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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ora Kannaal

From Attu · 2017

Lyricist
Yuki Praveen
Singer
Bobo Shashi
Music director
Bobo Shashi
Details
Attu2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………………….
Male
Ora kannaal ennai paathaalaeShe looked at me out of the corner of her eye
Yedho yedho ennai maayam seithaalaeShe cast some magical spell on me
Enakkul kaadhal thandhaalaeShe gifted love within me
Thandhaalae thandhaalaeShe gave it, she gave it
Chorus
……………………….
Male
Ora kannaal ennai paathaalaeShe looked at me out of the corner of her eye
Yedho yedho ennai maayam seithaalaeShe cast some magical spell on me
Enakkul kaadhal thandhaalaeShe gifted love within me
Thandhaalae thandhaalaeShe gave it, she gave it
Male
Urugudhae manam ye ke yeMy heart is melting, yeah
Parakkuren vinnil ye ke keI am flying in the sky, yeah
Malarudhae mugam ye ke yeMy face blossoms with joy, yeah
Vandhadhae kaadhal ye ye ye..Love has arrived, yeah...
Chorus
Ora kannaal ennai paathaalaeShe looked at me out of the corner of her eye
Yedho yedho ennai maayam seithaalaeShe cast some magical spell on me
Male
Vidhiyaal unnai kandenBy fate, I found you
Vizhiyil unnai kondenI captured you in my eyes
Iravu pagalaagaNight turns into day
Imaigal moodaamalWithout closing my eyelids
Unnai naan paarkirenI keep gazing at you
Male
Nodigal noolaagudhaeThe seconds stretch out like thread
Enakkul poo pookkudhaeA flower blooms within me
Yaarum illaadhaEven during moments
Nerangal koodaWhen no one else is around
Un kural ketkudhaeI keep hearing your voice
Chorus
Idhayam ..idhayamMy heart... my heart
Male
Adhu unnaalae unnaalaeOnly because of you, because of you
Naalthorum thiththikkum thaenaagudhaeIt turns into sweet honey every single day
Chorus
Irundhum…. irundhumEven so... even so
Male
Unnai paarkaadha nerangalDuring the times I don't get to see you
Ayyaiyo adhu yeno thee moottuthaeOh no, why do those moments light a fire inside?
Male
Idhuthaanaa idhuthaanaaIs this... is this
Kaadhal nilai enbatho…What they call the state of being in love?
Male
Nadai orr vidham aaguthaeThe way I walk changes
Mozhiyum thadumaarudhaeMy words stumble and falter
Ulagam ariyaadha kuzhandhai aagindrenI become an innocent child oblivious to the world
Nee en arugil nindraalWhen you stand beside me
Male
Inaiya kulir kaattrai polLike a soothing, cool breeze
Ullukkul uruvaaguthaeA feeling takes shape deep within
Ooril illaadha vetkam unargindrenI experience a shyness unheard of in this town
Ne en edhiril vandhaalWhen you walk up in front of me
Chorus
Medhuvaa medhuvaaSoftly, gently
Male
En paerai nee sonnaale azhagagumEven my name becomes beautiful when you utter it
Adhukooda nee sollvathaalSimply because it is spoken by you
Chorus
Thaniyaa thaniyaaAlone, so alone
Male
Naan irundhaalum thaniyaaga naanillaiEven if I am alone, I am not truly lonely
enakkullae nee vandhathaalBecause you have entered inside me
Male
Idhuthaanaa idhuthaanaaIs this... is this
Kaadhal nilai enbathoWhat they call the state of being in love?
Male
Ora kannaal ennai paathaalaeShe looked at me out of the corner of her eye
Yedho yedho maayam seithaalaeShe cast some magical spell
Enakkul kaadhal thandhaalaeShe gifted love within me
Thandhaalae thandhaalaeShe gave it, she gave it

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ora Kannaal Ennai Paathaalae' from the film Attu (2017) is an expressive romantic track capturing the sudden intoxication and euphoric rush of falling in love. The protagonist describes how a single, fleeting sideways glance from his beloved felt like a magical spell, completely shifting his inner world. He experiences the classic symptoms of infatuation—feeling lighter than air, noticing time stretch out, and finding himself lost in thought as day and night blur together. The song explores both the sweet and agonizing dimensions of romance. On one hand, the lover feels an innocent, childlike joy, where even his own name sounds beautiful when spoken by his beloved. On the other hand, the longing felt during periods of separation ignites an internal flame, leading him to question if this sweet restlessness is indeed the true nature of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Yedho yedho ennai maayam seithaalae

The word 'Yedho' is repeated consecutively to emphasize the inexplicable, mysterious nature of the magic/spell.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Vidhiyaal unnai kanden / Vizhiyil unnai konden

The second consonant sound ('dhi' / 'zhi') matches across both lines, creating a rhythmic and lyrical harmony.

Simile (Upamai)

Inaiya kulir kaattrai pol

The feeling taking shape within his heart is explicitly compared using 'pol' (like) to a soothing cool breeze.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nodigal noolaagudhae

Time/seconds ('nodigal') are metaphorically described as turning into fine thread ('nool'), symbolizing how time stretches endlessly.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naalthorum thiththikkum thaenaagudhae

The protagonist's heart turning into sweet honey every day is a metaphor for the overwhelming sweetness of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is featured in the 2017 Tamil film 'Attu', directed by Rathan Linga, which depicts the gritty life and culture of North Chennai. The film's music score and soundtrack were composed by Bobo Shashi, with lyrics penned by Yuki Praveen. The song stands out for using conversational, evocative Tamil imagery to convey youth romance within a realistic local milieu.

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