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Poovukkul Boogambam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Kaalam Varum

From Poovukkul Boogambam · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Jesudass
Music director
Sangeetha Rajan
Movie name
Poovukkul Boogambam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
15 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru kaalam varum nalla neram varum
Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam
Adhil veeram varum pudhu vegam varum
Andru bhoogambamae poovil thondralaam…
Oo….oo….ooo….ooo….
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..ooh…..ohh….
Than veedundu vaazhvundu
Ena enni vaazhvaargal
Nam naadondru paaraamal
Kann moodi poovaargal
Avar vaazhthenna laabam
Intha mannmeedhu baaram
Ada ellorum ondray
Ena solvaargal ingae
Ivaiyellaamae vedham
Aamaam pongadaa
Oru kalam varum nalla neram varum
Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam
Silar ooraarin thol meedhu
Oorkolam povaarkal
Palar yanaendru kelaamal
Yaemaanthu povargal
Oru poongaattru naalai
Oru puyalaaga koodum
Oru nadhi kooda naalai
Erimalaiyaga marum
Adhu panjaangam paarththaa maarapoguthu
Oru kalam varum nalla neram varum
Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam
Adhil veeram varum pudhu vegam varum
Andru bhoogambamae poovil thondralaam…
A time will come, a good time will arrive.
Fire may arise even from our tears.
Courage will rise from it, with a new momentum.
On that day, an earthquake may erupt from within a flower...
Oh.......oh.......oh.......oh........
Oh.......oh.......oh.......oh........oh...oh....
"I have my own home, my own life"—
that is all some people care about as they live.
Without thinking of our land,
they turn a blind eye and walk away.
What is the point of their living?
They are just a burden on this earth.
"Oh, everyone is equal,"
they preach around here;
as if all of it were sacred truth!
Yeah right, get lost...!
A time will come, a good time will arrive.
Fire may arise even from our tears.
Some ride upon the shoulders of the town
and go about in grand processions,
while many never question why
and end up being cheated.
Tomorrow, a gentle breeze
could turn into a raging storm.
Tomorrow, even a calm river
could turn into a volcano.
Will it check the almanac before it changes?
A time will come, a good time will arrive.
Fire may arise even from our tears.
Courage will rise from it, with a new momentum.
On that day, an earthquake may erupt from within a flower...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a stirring, revolutionary anthem from the 1988 film 'Poovukkul Boogambam' (An Earthquake Inside a Flower). The lyrics express deep anger at society's self-centeredness and social injustice. It criticizes individuals who live in total indifference to the suffering of their nation and dismisses hollow preachings of equality as mere empty talk.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron

“Andru bhoogambamae poovil thondralaam…”

Juxtaposes a soft, fragile 'flower' (poovu) with a destructive 'earthquake' (bhoogambam) to symbolize how the meekest people can spark a massive revolution.

Metaphor

“Oru poongaattru naalai / Oru puyalaaga koodum”

Compares gentle public patience to a soft breeze (poongaattru) that will inevitably transform into a raging storm (puyal) of protest.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Than veedundu vaazhvundu / Nam naadondru paaraamal”

The second letter consonant sound 'da' (d) matches in 'veedundu' and 'naadondru'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Oru kaalam varum nalla neram varum / Adhil veeram varum pudhu vegam varum”

The repetition of the word 'varum' at the end of multiple phrases creates a rhythmic end rhyme.

Did you know?

Trivia

The theme of the song directly echoes the literal title of the movie, 'Poovukkul Boogambam' (An Earthquake inside a Flower). Lyricist Vairamuthu captured a fiery, revolutionary spirit in these verses, portraying the transition from passive suffering to active revolt.

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