Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Jeevanthan Female

From Naan Adimai Illai · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. Janaki, Chorus
Music director
Vijay Anand
Details
Naan Adimai Illai1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oru jeevan thaanThere is a soul,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Un paadal thaanAnd it is your song
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Ooyaamal isaikkindrathuThat keeps playing without end.
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..haa…aa…[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Iru kannilumIn both my eyes,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Un gnyaabagamYour memory
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Urangaamal irukkindrathuStays wide awake without sleep.
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..haa..aa…[Chorus vocalizing]
Female
Paasangalum bandhangalumAffections and bonds,
Pirithaalum piriyaadhathuWill not break even if pulled apart.
Kaalangalum nerangalumTime and circumstances,
Kalaithaalum kalaiyaadhathuWill not fade even if disrupted.
Female
Ammaaa….ammaaa….ammaaaMother... Mother... Mother...
Ammaaa….ammaaa….ammaaaMother... Mother... Mother...
Chorus
Haa…aaa…aaa…(4)[Vocalizing]
Female
Paar ammaLook, Mother,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :ParavaikkumEven for a bird,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Paasangal irukkindrathu…uu..uu..Maternal affection exists...
Female
Parandhodi…Flying afar...
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Irai thaedi…Searching for food...
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Pillaikku kodukkindrathuIt brings food back for its chick.
Female
Siru pillai naan seitha paavam ennaWhat sin did I, a little child, commit?
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :En meedhu thaan konda kobam ennaWhat is this anger you hold against me?
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Paalootta thaan nee illaiyaeYou were not there to feed me milk,
Thaalaatta thaan thaai illaiyaeThere was no mother to sing me a lullaby.
Female
Ammaaa….ammaaa….Mother... Mother...
Thaviyaai thavithen thaniyaeI writhed in agony, all alone.
Female
Oru jeevan thaanThere is a soul,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Un paadal thaanAnd it is your song
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Ooyaamal isaikkindrathuThat keeps playing without end.
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..haa aa[Chorus vocalizing]
Chorus
Haa…aaa…aaa…(4)[Vocalizing]
Female
Nee thaanaeWas it not you,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Pala maadhamWho for many months,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Madi meedhuCarried me in your womb,
Sumanthaai ammaa..aa..aa..Bore me with care, Mother?
Female
Naan vandhuWhen I came
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Unai thedaSearching for you,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Maraivaaga irunthaaiyammaaYou remained hidden, Mother.
Female
Naan thaan amma undhanI am, Mother, your
Pillai chelvamPrecious child,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Nee thaan amma endhanAnd you are, Mother, my
Pesum deivamLiving, speaking deity.
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Kaanaamalae thozhuven ammaI worshipped you without even seeing you, Mother;
Kanden indru azhudhen ammaI saw you today and wept, Mother.
Female
Ammaa nee thaanMother, if you only
Anaithaal adhu thaan inbamEmbrace me, that alone is heavenly bliss.
Female
Oru jeevan thaanThere is a soul,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Un paadal thaanAnd it is your song
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Ooyaamal isaikkindrathuThat keeps playing without end.
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..haa…aa…[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Iru kannilumIn both my eyes,
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Un gnyaabagamYour memory
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..[Chorus vocalizing]
Female :Urangaamal irukkindrathuStays wide awake without sleep.
Chorus :Haa…aaa…aaa..haa..aa…[Chorus vocalizing]
Female
Paasangalum bandhangalumAffections and bonds,
Pirithaalum piriyaadhathuWill not break even if pulled apart.
Kaalangalum nerangalumTime and circumstances,
Kalaithaalum kalaiyaadhathuWill not fade even if disrupted.
Female
Ammaaa….ammaaa….ammaaaMother... Mother... Mother...
Ammaaa….ammaaa….ammaaaMother... Mother... Mother...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Oru Jeevan Thaan' from 'Naan Adimai Illai' (1986) is a deeply emotional ode centered on maternal love, separation, and yearning. The child speaks to her mother, expressing how her mother's memory haunts her night and day like an unending melody. She draws parallels to nature, pointing out how even birds fly long distances to seek food and feed their offspring, questioning what wrong she could have done as a child to be deprived of her mother's comforting presence and lullabies. As the song progresses, the narrative moves from painful longing to a cathartic realization. The daughter reflects on the months her mother bore her with sacrifice and reveres her mother as a living, speaking deity ('Pesum Deivam'). Finding her mother brings forth tears of relief, concluding that a mother's loving embrace is the ultimate joy and comfort in life, transcending time and separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Paasangalum bandhangalum / Pirithaalum piriyaadhathu

The initial letter 'Pa/Pi' repeats across lines, creating a rhythmic harmony characteristic of Tamil poetry.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Pirithaalum piriyaadhathu / Kalaithaalum kalaiyaadhathu

The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes ('-aadhathu'), reinforcing the unyielding nature of the bond.

Metaphor

Nee thaan amma endhan pesum deivam

The mother is directly equated to a 'living/speaking deity' (Pesum Deivam), elevating her role to sacred divinity.

Analogy

Paravaikkum paasangal irukkindrathu...

The lyricist uses the natural behavior of birds feeding their young to highlight the universality and instinctive nature of maternal care.

Did you know?

Trivia

Naan Adimai Illai (1986) was directed by Dwarkish and scored by Vijay Anand. The song 'Oru Jeevan Thaan' was rendered exquisitely by S. Janaki, featuring lyrics by Vairamuthu. Notably, this film marked the final screen collaboration between Superstar Rajinikanth and Sridevi as a lead romantic pair in Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Naan Adimai Illai