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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ooru Nalla Ooru

From Goa · 2010

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Goa2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..
Ooh hoooo hooooo….Ooh hoooo hooooo….
Oohooo hooooo hooooo….Oohooo hooooo hooooo….
Male
Oththumaiya vaazhnthaWhen people live together in harmony,
Ingae uruththum naalu perkkuIt pricks the eyes of a few envious people here.
Urukulachu paarthaOnly when they disrupt and destroy that harmony,
Appo santhosamthaan oorkkuDoes the rest of the town feel satisfied.
Male
Anju peru vaarthaThe idle gossip of five people
Ingae vetham aaga aachuHas been elevated to absolute gospel truth here,
Moonu peru vaazhkkaWhile the lives of three innocent men
Anga sedham aaga pochuHave ended up completely ruined over there.
Male
{Ooraar kannu{The eyes of the villagers
Polla kannuAre full of envy and malice;
Orava irunthaIf people stay united like kin,
Pudikkaathae} (2)They simply cannot bear to see it} (2)
Male
Kaalam kaalamaagaSince time immemorial,
Intha oorukku ithae velaThis has been the town's constant habit.
Kannu pattathaenoHas an evil eye fallen
Ippo ingae namma melaUpon us here right now?
Ellappura saamiOh Deity of the village boundaries (Ellappura Saami),
Nee thatti kekka venumYou must step up and question this injustice.
Illaamaththaan ponaIf you fail to do so,
Nee kallunnuthaan thonumPeople will think you are nothing more than a lifeless stone.
Male
{Kanna thoranthu{Open your eyes
Konjam paaruAnd take a look,
Pasanga kalangaShould you allow these young men
Vidalaama} (2)To suffer in distress?} (2)
Male
Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..
Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..
Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..
Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..Oh hooooo…hoooo..ooo..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song captures a poignant moment of lamentation and frustration against malicious village gossip and evil envy ('drishi'). It describes how three close friends from a conservative village become victims of petty rural politics and bad wishes from malicious neighbors who cannot tolerate seeing others live together happily and united. The lyrics highlight how rumors spread by a few can ruin the lives and reputations of innocent young men. In the second half, the song turns into a direct prayer and challenge to the local guardian deity (Ellappura Saami). The lyricist demands divine intervention against the injustice faced by the boys, warning the deity that if God remains silent while innocent youths suffer, people will stop believing in divine justice and dismiss the deity as a mere unfeeling stone sculpture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Ellappura saami / Illaamaththaan pona

The second consonant 'l' (இல்/எல்) rhymes across lines 20 and 22, providing a classic Tamil rhythmic flow.

Muran (Antithesis / Numerical Contrast)

Anju peru vaartha / Moonu peru vaazhkka

Vaali uses numerical contrast between 'Anju peru' (5 people's words) and 'Moonu peru' (3 people's lives) to highlight how a small group's gossip devastates the lives of the three protagonists.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Ingae vetham aaga aachu / Anga sedham aaga pochu

The endings 'aaga aachu' and 'aaga pochu' rhyme naturally at the end of lines 9 and 11.

Personification / Metaphor

Nee kallunnuthaan thonum

The lyricist directly addresses the village deity, metaphorically threatening to reduce God's status to a mere 'stone' (kallu) if divine justice is not served.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although credited as Unknown in the prompt, the music for *Goa* (2010) was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, directed by Venkat Prabhu. This song, often called 'Ooraar Kannu', serves as a transitional narrative track set in the rural village of Pannaikadu before the three lead characters (played by Jai, Vaibhav, and Premgi Amaren) escape to Goa. The lyrics were penned by legendary lyricist Vaali, who cleverly blended traditional folk lament format with sharp satirical commentary.

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