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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Aathukku Karaiyum

From Rudra Thaandavam – 1978 · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
A. V. Ramanan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Rudra Thaandavam – 1978
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
13 Mar 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru aaththukku karaiyum
Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyum
Pottukka venum kannae kannaatti
Ammammaa
Male :Ammammaa
Oru aaththukku karaiyum
Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyum
Pottukka venum kannae kannaatti
Ennai kadaththiya manna
Suga kathaigal nadakkattum kannaa
Aanantham unnaal kandaen kannaalaa
Ammammaa
Male: Ammammaa
Ennai kadaththiya manna
Suga kathaigal nadakkattum kannaa
Aanantham unnaal kandaen kannaalaa
Ohho ho kandaen kannaalaa
Adi ponnalla ilam poovalla
Adi ponnalla ilam poovalla
Aah maniyalla kiliyalla
Silai seiyyum panjalogam
En kannalla kani thaenalla
En kannalla kani thaenalla
Nee azhagalla arasalla
Neeyoru sorkkalogam
Oru kappal kollaatha sarakku
Adhu unakendru ennidam irukku
Oru kappal kollaatha sarakku
Adhu unakendru ennidam irukku
Chumma singaaram pannunga sangeetham paadunga
Kalyaanamthaan venum enakku
Ennai kadaththiya manna
Suga kathaigal nadakkattum kannaa
Aanantham unnaal kandaen kannaalaa
Ammammaa
Male :Ammammaa
Mani muththaattam
Malar koththaattam
Mani muththaattam
Malar koththaattam
Siru mottaattam chittaattam
Eduththu kol intha neram
Poopanthaattam suvai paalaattam
Poopanthaattam suvai paalaattam
intha pennodu kondaattam
Naan kanda inba raagam
Iru kayil pattaaga eduthu
Silai idhuvendru thaerottam nadaththu
Iru kayil pattaaga eduthu
Silai idhuvendru thaerottam nadaththu
Villaiyillaatha vairangal
Thaalaattum sirpangal
Ellaamum unnodu irukku
Oru aaththukku karaiyum
Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyum
Pottukka venum kannae kannaatti
Ammammaa
Male :Ammammaa
Female :Ammammaa
Male :Ammammaa
A river needs a riverbank,
and the private dance of two lovers needs a curtain;
we must set them up, my lovely darling!
Ammamma!
[Male]: Ammamma!
A river needs a riverbank,
and the private dance of two lovers needs a curtain;
we must set them up, my lovely darling!
O king who captured my heart,
let our sweet love stories unfold, my dear!
I have found pure bliss through you, my darling!
Ammamma!
[Male]: Ammamma!
O king who captured my heart,
let our sweet love stories unfold, my dear!
I have found pure bliss through you, my darling!
Oh ho ho, I found it, my darling!
You are not just gold, nor just a tender flower,
you are not just gold, nor just a tender flower,
not a mere gem, nor a lovely parrot,
you are the sacred bronze sculpted into a divine idol!
You are more than my eyes, more than sweet fruit and honey,
you are more than my eyes, more than sweet fruit and honey,
you are not just handsome, not merely a king,
you are a world of heaven itself!
Treasures greater than a ship can hold,
I have them right here, just for you!
Treasures greater than a ship can hold,
I have them right here, just for you!
Go on, dress up fine and sing lovely songs,
but what I truly want is marriage!
O king who captured my heart,
let our sweet love stories unfold, my dear!
I have found pure bliss through you, my darling!
Ammamma!
[Male]: Ammamma!
Like a shining pearl,
like a cluster of blossoms,
like a shining pearl,
like a cluster of blossoms,
like a tender bud, like a fluttering bird,
take it all right now!
Like a ball of flowers, like sweet milk,
like a ball of flowers, like sweet milk,
celebrating with this woman
is a melody of joy I have found!
Holding me gently like silk in both hands,
parade this idol like a temple chariot procession!
Holding me gently like silk in both hands,
parade this idol like a temple chariot procession!
Priceless diamonds,
and living sculptures that soothe the soul,
all of them dwell within you!
A river needs a riverbank,
and the private dance of two lovers needs a curtain;
we must set them up, my lovely darling!
Ammamma!
[Male]: Ammamma!
[Female]: Ammamma!
[Male]: Ammamma!
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and romantic duet from the 1978 movie 'Rudra Thaandavam' features a back-and-forth exchange between lovers expressing their passion, admiration, and desire for marriage. The song opens with a wise metaphor: just as a river needs banks to contain it and a play needs a curtain for privacy, romance between two lovers needs a sense of boundary and intimacy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Oru aaththukku karaiyum / Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyum”

The second consonant sound 'th' (த்) is repeated across the key words ('aaththukku', 'kooththukku') in consecutive lines.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Oru aaththukku karaiyum / Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyum”

The lines end with rhyming sounds ('karaiyum' and 'thiraiyum').

Uvamaani / Simile & Metaphor

“Silai seiyyum panjalogam”

The heroine is metaphorically described as 'Panjalogam' (a precious five-metal alloy used for casting divine idols), highlighting her divine beauty and value.

Hyperbole

“Oru kappal kollaatha sarakku”

Exaggeration describing love/beauty as cargo so immense that an entire ship cannot hold it.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Rudra Thaandavam' (1978) features music composed by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan (MSV), with lyrics penned by Vaali, one of Tamil cinema's most prolific lyricists. Sung by A. V. Ramanan and L. R. Eswari, the song showcases L.R. Eswari's signature energetic vocal style paired with A. V. Ramanan's versatile voice.

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