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Lyrics & meaning

Oorukellaam Ore Saami

From Aalukkoru Veedu · 1960

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
K. Jamunarani, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Aalukkoru Veedu1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oorukkellaam orae saamiThere is only one God for the whole village,
Orae saami orae needhiOne God, one justice,
Orae needhi orae jaadhiOne justice, one human race,
Keladi kannaaththaaListen to this, dear Kannatha!
Female
Moochchukellaam orae kaaththuThe air for everyone's breath is the same,
Orae kaaththu orae thanniOne air, one water,
Orae vaanam orae bhoomiOne sky, one earth,
Aamadi ponnaaththaYes indeed, dear Ponnatha!
Chorus
…………………………
Female
Ellorukkum ulagam onnuThe world is one and the same for everyone,
Irulum onnu oliyum onnuDarkness is one, light is one,
Innum sonnaa neeyum onnuIf truth be told, you are the same,
Naanum onnuthaanAnd I am the same as well.
Female
Ellorukkum ulagam onnuThe world is one and the same for everyone,
Irulum onnu oliyum onnuDarkness is one, light is one,
Innum sonnaa neeyum onnuIf truth be told, you are the same,
Naanum onnuthaanAnd I am the same as well.
Female
Yaaru melae keerinaalumNo matter whose skin you scratch,
Raththam onnuthaaneThe blood is the same color, isn't it?
Yaaru melae keerinaalumNo matter whose skin you scratch,
Raththam onnuthaaneThe blood is the same color, isn't it?
Aaga moththm piranthathellamAfter all, everything that is born,
Paththaam maatham thaanaeIs born in the tenth month of pregnancy, isn't it?
Female
UyirukellamFor all living beings,
Orae padhai orae padhaiThere is one path, one path,
Orae vasal orae koodu orae aaviOne entrance, one nest, one soul.
Paaradi kannaaththaLook at this, dear Kannatha!
Female
Paadupattor konjamillaeThose who labor hard are many,
Palan velainjaa panjamilaeIf the harvest yields well, there is no famine.
Aadum maadum naamum vaazhaFor goats, cattle, and us to thrive,
Arul purivaalaeShe will bestow her divine grace.
Female
Angaalamman kovilukkuAt the Angaalamman temple,
Ponga vaikka vaenumWe must cook the sacred pongal dish,
Annaiyaval engalaiyumAnd Mother Goddess, for us too,
Ponga vaikka vaenumMust make our lives boil over with prosperity!
Female
AalukkellamFor all people,
Orae koyil orae koyilOne temple, one temple,
Orae poojai orae niyaayam orae theerppuOne worship, one justice, one divine verdict,
Keladi kannaaththaaListen to this, dear Kannatha!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a powerful call for social equality, human unity, and egalitarianism framed through a traditional folk dialogue. Addressing female companions in the village ('Kannatha' and 'Ponnatha'), the singer explains how nature makes no distinction between human beings—everyone breathes the same air, shares the same earth, is born after ten months of gestation, and bleeds red regardless of status or caste. In the second half, the song blends working-class solidarity with spiritual devotion. It highlights the hardworking farm laborers who toil for food and prays to Goddess Angaalamman for rain and a bountiful harvest. Using a clever wordplay on 'ponga' (cooking sweet rice vs. overflowing with joy and prosperity), the lyricist asserts that divine justice, nature's law, and human rights are universally equal for all.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

Orae saami orae needhi / Orae needhi orae jaadhi

The deliberate repetition of the word 'Orae' (One/Single) across successive phrases creates rhythmic momentum and strongly reinforces the song's theme of universal oneness.

Rhetorical Question

Yaaru melae keerinaalum / Raththam onnuthaane

The lyricist poses a rhetorical statement ('No matter who you cut, blood is the same') to challenge social discrimination and assert biological equality.

Pun / Double Entendre (Sleidai)

Ponga vaikka vaenum / Annaiyaval engalaiyum / Ponga vaikka vaenum

The phrase 'Ponga vaikka vaenum' is used twice with distinct meanings: first, to cook the sacred Pongal rice offering at the temple, and second, praying for Mother Goddess to make their lives 'overflow' (ponga) with wealth and happiness.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Irulum onnu oliyum onnu / Innum sonnaa neeyum onnu / Naanum onnuthaan

The lines end with matching sounds ('onnu' / 'onnuthaan'), establishing a melodic cadence typical of Tamil folk poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary 'Makkal Kavignar' (People's Poet) Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, this song reflects his strong socialist philosophy. Kalyanasundaram was famous for infusing communist ideals of social equality, caste abolition, and labor rights into mainstream Tamil cinema using everyday folk language. The music for 'Aalukkoru Veedu' (1960) was composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.

Keep listening

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