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Lyrics & meaning

Oorukoru Kaaval Deivame

From Chinna Devan · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Minmini
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Devan1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Enga kuladheivamaeOh clan deity of ours!
Sangili karuppaa ododi vaaOh Sangili Karuppa, come running fast!
Female Chorus :Lululululu lulululululu…Female Chorus: Lululululu lulululululu...
Male
Enga kurai theerthu neeResolve our grievances and...
Niraivaakkavae ododi vaaCome running fast to fulfill our lives!
Female Chorus :Lululululu lulululululu…Female Chorus: Lululululu lulululululu...
Male
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeOh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumaeIf you request, it will do your bidding.
Chorus :Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeChorus: Oh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumaeIf you request, it will do your bidding.
Female
Pudhu maala katti pottomWe wove a new garland and offered it...
Saami onakkuTo you, oh God!
Ini vaazhum vazhi kaattuNow show us the way to live...
Naalum yemakkuEvery day for us!
Male
Pudhu maala katti pottomWe wove a new garland and offered it...
Saami onakkuTo you, oh God!
Ini vaazhum vazhi kaattuNow show us the way to live...
Naalum yemakkuEvery day for us!
Chorus
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeOh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumaeIf you request, it will do your bidding.
Male
Muzhichirukkum podhuWhile wide awake...
Kan muzhiya thirudum ooruThis town steals right before open eyes.
Vera ingu yaaru konjamWho else is here? Just open...
Kanna thirandhu paaruYour eyes a bit and look!
Thirudanaiyum kaathuProtecting even the thief...
Idhu aravanaikkum ooruThis town embraces them.
Uravu murai sollumClaiming kinship relations...
Indha vetka kettai paaruLook at this shameless situation!
Female
Karungaali kooda thaan..Even a ruthless scoundrel...
Kaanikkai poduvaanWill drop an offering.
Chorus :Karungaali kooda thaanChorus: Even a ruthless scoundrel...
Kaanikkai poduvaanWill drop an offering.
Female
Verum kaiyil muzham pottuMeasuring cubits with empty hands...
Vedikkai kaattuvaanHe puts on a grand show!
Paalukkum poonaikkumAre you a guard here...
Or kaaval ingu neeyaaFor both the milk and the cat?
Chorus
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeOh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumaeIf you request, it will do your bidding.
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeOh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumaeIf you request, it will do your bidding.
Male
Saami kaiyl velumEven upon seeing the spear and...
Aivaalum kanda podhumMachete in God's hands...
Veen pazhikku anjaaUnafraid of false accusations...
Padupaavi paya boomiIs this land of wretched sinners!
Aallukkoru needhiWhen a different justice...
Ingu aatchi seiyum podhuRules for each person here...
Ezhaigal anaadhaiThe poor are orphaned...
Ini veru gadhi yedhuWhat other refuge is there now?
Female
Ini melum thaangaadhaeIt cannot bear any more...
Idi thaangi aagaadhaeBecome a lightning arrester!
Chorus :Ini melum thaangaadhaeChorus: It cannot bear any more...
Idi thaangi aagaadhaeBecome a lightning arrester!
Female
Manam vaadi pogaadhaeDo not let the mind wither away...
Sumai thaangi aagaadhaeBecome a bearer of our burden!
Nerthik kadan kazhithaeFulfilling our sacred vows...
Poojai seivom saamiWe will perform worship, oh God!
Male
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeOh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumaeIf you request, it will do your bidding.
Chorus :Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeChorus: Oh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumaeIf you request, it will do your bidding.
Female
Pudhu maala katti pottomWe wove a new garland and offered it...
Saami onakkuTo you, oh God!
Ini vaazhum vazhi kaattuNow show us the way to live...
Naalum yemakkuEvery day for us!
Male
Pudhu maala katti pottomWe wove a new garland and offered it...
Saami onakkuTo you, oh God!
Ini vaazhum vazhi kaattuNow show us the way to live...
Naalum yemakkuEvery day for us!
Chorus
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeOh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumaeIf you request, it will do your bidding.
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamaeOh guardian deity of the village!
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae..ae….If you request, it will do your bidding...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a fervent devotional appeal addressed to Sangili Karuppan, a powerful guardian deity (Kaaval Deivam) revered in Tamil village culture. The villagers assemble to offer fresh garlands and perform rituals, praying to Karuppasamy to protect them, eliminate their sorrow, and show them the righteous path in life. Beyond simple devotion, lyricist Vaali infuses social commentary into the song. The singer laments the hypocrisy and injustice in the village, where evil-doers and thieves openly commit sins yet pretend to be devout by offering gifts. The song questions if God is guarding both the victim and the thief (symbolized as guarding both the milk and the cat). Ultimately, the villagers plead for the deity to act as a lightning rod and burden-bearer for their sufferings.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second Letter Assonance)

Enga kurai theerthu nee

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic harmony characteristic of Tamil poetry (e.g., 'Enga' / 'Niraivaakkavae' or 'Muzhichirukkum' / 'Thirudanaiyum').

Analogy / Idiom

Paalukkum poonaikkum Or kaaval ingu neeyaa

'Paalukkum poonaikkum Or kaaval' uses a classic proverb-like metaphor questioning if the deity guards both the milk (innocent victim) and the cat (predator/thief).

Metaphor

Idi thaangi aagaadhae / Sumai thaangi aagaadhae

Calling God an 'Idi thaangi' (lightning arrester) and 'Sumai thaangi' (rest stop stone for burdens) metaphorically depicts the deity as a protector who absorbs shock and carries human suffering.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track showcases traditional Tamil folk deity worship rituals dedicated to Karuppasamy, complete with 'Kulavai' sounds (Lululululu) produced by village women during auspicious spiritual ceremonies.

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