idamum selvadharkkillai | There is no other place left to go. |
| Oorirunthum veedillai | Though there is a town, there is no home. |
| Uravirundhum thunaiyillai | Though there are relatives, there is no companion. |
| Female | |
| Poovirunthum vaasam illai | Though there is a flower, there is no fragrance. |
| Pon irunthum minnavillai | Though there is gold, it does not glitter. |
| Poovirunthum vaasam illai | Though there is a flower, there is no fragrance. |
| Pon irunthum minnavillai | Though there is gold, it does not glitter. |
| Kaai irunthum siridhenum kanivadharkkillai | Though there is an unripe fruit, it does not ripen even a bit. |
| Kaai irunthum siridhenum kanivadharkkillai | Though there is an unripe fruit, it does not ripen even a bit. |
| Kaalam podum kanakkai | The calculation laid out by time, |
| Yaarum arivadharkkillai | No one can ever comprehend. |
| Female | |
| Oorirunthum veedillai | Though there is a town, there is no home. |
| Uravirundhum thunaiyillai | Though there are relatives, there is no companion. |
| Ondrumae puriyavumillai | Nothing makes any sense at all. |
| Vazhvadhum yen endrae theriyavillai | I do not even know why I am living. |
ஊரிருந்தும் வீடில்லை
உறவிருந்தும் துணையில்லை
ஊரிருந்தும் வீடில்லை
உறவிருந்தும் துணையில்லை
ஒன்றுமே புரியவில்லை வாழ்வது
ஏன் என்றே தெரியவில்லை
ஊரிருந்தும் வீடில்லை
உறவிருந்தும் துணையில்லை
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Nothing makes any sense at all.
I do not even know why I am living.
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
ஆறிருந்தும் நீரில்லை
அமுதிருந்தும் இனிமையில்லை
ஆறிருந்தும் நீரில்லை
அமுதிருந்தும் இனிமையில்லை
தேரிருந்தும் திருவிழா நடப்பதற்கில்லை
தேரிருந்தும் திருவிழா நடப்பதற்கில்லை
தெய்வம் அதைக் கொஞ்சங் கூட
விரும்பிடவில்லை
ஊரிருந்தும் வீடில்லை
உறவிருந்தும் துணையில்லை
Though there is a river, there is no water.
Though there is nectar, there is no sweetness.
Though there is a river, there is no water.
Though there is nectar, there is no sweetness.
Though there is a temple chariot, there is no festival to be conducted.
Though there is a temple chariot, there is no festival to be conducted.
God did not desire it even in the slightest.
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
வாயிருந்தும் மொழியிருந்தும்
வந்தவழி தெரிந்திருந்தும்
வாயிருந்தும் மொழியிருந்தும்
வந்தவழி தெரிந்திருந்தும்
யாரிடமும் சொல்வதற்கில்லை
யாரிடமும் சொல்வதற்கில்லை
வேறிடமும் செல்வதற்கில்லை
ஊரிருந்தும் வீடில்லை
உறவிருந்தும் துணையில்லை
Though having a mouth and having language,
Though searching endlessly for the path from where I came,
Though having a mouth and having language,
Though searching endlessly for the path from where I came,
There is no one to explain it to.
There is no one to explain it to.
There is no other place left to go.
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
பூவிருந்தும் வாசமில்லை
பொன்னிருந்தும் மின்னவில்லை
பூவிருந்தும் வாசமில்லை
பொன்னிருந்தும் மின்னவில்லை
காயிருந்தும் சிறிதேனும் கனிவதற்கில்லை
காயிருந்தும் சிறிதேனும் கனிவதற்கில்லை
காலம் போடும் கணக்கை
யாரும் அறிவதற்கில்லை.....
Though there is a flower, there is no fragrance.
Though there is gold, it does not glitter.
Though there is a flower, there is no fragrance.
Though there is gold, it does not glitter.
Though there is an unripe fruit, it does not ripen even a bit.
Though there is an unripe fruit, it does not ripen even a bit.
The calculation laid out by time,
No one can ever comprehend.
ஊரிருந்தும் வீடில்லை
உறவிருந்தும் துணையில்லை
ஒன்றுமே புரியவில்லை வாழ்வது
ஏன் என்றே தெரியவில்லை
ஊரிருந்தும் வீடில்லை
உறவிருந்தும் துணையில்லை
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Nothing makes any sense at all.
I do not even know why I am living.
Oorirunthum veedillai
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Uravirundhum thunaiyillai
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Oorirunthum veedillai
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Uravirundhum thunaiyillai
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Ondrumae puriyavumillai
Nothing makes any sense at all.
Vazhvadhum yen endrae theriyavillai
I do not even know why I am living.
Oorirunthum veedillai
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Uravirundhum thunaiyillai
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Aar irunthum neerillai
Though there is a river, there is no water.
Amuthirunthum inimaiyillai
Though there is nectar, there is no sweetness.
Aar irunthum neerillai
Though there is a river, there is no water.
Amuthirunthum inimaiyillai
Though there is nectar, there is no sweetness.
Thaer irundhum thiruvizha nadapadharkkillai
Though there is a temple chariot, there is no festival to be conducted.
Thaer irundhum thiruvizha nadapadharkkillai
Though there is a temple chariot, there is no festival to be conducted.
Deivam adhai konjang kooda virambidavillai
God did not desire it even in the slightest.
Oorirunthum veedillai
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Uravirundhum thunaiyillai
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Vaai irunthum mozhi irunthum
Though having a mouth and having language,
Vandha vazhi thedi thirindhum
Though searching endlessly for the path from where I came,
Vaai irunthum mozhi irunthum
Though having a mouth and having language,
Vandha vazhi thedi thirindhum
Though searching endlessly for the path from where I came,
Yaaridamum solvadharkkillai
There is no one to explain it to.
Yaaridamum solvadharkkillai
There is no one to explain it to.
Ver idamum selvadharkkillai
There is no other place left to go.
Oorirunthum veedillai
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Uravirundhum thunaiyillai
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Poovirunthum vaasam illai
Though there is a flower, there is no fragrance.
Pon irunthum minnavillai
Though there is gold, it does not glitter.
Poovirunthum vaasam illai
Though there is a flower, there is no fragrance.
Pon irunthum minnavillai
Though there is gold, it does not glitter.
Kaai irunthum siridhenum kanivadharkkillai
Though there is an unripe fruit, it does not ripen even a bit.
Kaai irunthum siridhenum kanivadharkkillai
Though there is an unripe fruit, it does not ripen even a bit.
Kaalam podum kanakkai
The calculation laid out by time,
Yaarum arivadharkkillai
No one can ever comprehend.
Oorirunthum veedillai
Though there is a town, there is no home.
Uravirundhum thunaiyillai
Though there are relatives, there is no companion.
Ondrumae puriyavumillai
Nothing makes any sense at all.
Vazhvadhum yen endrae theriyavillai
I do not even know why I am living.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses deep existential despair, loneliness, and the feeling of utter alienation. The singer uses powerful metaphors of abundance alongside emptiness: despite living in a town, having relatives, standing by a river, or possessing nectar, everything lacks true essence, warmth, or purpose. The lyrics emphasize that despite external appearances of having everything, one can still feel completely destitute and lost due to an inescapable fate divine destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Paradox (Ethir-marai)
“Aar irunthum neerillai / Amuthirunthum inimaiyillai”
Contradictory pairs are used in every stanza to highlight existential emptiness despite material presence, such as having a river without water or nectar without sweetness.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Oorirunthum / Uravirundhum”
The second consonant sound 'r' (ீர் / ர்) is harmoniously repeated in consecutive lines.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Poovirunthum vaasam illai / Pon irunthum minnavillai”
Matching initial consonant sounds create rhythmic floral imagery.
Did you know?
Trivia
This philosophical track from the 1962 film Kavitha showcases the expressive vocal quality of M. S. Rajeswari, who was widely acclaimed for delivering emotional pathos. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi crafted these iconic lines contrasting external existence with inner void, making it one of the most memorable reflective Tamil film songs of the 1960s.
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