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Lyrics & meaning

Ore Vaanam Ore Bhoomi

From En Kelvikku Enna Bathil · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
B. S. Sasirekha, T. K. Kala
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Orae vaanam orae bhoomi orae saamithaanThere is only one sky, only one earth, and only one God
Naam orae kulam orae inam orae jaathithaanWe are all of one human race, one creed, and one caste
Orae vaanam orae bhoomi orae saamithaanThere is only one sky, only one earth, and only one God
Naam orae kulam orae inam orae jaathithaanWe are all of one human race, one creed, and one caste
Orae raththamthaan orae uyirumthaanIt is the same blood flowing, and the same single life within
Female
Orae vaanam orae bhoomi orae saamithaanThere is only one sky, only one earth, and only one God
Female
Therkku vadakku verupaaduThe difference between south and north
Dhisaiyil irukkalaamMay exist only in directions
Therkku vadakku verupaaduThe difference between south and north
Dhisaiyil irukkalaamMay exist only in directions
Oru dhesa makkal verupattaalIf the people of a single nation become divided
Amaithi nilaikkumaaCan peace ever prevail?
Female
Andru inaveri madha veriyaiBack then, setting aside racial and religious fanatism
Maranthu sendreeraeYou marched forward together
Adhae maranthathaalae sudhanthiraththaiBecause you forgot those narrow differences
Vaangi kondeeraeYou won our freedom
Female
Indru ungalukkul jaadhi pethaToday, should caste-based conflicts
Sandai varuvathoErupt into fights among yourselves?
Rama raajiyaththil raththa gangaiIn this ideal nation, should a river of blood
Pongi paaivathoGush forth and flow?
Pongi paaivatho…oo….Gush forth and flow? Oh...
Pongi paarvatho….oo…..Will we just stand by and watch it flow? Oh...
Female
Medaiyilae jaathigalaiOn public stages, about castes
Ozhippaen enbaargalThey proclaim they will eradicate them
Thangal peyarin pinnaeThen behind their own names
Jaathi perai pottukolvathaenWhy do they affix their caste titles?
Female
Aadhiyilae vanthuvittaIt is an age-old practice
PazhakkamthaanaiyyaaHanded down over generations, sir
Arinthu kondu thirunthiIf one realizes the truth, reforms oneself
Vaazhnthaal petham yaedhaiyyaaAnd lives accordingly, where is any inequality, sir?
Female
Palliyilae kuzhanthaigalaiIn schools, when children
Padikka saerkkaiyilaeAre enrolled to pursue their studies
Angu jaathi perum ennavendru ketkiraargalaeWhy do they ask for their caste details there?
Female
Idhai aatchiyilae ullavargalIf those ruling in the government
Unarnthu kondaalaeRealize this fundamental flaw
Agilamellaam jaathi pedham ozhiyum thannaalaeCaste discrimination across the world will disappear on its own
Female
Oru thaayin vayittrinilaeBorn from the womb of the same mother earth
Udhiththa pillaigalAre all these children
Neegal ottrumaiyaai vaazhvatharkkuFor you to live in harmony
Valarntha mullaigalYou are like blooming jasmine buds
Female
Ondrupattaal undu vaazhvuUnited we stand, divided we fall—understand this truth
Kettu kollungalListen carefully to this wisdom
Idhai unarnthu kondu maraavarkkuRealizing this, to those who forget it
Eduththu sollungal….Go and explain it clearly...
Female
Kaattu moongil koottam polaLike a tightly bound cluster of wild bamboo
Saernthu vaazhuvomLet us live together
Chorus :Saernthu vaazhuvomChorus: Let us live together
Female :Kaakkai kuruvi jaathi polaFemale: Like the kin of crows and sparrows
Pagirnthu unnuvomLet us share our food and eat
Chorus :Pagirnthu unnuvomChorus: Let us share our food and eat
Female
Ulagamellaam samaththuvaththaiAcross the whole world, social equality
Oonga seiguvomLet us make flourish and thrive
Chorus :Oonga seiguvomChorus: Let us make flourish and thrive
Female :Orumaippaadu enum kodiyaiFemale: The banner of national unity
Ulagil yaettruvomLet us hoist high in the world
Chorus :Ulagil yaettruvomChorus: Let us hoist high in the world

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Orae Vaanam Orae Bhoomi' is a stirring social reformer anthem from the 1971 film 'En Kelvikku Enna Bathil', featuring lyrics by Kannadasan and music by M. S. Viswanathan. The song advocates passionately for universal brotherhood, social equality, and the complete abolition of caste and religious discrimination. It points out the hypocrisy of politicians who preach caste eradication on public stages while retaining caste surnames, and questions institutional practices like requesting caste identity during school admissions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Sol Porul Pinvarunilayani)

Orae vaanam orae bhoomi orae saamithaan

The repetitive use of the word 'Orae' (One/Only) at the beginning of phrases emphasizes the fundamental oneness of humanity and nature.

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Kaattu moongil koottam pola

Human society living in unity is compared to a cluster of wild bamboo trees that stand strong together.

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Kaakkai kuruvi jaathi pola

The act of sharing food and resources among people is compared to crows and sparrows, referencing Mahakavi Bharathiyar's philosophical view of nature.

Metaphor (Uruvagani)

Rama raajiyaththil raththa gangai

The communal bloodshed caused by caste conflicts in an ideal nation is metaphorically described as 'a Ganges river of blood'.

Iyaipu (Rhyming Refrain)

Saernthu vaazhuvom / Pagirnthu unnuvom / Oonga seiguvom

The ending 'om' suffix creates a rhythmic, collective call-to-action refrain that unites the lead singer and the chorus.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song's lyricist Kannadasan draws direct inspiration from Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's iconic phrase 'Kaakkai kuruvi engal jaathi' (Crows and sparrows are our caste/kin) to preach egalitarianism. Sung powerfully by B. S. Sasirekha and T. K. Kala under M. S. Viswanathan's composition, the song remains one of Tamil cinema's most direct critiques of political and administrative hypocrisy surrounding caste discrimination.

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