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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oorukkellam Poochootum

From Raja Veettu Pillai · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Raja Veettu Pillai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
5 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oorukkellam poochoottum meena meena
Un ullathilae ullavanum naana naana
Female :Oorukkellam car ottum raja raja
Un ullathilae ullathindha roja roja
Oorukkellam poochoottum meena meena
Female :Oorukkellam car ottum raja raja
Kungumasivappu kannathilae
Oru kolam varaiyattuma
Kungumasivappu kannathilae
Oru kolam varaiyattuma
Idai konji nadakkum vanji kodikku
Koyil ezhupattuma
Idai konji nadakkum vanji kodikku
Koyil ezhupattuma koyil ezhupattuma
Atha maganukku palli kolla
Oru methai virikattuma ..aaa..aa
Atha maganukku palli kolla
Oru methai virikattuma
Avan sandhana maeni sondham kondaada
Vittu kodukkatuma
Oorukkellam poochoottum meena meena
Female :Oorukkellam car ottum raja raja
Paruvathin paattukku mudhan mudhalaaga
Pallavi sollattuma
Female :Andha pallavi sonna nallavar kaigalil
Saranam aagattuma
Paruvathin paattukku mudhan mudhalaaga
Pallavi sollattuma
Female :Andha pallavi sonna nallavar kaigalil
Saranam aagattuma
Thendral kaatrae thenangeetrae
Thendral kaatrae thenangeetrae
Innum yenadi acham
Female :Acham enbathai penmai maranthal
Enna irukkum micham
Enna irukkum micham
Oorukkellam poochoottum meena meena
Un ullathilae ullavanum naana naana
Female :Oorukkellam car ottum raja raja
Un ullathilae ullathindha roja roja
Meena, Meena, who adorns the whole town with flowers,
Am I the one who lives in your heart?
Female: Raja, Raja, who drives a car for the whole town,
Look, the one in your heart is right here, this rose!
Meena, Meena, who adorns the whole town with flowers,
Female: Raja, Raja, who drives a car for the whole town,
On your cheeks red as kumkum powder,
Shall I draw a kolam pattern?
On your cheeks red as kumkum powder,
Shall I draw a kolam pattern?
For this slender beauty whose waist sways gently as she walks,
Shall I build a temple?
For this slender beauty whose waist sways gently as she walks,
Shall I build a temple? Shall I build a temple?
For my aunt's son to lay down and rest,
Shall I spread a soft bed? Ah...
For my aunt's son to lay down and rest,
Shall I spread a soft bed?
For his fragrant sandalwood body to claim what is his,
Shall I yield and surrender myself?
Meena, Meena, who adorns the whole town with flowers,
Female: Raja, Raja, who drives a car for the whole town,
For this song of youth, for the very first time,
Shall I sing the opening verse?
Female: In the hands of the good man who sang that opening verse,
Shall I surrender as the following song?
For this song of youth, for the very first time,
Shall I sing the opening verse?
Female: In the hands of the good man who sang that opening verse,
Shall I surrender as the following song?
O gentle breeze, O coconut frond,
O gentle breeze, O coconut frond,
Why are you still so hesitant and shy?
Female: If womanhood forgets its modesty and fear,
What else would be left?
What else would be left?
Meena, Meena, who adorns the whole town with flowers,
Am I the one who lives in your heart?
Female: Raja, Raja, who drives a car for the whole town,
Look, the one in your heart is right here, this rose!
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a joyful romantic duet between the lead lovers, Raja and Meena. Through playful banter, Raja praises Meena's beauty and asks if he holds a special place in her heart. Meena reciprocates warmly, affectionately comparing herself to a rose blooming inside his heart. The lyrics celebrate their budding romance, incorporating classic Tamil cultural tropes such as addressing the lover as 'Atha Magan' (paternal aunt's son) and expressing deep affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Double Entendre / Pun (Sledai)

“Female :Andha pallavi sonna nallavar kaigalil / Saranam aagattuma”

Vaali brilliantly plays with Carnatic music terms. 'Saranam' means the stanza following a 'Pallavi' in a song, but it also carries the literal meaning of seeking shelter or total romantic surrender in someone's hands.

End Rhyme (Iyaipu)

“Oorukkellam poochoottum meena meena / Un ullathilae ullavanum naana naana”

The deliberate matching end sounds 'meena meena' and 'naana naana' create a pleasing, rhythmic musicality.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Idai konji nadakkum vanji kodikku”

The slender, supple waist of the woman is poetically compared to a soft, swaying creeper vine ('vanji kodi').

Alliteration (Monai)

“Kungumasivappu kannathilae”

The repetition of the 'K' consonant sound at the beginning of 'Kungumasivappu' and 'kannathilae' adds poetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Vaali and set to music by S. M. Subbaih Naidu, 'Oorukkellam poochoottum meena meena' from 'Raja Veettu Pillai' (1967) features the iconic duet voice pair of T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. Vaali's clever integration of musical structures—using 'Pallavi' and 'Saranam' as metaphors for romantic initiation and surrender—is widely admired by Tamil music historians.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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