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Isaimozhi
Annai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Orey Oru Ooriley

From Annai · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Movie name
Annai
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
14 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Orae oru oorilae
Orae oru laila
Orae oru lailavukku
Orae oru majunu
Orae oru lailavukku
Orae oru majunu
Orae oru oorilae
Orae oru laila
Majunu lailaavin
Azhagai kandaan
Endrum maaratha
Kaadhal kondaan
Majunu lailaavin
Azhagai kandaan
Paavigal seidha
Kodumaiyinaalae
Paithiyam aanaaan paarinilae
Paithiyam aanaaan paarinilae
Lailaa…lailaa..
Lailaaa… lailaaa
Manathaale veedu katti
Mathiyaalae koora katti
Manamedai alangarithen lailaavae
Unakku maalai poda
Thedugindren lailaavae
Naethu varai kaathirundhen
Nithiraiyum maranthirunthen
Naethu varai kaathirundhen
Nithiraiyum maranthirunthen
Kaathu vaakil sedhi sollu lailaavae
Unna kaana mattum
Uyir tharippen lailaavae
Sattai kizhinju
Ponaal enna lailaavae
Sananga paarthu
Siricha enna lailaavae
Kattiya veetukku
Kuttram solvaar lailaavae
Kaadhalilum kurai
Kandu pidippaar lailaavae
Laila unakku kobam aagathadi
Laila unakku kobam aagathadi
Mayilae enai vittu pogathadi
Suguna laila unakku kobam
Aa….ga….tha..di
Laila unakku kobam aagathadi
Mayilai kandaal lailaa
Pachai maraththai kandaal lailaa
Kuyilai kandaal lailaa
Adhan kuralai kettal lailaa lailaa
Mayilai kandaal lailaa
Pachai maraththai kandaal lailaa
Kuyilai kandaal lailaa
Adhan kuralai kettal lailaa lailaa
Lailaaa…….lailaaa…..
Aiyo adikuraanga lailaaa
Hoo oo hoo hoo hooo hoo ooo
Anbu konda majunu machaanai
Annae en chinn annae
Adikka vendam thudikkudhu nenjam
Annae en chinn annae
Anbu konda majunu machaanai
Annae en chinn annae
Adikka vendam thudikkudhu nenjam
Annae en chinn annae
Aalam palamae
Arali poovae….
Anjarai etti
Manja kizhangae
Paalum palam pol irukka nenaithom
Paithiyam aanom vaithiyam illaiyaa
Anbu konda majunu machaanai
Annae en chinn annae
Adikka vendam thudikkudhu nenjam
Annae en chinn annae
Kaatu mullai thottathilae
Kannae lailaa
Unnai kaana vendi kaathirunthen
Kannae lailaa
Kallaalae aditha kaayam
Kannae lailaa
Undhan kannaalae paarthaal theerum
Kannae lailaa
Kaatu mullai thottathilae
Kannae lailaa
Unnai kaana vendi kaathirunthen
Kannae lailaa
Haa….aaa…..aaa…….aaa…..aa…
Haaaa….aaa….
Yen niruthi vittai lailaa
Paadu paadu paadi kondae iru
Singaara roobanae vaa vaa vaa
Singaara roobanae vaa vaa vaa
Unnai cheraadhu
En aaval theeradhu
Singaara roobanae vaa vaa vaa
Unnai cheraadhu
En aaval theeradhu vaaa….aaa…..
Singaara roobanae vaa vaa vaa
Kaneerai kaatti veithu
Kal yendhinen
Kaadhal melae aanai ittu
Kai yendhinen
Pannai pettra periyorae
Ennai paarunga
Kaathal pithanaagi pona mattum
Annai paarunga
Kann irundhum kuridaagi
Yen poninga
Unmai kaadhalukkae
Thadai poduvadha
Unmai kaadhalukkae
Thadai poduvadha
Naangal ondraaga serndhu vaazha
Pichai podunga
Kaadhal pichai podunga
Kaadhal pichai podunga
Lailaaa…….lailaaaa
Engirunthaalum vaazhga
Engirunthaalum vaazhga
ungal iruvar kaadhalum vaazhga
Kaalathai vendradhu kaadhal
Andha kadavulai pondradhu kaadhal
Kaadhal vaazhga
Engirunthaalum vaazhga
In one single town,
There was only one Laila,
And for that one Laila,
There was only one Majnu.
And for that one Laila,
There was only one Majnu.
In one single town,
There was only one Laila.
Majnu looked upon
Laila's beauty,
And fell into a love
That would never change.
Majnu looked upon
Laila's beauty.
Because of the cruelty
Done by wicked people,
I have gone mad in this world.
I have gone mad in this world.
Laila... Laila...
Laila... Laila!
Building a home in my heart,
Roofing it with my thoughts,
I decorated the wedding stage, oh Laila!
To place the garland on you,
I am searching for you, oh Laila!
I waited until yesterday,
Forgetting even my sleep.
I waited until yesterday,
Forgetting even my sleep.
Send me word through the breeze, oh Laila!
Just to see you once,
I will hold on to my life, oh Laila!
What does it matter if my shirt
Is torn to shreds, oh Laila?
What does it matter if people
Look and laugh, oh Laila?
They will find flaws in a well-built house, oh Laila,
And speak ill of it, oh Laila!
They will find faults
Even in true love, oh Laila!
Laila, anger does not suit you!
Laila, anger does not suit you!
My peacock, do not leave me and go!
Gentle Laila, anger...
Does... not... suit... you!
Laila, anger does not suit you!
When I see a peacock, I see Laila;
When I see a green tree, I see Laila;
When I see a cuckoo, I see Laila;
When I hear its voice, it is Laila, Laila!
When I see a peacock, I see Laila;
When I see a green tree, I see Laila;
When I see a cuckoo, I see Laila;
When I hear its voice, it is Laila, Laila!
Laila... Laila...
Oh no, they are beating me, Laila!
Oh ho ho ho ho ho oh!
My loving, beloved Majnu—
Brother, my dear brother,
Do not beat him, my heart aches!
Brother, my dear brother!
My loving, beloved Majnu—
Brother, my dear brother,
Do not beat him, my heart aches!
Brother, my dear brother!
Sweet as a banyan fruit,
Bright as an oleander flower,
Precious as a spice box,
Pure as fresh turmeric!
We dreamed of living together sweet as milk and fruit,
Now we have gone mad, and there is no cure!
My loving, beloved Majnu—
Brother, my dear brother,
Do not beat him, my heart aches!
Brother, my dear brother!
In the wild jasmine garden,
My darling Laila,
I waited just to see you,
My darling Laila!
The wounds from stones thrown at me,
My darling Laila,
Will heal if you just look at me with your eyes,
My darling Laila!
In the wild jasmine garden,
My darling Laila,
I waited just to see you,
My darling Laila!
Ha... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Ha... aa...
Why did you stop, Laila?
Sing, sing, keep on singing!
Oh handsome one, come, come, come!
Oh handsome one, come, come, come!
Without reaching you,
My longing will not end, come!
Oh handsome one, come, come, come!
Without reaching you,
My longing will not end, come!
Oh handsome one, come, come, come!
Holding out my hands filled with tears,
I beg of you!
Swearing upon our love,
I hold out my begging hands!
Elders who raised this daughter,
Look at me!
Look at how I have become mad with love,
Look at this mother!
Even with eyes to see,
Why have you gone blind?
To true love,
Will you place obstacles?
To true love,
Will you place obstacles?
For us to live together as one,
Give us alms!
Give us the alms of love!
Give us the alms of love!
Laila... Laila!
May you live long, wherever you are!
May you live long, wherever you are!
May the love between you two live forever!
Love has conquered time!
Love is just like God!
Long live love!
May you live long, wherever you are!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a dramatic, multi-part musical narrative depicting the legendary, tragic love story of Laila and Majnu within a stage play sequence in the movie. It narrates Majnu's unconditional adoration for Laila, his descent into heartbreak and madness due to social persecution, and Laila's tender yearning for him. Together, they confront a society that judges lovers and attempts to pull them apart. As the narrative progresses, both lovers plead with elders and society to refrain from cruelty and bestow upon them the 'alms of love'. The lyrics move from personal sorrow and devotion to a universal philosophical conclusion, proclaiming that true love transcends time, resembles divinity, and deserves eternal triumph regardless of earthly hardship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Mayilai kandaal lailaa / Pachai maraththai kandaal lailaa / Kuyilai kandaal lailaa

The repetitive line ending 'laila' across consecutive verses creates rhythmic musicality typical of Tamil folk dance-drama.

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Paalum palam pol irukka nenaithom

Compares the ideal vision of life to the sweet combination of milk and fruit ('paalum palam pol').

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Andha kadavulai pondradhu kaadhal

Directly compares love to God using the comparative word 'pondradhu' (is like).

Metaphor (Uruvagak Kooru)

Manathaale veedu katti / Mathiyaalae koora katti

Metaphorically compares constructing a house to thoughts in the mind, and the roof to intellect.

Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Kaneerai kaatti veithu / Kal yendhinen / Kaadhal melae aanai ittu / Kai yendhinen

Repeated initial 'Ka' sounds (Kaneerai, Kal, Kaadhal, Kai) across lines create strong Monai harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from 'Annai' (1962) serves as a play-within-a-film (drama sequence) depicting the story of Laila and Majnu. Directed by Krishnan-Panju and produced by AVM Productions, the film's music was composed by R. Sudarsanam, with iconic lyrics penned by Kannadasan. The musical sequence features versatile vocals portraying multiple characters on stage, blending street theater style with cinematic Tamil film music.

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