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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oorukkulla Ennapathi Unnapathi

From Ninaivu Chinnam · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ninaivu Chinnam1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oorukkulla ennapaththi unnapaththiIn this town, about me and about you,
Female
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththiIn this town, about me and about you,
Ada ennennamo solluraangaOh, people are saying all sorts of rumors!
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththiIn this town, about me and about you,
Ada ennennamo solluraangaOh, people are saying all sorts of rumors!
Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaaIs that true or is it a lie?
Adha neethaan solla venum rasaYou are the one who must tell me that, my dear.
Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaaIs that true or is it a lie?
Adha neethaan solla venum rasaYou are the one who must tell me that, my dear.
Female
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththiIn this town, about me and about you,
Ada ennennamo solluraangaOh, people are saying all sorts of rumors!
Female
Oththayilae padukkaththaan mudiyalaI cannot sleep all alone,
Rettaiyilae inaiyaththaan vazhiyillae aa….Yet there seems to be no way for us to unite as a couple, ah...
Oththayilae padukkaththaan mudiyalaI cannot sleep all alone,
Rettaiyilae inaiyaththaan vazhiyillae aa….Yet there seems to be no way for us to unite as a couple, ah...
Male
Ponnu kaiyil irukku aambalainga pozhappuA man's life lies in a woman's hands,
Kannu konjam thoranthu kaattu vazhi enakkuOpen your eyes a little and show me the path.
Female
Aambalaikku veeram medaiyilaethaanaeA man's bravado is only for display on stage,
Aththanaiyum maarum ponnukittaththaanaeAll of that changes in front of a woman!
Male
Enna panna naanu naanum oru aaluWhat can I do? After all, I too am human,
Kanni ilamaanu unnai enni naanuThinking of you as a tender young fawn...
Female :Ada mamanae vaatturaan kaamanae hoiFemale: Oh my beloved, Lord Kaaman (Cupid) is tormenting me, hoi!
Female
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththiIn this town, about me and about you,
Ada ennennamo solluraangaOh, people are saying all sorts of rumors!
Male
Thaali katti naalunthaan aaguthuIt has been four days since the sacred thread was tied,
Thaagaththula manasellaam veguthu…aa…In thirst, my entire heart is burning... ah...
Thaali katti naalunthaan aaguthuIt has been four days since the sacred thread was tied,
Thaagaththula manasellaam veguthu…aa…In thirst, my entire heart is burning... ah...
Female
Kadhalikkumpothae unga manam therinjuKnowing your mind even while we were in love,
Maalaiyittapothu veli onnu pottaenI put up a boundary fence when we exchanged garlands.
Male
Kanni ponna paarththu kaala manam karainjuLooking at this young girl, my tough heart melted,
Veli adha thaanda velai onnu paarththaenAnd I looked for a way to leap across that fence!
Female :Sonna solla kelu ippa illa naaluFemale: Listen to my words, now is not the right day,
Appuramaa paaru ennai thaaraen naanuWait for later, I will yield myself to you.
Male :Antha naalumthaan seekkiram porakkanumMale: That day needs to arrive very soon!
Female
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththiIn this town, about me and about you,
Ada ennennamo solluraangaOh, people are saying all sorts of rumors!
Male
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththiIn this town, about me and about you,
Ada ennennamo solluraangaOh, people are saying all sorts of rumors!
Female
Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaaIs that true or is it a lie?
Adha neethaan solla venum rasaYou are the one who must tell me that, my dear.
Male :Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaaMale: Is that true or is it a lie?
Adha neethaan solla venum rasaYou are the one who must tell me that, my dear.
Female
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththiIn this town, about me and about you,
Ada ennennamo solluraangaOh, people are saying all sorts of rumors!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oorukkulla Ennapaththi' from 'Ninaivu Chinnam' (1989) is a playful folk-duet centered around a newly married couple addressing village rumors and their romantic yearning for one another. The groom expresses his affectionate frustration over sleeping alone, humorously confessing that a man's pride melts away in front of his beloved. The bride playfully sets boundaries while teasingly confessing her own romantic feelings.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Oththayilae padukkaththaan mudiyala / Rettaiyilae inaiyaththaan vazhiyillae

The second consonant 'th' (த்) in 'Oththayilae' pairs with 't/th' in 'Rettaiyilae', creating classical Tamil Ethugai.

Muran (Antithesis)

Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaa

Presents contrasting opposites—'nesam' (truth) vs 'poi' (lie)—to reflect playful doubt and inquiry.

Personification / Cultural Metaphor

Ada mamanae vaatturaan kaamanae hoi

Personifies 'Kaaman' (the Hindu deity of love and romance) as an entity inflicting passionate desire upon the bride.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Sonna solla kelu ippa illa naalu / Appuramaa paaru ennai thaaraen naanu

Rhyming line endings ('kelu', 'naalu', 'paaru', 'naanu') add a catchy rhythmic bounce characteristic of Tamil folk music.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ninaivu Chinnam' (1989), directed by R. Sundarrajan and starring Prabhu and Radhika, features a popular rustic soundtrack by Maestro Ilayaraja. This song highlights the signature vocal dynamic between Malaysia Vasudevan's robust voice and K. S. Chithra's expressive delivery, capturing authentic rural Tamil flavor.

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