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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oorvalamaaga Maappillai Pennum

From Arasilangkumari · 1961

Lyricist
R. Pazhanichami
Singers
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Arasilangkumari
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
12 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oorvalamaaga maappillai pennum
Serndhu varughuraar vazhiyilae
Yaarum ariyaamal kannaal pesuraar
Enna seidhiyo theriyalae
Oorvalamaaga maappillai pennum
Serndhu varughuraar vazhiyilae
Yaarum ariyaamal kannaal pesuraar
Enna seidhiyo theriyalae
Vetkaththaalae pennin mughathil
Itta manjalum sivakkudhu
Vetkaththaalae pennin mughathil
Itta manjalum sivakkudhu
Pattu kaiviral pattadhumae
Aval palingu vizhigal yen thavikkudhu
Pattu kaiviral pattadhumae
Aval palingu vizhigal yen thavikkudhu
Oorvalamaaga maappillai pennum
Serndhu varughuraar vazhiyilae
Yaarum ariyaamal kannaal pesuraar
Enna seidhiyo theriyalae
{Viragu vettiyidam
Veenai kidaitthaal
Kurudar kaiyilae
Kavidhai kodutthaal
Iruvarum thavippadhu
Adhisayamaa adhisayamaa} (2)
Idhu ivarukkum porundhidum
Uvamai amma
Idhu ivarukkum porundhidum
Uvamai amma
Thiramaiyillaamal ottuvadhaalae
Thindaadum vandi thadam puralum
Thindaadum vandi thadam puralum
Thiramum panpaadum illaadha naadu
Thaazhvu uyarvilae idari vizhum
Thiramum panpaadum illaadha naadu
Thaazhvu uyarvilae idari vizhum
Uyarvu thaazhvugal nammilae illai
Ullamum ondraai aanadhu
Uyarvu thaazhvugal nammilae illai
Ullamum ondraai aanadhu
Uruvinil thaanae baedham thonudhu
Nilaiyinil samathuvam maevudhu
Uruvinil thaanae baedham thonudhu
Nilaiyinil samathuvam maevudhu
Aalbaval neeyae adimaiyum naanae
Anu alavum illai samathuvam
Nammil anu alavum illai samathuvam
Sari nigaraaga yaavarum vaazhvil
Iruppadhu thaan adhan thatthuvam
Sari nigaraaga yaavarum vaazhvil
Iruppadhu thaan adhan thatthuvam
Andha naal endru vandhidum
Male :Makkal sindhithaalae pirandhidum
Female :Andha naal endru vandhidum
Male :Makkal sindhithaalae pirandhidum
Kootturavaaga naamirundhaalae
Naattin kavalaigal agalumae
Yaettil illaadha ellaa pudhumaiyum
Endrum vaazhvilae thigazhumae
Oorvalamaaga maappillai pennum
Serndhu varughuraar vazhiyilae
Yaarum ariyaamal kannaal pesuraar
Enna seidhiyo theriyalae
In a wedding procession, the groom and the bride
are coming along the path together.
Without anyone knowing, they speak with their eyes;
who knows what message they share!
In a wedding procession, the groom and the bride
are coming along the path together.
Without anyone knowing, they speak with their eyes;
who knows what message they share!
Out of sheer shyness on the bride's face,
even the turmeric applied blushes red.
Out of sheer shyness on the bride's face,
even the turmeric applied blushes red.
The moment his soft fingers touch her,
why do her crystal eyes tremble so?
The moment his soft fingers touch her,
why do her crystal eyes tremble so?
In a wedding procession, the groom and the bride
are coming along the path together.
Without anyone knowing, they speak with their eyes;
who knows what message they share!
{If a woodcutter
is given a veena (traditional stringed instrument),
and into the hands of a blind person
a written poem is placed,
is it any wonder
that both of them are bewildered?} (2)
This is a comparison
that truly fits these two!
This is a comparison
that truly fits these two!
When driven without skill,
a struggling cart will veer off course and overturn.
A struggling cart will veer off course and overturn.
A land lacking capability and good values
will stumble and fall over inequality.
A land lacking capability and good values
will stumble and fall over inequality.
There are no high or low divides between us,
and our hearts have become one.
There are no high or low divides between us,
and our hearts have become one.
It is only in outward appearance that difference is seen,
while in true standing, equality prevails.
It is only in outward appearance that difference is seen,
while in true standing, equality prevails.
You are the ruler and I am the servant;
there is not even a trace of equality.
Between us, there is not even a trace of equality.
All people living as equals in life,
that is its true philosophy.
All people living as equals in life,
that is its true philosophy.
When will that day arrive?
Male: It will dawn once the people begin to think!
Female: When will that day arrive?
Male: It will dawn once the people begin to think!
If only we live together in harmony and cooperation,
all the nation's worries will vanish.
All the new wonders never written in books
will forever shine in our lives.
In a wedding procession, the groom and the bride
are coming along the path together.
Without anyone knowing, they speak with their eyes;
who knows what message they share!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song opens as a lighthearted, traditional wedding description depicting a groom and bride moving in a procession, exchanging secret glances and blushing with romance. However, it quickly pivots into a thoughtful social and political allegory. Through sharp metaphors—such as giving a fine instrument to a woodcutter or a incompetent driver derailing a cart—the lyrics highlight the consequences of placing responsibility without capability and culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Viragu vettiyidam Veenai kidaitthaal / Kurudar kaiyilae Kavidhai kodutthaal

Compares misplaced responsibility or capability to handing a delicate Veena to a woodcutter or giving written poetry to a visually impaired person.

Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)

Aalbaval neeyae adimaiyum naanae

Contrasts 'Aalbaval' (ruler) and 'Adimai' (servant) to highlight class division and the lack of social equality.

Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)

Naattin kavalaigal agalumae / Endrum vaazhvilae thigazhumae

The lines end with matching phonetic sounds ('agalumae' and 'thigazhumae') creating a poetic flow.

Personification / Hyperbole

Itta manjalum sivakkudhu

Exaggerates the bride's deep blush by poetically claiming even the yellow turmeric paste on her face turns red from shyness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Arasilangkumari (1961) is a historic Tamil historical action film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), Padmini, and B. Saroja Devi. The film's music was primarily composed by G. Ramanathan with additional contributions by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. Lyricist R. Pazhanichami infused socio-political themes typical of MGR's cinema, subtly blending political reformist ideology (Dravidian movement principles on equality and public awareness) into a narrative duet.

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