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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
Details
Thanga Durai1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaruHe came on a secret stroll into the town
Ulagathil ivarukku enna peruWhat is his name in this world?
Chorus :Enna peruChorus: What is his name?
Female :Ahaa ivaru adhisiyam paaruFemale: Aha, look at this marvel of a man!
Yaaraiyum sari panna povaaruHe goes around trying to fix anyone
Chorus :PovaaraaChorus: Will he go?
Female
Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaruHe came on a secret stroll into the town
Ulagathil ivarukku enna peruWhat is his name in this world?
Ahaa ivaru adhisiyam paaruAha, look at this marvel of a man!
Yaaraiyum sari panna povaaruHe goes around trying to fix anyone
Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaruHe will go anywhere and grab whatever he can get
Chorus :Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaruChorus: He will go anywhere and grab whatever he can get
Female
Mudichaiyum pottu pirichi vaippaaruHe ties up knots and then unties them again
Arivukkum ivarukkum thagaraaruHe and wisdom have an eternal feud
Chorus :AahaaChorus: Aahaa
Female :Mudichaiyum pottu pirichi vaippaaruFemale: He ties up knots and then unties them again
Arivukkum ivarukkum thagaraaruHe and wisdom have an eternal feud
Muniyappan polae kaalam paarthuBiding his time like Muniyappan
Mulachi vandhaa varuvaaruIf an opportunity sprouts up, he arrives
Chorus :Mulachi vandhaa varuvaaruChorus: If an opportunity sprouts up, he arrives
Female :Sagunikku ivaru saayura suvaruFemale: He is a leaning wall of support for Shakuni
Bharatha klathil irundhaaruHe was right there during the Mahabharata war
Chorus :Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaruChorus: He will go anywhere and grab whatever he can get
Female
Chandiramandalam pogira ulagilIn a world moving toward the lunar sphere
Thandhira mandalam povaruHe moves around in a sphere of trickery
Chorus :Hae haeChorus: Hae hae
Female :Sarithiram padikkira kuzhandhaigal nenjaiFemale: The minds of children who study history
Thamadham padutha nenaippaaruHe intends to delay and obstruct
Chorus :Thamadham padutha nenaippaaruChorus: He intends to delay and obstruct
Female
Raama krishna murugaa endraeChanting 'Rama, Krishna, Muruga'
Naalukku naal azhaippaaruHe calls out day after day
Avanae oru naal thaeril vandhaalIf God Himself were to arrive on a chariot one day
Adhanaiyum thatti paripaaruHe would snatch that away too!
Chorus :Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaruChorus: He will go anywhere and grab whatever he can get
Female
Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaruHe came on a secret stroll into the town
Ulagathil ivarukku enna peruWhat is his name in this world?
Ahaa ivaru adhisiyam paaruAha, look at this marvel of a man!
Yaaraiyum sari panna povaaruHe goes around trying to fix anyone
Female
Ponnukku veengi porullukku yengiCraving gold and longing for wealth
Munnukku varathaan pappaaruHe strives only to advance himself
Chorus :AhaaChorus: Aahaa
Female :Porakkira podhae adichadhu jooraFemale: Struck with high ambition right from birth
Ennikkum vaazha nenaichaaruHe wished to live forever
Chorus :Ennikkum vaazha nenaichaaruChorus: He wished to live forever
Female
Ennaikku ivaru thannai marandhuFemale: When will he forget his ego
Ennaiyum unnaiyum pappaaruAnd look upon you and me with compassion?
Ellaam arindhu onnaa aanaWhen he realizes the ultimate truth and becomes unified,
Aiyaa vazhiyil varuvaaruSir will finally walk upon the path of virtue
Chorus
Engaeyum varuvaaru yedhaachum peruvaaruHe will go anywhere and grab whatever he can get
Female
Oorukkul siru ulava vandhaaruHe came on a secret stroll into the town
Ulagathil ivarukku enna peruWhat is his name in this world?
Ahaa ivaru adhisiyam paaruAha, look at this marvel of a man!
Yaaraiyum sari panna povaaruHe goes around trying to fix anyone

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"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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