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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ora Kannala

From Udhayam NH4 · 2013

Lyricist
Gaana Bala
Singer
Gaana Bala
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Udhayam NH42013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ora kannala enna orangatturaWith the corner of her eye, she sidelines me
Jaada kaatiyae romba vaati vadhaikiraMaking subtle gestures, she torments and tortures me a lot
Vanavillattam vandhu etti pakkuraAppearing like a rainbow, she peeks at me
Valachipottenda oru sokku figuradaI caught a stunning beauty, bro!
Male
Ariya vayasulaAt a tender young age
Alava size-ulaWith a perfect, attractive figure
Anna nada nadanthu varaWalking gracefully like a swan
Kadalu mannulaOn the seashore sand
Male
Naalu mona roadulaAt a four-way crossroad
Nada oru dhinusulaWalking in a unique style
Satham pottu signal tharaMaking a sound to give a signal
Velli kolusulaWith her silver anklets
Chorus
{Light house velichatha pol{Like the shining beacon of a lighthouse
Kaaturada jaalamShe works her magic, bro
Manasu kulla pulli vechuPlacing dots inside the heart
Poduraada kolam} (2)She draws a kolam pattern, bro}
Male
Aaaa…aaa….aaa..Aaaa…aaa….aaa..
Aaa….aaa…aaa…Aaa….aaa…aaa…
Male
Maadi veetulaIn a multi-story house
Oru pulli maanu daThere lives a spotted deer, bro
Kedachu pochudaI finally got her
Naan ketta piece-u daShe is the exact match I asked for, bro
Velli kolusula puthuWith a new jingling sound
Satham pottu thaanFrom her silver anklets
Chinna manasa thaanMy tender heart
Ava valachu pottutaShe has captivated and trapped it
Male
Kaadhal pannum sokkulaIn the daze of falling in love
Kattu mara gapulaIn the gap between the catamarans
Kaasi medu kadalu mannulaOn the sands of Kasimedu beach
Veedu katturaShe is building a dream home
Male
Alai illa kadalulaIn a waveless ocean
Thudupilla padagulaIn an oarless boat
Aadu puli aatam thaanaeA game of tiger and goat
Aadi kaaturaShe is playing with me
Chorus
{Adaki pudikka mudiyaatha{An uncontrollable wild horse
Vanga kadal kuthiraFrom the Bay of Bengal
Octopus meena polaLike an octopus
Vanthuttta da ethirae} (2)She came right in front of me}
Male
Ora kannala enna orangatturaWith the corner of her eye, she sidelines me
Jaada kaatiyae romba vaati vadhaikiraMaking subtle gestures, she torments and tortures me a lot
Vanavillattam vandhu etti pakkuraAppearing like a rainbow, she peeks at me
Valachipottenda oru sokku figuradaI caught a stunning beauty, bro!
Male
Adinga en maaman ingaeHey look, my friend here
Love failure ukandirukaanIs sitting heartbroken after a love failure
Nee madras la irundhu vandhuAnd you come all the way from Madras
Un love story solli ingaTo tell your love story here
Scene pottutu irukkiyaAnd put on a show?
Male
Sorry paSorry, man
Thala per ennaWhat's the hero's name?
Male
Prabhu yenPrabhu, why?
Male
Motha detailum kuduGive me all the details
Male
Maaya kannalaWith magical eyes
Prabhu va mayakki paathavaThe girl who enchanted Prabhu
Maati thavikuraIs now trapped and suffering
Ipo veetu siraiyilaNow locked inside a home prison
Male
Antha figaru mogatha thaanThat girl's face
Ivan paaka mudiyalaHe is unable to see anymore
Ava velli kolusulaFrom her silver anklets
Ippa satham kekkalaNo sound is heard now
Male
Paasam ennum valaiyilaIn the net of family sentiment
Maatikinu thavikuraShe is trapped and struggling
Atharava avalukangaeTo support her over there
Yaarum illadaThere is nobody, bro
Male
Naalu peru sernthuttaFour people came together
Rendu pera pirichuttaAnd separated the two of them
Kaadhal enna kaatrinilaeWill love just dissolve away
Kalainthu pogumaInto thin air?
Chorus
{Sogatha nee kaathula thaan{Blow away your sadness into the wind
Parakka vidu nanbaFly it away, my friend
Un machan seththu vaippanYour brother-in-law will unite you two
Nee beer-a kudi themba} (2)Drink some beer and stay strong}
Chorus
{Thana nana naa naa{Thana nana naa naa
Thana nana nana naa naaThana nana nana naa naa
Thana nana naa naaThana nana naa naa
Thana nana nana naa naa} (2)Thana nana nana naa naa}

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ora Kannala' is a popular North-Chennai style Gaana song from the movie Udhayam NH4. Sung and written by Gaana Bala, the song opens with a young man boasting to his friends about falling in love with a charming girl in Kasimedu, describing her walk, anklet sounds, and captivating looks through rich local imagery like catamarans, lighthouses, and waves. The song takes a dramatic turn midway through a conversational dialogue between friends. It reveals the heartbreaking reality that the girl has been confined to her home by her family, keeping the lovers apart. The track shifts from romantic bragging to male bonding and comfort, where the protagonist's friends encourage him not to give up, drink up, and trust that true love will triumph over opposition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Vanavillattam vandhu etti pakkura

Compares the sudden, colorful appearance of the beloved to a rainbow ('vanavillattam').

Simile (Upamai)

Octopus meena pola

Compares the overpowering nature of the girl's arrival to an octopus wrapping its tentacles.

Metaphor (Uruvakam)

Manasu kulla pulli vechu poduraada kolam

Metaphorically compares creating romantic feelings in the heart to placing dots and drawing a 'kolam' (traditional pattern).

Metaphor (Uruvakam)

Paasam ennum valaiyila

Metaphorically describes family affection and societal ties as a net ('valai') trapping the girl.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Ora kannala enna orangattura / Jaada kaatiyae romba vaati vadhaikira / Vanavillattam vandhu etti pakkura

Endings of consecutive lines end with rhyming verbs ('orangattura', 'vadhaikira', 'pakkura').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ora Kannala' was written and sung by Gaana Bala, who played a key role in popularizing authentic North Chennai Gaana music in mainstream Tamil cinema during the early 2010s. Composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar for the film 'Udhayam NH4' (directed by Manimaran and written by Vetrimaaran), the song blends conversational dialogue seamlessly into the musical arrangement, capturing street-smart Chennai slang and male camaraderie.

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