Ooru Sanam Thoongiruchu
From Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu · 1986
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum | The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind |
| Adichiruchchu | Has started blowing. |
| Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae | My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why. |
| Female | |
| {Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum | {The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind |
| Adichiruchchu | Has started blowing. |
| Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae} (2) | My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.} (2) |
| Female | |
| Kuyilu karunguyilu maaman manak kuyilu | Cuckoo, black cuckoo, the cuckoo of my beloved's heart, |
| Kolam podum paattaalae | Through songs that draw beautiful patterns, |
| Mayilu ila maayilu maaman kavi kuyilu | Peacock, young peacock, my beloved's poetic cuckoo, |
| Raagam paadum kettaalae… sedhi sollum paattaalae | Heard singing a raga... through songs that deliver news. |
| Female | |
| Onna enni naanae ullam vaadi ponen | Thinking of you, my inner self has withered away, |
| Kanni ponnudhanae en maamanae… en maamanae | Just a young maiden, oh my beloved... oh my beloved. |
| Female | |
| Othayilae athamaga onna nenachi rasicha maga | Alone, this aunt's daughter thought of you and admired you, |
| Kannu rendum moodallaiyae kaalam neram koodallaiyae | Both my eyes won't close, for the right time has not yet arrived. |
| Female | |
| Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum | The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind |
| Adichiruchchu | Has started blowing. |
| Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae | My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why. |
| Female | |
| Maaman odhadu pattu naadham tharum kuzhalu | The flute that creates music when touched by my beloved's lips, |
| Naanaa maara koodaadha | Couldn't I transform into that flute? |
| Naalum thavamirundhu naanum ketta varam | The boon I asked for after performing penance every single day, |
| Koodum kaalam vaaraadhaa… maaman kaadhil yeeraadha | Won't the time come for us to unite? Won't my plight reach my beloved's ears? |
| Female | |
| Nelaakaayum neram nenjukulla baaram | When the moonlight shines bright, the heavy burden inside my heart |
| Melum melum yerum indha nerandhaan…. | Keeps increasing more and more at this hour... |
| Indha nerandhaan | At this very hour. |
| Female | |
| Onna enni pottu vechen ola paaya pottu vechen | Thinking of you, I adorned my bindi and laid out the palm-leaf mat, |
| Ishta patta aasa machchaan enna melum yengha vechann…. | The beloved man I longed for has made me yearn even more... |
| Female | |
| Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum | The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind |
| Adichiruchchu | Has started blowing. |
| Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae | My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why. |
ஊரு சனம்
தூங்கிருச்சு ஊதக்
காத்தும் அடிச்சிருச்சு
பாவி மனம் தூங்கலையே
அதுவும் ஏனோ புரியல்லையே
The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind
Has started blowing.
My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.
{ ஊரு சனம்
தூங்கிருச்சு ஊதக்
காத்தும் அடிச்சிருச்சு
பாவி மனம் தூங்கலையே
அதுவும் ஏனோ புரியல்லையே } (2)
{The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind
Has started blowing.
My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.} (2)
குயிலு கருங்குயிலு
மாமன் மனக்குயிலு கோலம்
போடும் பாட்டாலே மயிலு இள
மயிலு மாமன் கவி குயிலு
ராகம் பாடும் கேட்டாலே
சேதி சொல்லும் பாட்டாலே
Cuckoo, black cuckoo, the cuckoo of my beloved's heart,
Through songs that draw beautiful patterns,
Peacock, young peacock, my beloved's poetic cuckoo,
Heard singing a raga... through songs that deliver news.
ஒன்ன எண்ணி
நானே உள்ளம் வாடிப்
போனேன் கன்னிப்
பொண்ணுதானே என்
மாமனே என் மாமனே
Thinking of you, my inner self has withered away,
Just a young maiden, oh my beloved... oh my beloved.
ஒத்தையிலே
அத்த மக ஒன்ன நெனச்சி
ரசிச்ச மக கண்ணு ரெண்டும்
மூடலையே காலம் நேரம்
கூடலையே
Alone, this aunt's daughter thought of you and admired you,
Both my eyes won't close, for the right time has not yet arrived.
ஊரு சனம்
தூங்கிருச்சு ஊதக்
காத்தும் அடிச்சிருச்சு
பாவி மனம் தூங்கலையே
அதுவும் ஏனோ புரியல்லையே
The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind
Has started blowing.
My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.
மாமன் ஒதடு
பட்டு நாதம் தரும் குழலு
நானா மாறக் கூடாதா
நாளும் தவமிருந்து நானும்
கேட்ட வரம் கூடும் காலம்
வாராதா மாமன் காதில்
ஏறாதா
The flute that creates music when touched by my beloved's lips,
Couldn't I transform into that flute?
The boon I asked for after performing penance every single day,
Won't the time come for us to unite? Won't my plight reach my beloved's ears?
நிலா காயும்
நேரம் நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
பாரம் மேலும் மேலும்
ஏறும் இந்த நேரந்தான்
இந்த நேரந்தான்
When the moonlight shines bright, the heavy burden inside my heart
Keeps increasing more and more at this hour...
At this very hour.
ஒன்ன எண்ணி
பொட்டு வச்சேன்
ஓலப்பாய போட்டு
வச்சேன் இஷ்டப்பட்ட
ஆச மச்சான் என்ன
மேலும் ஏங்க வச்சான்
Thinking of you, I adorned my bindi and laid out the palm-leaf mat,
The beloved man I longed for has made me yearn even more...
ஊரு சனம்
தூங்கிருச்சு ஊதக்
காத்தும் அடிச்சிருச்சு
பாவி மனம் தூங்கலையே
அதுவும் ஏனோ புரியல்லையே
The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind
Has started blowing.
My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.
Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum
The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind
Adichiruchchu
Has started blowing.
Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae
My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.
{Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum
{The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind
Adichiruchchu
Has started blowing.
Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae} (2)
My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.} (2)
Kuyilu karunguyilu maaman manak kuyilu
Cuckoo, black cuckoo, the cuckoo of my beloved's heart,
Kolam podum paattaalae
Through songs that draw beautiful patterns,
Mayilu ila maayilu maaman kavi kuyilu
Peacock, young peacock, my beloved's poetic cuckoo,
Raagam paadum kettaalae… sedhi sollum paattaalae
Heard singing a raga... through songs that deliver news.
Onna enni naanae ullam vaadi ponen
Thinking of you, my inner self has withered away,
Kanni ponnudhanae en maamanae… en maamanae
Just a young maiden, oh my beloved... oh my beloved.
Othayilae athamaga onna nenachi rasicha maga
Alone, this aunt's daughter thought of you and admired you,
Kannu rendum moodallaiyae kaalam neram koodallaiyae
Both my eyes won't close, for the right time has not yet arrived.
Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum
The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind
Adichiruchchu
Has started blowing.
Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae
My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.
Maaman odhadu pattu naadham tharum kuzhalu
The flute that creates music when touched by my beloved's lips,
Naanaa maara koodaadha
Couldn't I transform into that flute?
Naalum thavamirundhu naanum ketta varam
The boon I asked for after performing penance every single day,
Koodum kaalam vaaraadhaa… maaman kaadhil yeeraadha
Won't the time come for us to unite? Won't my plight reach my beloved's ears?
Nelaakaayum neram nenjukulla baaram
When the moonlight shines bright, the heavy burden inside my heart
Melum melum yerum indha nerandhaan….
Keeps increasing more and more at this hour...
Indha nerandhaan
At this very hour.
Onna enni pottu vechen ola paaya pottu vechen
Thinking of you, I adorned my bindi and laid out the palm-leaf mat,
Ishta patta aasa machchaan enna melum yengha vechann….
The beloved man I longed for has made me yearn even more...
Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum
The village folk have gone to sleep, and the chilly wind
Adichiruchchu
Has started blowing.
Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae
My wretched heart alone won't sleep, and I don't even know why.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Ooru Sanam Thoongiruchu' is a soulful, melancholy song depicting a young woman's deep ache of love and separation late at night. As the rest of the village slumbers under the cool night breeze, she remains wide awake, consumed by thoughts of her beloved uncle/cousin (maaman). The quiet environment only intensifies her longing, making her heart heavy and restless. Through vivid imagery, she expresses her devotion—wishing she could become the very flute her lover plays, so she could touch his lips and be filled with his breath. The moonlight, usually a symbol of romance, only serves to magnify the burden in her heart as she waits fruitlessly for their union. The song vividly portrays innocence, tender desire, and the painful isolation of unfulfilled love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Ooru sanam thoongiruchu oodha kaathum”
The initial vowel sound 'Oo' ('Ooru' and 'oodha') repeats at the beginning of phrases in the line.
Personification
“Paavi manam thoongalaiyae adhuvum ennoo puriyallaiyae”
The heart ('manam') is personified as a stubborn entity ('paavi') that refuses to sleep on its own.
Metaphor & Imagery
“Maaman odhadu pattu naadham tharum kuzhalu Naanaa maara koodaadha”
The protagonist wishes to transform into a flute touched by her lover's lips, symbolizing her desire for absolute closeness and complete surrender to him.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Othayilae athamaga onna nenachi rasicha maga / Kannu rendum moodallaiyae kaalam neram koodallaiyae”
Endings like 'maga' and 'koodallaiyae' create a rhythmic, lyrical flow across the couplets.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed as unknown in the prompt, the soundtrack of 'Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu' (1986) is historically significant as it featured a rare, iconic musical collaboration between legendary composers M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and Ilaiyaraaja. The song 'Ooru Sanam' was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, written by Gangai Amaran, and exquisitely rendered by S. Janaki, earning widespread acclaim for its haunting melody and emotional depth.
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