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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oorukku Nalladhoru

From Sathya Sundharam · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Sathya Sundharam
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
9 Jan 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
Verukku neethaanae aadhaaram manithan
Vaazhvukku anbae aadhaaram
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
Vaanam kodukkindra mazhai undu
Vaiyam kodukindra payir undu
Vaanam kodukkindra mazhai undu
Vaiyam kodukindra payir undu
Yaavum kodukindra manam kondu
Ingu vaazhum anaivarkkum pugazhundu
Nallennam illaamal
Nanmaigal seiyaamal
Nenjangal vaazhnthaal paavam
Nallennam illaamal
Nanmaigal seiyaamal
Nenjangal vaazhnthaal paavam
Engengu paainthaalum thagaththai theerkkaatha
Thanneeraal undo laabam
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
Pillai sirippodu nagai minna
Ingu kollai adikkindra gunam enna
Male :Devan koduththaanae pala kodi
Avan perai keduththaanae padupaavi
Kaththikkum puththikkum eppothum poraattam
Thannaiyae maranthaan manithan
Male :Anbukkum panbukkum sambantham illaatha
Ullangal yaavum mirugam
Oorukku nallathoru ubakaaram seiyya
Naangal eduththathintha avathaaram
Kaigal koduththaanae edharkaga pirar
Kanneer thudaikkindra panikkaaga
Male :Kaalgal koduththaanae edharkaga pirar
Kashtam therinthangu thunai poga
Eppothum thiththikkum muppaalai
Thanthaanae thennaattil vaazhntha gnani
Male :Naattukkum veettukkum paattukkal
Thanthaanae bharathi ennum thaenee….
To do a good deed for the people,
We have taken on this disguise.
To do a good deed for the people,
We have taken on this disguise.
Water is the foundation for the roots,
And love is the foundation of human life.
To do a good deed for the people,
We have taken on this disguise.
There is rain given by the sky,
There are crops given by the earth.
There is rain given by the sky,
There are crops given by the earth.
With a generous heart that gives everything,
Everyone who lives here earns lasting fame.
Without good intentions in mind,
Without doing good deeds for others,
If people simply live on, it is a tragedy.
Without good intentions in mind,
Without doing good deeds for others,
If people simply live on, it is a tragedy.
No matter where it flows, if it cannot quench thirst,
What is the use of such water?
To do a good deed for the people,
We have taken on this disguise.
With a child's sweet smile and glittering jewels,
Why do people have this urge to rob others?
God gave millions in abundance,
Yet that wretched sinner ruined His good name!
Between brute force and wisdom, there is an endless battle,
And man has forgotten his own true self.
Any heart that has no bond with love and virtue
Is nothing better than a beast.
To do a good deed for the people,
We have taken on this disguise.
Why did He give us hands?
To wipe away the tears of others.
Why did He give us feet?
To see others in distress and go to their aid.
The ever-sweet Muppaal (Thirukkural, ancient Tamil book of ethics),
Was given by the wise sage who lived in the south!
Songs for the nation and for every home
Were given by that busy honeybee, Bharati!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This uplifting moral duet from 'Sathya Sundharam' expresses a high sense of social duty and spiritual purpose. The singers declare that their mission in life is to serve society and perform selfless acts. The lyrics emphasize that love is as vital to human existence as water is to plant roots, asserting that living without kindness or good deeds renders a life worthless and sinful.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Verukku neethaanae aadhaaram manithan Vaazhvukku anbae aadhaaram”

Compares love in human life directly to water serving as the vital foundation for a plant's roots.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

“Nallennam illaamal / Nanmaigal seiyaamal / Nenjangal vaazhnthaal paavam”

Repetition of the 'Na/Ne' sound across consecutive lines ('Nallennam', 'Nanmaigal', 'Nenjangal').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Ullangal yaavum mirugam”

Hearts devoid of love and moral values are directly equated to wild beasts.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“bharathi ennum thaenee”

Refers to the iconic poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi as a 'honeybee' collecting nectar to create sweet poetry for the nation.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sathya Sundharam' (1981) stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, with music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song pay homage to classic Tamil literary icons—specifically Saint Thiruvalluvar (referencing the 'Muppaal' or Thirukkural) and Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi—to weave ethical and patriotic instruction into a popular film song.

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From the same album

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