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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Ore Raththamthan Oduthu

From Ore Raththam · 1987

Lyricist: Ilaiya Bharathi
Singer: Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director: Devendran
Movie name: Ore Raththam
Movie release year: 1987
Lyrics added on: 23 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Orae raththamthaan oduthu

Ulagamengumthaan

Orae raththamthaan oduthu

Ulagamengumthaan

Nallavanga kettavanga

Naalum therunjavanga

Ullavanga vallavanga

Oorukku uzhachchavanga

Ellaarukkumthaan

Oduthu orae raththamthaan

Orae raththmthaan oduthu

Ulagamengumthaan

Saeththula paadupadum

Chinnaanukku orae raththam

Thinnaiyila saanju kedakkum

Seemaanukkum orae raththam

Aaththulae thuni velukkum

Alamelukku orae raththam

Adha maattikkittu minukkura

Alangaarikkum orae raththam

Orae raththamthaan oduthu

Ulagamengumthaan

Vaaleduththu poraadum

Veeranukkum orae raththam

Kaal pidichchu vaazhugira

Kozhaikkumthaan orae raththam

Aaradi nilamumillaa

Adimaikkum orae raththam

Oorukkullae nooru veli

Ullavarkkum orae raththam

Orae raththamthaan oduthu

Ulagamengumthaan

Saeriyilae seruppu thaikkum

Maarikkumthaan orae raththam

Yaeriyilae mean pidikkum

Irulanukkum orae raththam

Uzhaikkira thozhanukkum

Urinji vaazhum dhuraigalukkum

Orae raththam orae raththam orae raththam….

It is the same blood that flows

all across the world.

It is the same blood that flows

all across the world.

Good people and bad people,

those who know the ways of the world,

the wealthy, the powerful,

and those who toiled for the village,

for each and every one of them,

it is the same blood that flows.

It is the same blood that flows

all across the world.

Toiling in the muddy fields,

for Chinnan, it is the same blood.

Lounging back on the porch,

for the rich landlord, it is the same blood.

Washing clothes down at the river,

for Alamelu, it is the same blood.

Wearing them and dressing up in style,

for the fancy lady, it is the same blood.

It is the same blood that flows

all across the world.

Drawing a sword to fight,

for the brave warrior, it is the same blood.

Falling at others' feet to survive,

for the coward too, it is the same blood.

Having not even six feet of land,

for the slave, it is the same blood.

Owning a hundred veli (traditional land measure) in town,

for the big landowner, it is the same blood.

It is the same blood that flows

all across the world.

Stitching footwear in the settlement,

for Maari too, it is the same blood.

Catching fish in the lake,

for Irulan, it is the same blood.

For the working comrade,

and for the bosses who leech off them,

it is the same blood, the same blood, the same blood...

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deeply political and social anthem advocating for human equality and universal brotherhood. It dismantles artificial social hierarchies by highlighting that biologically, all human beings are identical—the same red blood flows through everyone, regardless of caste, class, profession, or moral character.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Antithesis)

“Nallavanga kettavanga”

Juxtaposes contrasting moral characters ('good people' and 'bad people') to emphasize that human biology does not discriminate based on virtue.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Vaaleduththu poraadum / Kaal pidichchu vaazhugira”

The second letter 'la' (ள/ல) rhymes across adjacent lines ('Vaaleduththu' and 'Kaal').

Iyaipu (End Rhyming / Refrain)

“Chinnaanukku orae raththam / Seemaanukkum orae raththam”

The repetition of 'orae raththam' at the end of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic refrain that drives home the song's thematic thesis.

Contrast / Social Parallelism

“Aaradi nilamumillaa adimaikkum... / Oorukkullae nooru veli ullavarkkum...”

Compares a landless slave (who doesn't even own 6 feet of land for a grave) with a rich landlord owning 100 veli (acres) of land to underscore class disparity.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Ore Raththam' (1987) was written by M. Karunanidhi, the prominent DMK leader and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Known for incorporating Dravidian reformist ideology and social equality into cinema, Karunanidhi used this song to champion anti-caste rationalism and socialist ideals. The title of the movie and song literally translates to 'One Blood'.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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Ore RaththamCelebratory

Thangame Ingu Vaa1987

Ore RaththamRomantic

Oru Poraliyin Payanam1987

Ore RaththamMournful

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