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Manapanthal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Orey Raagam Orey Thaalam

From Manapanthal · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Manapanthal
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
20 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Orae raagam… orae thaalam…
Orae raagam orae thaalam
Orae paadal paadudhammaa
Orae raagam orae thaalam
Orae paadal paadudhammaa
Kangal silai pola
Asaiyaamal paarkkum
Penmai thavaraamal oru vaarthai koorum
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Kangal silai pola
Asaiyaamal paarkkum
Penmai thavaraamal oru vaarthai koorum
Indru malar solvadhum
Vaazhai maram solvadhum
Endhan manam solvadhum
Orae peyarallavo
Indru malar solvadhum
Vaazhai maram solvadhum
Endhan manam solvadhum
Orae peyarallavo
Orae raagam orae thaalam
Orae paadal paadudhammaa
Andru gunathodu
Manam kondu nindraen
Indru kulathodu manam pesa kandaen
Aa…aa… aa… aa… aa…
Andru gunathodu
Manam kondu nindraen
Indru kulathodu manam pesa kandaen
Paarvai vayalaanadhae
Aasai mazhaiyaanadhae
Kaadhal payiraanadhae
Endrum nilaiyaanadhae
Paarvai vayalaanadhae
Aasai mazhaiyaanadhae
Kaadhal payiraanadhae
Endrum nilaiyaanadhae
Orae raagam orae thaalam
Orae paadal paadudhammaa
Orae raagam orae thaalam
Orae paadal paadudhammaa
One melody... one rhythm...
One melody, one rhythm,
it sings a single song!
One melody, one rhythm,
it sings a single song!
Like a statue, the eyes
gaze without moving,
and womanhood unfailingly speaks a word.
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Like a statue, the eyes
gaze without moving,
and womanhood unfailingly speaks a word.
Today, what the flower says,
what the plantain tree says,
and what my heart says,
isn't it all the very same name?
Today, what the flower says,
what the plantain tree says,
and what my heart says,
isn't it all the very same name?
One melody, one rhythm,
it sings a single song!
Back then, with good virtue,
I stood filled with sweet fragrance,
today, I saw hearts speaking in harmony with family.
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Back then, with good virtue,
I stood filled with sweet fragrance,
today, I saw hearts speaking in harmony with family.
A glance became the fertile field,
longing became the falling rain,
love blossomed into the harvest,
and became something that lasts forever.
A glance became the fertile field,
longing became the falling rain,
love blossomed into the harvest,
and became something that lasts forever.
One melody, one rhythm,
it sings a single song!
One melody, one rhythm,
it sings a single song!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Orae Raagam Orae Thaalam' from the 1961 film Manapanthal is a classic Tamil melody celebrating the unison of two hearts, minds, and traditions. The lyrics express how various elements of nature, culture, and personal devotion seamlessly align around a single beloved identity, set to one harmonious rhythm and song. Kannadasan weaves rich agricultural and cultural imagery to describe love's evolution. A loving gaze is likened to a field, longing to nourishing rain, and love itself to an everlasting crop. The song highlights how individual character and familial lineage come together in perfect unity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kangal silai pola

Compares the still, unblinking eyes of the woman to a sculpted statue ('silai pola') to highlight deep contemplation and beauty.

Extended Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Paarvai vayalaanadhae / Aasai mazhaiyaanadhae / Kaadhal payiraanadhae

Directly equates the gaze to a field, desires to rain, and love to a crop, creating a vivid agricultural metaphor for romantic growth.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Paarvai vayalaanadhae... Aasai mazhaiyaanadhae...

The deliberate use of matching suffix sounds ('-aanadhae') across consecutive lines provides a melodic rhythmic cadence.

Anaphora / Repetition

Orae raagam orae thaalam / Orae paadal paadudhammaa

Repetition of the word 'Orae' (One/Single) emphasizes absolute unity, alignment, and singular focus.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Manapanthal' (1961) was composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with memorable lyrics penned by Kannadasan. The film was adapted from the Sabrina/play Sabrina Fair concept and was a major commercial success, noted particularly for its evergreen musical soundtrack.

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