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Ninaivu Chinnam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oorukkulla Ennapathi Unnapathi

From Ninaivu Chinnam · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ninaivu Chinnam
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
15 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oorukkulla ennapaththi unnapaththi
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththi
Ada ennennamo solluraanga
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththi
Ada ennennamo solluraanga
Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaa
Adha neethaan solla venum rasa
Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaa
Adha neethaan solla venum rasa
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththi
Ada ennennamo solluraanga
Oththayilae padukkaththaan mudiyala
Rettaiyilae inaiyaththaan vazhiyillae aa….
Oththayilae padukkaththaan mudiyala
Rettaiyilae inaiyaththaan vazhiyillae aa….
Ponnu kaiyil irukku aambalainga pozhappu
Kannu konjam thoranthu kaattu vazhi enakku
Aambalaikku veeram medaiyilaethaanae
Aththanaiyum maarum ponnukittaththaanae
Enna panna naanu naanum oru aalu
Kanni ilamaanu unnai enni naanu
Female :Ada mamanae vaatturaan kaamanae hoi
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththi
Ada ennennamo solluraanga
Thaali katti naalunthaan aaguthu
Thaagaththula manasellaam veguthu…aa…
Thaali katti naalunthaan aaguthu
Thaagaththula manasellaam veguthu…aa…
Kadhalikkumpothae unga manam therinju
Maalaiyittapothu veli onnu pottaen
Kanni ponna paarththu kaala manam karainju
Veli adha thaanda velai onnu paarththaen
Female :Sonna solla kelu ippa illa naalu
Appuramaa paaru ennai thaaraen naanu
Male :Antha naalumthaan seekkiram porakkanum
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththi
Ada ennennamo solluraanga
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththi
Ada ennennamo solluraanga
Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaa
Adha neethaan solla venum rasa
Male :Adhu nesamaa illa poiyyaa
Adha neethaan solla venum rasa
Oorukulla ennaiyumpaththi unnaiyum paththi
Ada ennennamo solluraanga
In this village, about me and about you,
In this village, about me and about you,
Oh, they are saying all sorts of things!
In this village, about me and about you,
Oh, they are saying all sorts of things!
Is it true, or is it a lie?
Only you must tell me, my king!
Is it true, or is it a lie?
Only you must tell me, my king!
In this village, about me and about you,
Oh, they are saying all sorts of things!
I just cannot sleep all alone,
And there is no way for the two of us to come together, ah...
I just cannot sleep all alone,
And there is no way for the two of us to come together, ah...
A man's life is in a woman's hands,
Open your eyes a little and show me the way!
A man's bravery is only for show on a stage,
It all completely changes before a woman, doesn't it?
What can I do? I am only human after all,
Thinking constantly of you, my sweet young fawn...
Oh my beloved, the god of desire is tormenting me too, hoy!
In this village, about me and about you,
Oh, they are saying all sorts of things!
Many days have passed since our wedding knot was tied,
Yet my whole heart burns with longing... ah...
Many days have passed since our wedding knot was tied,
Yet my whole heart burns with longing... ah...
Knowing your mind even when we were courting,
When we exchanged garlands, I put up a boundary!
Looking at this young beauty, my youthful heart melted,
And I plotted a way to jump right over that boundary!
Listen to what I say, now is not the right time,
Just wait a while, and I will surrender myself to you!
That day needs to arrive very soon!
In this village, about me and about you,
Oh, they are saying all sorts of things!
In this village, about me and about you,
Oh, they are saying all sorts of things!
Is it true, or is it a lie?
Only you must tell me, my king!
Is it true, or is it a lie?
Only you must tell me, my king!
In this village, about me and about you,
Oh, they are saying all sorts of things!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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