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Chinna Devan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oorukoru Kaaval Deivame

From Chinna Devan · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Minmini
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Chinna Devan
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
12 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Enga kuladheivamae
Sangili karuppaa ododi vaa
Female Chorus :Lululululu lulululululu…
Enga kurai theerthu nee
Niraivaakkavae ododi vaa
Female Chorus :Lululululu lulululululu…
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae
Chorus :Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae
Pudhu maala katti pottom
Saami onakku
Ini vaazhum vazhi kaattu
Naalum yemakku
Pudhu maala katti pottom
Saami onakku
Ini vaazhum vazhi kaattu
Naalum yemakku
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae
Muzhichirukkum podhu
Kan muzhiya thirudum ooru
Vera ingu yaaru konjam
Kanna thirandhu paaru
Thirudanaiyum kaathu
Idhu aravanaikkum ooru
Uravu murai sollum
Indha vetka kettai paaru
Karungaali kooda thaan..
Kaanikkai poduvaan
Chorus :Karungaali kooda thaan
Kaanikkai poduvaan
Verum kaiyil muzham pottu
Vedikkai kaattuvaan
Paalukkum poonaikkum
Or kaaval ingu neeyaa
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae
Saami kaiyl velum
Aivaalum kanda podhum
Veen pazhikku anjaa
Padupaavi paya boomi
Aallukkoru needhi
Ingu aatchi seiyum podhu
Ezhaigal anaadhai
Ini veru gadhi yedhu
Ini melum thaangaadhae
Idi thaangi aagaadhae
Chorus :Ini melum thaangaadhae
Idi thaangi aagaadhae
Manam vaadi pogaadhae
Sumai thaangi aagaadhae
Nerthik kadan kazhithae
Poojai seivom saami
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae
Chorus :Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae
Pudhu maala katti pottom
Saami onakku
Ini vaazhum vazhi kaattu
Naalum yemakku
Pudhu maala katti pottom
Saami onakku
Ini vaazhum vazhi kaattu
Naalum yemakku
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae
Oorukkoru kaaval dheivamae
Nee vendi kondaal yeval seiyumae..ae….
O our family deity!
Sangili Karuppa (guardian deity), come running to us!
Female Chorus: Lululululu lulululululu…
To remove all our troubles
And bring us fulfillment, come running to us!
Female Chorus: Lululululu lulululululu…
There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
Chorus: There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
We have woven and offered a fresh garland,
O Lord, to you!
Now show us the way to live,
Every day, for us!
We have woven and offered a fresh garland,
O Lord, to you!
Now show us the way to live,
Every day, for us!
There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
Even while you are wide awake,
This village will steal the very sight from your eyes!
Who else is here to help?
Open your eyes a little and see!
Even while shielding a thief,
This village embraces him!
Pretending everyone is kin,
Look at this shameless state of things!
Even a black-hearted traitor...
Will drop an offering into the temple box!
Chorus: Even a black-hearted traitor
Will drop an offering into the temple box!
Bluffing with empty hands,
He will put on a deceptive show!
Are you really standing guard
Over both the milk and the cat here?
There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
Even when they see the spear in the Lord's hand
And his sharp machete,
Without fearing any blame or sin,
This is a land full of wicked scoundrels!
When a separate law for each person
Rules over this land,
The poor are left as helpless orphans,
What other refuge is left for them now?
Do not put up with this anymore,
Do not just stand taking all the lightning strikes!
Chorus: Do not put up with this anymore,
Do not just stand taking all the lightning strikes!
Do not let your heart wither in silence,
Do not remain a mere resting stone bearing every burden!
Fulfilling all our sacred vows,
We will offer our worship to you, O Lord!
There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
Chorus: There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
We have woven and offered a fresh garland,
O Lord, to you!
Now show us the way to live,
Every day, for us!
We have woven and offered a fresh garland,
O Lord, to you!
Now show us the way to live,
Every day, for us!
There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
There is a guardian deity for every village,
If you pray with all your heart, he will do your bidding!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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