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Lyrics & meaning

Ore Vaanam Ore Bhoomi

From Ore Vanam Ore Boomi · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Ore Vanam Ore Boomi1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Orae vaanam orae bhoomiOne sky, one earth,
Orae jaathi orae needhiOne race, one justice.
Orae vaanam orae bhoomiOne sky, one earth,
Orae jaathi orae needhiOne race, one justice.
Male
Enathu kannilae bedhangal illaiThere is no discrimination in my eyes,
Enathu kannilae bedhangal illaiThere is no discrimination in my eyes.
Ellorum naanum oru thaai pillaiEveryone and I are children of the same mother,
Ellorum naanum oru thaai pillaiEveryone and I are children of the same mother.
Male
Orae vaanam orae bhoomiOne sky, one earth,
Orae jaathi orae needhiOne race, one justice.
Male
Abraham lincoln than anbaal vendraarAbraham Lincoln conquered through his love,
Karupenna velupenna ondrae endraarHe declared that black or white, all are one.
Abraham lincoln than anbaal vendraarAbraham Lincoln conquered through his love,
Karupenna velupenna ondrae endraarHe declared that black or white, all are one.
Male
Inaveri illaamal niraveri kollaamalWithout racial hatred, without color prejudice,
Eththanai munnorgal thaththuvam sonnaargalHow many ancestors have spoken of this philosophy!
Ulaga makkalae orr inam endru sonnaanaeHe who said that all the world's people are a single race,
Ungal kennadi andru….Was your Kennedy back then...
Male
Orae vaanam orae bhoomiOne sky, one earth,
Orae jaathi orae needhiOne race, one justice.
Male
Odidum megangal konjum vannamLike the colors caressed by running clouds,
Oongiya maaligaigal nenjai allumSoaring palaces captivate the heart.
Odidum megangal konjum vannamLike the colors caressed by running clouds,
Oongiya maaligaigal nenjai allumSoaring palaces captivate the heart.
Male
Manithanum avvaaru uyarvathu eppothuWhen will human beings rise high like that?
Pudhuyugam thannaalae udhiththidum appothuA new era will automatically dawn at that time.
Male
Uzhaikkum varkkamaeOh working class people,
Naanthaan ungal pakkamI am on your side.
Undaagum selvamThe wealth that is created,
Namakkae sonthamBelongs to us alone.
Male
Orae vaanam orae bhoomiOne sky, one earth,
Orae jaathi orae needhiOne race, one justice.
Male
Aayiram dhesangal mannil unduThere are a thousand nations on this earth,
Maanida dharmangal engum ondruYet human righteousness is the same everywhere.
Paravaigal iraithaedi paranthida thadaiyaedhuWhat obstacle is there for birds flying in search of food?
Virinthidum vaanaththil pirivugal kidaiyaathuIn the vast sky, there are no divisions.
Male
Enathu thaayagam gandhiyin desamMy motherland is Gandhi's land,
Enathu thaayagam gandhiyin desamMy motherland is Gandhi's land.
Ennaalum solvaen ahimsai vedhamI will forever proclaim the gospel of non-violence,
Ennaalum solvaen ahimsai vedhamI will forever proclaim the gospel of non-violence.
Male
Orae vaanam orae bhoomiOne sky, one earth,
Orae jaathi orae needhiOne race, one justice.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Orae Vanam Orae Boomi' from the 1979 film of the same name is a grand anthem promoting universal humanism, egalitarianism, and world peace. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and penned by Kavinar Kannadasan, the song emphasizes that despite external differences in nationality, color, or creed, all humans share the same sky and earth. It invokes historical icons of unity and equality—Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Mahatma Gandhi—to reinforce messages of racial harmony, non-violence (Ahimsa), and human rights. Beyond racial and political unity, the lyrics advocate for economic justice, standing firmly with the working class and asserting that created wealth belongs to the labor force. Using poetic nature imagery, such as birds flying freely across an undivided sky, the song calls for a world free of artificial borders and prejudices, envisioning a bright new era built on love and equality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Odidum megangal konjum vannam / Oongiya maaligaigal nenjai allum

The starting long vowel 'O' (Odidum / Oongiya) creates an acoustic rhythm typical of Tamil Monai.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Inaveri illaamal niraveri kollaamal

The lines end with rhyming sounds ('illaamal' and 'kollaamal'), enhancing the musicality of the poetic verse.

Metaphor / Nature Analogy

Virinthidum vaanaththil pirivugal kidaiyaathu

The boundless sky without divisions is used as a metaphor for a world that should ideally exist without human borders or discrimination.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Orae vaanam orae bhoomi / Orae jaathi orae needhi

The deliberate repetition of 'Orae' (One) reinforces the core thematic message of unity throughout the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Ore Vanam Ore Boomi' (1979) was directed by veteran director I. V. Sasi. Lyricist Kannadasan was well-known for weaving global socio-political references into Tamil film songs, and here he explicitly mentions Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Mahatma Gandhi to emphasize universal brotherhood. The song was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) in his signature commanding tone, creating an enduring anthem for social equality.

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