Oorukku Uzhaithavane
From Kamaraj · 2004
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oorukku uzhaithavanae… urangugiraayo… | O one who slaved for the people... are you sleeping? |
| Uzhaithadhu podhum endru urangugiraayo… | Thinking you have worked enough, are you resting in eternal sleep? |
| Ooraarkku azhudhavanae… urangugiraayo… | O one who wept for the people... are you sleeping? |
| Ooraarai azhai vaithu urangugiraayo… | Making the whole town weep, are you sleeping? |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Than veedu paarkkaamal vaazhvu paarkkaamal | Without caring for his own house or his own life, |
| Naadu munnaera naalum uzhaithavanai | One who laboured every day for the nation to progress? |
| Male | |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Palli ariyaadha pillai pala paerin | Seeing the faces of many children |
| Mugathai paarthanadaa | who had never known a school, |
| Adhu ooru suttraamal soru thaan pottu | To stop them from roaming the streets, he provided free meals |
| Padikkai vaithaanadaa | and made them study! |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Maadu piditha kaiyil yaedu kodutha | He put books into hands that once held cattle, |
| Magaraajan ivan thaanadaa | what a benevolent ruler he was! |
| Ooru ulagengum thaedi paarthaalum | Even if you search across the entire world, |
| Eedu yevan thaanadaa | who could ever be his equal? |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Thirundha vaithavan thaan | The one who reformed everyone |
| Indru varundha vaikkiraanae | is now leaving us in sorrow! |
| Thirumba vara vendumae | He must come back to us, |
| Engal karuppu gandhi ivanae | he is our 'Black Gandhi'! |
| Male | |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Than veedu paarkkaamal vaazhvu paarkkaamal | Without caring for his own house or his own life, |
| Naadu munnaera naalum uzhaithavanai | One who laboured every day for the nation to progress? |
| Male | |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Padhavi irundhaalum padhavi ponaalum | Whether he held power or lost power, |
| Udhavi purivaanadaa | he would always serve and help people! |
| Thannai petra thaayai vida | More than the mother who gave birth to him, |
| Pirandha naadu thaan | he declared that his motherland |
| Peridhu enbaanadaa | was far greater! |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Aatru neeraiyae anaigal kattiyae | By constructing dams across rivers, |
| Thaenga vaithaanadaa | he impounded and saved water! |
| Kangal ootrum neeraiyae | Yet, the tears stream from our eyes |
| Thadukka illaamal yaenga vaithaanadaa | without anything to stop them, leaving us yearning! |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Valimai irundha podhum | Despite having immense power, |
| Miga elimaiyodu irundhaan | he lived with extreme simplicity! |
| Vellai ullam konda | Possessing a pure, white heart, |
| Engal karuppu gaandhi ivanae | he is our 'Black Gandhi'! |
| Male | |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Than veedu paarkkaamal vaazhvu paarkkaamal | Without caring for his own house or his own life, |
| Naadu munnaera naalum uzhaithavanai | One who laboured every day for the nation to progress? |
| Male | |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
| Naadu paarthadhundaa | Has the nation ever seen? |
| Indha naadu paarthadhundaa | Has this nation ever seen? |
ஊருக்கு உழைத்தவனே.......உறங்குகிறாயோ...
உழைத்தது போதும் என்று உறங்குகிறாயோ...
ஊரார்க்கு அழுதவனே... உறங்குகிறாயோ...
ஊராரை அழ வைத்து உறங்குகிறாயோ...
O one who slaved for the people... are you sleeping?
Thinking you have worked enough, are you resting in eternal sleep?
O one who wept for the people... are you sleeping?
Making the whole town weep, are you sleeping?
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
தன் வீடு பார்க்காமல் வாழ்வு பார்க்காமல்
நாடு முன்னேற நாளும் உழைத்தவனை
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Without caring for his own house or his own life,
One who laboured every day for the nation to progress?
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
பள்ளி அறியாமல் பிள்ளை பல பேரின்
முகத்தை பார்த்தானடா
அது ஊரு சுற்றாமல் சோறு தான் போட்டு
படிக்க வைத்தானடா
Seeing the faces of many children
who had never known a school,
To stop them from roaming the streets, he provided free meals
and made them study!
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ... ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
மாடு பிடித்த கையில் ஏடு கொடுத்த
மகராஜன் இவன் தானடா
ஊரு உலகெங்கும் தேடிப் பார்த்தலும்
ஈடு எவன்தானடா
He put books into hands that once held cattle,
what a benevolent ruler he was!
Even if you search across the entire world,
who could ever be his equal?
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ... ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
திருந்த வைத்தவன்தான்
இன்று வருந்த வைக்கிறானே
திருமப வர வேண்டுமே
எங்கள் கருப்பு காந்தி இவனே
The one who reformed everyone
is now leaving us in sorrow!
He must come back to us,
he is our 'Black Gandhi'!
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
தன் வீடு பார்க்காமல் வாழ்வு பார்க்காமல்
நாடு முன்னேற நாளும் உழைத்தவனை
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Without caring for his own house or his own life,
One who laboured every day for the nation to progress?
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
பதவி இருந்தாலும் பதவி போனாலும்
உதவி புரிவானடா
தன்னைப் பெற்ற தாயை விட
பிறந்த நாடுதான்
பெரிது என்பானடா
Whether he held power or lost power,
he would always serve and help people!
More than the mother who gave birth to him,
he declared that his motherland
was far greater!
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ... ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
ஆற்று நீரையே அணைகள் கட்டியே
தேங்க வைத்தானடா
கண்கள் ஊற்றும் நீரையே
தடுக்க இல்லாமல் ஏங்க வைத்தானடா
By constructing dams across rivers,
he impounded and saved water!
Yet, the tears stream from our eyes
without anything to stop them, leaving us yearning!
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
வலிமை இருந்த போதும்
மிக எளிமையோடு இருந்தான்
வெள்ளை உள்ளம் கொண்ட
எங்கள் கருப்பு காந்தி இவனே
Despite having immense power,
he lived with extreme simplicity!
Possessing a pure, white heart,
he is our 'Black Gandhi'!
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
தன் வீடு பார்க்காமல் வாழ்வு பார்க்காமல்
நாடு முன்னேற நாளும் உழைத்தவனை
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Without caring for his own house or his own life,
One who laboured every day for the nation to progress?
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
இந்த நாடு பார்த்ததுண்டா
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Has the nation ever seen?
Has this nation ever seen?
Oorukku uzhaithavanae… urangugiraayo…
O one who slaved for the people... are you sleeping?
Uzhaithadhu podhum endru urangugiraayo…
Thinking you have worked enough, are you resting in eternal sleep?
Ooraarkku azhudhavanae… urangugiraayo…
O one who wept for the people... are you sleeping?
Ooraarai azhai vaithu urangugiraayo…
Making the whole town weep, are you sleeping?
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Than veedu paarkkaamal vaazhvu paarkkaamal
Without caring for his own house or his own life,
Naadu munnaera naalum uzhaithavanai
One who laboured every day for the nation to progress?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Palli ariyaadha pillai pala paerin
Seeing the faces of many children
Mugathai paarthanadaa
who had never known a school,
Adhu ooru suttraamal soru thaan pottu
To stop them from roaming the streets, he provided free meals
Padikkai vaithaanadaa
and made them study!
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Maadu piditha kaiyil yaedu kodutha
He put books into hands that once held cattle,
Magaraajan ivan thaanadaa
what a benevolent ruler he was!
Ooru ulagengum thaedi paarthaalum
Even if you search across the entire world,
Eedu yevan thaanadaa
who could ever be his equal?
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Thirundha vaithavan thaan
The one who reformed everyone
Indru varundha vaikkiraanae
is now leaving us in sorrow!
Thirumba vara vendumae
He must come back to us,
Engal karuppu gandhi ivanae
he is our 'Black Gandhi'!
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Than veedu paarkkaamal vaazhvu paarkkaamal
Without caring for his own house or his own life,
Naadu munnaera naalum uzhaithavanai
One who laboured every day for the nation to progress?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Padhavi irundhaalum padhavi ponaalum
Whether he held power or lost power,
Udhavi purivaanadaa
he would always serve and help people!
Thannai petra thaayai vida
More than the mother who gave birth to him,
Pirandha naadu thaan
he declared that his motherland
Peridhu enbaanadaa
was far greater!
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aatru neeraiyae anaigal kattiyae
By constructing dams across rivers,
Thaenga vaithaanadaa
he impounded and saved water!
Kangal ootrum neeraiyae
Yet, the tears stream from our eyes
Thadukka illaamal yaenga vaithaanadaa
without anything to stop them, leaving us yearning!
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Valimai irundha podhum
Despite having immense power,
Miga elimaiyodu irundhaan
he lived with extreme simplicity!
Vellai ullam konda
Possessing a pure, white heart,
Engal karuppu gaandhi ivanae
he is our 'Black Gandhi'!
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Than veedu paarkkaamal vaazhvu paarkkaamal
Without caring for his own house or his own life,
Naadu munnaera naalum uzhaithavanai
One who laboured every day for the nation to progress?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Naadu paarthadhundaa
Has the nation ever seen?
Indha naadu paarthadhundaa
Has this nation ever seen?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This elegiac anthem from the biographical movie 'Kamaraj' pays tribute to K. Kamaraj, the legendary former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The song grieves his passing while celebrating his incomparable legacy of selfless public service, humility, and vision. It highlights his pivotal achievements, such as introducing the mid-day meal scheme to educate poor children who used to tend cattle, building major dams across rivers, and dedicating his entire life to the nation without seeking personal wealth or fame. Throughout the track, Vaali's lyrics affectionately bestow upon Kamaraj the title of 'Karuppu Gandhi' (Black Gandhi) and emphasize his utter simplicity despite holding immense political power. The mournful tone creates a emotional contrast between the water he impounded behind dams for prosperity and the unstoppable tears now shedding from the eyes of the people who miss his incorruptible leadership.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Oxymoron / Contrast)
“Vellai ullam konda / Engal karuppu gaandhi ivanae”
Contrasts 'Vellai' (white/pure heart) with 'Karuppu' (dark/black-complexioned Gandhi), creating a poignant poetic tribute.
Epithet / Cultural Metaphor
“Engal karuppu gandhi ivanae”
Refers to K. Kamaraj as 'Karuppu Gandhi' (Black Gandhi) to elevate his moral character to the stature of Mahatma Gandhi.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Maadu piditha kaiyil yaedu kodutha”
The second consonant 'du' in 'Maadu' rhymes with 'yaedu', establishing rhythm while contrasting child labor with education.
Imagery / Antithesis
“Aatru neeraiyae anaigal kattiyae... Kangal ootrum neeraiyae...”
Contrasts Kamaraj's civil engineering achievement of damming river waters with the unstoppable flow of tears from the grieving populace.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed and sung by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the biographical film *Kamaraj* (2004), directed by A. Balakrishnan. The lyrics were written by the legendary lyricist Vaali, who penned several iconic political and biographical songs in Tamil cinema history. The phrase 'Karuppu Gandhi' was a popular moniker given to K. Kamaraj by the people of Tamil Nadu due to his Gandhian principles, incorruptible leadership, and dark skin tone.
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