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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ore Raththamthan Oduthu

From Ore Raththam · 1987

Lyricist
Ilaiya Bharathi
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Devendran
Details
Ore Raththam1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Orae raththamthaan oduthuOnly the same blood flows
UlagamengumthaanAll across the world
Orae raththamthaan oduthuOnly the same blood flows
UlagamengumthaanAll across the world
Male
Nallavanga kettavangaFor good people and bad people
Naalum therunjavangaFor those who possess wisdom
Ullavanga vallavangaFor the wealthy and the capable
Oorukku uzhachchavangaFor those who labor for the town
Male
EllaarukkumthaanFor everyone alike
Oduthu orae raththamthaanFlows the exact same blood
Orae raththmthaan oduthuOnly the same blood flows
UlagamengumthaanAll across the world
Male
Saeththula paadupadumWho works hard in the mud
Chinnaanukku orae raththamFor Chinnaan, it is the same blood
Thinnaiyila saanju kedakkumReclining lazily on the porch
Seemaanukkum orae raththamFor the rich lord too, it is the same blood
Male
Aaththulae thuni velukkumWashing clothes in the river
Alamelukku orae raththamFor Alamelu, it is the same blood
Adha maattikkittu minukkuraWearing those clothes and flaunting
Alangaarikkum orae raththamFor the glamorous woman, it is the same blood
Male
Orae raththamthaan oduthuOnly the same blood flows
UlagamengumthaanAll across the world
Male
Vaaleduththu poraadumWielding a sword and fighting
Veeranukkum orae raththamFor the brave warrior, it is the same blood
Kaal pidichchu vaazhugiraSurrendering at feet to survive
Kozhaikkumthaan orae raththamEven for the coward, it is the same blood
Male
Aaradi nilamumillaaWithout even six feet of land
Adimaikkum orae raththamFor the slave, it is the same blood
Oorukkullae nooru veliOwning a hundred acres in the town
Ullavarkkum orae raththamFor the wealthy landlord, it is the same blood
Male
Orae raththamthaan oduthuOnly the same blood flows
UlagamengumthaanAll across the world
Male
Saeriyilae seruppu thaikkumStitching footwear in the slum
Maarikkumthaan orae raththamFor Maari too, it is the same blood
Yaeriyilae mean pidikkumFishing in the lake
Irulanukkum orae raththamFor the Irula tribesman, it is the same blood
Uzhaikkira thozhanukkumFor the laboring comrade
Urinji vaazhum dhuraigalukkumAnd for the parasitic lords who exploit
Orae raththam orae raththam orae raththam….It is the same blood, the same blood, the same blood....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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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'.

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