Oorumillai Naattile
From Kairasi · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Details
- Kairasi1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oorum illai naatilae | I have no town in this land, |
| Uravum illai veetilae | I have no family in my house, |
| Yaarum illai vaazhvilae | I have no one in my life, |
| Yen pirandhaen ulagilae | Why was I born in this world? |
| Female | |
| Oorum illai naatilae | I have no town in this land, |
| Uravum illai veetilae | I have no family in my house, |
| Yaarum illai vaazhvilae | I have no one in my life, |
| Yen pirandhaen ulagilae | Why was I born in this world? |
| Female | |
| Pillai endru thaeduvaar | People search yearning for a child, |
| Gangai neeril aaduvaar | They bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges, |
| Pillai endru thaeduvaar | People search yearning for a child, |
| Gangai neeril aaduvaar | They bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges, |
| Aanaalum avar kaanbadhillai | Yet, they still do not find one, |
| Thaedaamal vandhaai selvamae | But without my searching, you arrived, my treasure! |
| Female | |
| Oorum illai naatilae | I have no town in this land, |
| Uravum illai veetilae | I have no family in my house, |
| Yaarum illai vaazhvilae | I have no one in my life, |
| Yen pirandhaen ulagilae | Why was I born in this world? |
| Female | |
| Kaigal yendhi vaazhvadhae | Is living with hands outstretched begging |
| Kadavul thantha needhiyaa | The justice meted out by God? |
| Kaigal yendhi vaazhvadhae | Is living with hands outstretched begging |
| Kadavul thantha needhiyaa | The justice meted out by God? |
| Female | |
| Kadavul kooda manidhanaa | Is God also like a human being, |
| Karunai illaadha jaathiyaa | Belonging to a merciless kind? |
| Thaniyaana penmai baliyaavdhu unmai | The sacrifice of a solitary woman is the tragic reality, |
| Yaar vaazhvil enna naerumoo | Who knows what destiny holds in whose life? |
| Female | |
| Oorum illai naatilae | I have no town in this land, |
| Uravum illai veetilae | I have no family in my house, |
| Yaarum illai vaazhvilae | I have no one in my life, |
| Yen pirandhaen ulagilae | Why was I born in this world? |
ஊருமில்லை நாட்டிலே
உறவுமில்லை வீட்டிலே
யாருமில்லை வாழ்விலே
ஏன் பிறந்தேன் உலகிலே
I have no town in this land,
I have no family in my house,
I have no one in my life,
Why was I born in this world?
ஊருமில்லை நாட்டிலே
உறவுமில்லை வீட்டிலே
யாருமில்லை வாழ்விலே
ஏன் பிறந்தேன் உலகிலே
I have no town in this land,
I have no family in my house,
I have no one in my life,
Why was I born in this world?
பிள்ளை என்று தேடுவார்
கங்கை நீரில் ஆடுவார்
பிள்ளை என்று தேடுவார்
கங்கை நீரில் ஆடுவார்
ஆனாலும் பிள்ளை அவர் காண்பதில்லை
தேடாமல் வந்தாய் செல்வமே
People search yearning for a child,
They bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges,
People search yearning for a child,
They bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges,
Yet, they still do not find one,
But without my searching, you arrived, my treasure!
ஊருமில்லை நாட்டிலே
உறவுமில்லை வீட்டிலே
யாருமில்லை வாழ்விலே
ஏன் பிறந்தேன் உலகிலே
I have no town in this land,
I have no family in my house,
I have no one in my life,
Why was I born in this world?
கைகள் ஏந்தி வாழ்வதே
கடவுள் தந்த நீதியா
கைகள் ஏந்தி வாழ்வதே
கடவுள் தந்த நீதியா
Is living with hands outstretched begging
The justice meted out by God?
Is living with hands outstretched begging
The justice meted out by God?
கடவுள் கூட மனிதனா
கருணையில்லா ஜாதியா
தனியான பெண்மை பலியாவதுண்மை
யார் வாழ்வில் என்ன நேருமோ
Is God also like a human being,
Belonging to a merciless kind?
The sacrifice of a solitary woman is the tragic reality,
Who knows what destiny holds in whose life?
ஊருமில்லை நாட்டிலே
உறவுமில்லை வீட்டிலே
யாருமில்லை வாழ்விலே
ஏன் பிறந்தேன் உலகிலே
I have no town in this land,
I have no family in my house,
I have no one in my life,
Why was I born in this world?
Oorum illai naatilae
I have no town in this land,
Uravum illai veetilae
I have no family in my house,
Yaarum illai vaazhvilae
I have no one in my life,
Yen pirandhaen ulagilae
Why was I born in this world?
Oorum illai naatilae
I have no town in this land,
Uravum illai veetilae
I have no family in my house,
Yaarum illai vaazhvilae
I have no one in my life,
Yen pirandhaen ulagilae
Why was I born in this world?
Pillai endru thaeduvaar
People search yearning for a child,
Gangai neeril aaduvaar
They bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges,
Pillai endru thaeduvaar
People search yearning for a child,
Gangai neeril aaduvaar
They bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges,
Aanaalum avar kaanbadhillai
Yet, they still do not find one,
Thaedaamal vandhaai selvamae
But without my searching, you arrived, my treasure!
Oorum illai naatilae
I have no town in this land,
Uravum illai veetilae
I have no family in my house,
Yaarum illai vaazhvilae
I have no one in my life,
Yen pirandhaen ulagilae
Why was I born in this world?
Kaigal yendhi vaazhvadhae
Is living with hands outstretched begging
Kadavul thantha needhiyaa
The justice meted out by God?
Kaigal yendhi vaazhvadhae
Is living with hands outstretched begging
Kadavul thantha needhiyaa
The justice meted out by God?
Kadavul kooda manidhanaa
Is God also like a human being,
Karunai illaadha jaathiyaa
Belonging to a merciless kind?
Thaniyaana penmai baliyaavdhu unmai
The sacrifice of a solitary woman is the tragic reality,
Yaar vaazhvil enna naerumoo
Who knows what destiny holds in whose life?
Oorum illai naatilae
I have no town in this land,
Uravum illai veetilae
I have no family in my house,
Yaarum illai vaazhvilae
I have no one in my life,
Yen pirandhaen ulagilae
Why was I born in this world?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses the existential grief, loneliness, and despair of a woman abandoned by society and destitute of family ties. She questions her very existence in this world while grappling with the ironies of fate—people undertake arduous pilgrimages and bathe in the Ganges yearning for a child, yet an unexpected child arrives in her life without her even asking for it.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Oorum illai naatilae / Uravum illai veetilae / Yaarum illai vaazhvilae / Yen pirandhaen ulagilae”
The locative suffix '-ilae' repeats at the end of each consecutive line, creating a rhythmic, sorrowful cadence.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Oorum illai naatilae / Uravum illai veetilae”
The second consonant 'ru' (ரு) matches in 'Oorum' and 'Uravum', adhering to classic Tamil prosody rules.
Rhetorical Question
“Kadavul kooda manidhanaa / Karunai illaadha jaathiyaa”
The speaker questions whether God has become as cruel and unfeeling as humankind, highlighting deep existential despair rather than seeking a literal answer.
Muran (Irony / Antithesis)
“Pillai endru thaeduvaar... / Thaedaamal vandhaai selvamae”
Contrasts those who desperately seek a child through holy rituals with the singer who received a child unasked.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Kairasi' (1960) was directed by K. Shankar and starred Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. The film's soundtrack was composed by R. Sudarsanam with soulful lyrics by Kavignar Kannadasan, who was renowned for capturing deep philosophical angst and maternal devotion in his songs.
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