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Sumathi En Sundari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Or Aayiram Nadagam

From Sumathi En Sundari · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Sumathi En Sundari
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
19 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Or aayiram naadagam aadinaal
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Poo maalaigal maeniyil soodinaal
Aruvi azhagil aruvi azhagil aa…
Baavanai kaattinaal baavanai kaattinaal
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Or aayiram naadagam aadinaal
Thaeyilaiyin thalai thadavi
Sellum ilam kaattru
Thaeyilaiyin thalai thadavi
Sellum ilam kaattru
Mella mella killi killi
Kaiyeduthu alli alli
Kaaleduthu thulli chellum pulli maano
Mella mella killi killi
Kaiyeduthu alli alli
Kaaleduthu thulli chellum pulli maano
Kaanum azhagennavao aahaa
Kannil kalaiyennavo
Kaanum azhagennavao aahaa
Kannil kalaiyennavo
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Or aayiram naadagam aadinaal
Ilaiya magal maeniyinai
Iyarkkai thaalaatta
Oho oho oho oho oho…
Oho oho oho oho …ohoho…
Ilaiya magal maeniyinai
Iyarkkai thaalaatta
Naadu vittu kaadu vandhu
Naan padaitha inbam ingu
Vaazha vaikka vendum yennai nalamaaga
Naadu vittu kaadu vandhu
Naan padaitha inbam ingu
Vaazha vaikka vendum yennai nalamaaga
Kaanum azhagennavao aahaa
Kannil kalaiyennavo
Kaanum azhagennavao aahaa
Kannil kalaiyennavo
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Or aayiram naadagam aadinaal
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Poo maalaigal maeniyil soodinaal
Aruvi azhagil aruvi azhagil aa…
Baavanai kaattinaal baavanai kaattinaal
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Lallalalla lalla laala laa
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Lallalalla lalla laala laa
Ah.... ah..... ah..... ah..... ah....
She enacted a thousand playful scenes
Ah.... ah..... ah..... ah..... ah....
She adorned herself with flower garlands
In the beauty of the waterfall, in the beauty of the waterfall, ah...
She showed graceful expressions, she showed graceful expressions
Ah.... ah..... ah..... ah..... ah....
She enacted a thousand playful scenes
Caressing the tips of the tea leaves,
the gentle breeze drifts along
Caressing the tips of the tea leaves,
the gentle breeze drifts along
Gently, gently plucking the leaves,
gathering them up in handfuls,
is she a spotted deer prancing and leaping along?
Gently, gently plucking the leaves,
gathering them up in handfuls,
is she a spotted deer prancing and leaping along?
What wondrous beauty meets the eye, aha!
What artistry shines in her eyes!
What wondrous beauty meets the eye, aha!
What artistry shines in her eyes!
Ah.... ah..... ah..... ah..... ah....
She enacted a thousand playful scenes
As nature cradles
this young girl's tender form,
Oho oho oho oho oho
Oho oho oho oho oho
As nature cradles
this young girl's tender form,
Leaving the town behind to come to the woods,
the joy I have created here
must keep me living well and happily.
Leaving the town behind to come to the woods,
the joy I have created here
must keep me living well and happily.
What wondrous beauty meets the eye, aha!
What artistry shines in her eyes!
What wondrous beauty meets the eye, aha!
What artistry shines in her eyes!
Ah.... ah..... ah..... ah..... ah....
She enacted a thousand playful scenes
Ah.... ah..... ah..... ah..... ah....
She adorned herself with flower garlands
In the beauty of the waterfall, in the beauty of the waterfall, ah...
She showed graceful expressions, she showed graceful expressions
Ah...... ah...... ah..... aah..... ah....
La-la-la la-la la-la la
Ah...... ah...... ah..... aah..... ah....
La-la-la la-la la-la la
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Or Aayiram Naadagam Aadinaal' is a scenic and romantic celebration of female beauty seamlessly intertwined with nature's splendor. Set against lush hill-station landscapes and tea gardens, the song captures the expressive grace of a young woman whose every gesture feels like a dramatic performance. The lyricist compares her swift, delicate movements while plucking tea leaves to a leaping spotted deer, while the breeze and waterfalls complement her expressive charms. As the song progresses, the narrative expresses a deep appreciation for escaping the chaotic town life to find solace and creative joy in nature's quiet embrace. With nature acting as a mother singing a lullaby, the protagonist finds peace and renewal in this idyllic environment, marveling at the artistry reflected in her eyes and the serene happiness created around them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kaaleduthu thulli chellum pulli maano

Compares the agile, swift movements of the woman picking tea leaves to a bounding spotted deer (pulli maan).

Personification

Thaeyilaiyin thalai thadavi sellum ilam kaattru

The gentle breeze is personified as having hands that lovingly caress the tops of tea leaves.

Personification

Iyarkkai thaalaatta

Nature is personified as a mother singing a soothing lullaby to her young daughter.

Iyaipu (Rhyming Refrain / End Rhyme)

Mella mella killi killi / Kaiyeduthu alli alli / Kaaleduthu thulli...

Use of internal rhyming words ('killi', 'alli', 'thulli') creates a rhythmic, musical bounce echoing the movement of plucking leaves.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaanum azhagennavao / Kannil kalaiyennavo

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of consecutive lines enhances poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1971 romantic comedy 'Sumathi En Sundari', directed by C. V. Sridhar, starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The song features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and was sung by P. Susheela alongside T. M. Soundararajan. Filmed in picturesque tea estates, Kannadasan's lyrics vividly incorporate the hill station surroundings into the romantic narrative.

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