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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oorukkul Saaru Ulava

From Thanga Durai · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thanga Durai
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
15 Jun 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaru
Ulagathil ivarukku enna peru
Chorus :Enna peru
Female :Ahaa ivaru adhisiyam paaru
Yaaraiyum sari panna povaaru
Chorus :Povaaraa
Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaru
Ulagathil ivarukku enna peru
Ahaa ivaru adhisiyam paaru
Yaaraiyum sari panna povaaru
Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaru
Chorus :Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaru
Mudichaiyum pottu pirichi vaippaaru
Arivukkum ivarukkum thagaraaru
Chorus :Aahaa
Female :Mudichaiyum pottu pirichi vaippaaru
Arivukkum ivarukkum thagaraaru
Muniyappan polae kaalam paarthu
Mulachi vandhaa varuvaaru
Chorus :Mulachi vandhaa varuvaaru
Female :Sagunikku ivaru saayura suvaru
Bharatha klathil irundhaaru
Chorus :Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaru
Chandiramandalam pogira ulagil
Thandhira mandalam povaru
Chorus :Hae hae
Female :Sarithiram padikkira kuzhandhaigal nenjai
Thamadham padutha nenaippaaru
Chorus :Thamadham padutha nenaippaaru
Raama krishna murugaa endrae
Naalukku naal azhaippaaru
Avanae oru naal thaeril vandhaal
Adhanaiyum thatti paripaaru
Chorus :Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaru
Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaru
Ulagathil ivarukku enna peru
Ahaa ivaru adhisiyam paaru
Yaaraiyum sari panna povaaru
Ponnukku veengi porullukku yengi
Munnukku varathaan pappaaru
Chorus :Ahaa
Female :Porakkira podhae adichadhu joora
Ennikkum vaazha nenaichaaru
Chorus :Ennikkum vaazha nenaichaaru
Ennaikku ivaru thannai marandhu
Ennaiyum unnaiyum pappaaru
Ellaam arindhu onnaa aana
Aiyaa vazhiyil varuvaaru
Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaru
Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaru
Ulagathil ivarukku enna peru
Ahaa ivaru adhisiyam paaru
Yaaraiyum sari panna povaaru
He stepped out for a little stroll around town,
What is his name in this world?
What is his name?
Aha, look at this wonder of a man!
He goes around trying to fix anyone!
Will he really?
He stepped out for a little stroll around town,
What is his name in this world?
Aha, look at this wonder of a man!
He goes around trying to fix anyone!
He turns up everywhere and takes whatever he can!
He turns up everywhere and takes whatever he can!
He ties tangled knots and tears people apart,
He and common sense are always at war!
Aha!
He ties tangled knots and tears people apart,
He and common sense are always at war!
Biding his time like Muniyappan (a folk deity),
He pops up whenever he pleases!
He pops up whenever he pleases!
He is the supporting wall for scheming Shakuni,
He was right there on the Mahabharata battlefield!
He turns up everywhere and takes whatever he can!
In a world journeying to the moon,
He travels to the realm of cunning tricks!
Hey hey!
The minds of young children learning history,
He schemes to confuse and hold back!
He schemes to confuse and hold back!
Chanting "Rama, Krishna, Muruga",
He calls on God day after day;
But if God Himself arrives on a chariot one day,
He would snatch even that away!
He turns up everywhere and takes whatever he can!
He stepped out for a little stroll around town,
What is his name in this world?
Aha, look at this wonder of a man!
He goes around trying to fix anyone!
Craving women and hungering for wealth,
All he seeks is to get ahead!
Aha!
Struck by great fortune from the day he was born,
He thought he would live grandly forever!
He thought he would live grandly forever!
When will he ever forget his ego,
And truly care about you and me?
If people understand the truth and unite as one,
This master will fall right into line!
He turns up everywhere and takes whatever he can!
He stepped out for a little stroll around town,
What is his name in this world?
Aha, look at this wonder of a man!
He goes around trying to fix anyone!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

"Oorukkul Siru Ulava Vandhaaru" from the 1972 Tamil film 'Thanga Durai' is a lively, satirical song composed by M. S. Vishwanathan and rendered with characteristic playfulness by L. R. Eswari. The lyrics, written by Kannadasan, present a sharp critique of opportunistic, scheming individuals who roam society pretending to be wise and pious while driven entirely by greed, self-interest, and deception.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Chandiramandalam pogira ulagil / Thandhira mandalam povaru”

The second consonant 'n' ('ன்'/'ந்') matches in 'Chandiramandalam' and 'Thandhira', giving rhythmic flow.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaru / Ulagathil ivarukku enna peru”

The end syllables match with 'ru' endings ('vandhaaru', 'peru', 'paaru', 'povaaru').

Allusion / Metaphor

“Sagunikku ivaru saayura suvaru”

Compares the subject to a 'leaning wall' supporting Shakuni, the mastermind of deceit from the Mahabharata.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Ponnukku veengi porullukku yengi”

The initial letter 'Po' is repeated in 'Ponnukku' and 'porullukku'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thanga Durai' (1972) starred Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, and K. R. Vijaya. The song features L. R. Eswari's energetic vocal delivery, which was frequently used for sassy, cabaret-style, or satirical numbers in Tamil cinema. Kannadasan cleverly uses mythological references like Shakuni and the Mahabharata to satirize human hypocrisy and greed.

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