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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oraayiram Karpanai Male

From Ezhaikkum Kaalam Varum · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Ezhaikkum Kaalam Varum
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
25 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oraayiram karpanai…
Nooraayiram sindhanai…
Raagamae thaalamae baavamae
Odi vaa odi vaa…
Oraayiram karpanai…
Nooraayiram sindhanai…
Raagamae thaalamae baavamae
Odi vaa odi vaa…
Naan paadum raagangal
Kaar kaala megangal
Naan paadum raagangal
Kaar kaala megangal
Thaen maari peiyum theerum dhaagangal
Thendralin osai paattaaga
Thennaiyil aadum keetraaga
En manam aadum thaanaaga
Geethamae naadhamae odi vaa
Oraayiram karpanai…
Nooraayiram sindhanai…
Oru kodi inbangal
Ondraaga vandhaalum
Oru kodi inbangal
Ondraaga vandhaalum
Uravaadum ullam isai pannodu
Ethanai kaalam vaazhndhaalum
Ennenna kolam kondaalum
En uyir naadham sangeetham
Geethamae naadhamae odi vaa
Oraayiram karpanai…
Nooraayiram sindhanai…
Raagamae thaalamae baavamae
Odi vaa odi vaa…
Odi vaa odi vaa… odi vaa odi vaa…
A thousand imaginations,
A hundred thousand thoughts,
Oh melody, rhythm, and emotion,
Come running to me, come running...
A thousand imaginations,
A hundred thousand thoughts,
Oh melody, rhythm, and emotion,
Come running to me, come running...
The melodies that I sing
Are like monsoon clouds,
The melodies that I sing
Are like monsoon clouds,
Sweet rain will pour, and all thirst will be quenched.
As the sound of the gentle breeze turns into a song,
Like coconut fronds swaying in the wind,
My heart dances all on its own.
Oh song, oh divine sound, come running to me!
A thousand imaginations,
A hundred thousand thoughts,
Even if ten million pleasures
Come together all at once,
Even if ten million pleasures
Come together all at once,
My heart bonds only with music and melody.
No matter how long I live,
Whatever roles or forms I take,
Music is the very soul and sound of my life.
Oh song, oh divine sound, come running to me!
A thousand imaginations,
A hundred thousand thoughts,
Oh melody, rhythm, and emotion,
Come running to me, come running...
Come running... come running... come running... come running...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Oraayiram Karpanai' is a poetic and soulful tribute to the transcendent power of music. The protagonist calls upon melody (Raagam), rhythm (Thaalam), and emotion (Baavam) to rush into their mind, where thousands of thoughts and creative visions await. The song compares musical ragas to cool monsoon clouds that bring sweet relief to a thirsty heart, illustrating how music seamlessly blends with the natural rhythms of the world—like the breeze and swaying palm leaves.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Raagamae thaalamae baavamae / Odi vaa odi vaa…

Abstract musical elements (Melody, Rhythm, Emotion) are personified as living entities being called to 'come running'.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Naan paadum raagangal / Kaar kaala megangal

The singer's ragas are directly compared to dark, rain-bearing monsoon clouds that bring cooling relief.

Ethugai (Second-letter Assonance)

Naan paadum raagangal / Kaar kaala megangal

The second consonant sound 'ga' (க) matches in 'raagangal' and 'megangal'.

Metaphor

Thaen maari peiyum theerum dhaagangal

Music's soothing nature is described as a 'shower of honey' (Thaen maari) that quenches emotional thirst.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the iconic Tamil lyricist Vaali for the 1975 film 'Ezhaikkum Kaalam Varum', this song poetically invokes the three key pillars of Indian classical performance arts: Raagam (Melody), Thaalam (Rhythm), and Baavam (Emotional expression).

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