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Lyrics & meaning

Oraang Kiragamadi

From Guru Dhatchanai · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
T. Pugazhenthi
Details
Guru Dhatchanai1969

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Hooo oo ooo oo ooHooo oo ooo oo oo
Female :Hooo oo ooo oo ooHooo oo ooo oo oo
Chorus :Hooo oo ooo oo ooHooo oo ooo oo oo
Haa.aaa.aaaa.aaa…Haa...aaa...aaaa...aaa...
Male
{Orangiragamadi kanniThe first stage of love, oh girl
Male Chorus :OhooOhoo
Female :Oruthiyaaga naan irundhen kannaI was all alone, my dear Kanna
Female Chorus :Ahaa} (2)Ahaa
Male
Eeraang kirangamadi kanni..adi kanniThe second stage of love, oh girl... oh girl
Female :Naam iruvaraaga serndhu vittom kannaWe two have joined together, my dear Kanna
Male
Moonamgiragamadi kanniThe third stage of love, oh girl
Female :Nee moonu mudichu poda venum kannaYou must tie the three sacred knots, my dear Kanna
KannaOh Kanna
Male
Nalangiragamadi kanniThe fourth stage of love, oh girl
Female :Nammai naalu peru madhikka venum kannaThe society of four must respect us, my dear Kanna
Male
Nalangiragamadi kanniThe fourth stage of love, oh girl
Female :Nammai naalu peru madhikka venum kannaThe society of four must respect us, my dear Kanna
Male
Anajangiragamadi kanni..adi kanniThe fifth stage of love, oh girl... oh girl
Female :Naama anjeluthai saatchi veippom kannaWe shall make the sacred five-lettered chant our witness, my dear Kanna
Male
Arangiragamadi kanniThe sixth stage of love, oh girl
Female :Andha aarumugan thunai iruppaan kannaThat six-faced Lord Murugan will protect us, my dear Kanna
kannaOh Kanna
Male
Ezhangiragamadi kanniThe seventh stage of love, oh girl
Female :Naan ezhu jenmam serndhiruppon kannaI will remain united with you for seven births, my dear Kanna
Male
Ezhangiragamadi kanniThe seventh stage of love, oh girl
Female :Naan ezhu jenmam serndhiruppon kannaI will remain united with you for seven births, my dear Kanna
Chorus
Hooo oo ooo oo ooHooo oo ooo oo oo
Haa.aaa.aaaa.aaa…Haa...aaa...aaaa...aaa...
Male
Ettangiragamadi kanni..adi kanniThe eighth stage of love, oh girl... oh girl
Female :Naam ettu dhisaiyum pereduppom kannaWe shall gain fame across all eight directions, my dear Kanna
Male
Onbathamgiragamadi kanniThe ninth stage of love, oh girl
Female :Andha onbathaiyum manasukullae enni enniPondering deeply over all those nine in our hearts
Male
{Pathamgiragamadi kanniThe tenth stage of love, oh girl
Male Chorus :OhooOhoo
Female :Un pathiniyaai naan iruppen kannaI will remain your virtuous wife, my dear Kanna
Female Chorus :Ahoo} (2)Ahaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and rhythmic duet uses a numerical countdown/count-up concept from one to ten ('Orangiragam' to 'Pathamgiragam') to describe the stages of romantic love, commitment, and lifelong marital union. The lead female character sings to her beloved 'Kanna', correlating each number with a deeply rooted cultural aspect of Tamil matrimony and devotion. She progresses from being single (1) to uniting as a couple (2), asking him to tie the three knots of the mangalsutra (3), aspiring to earn respect from society/four people (4), taking the sacred five-lettered prayer as a witness (5), seeking protection from six-faced Lord Murugan (6), promising togetherness across seven births (7), earning renown in all eight directions (8), reflecting on these blessings (9), and finally promising to remain his devoted, faithful wife (10). Lyricist Kannadasan masterfully blends Tamil folk rhythm with traditional marriage lore.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ennummai / Numerical Sequence (எண்ணும்மை)

“Orangiragamadi ... Pathamgiragamadi”

The song is structured entirely on a numerical progression from 1 (Oru) to 10 (Pathu), anchoring every stanza with a specific count.

Iyaipu (இயைபு - End Rhyme)

“Oruthiyaaga naan irundhen kanna / Nee moonu mudichu poda venum kanna”

The repetition of the word 'kanna' at the end of each line sung by the female lead creates a soothing end-rhyme scheme.

Monai (மோனை - Initial Alliteration)

“Nee moonu mudichu poda venum kanna”

Alliteration of the 'M' sound ('Moonamgiragamadi', 'Moonu', 'Mudichu') reinforces the rhythm of the third verse.

Cultural Metaphor

“Naama anjeluthai saatchi veippom kanna”

'Anjeluthu' refers to the sacred five-syllable Panchakshara mantra (Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya), used metaphorically here as a divine witness to their union.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song comes from the 1969 film 'Guru Dhatchanai', starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by T. Pugazhenthi, who was a long-time associate and assistant to the legendary composer M. S. Viswanathan. Kannadasan's lyrical brilliance is highlighted by effortlessly integrating Tamil cultural tropes tied to numbers—such as 'Moonu Mudichu' (three knots), 'Naalu Peru' (society's four people), 'Aarumugan' (Lord Murugan), and 'Ezhu Jenmam' (seven reincarnations)—into a catchy counting song.

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