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Madappura album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oorukkum Theriyaadhu Yaarukkum Puriyaadhu Sad

From Madappura · 1962

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Madappura
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
3 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oorukkum theriyaadhu
Yaarukkum puriyaadhu
Oorukkum theriyaadhu
Yaarukkum puriyaadhu
Unnai enni kanavu kandu
Ullam yenguvadhu
Oorukkum theriyaadhu
Yaarukkum puriyaadhu
Unnudanae naan irukkum
Ennudanae nee irukkum
Unmaiyai ulagam ariyaadhu
Unmaiyai ulagam ariyaadhu
Unaiyandri vaazhkkaiyum yedhu
Oorukkum theriyaadhu
Yaarukkum puriyaadhu
Kaanbadhellaam un uruvam
Ketpadhellaam unadhu kural
Kaanbadhellaam un uruvam
Ketpadhellaam unadhu kural
Kangalai urakkam thazhuvaadhu
Kangalai urakkam thazhuvaadhu
Anbullam thavithidum podhu
Oorukkum theriyaadhu
Yaarukkum puriyaadhu
Unnai enni kanavu kandu
Ullam yenguvadhu
Oorukkum theriyaadhu
Yaarukkum puriyaadhu
The town does not know,
No one can understand,
The town does not know,
No one can understand,
Thinking of you and dreaming,
How deeply my heart yearns.
The town does not know,
No one can understand.
That I am with you,
That you are with me,
The world does not know this truth,
The world does not know this truth.
What life is there without you?
The town does not know,
No one can understand.
All I see is your form,
All I hear is your voice,
All I see is your form,
All I hear is your voice,
Sleep does not touch my eyes,
Sleep does not touch my eyes,
When a loving heart aches with longing.
The town does not know,
No one can understand,
Thinking of you and dreaming,
How deeply my heart yearns.
The town does not know,
No one can understand.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses the secret and profound inner longing of a lover. The protagonist sings about a deep, sacred emotional connection that remains unseen and incomprehensible to society at large. The world outside remains completely unaware of how the lover constantly thinks of, dreams about, and yearns for their beloved. The lyricism highlights the intensity of this devotion—where every sight appears as the beloved's form and every sound echoes their voice. Unable to sleep due to the yearning ache of love, the protagonist affirms that existence itself is meaningless without their partner, beautifully capturing the sweet agony of secret romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Oorukkum theriyaadhu / Yaarukkum puriyaadhu

The second consonant 'ru' (ரு) in 'Oorukkum' matches with 'Yaarukkum', creating a rhythmic cadence in the opening lines.

Iyaipu (End rhyme)

theriyaadhu / puriyaadhu / ariyaadhu

The line endings consistently rhyme with the suffix '-aadhu', adding a lyrical continuity throughout the refrain.

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Unnudanae naan irukkum / Ennudanae nee irukkum

The second letter 'n' (ன்) in 'Unnudanae' and 'Ennudanae' rhymes, reinforcing the thematic symmetry of 'you with me' and 'me with you'.

Personification

Kangalai urakkam thazhuvaadhu

Sleep ('urakkam') is personified as a person capable of embracing ('thazhuvaadhu') the eyes.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Oorukkum Theriyaadhu' is from the 1962 Tamil action drama film 'Madappura', starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The movie's soundtrack was composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by A. Maruthakasi. A. Maruthakasi was renowned for his ability to write folk-inspired, emotionally evocative lyrics using accessible, evocative Tamil imagery.

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