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Lyrics & meaning

Oram Po

From Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu · 1979

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilayaraja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Dei pasangala cycle-laHey boys, on the cycle,
Medhuva thallanumpush it slowly.
Enna therinjidhaDo you understand?
Chorus
SaringannaeOkay, brother!
Male
Anga paar roadla ellaamLook there, all over the road,
Kurukka marukka aalpeople are crossing back and forth,
Poittrukkaanga avingalai ellaamthey are walking; ask them all
Odhungi poga sollungadato move aside, guys!
Chorus
Odhungi poyaa odhungi poyaaMove aside, move aside!
Male
Ada oramaa poga sollungadaannaHey, tell them to go to the side, brother!
Chorus
Ada oramaa poyaaHey, move to the side!
Orampoppaa orampo orampoyaaMove aside, move aside, step aside!
Chorus
Orampo orampo orampo orampoMove aside, move aside, move aside, move aside!
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Orampo orampo orampo orampoMove aside, move aside, move aside, move aside!
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Male
Vaangadaa vandhanam pannungadaaCome on guys, pay your respects!
Vandhu indha vandiya thallungadaaCome and push this cart, guys!
Paalayam pannappuram chinna thaayi peththa maganThe son born to Chinna Thaayi of Paalayam Pannappuram,
Pichai muthu yaeriyae varraandoiPichai Muthu is riding and coming!
Chorus
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Male
Orampo orampo orampo hey kizhavi kizhavi aiyoMove aside, move aside, move aside, hey old woman, old woman, oh dear!
Female
Ammaadi emmaadi maariyaatha kaaliyaathaOh my, goddess Mariyatha, goddess Kaliyatha!
Summaa porava maela vandiya konnaandhuThey brought the cart right onto a peaceful bystander like me
Idichittaanunghalae yemmaadiand crashed it into me, oh my goodness!
Chorus
Hey kizhavi vandi varadhuHey old woman, the cart is coming!
Kannukku therila oramaa poyaenCan't you see with your eyes? Go to the side!
Female
Ada chi kuruttu naaigalaOh get lost, you blind dogs!
Chorus
OrampoMove aside!
Female
ChiGet lost!
Chorus
OrampoMove aside!
Female
MuttappasangalaYou foolish boys!
Chorus
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Male
Roadla ellaam maedu romba irukkuThere are a lot of steep bumps on the road,
Yaethi vidunga nallaa thookki vidungapush it up, lift it well!
Yaerinaa pinnae enakku pinnae neenga vara venumOnce it goes up, you should follow behind me!
Balamaaga thallaadheengaDon't push too hard or recklessly!
Chorus
Thallaadheenaga thallaadheenagaDon't push recklessly, don't push!
Male
Kurukkaala pogaadheengaDon't walk across!
Chorus
Pogaadheenga poghaadheengaDon't go, don't go!
Male
Inikkum achu vellam ellu punnaakkumSweet jaggery blocks and sesame oil cake,
Eduthuvaraen pathaatti naan innum thaaraen doiI will bring palm jaggery and give you even more!
Chorus
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Yaelaelaelo yaelo yaelo yaelo yaeloYelaelaelo yaelo yaelo yaelo yaelo!
Male
Kambham kumizhi naandhaan kandu varuvenI will explore and visit Kambam and Kumily,
Carugalellaam sideu vaangi viduvaenI'll make all the cars move aside to give me way!
Vaiganaiyum suruli malaiyum suthi varuvaenaeI will travel around Vaigai dam and Suruli hills!
Yaettaiyaa road maelaePolice officer on the road!
Chorus
Nikkiraaru nikkiraaruHe is standing, he is standing!
Male
Avara konjam odhunga solluAsk him to step aside a little!
Chorus
Odhingikkunga odhingikkungaPlease move aside, move aside!
Male
Vaaraan picha muthu road maela oorgolamaaPichai Muthu is coming down the road in a grand procession,
Raasaa polae vaaraanammaahe is coming like a king!
Chorus
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Male
Rukkumaniya pinnaala ukkaara vachuMaking Rukkumani sit behind me,
Marudhai town ellaam azhagaa suthi varuvenI will happily tour all around Madurai town!
Kaekkuradhellaam vaangi tharuven aasaippadi naanaeI will buy her whatever she desires!
Kushiyaana savaaridhaanIt is a joyful ride!
Chorus
Nallaa thallu nallaa thalluPush well, push well!
Male
Kondaattam sandhoshamdhaanIt's all celebration and joy!
Chorus
Nalla sollu nalla solluSpeak well, speak well!
Male
Kizhakka poghum rayila kooda mundhi varuvenI will even overtake the east-bound train,
Pandhaiyam vappaen elloraiyum kootti varuvaen doiI will place a bet and bring everyone along!
Chorus
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Male
Vaangadaa vandhanam pannungadaaCome on guys, pay your respects!
Vandhu indha vandiya thallungadaaCome and push this cart, guys!
Paalayam pannappuram chinna thaayi petha maghanThe son born to Chinna Thaayi of Paalayam Pannappuram,
Picha muthu yaeriyae varraandoiPichai Muthu is riding and coming!
Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhuMove aside, move aside, Rukku's cart is coming!
Orampo orampo orampo orampoMove aside, move aside, move aside, move aside!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oram Po' from the 1979 Tamil film 'Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu' is a vibrant, classic folk song composed and sung by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Gangai Amaran. The song captures the lively rural setting as the protagonist, Pichai Muthu, proudly rides his customized bicycle-cart (nicknamed 'Rukkumani Vandi'). He dramatically calls out to bystanders, pedestrians, old women, and even policemen to step aside and clear the road for his grand entry.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Iyaipu

Orampo orampo rukkumani vandi varudhu

The repeated phrase serves as a rhythmic hook and thematic anchor throughout the song, emphasizing the energetic movement of the cart.

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Raasaa polae vaaraanammaa

Pichai Muthu's entrance on his cycle cart is poetically compared to the arrival of a king ('Raasaa polae').

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Vandhanam / Vandiya (Lines 18-19)

The second letter 'nda' rhymes between 'vandhanam' and 'vandiya' in consecutive lines.

Onomatopoeia / Folk Vocalization

Yaelaelaelo yaelo yaelo yaelo yaelo

Traditional Tamil folk chant used to set rhythm and mood during physical labor or driving carts.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song was composed and sung by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran. 'Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu' (1979) was a major hit that established authentic Tamil village folk music in mainstream cinema, and the phrase 'Oram Po' became a popular Tamil slang expression meaning 'step aside'.

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