Or Aayiram Yaanai
From Nandha · 2001
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- Unnikrishnan
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Nandha2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oraayiram yaanai kondraal bharani | Winning a battle by slaying a thousand elephants is called 'Bharani'; |
| Aadhalaal yudham irukku gavani | Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention! |
| Male | |
| Thaai vayittril thalaikeezhaaga | Just as one stays upside down inside a mother's womb, |
| Un vazhiyo illai neraaga | Your path in life has never been straight. |
| Thol saaya pudhu uravingae | Here comes a new bond to offer a shoulder to lean on, |
| Thoon ellam ini thoolaaga | May all heavy pillars (hardships) now turn to dust! |
| Male | |
| Aayiram yaanai kondraal bharani | Slaying a thousand elephants makes a 'Bharani'; |
| Aadhalaal yudham irukku gavani | Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention! |
| Male | |
| Kuzhal osai illai | There was no soothing sound of a flute, |
| Kuyil osai illai | There was no sweet song of a cuckoo, |
| Idi osai ondrae arindhaayae | You have known only the terrifying roar of thunder. |
| Muranodu vaazhndhu | Living amidst conflicts, |
| Mullodu serndhu | Surrounded by sharp thorns, |
| Anbaal ingu poo pookindraai | You bloom here as a flower through the power of love. |
| Male | |
| Oru raaja varunthaamal | Without a king enduring deep sorrow, |
| Ada budhan jananam illai | Hey, a Buddha is never born! |
| Manam nonthu norugaamal | Without a heart breaking and crumbling in agony, |
| Ada sithan pirapathum illai | Hey, an enlightened sage is never born! |
| Vaazhndhaai theeyin madiyil | You lived in the very lap of fire, |
| Serndhaai theertha karayil | And now you have reached the peaceful shore of holy water. |
| Male | |
| Oraayiram yaanai kondraal bharani | Winning a battle by slaying a thousand elephants is called 'Bharani'; |
| Aadhalaal yudham irukku gavani | Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention! |
| Male | |
| Thaai vayittril thalaikeezhaaga | Just as one stays upside down inside a mother's womb, |
| Un vazhiyo illai neraaga | Your path in life has never been straight. |
| Thol saaya pudhu uravingae | Here comes a new bond to offer a shoulder to lean on, |
| Thoon ellam ini thoolaaga | May all heavy pillars (hardships) now turn to dust! |
| Male | |
| Aayiram yaanai kondraal bharani | Slaying a thousand elephants makes a 'Bharani'; |
| Aadhalaal yudham irukku gavani | Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention! |
ஓராயிரம் யானை கொன்றால் பரணி
ஆதலால் யுத்தம் இருக்கு கவனி
Winning a battle by slaying a thousand elephants is called 'Bharani';
Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention!
தாய் வயிற்றில் தலை கீழாக
உன் வழியோ இல்லை நேராக
தோள் சாய புது உறவிங்கே
தூண் எல்லாம் இனி தூளாக
Just as one stays upside down inside a mother's womb,
Your path in life has never been straight.
Here comes a new bond to offer a shoulder to lean on,
May all heavy pillars (hardships) now turn to dust!
ஓராயிரம் யானை கொன்றால் பரணி
ஆதலால் யுத்தம் இருக்கு கவனி
Slaying a thousand elephants makes a 'Bharani';
Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention!
குழலோசை இல்லை
குயிலோசை இல்லை
இடியோசை ஒன்றே அறிந்தாயே
முரணோடு வாழ்ந்து
முள்ளோடு சேர்ந்து
அன்பால் இன்று பூப்பூக்கின்றாய்
There was no soothing sound of a flute,
There was no sweet song of a cuckoo,
You have known only the terrifying roar of thunder.
Living amidst conflicts,
Surrounded by sharp thorns,
You bloom here as a flower through the power of love.
ஒரு ராஜா வருந்தாமல்
அட புத்தன் ஜனனம் இல்லை
மனம் நொந்து நொறுங்காமல்
அட சித்தன் பிறப்பதும் இல்லை
வாழ்ந்தாய் தீயின் மடியில்
சேர்ந்தாய் தீர்த்தக் கரையில்
Without a king enduring deep sorrow,
Hey, a Buddha is never born!
Without a heart breaking and crumbling in agony,
Hey, an enlightened sage is never born!
You lived in the very lap of fire,
And now you have reached the peaceful shore of holy water.
ஓராயிரம் யானை கொன்றால் பரணி
ஆதலால் யுத்தம் இருக்கு கவனி
Winning a battle by slaying a thousand elephants is called 'Bharani';
Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention!
தாய் வயிற்றில் தலை கீழாக
உன் வழியோ இல்லை நேராக
தோள் சாய புது உறவிங்கே
தூண் எல்லாம் இனி தூளாக
Just as one stays upside down inside a mother's womb,
Your path in life has never been straight.
Here comes a new bond to offer a shoulder to lean on,
May all heavy pillars (hardships) now turn to dust!
ஓராயிரம் யானை கொன்றால் பரணி
ஆதலால் யுத்தம் இருக்கு கவனி
Slaying a thousand elephants makes a 'Bharani';
Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention!
Oraayiram yaanai kondraal bharani
Winning a battle by slaying a thousand elephants is called 'Bharani';
Aadhalaal yudham irukku gavani
Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention!
Thaai vayittril thalaikeezhaaga
Just as one stays upside down inside a mother's womb,
Un vazhiyo illai neraaga
Your path in life has never been straight.
Thol saaya pudhu uravingae
Here comes a new bond to offer a shoulder to lean on,
Thoon ellam ini thoolaaga
May all heavy pillars (hardships) now turn to dust!
Aayiram yaanai kondraal bharani
Slaying a thousand elephants makes a 'Bharani';
Aadhalaal yudham irukku gavani
Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention!
Kuzhal osai illai
There was no soothing sound of a flute,
Kuyil osai illai
There was no sweet song of a cuckoo,
Idi osai ondrae arindhaayae
You have known only the terrifying roar of thunder.
Muranodu vaazhndhu
Living amidst conflicts,
Mullodu serndhu
Surrounded by sharp thorns,
Anbaal ingu poo pookindraai
You bloom here as a flower through the power of love.
Oru raaja varunthaamal
Without a king enduring deep sorrow,
Ada budhan jananam illai
Hey, a Buddha is never born!
Manam nonthu norugaamal
Without a heart breaking and crumbling in agony,
Ada sithan pirapathum illai
Hey, an enlightened sage is never born!
Vaazhndhaai theeyin madiyil
You lived in the very lap of fire,
Serndhaai theertha karayil
And now you have reached the peaceful shore of holy water.
Oraayiram yaanai kondraal bharani
Winning a battle by slaying a thousand elephants is called 'Bharani';
Aadhalaal yudham irukku gavani
Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention!
Thaai vayittril thalaikeezhaaga
Just as one stays upside down inside a mother's womb,
Un vazhiyo illai neraaga
Your path in life has never been straight.
Thol saaya pudhu uravingae
Here comes a new bond to offer a shoulder to lean on,
Thoon ellam ini thoolaaga
May all heavy pillars (hardships) now turn to dust!
Aayiram yaanai kondraal bharani
Slaying a thousand elephants makes a 'Bharani';
Aadhalaal yudham irukku gavani
Therefore, a war lies ahead of you, pay attention!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the movie 'Nandha' serves as a profound narrative commentary on the protagonist Nandha's tragic, struggle-filled life. Having endured severe childhood trauma and a life filled with pain rather than peace, Nandha views existence as an endless battleground. The lyrics compare his turmoil to the classical Tamil literary concept of 'Bharani'—a poetic honor given only to heroes who slay a thousand elephants in battle—symbolizing that immense suffering produces true strength.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Literary Allusion / Classical Reference (Bharani)
“Oraayiram yaanai kondraal bharani”
References 'Bharani', a traditional Tamil poetic genre dedicated to a supreme warrior who defeats 1,000 elephants in battle, metaphorically framing the protagonist's personal struggles as a heroic war.
Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)
“Vaazhndhaai theeyin madiyil / Serndhaai theertha karayil”
Contrasts living in the 'lap of fire' (suffering/pain) with reaching the 'shore of holy water' (peace/redemption).
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Kuzhal osai illai / Kuyil osai illai”
Both lines end with the rhyming word 'osai illai', creating a rhythmic and melancholic musicality.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Anbaal ingu poo pookindraai”
Metaphorically compares the protagonist blossoming into a compassionate human being to a flower blooming amidst thorns.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Nandha' (2001), directed by Bala with music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja and lyrics by Na. Muthukumar, served as a landmark re-launch for actor Suriya, establishing him as a serious dramatic actor. Na. Muthukumar's lyrics draw cleverly on classical Tamil literature (specifically 'Bharani' grammar) to elevate the protagonist's personal internal conflict to epic proportions.
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