Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Grammam

From Gouravam (2013) · 2013

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singer
Gaana Bala
Music director
Thaman S
Details
Gouravam (2013)2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru kiraamam kedakkuThere lies a village,
Pachaiyuduthi vayalugaWhere the fields are draped in green,
Achamuduthi payaluga vaazhaAnd the young lads live draped in fear,
Oru kiraamam kedakku…There lies a village...
Male
Verappaa manasulaWith pride and rigidity in their hearts,
Varappuga paaru…Look at the borders dividing the fields...
Porappaal manusana…A human being, merely by birth...
Pirichadhu yaaru…Who was it that divided them?
Evanooo….Someone...
Male
Oru kiraamam kedakkuThere lies a village,
Pachaiyuduthi vayalugaWhere the fields are draped in green,
Achamuduthi payaluga vaazhaAnd the young lads live draped in fear,
Oru kiraamam kedakku…There lies a village...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant track from 'Gouravam' highlights the tragic reality hidden behind rural beauty. While the village appears lush, serene, and clad in green fields, its inhabitants live in constant fear due to deep-seated social prejudice, caste rigidities, and pride. The song contrasts the natural harmony of nature with the artificial boundaries created by humans. The lyricist questions the origin of these arbitrary divisions that segregate human beings who are all equal by birth. By comparing social barriers to 'varappu' (field ridges), the song underscores how senseless societal pride destroys lives and instills fear in the younger generation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Imagery

Pachaiyuduthi vayaluga / Achamuduthi payaluga vaazha

Pachaiyuduthi (draped in green) and Achamuduthi (draped in fear) contrast the visual beauty of the landscape with the emotional turmoil of its people.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme / Word Parallelism)

Pachaiyuduthi / Achamuduthi

The rhythmic matching of 'uduthi' (draped in) creates poetic symmetry across adjacent lines.

Ethugai (Second Letter Assonance)

Verappaa manasula / Varappuga paaru / Porappaal manusana

The second consonant 'ra' (ற/ர) repeats across 'Verappaa', 'Varappuga', and 'Porappaal', creating a rhythmic flow.

Symbolism

Varappuga paaru…

The 'varappu' (raised dirt boundary in agricultural fields) symbolizes the rigid caste boundaries and social divides constructed by human prejudice.

Did you know?

Trivia

Gouravam (2013) is a social drama film directed by Radha Mohan that tackles the sensitive topic of honor killings and caste divisions in rural Tamil Nadu. The music for the film was composed by S. Thaman, with lyrics written by Madhan Karky, who cleverly used agricultural metaphors to address deep-rooted socio-political issues.

Keep listening

More from Gouravam (2013)