Oru Kaalam Varum
From Poovukkul Boogambam · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Jesudass
- Music director
- Sangeetha Rajan
- Details
- Poovukkul Boogambam1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oru kaalam varum nalla neram varum | A time will come, a good time will come, |
| Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam | A fire may spark even from our tears. |
| Adhil veeram varum pudhu vegam varum | Valor will emerge from it, along with a new momentum, |
| Andru bhoogambamae poovil thondralaam… | On that day, an earthquake may erupt even within a flower… |
| Male | |
| Oo….oo….ooo….ooo…. | Oo….oo….ooo….ooo…. |
| Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..ooh…..ohh…. | Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..ooh…..ohh…. |
| Male | |
| Than veedundu vaazhvundu | Believing they only have their own home and life, |
| Ena enni vaazhvaargal | They will live selfishly. |
| Nam naadondru paaraamal | Without caring about our country, |
| Kann moodi poovaargal | They will close their eyes and pass away. |
| Avar vaazhthenna laabam | What is the point of them living? |
| Intha mannmeedhu baaram | They are merely a burden upon this earth. |
| Male | |
| Ada ellorum ondray | Ah, everyone here will preach |
| Ena solvaargal ingae | That 'all are one', |
| Ivaiyellaamae vedham | All these are mere lofty scriptures. |
| Aamaam pongadaa | Yes, get lost! |
| Male | |
| Oru kalam varum nalla neram varum | A time will come, a good time will come, |
| Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam | A fire may spark even from our tears. |
| Male | |
| Silar ooraarin thol meedhu | Some will ride on the shoulders of the townspeople |
| Oorkolam povaarkal | And go on a grand procession. |
| Palar yanaendru kelaamal | Many, without asking why or wherefore, |
| Yaemaanthu povargal | Will get duped and deceived. |
| Male | |
| Oru poongaattru naalai | A gentle breeze tomorrow |
| Oru puyalaaga koodum | Could gather into a storm. |
| Oru nadhi kooda naalai | Even a river tomorrow |
| Erimalaiyaga marum | Could turn into a volcano. |
| Adhu panjaangam paarththaa maarapoguthu | Will that change by looking at an almanac? |
| Male | |
| Oru kalam varum nalla neram varum | A time will come, a good time will come, |
| Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam | A fire may spark even from our tears. |
| Adhil veeram varum pudhu vegam varum | Valor will emerge from it, along with a new momentum, |
| Andru bhoogambamae poovil thondralaam… | On that day, an earthquake may erupt even within a flower… |
ஒரு காலம் வரும் நல்ல நேரம் வரும்
எங்கள் கண்ணீரிலே தீயும் தோன்றலாம்
அதில் வீரம் வரும் புது வேகம் வரும்
அன்று பூகம்பமே பூவில் தோன்றலாம்...
A time will come, a good time will come,
A fire may spark even from our tears.
Valor will emerge from it, along with a new momentum,
On that day, an earthquake may erupt even within a flower…
ஓ.......ஓ.......ஓஒ.......ஓஒ........
ஓ.......ஓ.......ஓஒ.......ஓஒ........ஓஹ்...ஓஹ்....
Oo….oo….ooo….ooo….
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..ooh…..ohh….
தன் வீடுண்டு வாழ்வுண்டு
என எண்ணி வாழ்வார்கள்
நம் நாடென்று பாராமல்
கண் மூடி போவார்கள்
அவர் வாழ்ந்தென்ன லாபம்
இந்த மண்மீது பாரம்
Believing they only have their own home and life,
They will live selfishly.
Without caring about our country,
They will close their eyes and pass away.
What is the point of them living?
They are merely a burden upon this earth.
அட எல்லோரும் ஒன்றே
எனச் சொல்வார்கள் இங்கே
இவையெல்லாமே வேதம்
ஆமாம் போங்கடா......
Ah, everyone here will preach
That 'all are one',
All these are mere lofty scriptures.
Yes, get lost!
ஒரு காலம் வரும் நல்ல நேரம் வரும்
எங்கள் கண்ணீரிலே தீயும் தோன்றலாம்
A time will come, a good time will come,
A fire may spark even from our tears.
சிலர் ஊராரின் தோள் மீது
ஊர்கோலம் போவார்கள்
பலர் ஏனென்று கேளாமல்
ஏமாந்து போவார்கள்
Some will ride on the shoulders of the townspeople
And go on a grand procession.
Many, without asking why or wherefore,
Will get duped and deceived.
ஒரு பூங்காற்று நாளை
ஒரு புயலாக கூடும்
ஒரு நதி கூட நாளை
எரிமலையாக மாறும்
அது பஞ்சாங்கம் பார்த்தா மாறப்போகுது..
A gentle breeze tomorrow
Could gather into a storm.
Even a river tomorrow
Could turn into a volcano.
Will that change by looking at an almanac?
ஒரு காலம் வரும் நல்ல நேரம் வரும்
எங்கள் கண்ணீரிலே தீயும் தோன்றலாம்
அதில் வீரம் வரும் புது வேகம் வரும்
அன்று பூகம்பமே பூவில் தோன்றலாம்...
A time will come, a good time will come,
A fire may spark even from our tears.
Valor will emerge from it, along with a new momentum,
On that day, an earthquake may erupt even within a flower…
Oru kaalam varum nalla neram varum
A time will come, a good time will come,
Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam
A fire may spark even from our tears.
Adhil veeram varum pudhu vegam varum
Valor will emerge from it, along with a new momentum,
Andru bhoogambamae poovil thondralaam…
On that day, an earthquake may erupt even within a flower…
Oo….oo….ooo….ooo….
Oo….oo….ooo….ooo….
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..ooh…..ohh….
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..ooh…..ohh….
Than veedundu vaazhvundu
Believing they only have their own home and life,
Ena enni vaazhvaargal
They will live selfishly.
Nam naadondru paaraamal
Without caring about our country,
Kann moodi poovaargal
They will close their eyes and pass away.
Avar vaazhthenna laabam
What is the point of them living?
Intha mannmeedhu baaram
They are merely a burden upon this earth.
Ada ellorum ondray
Ah, everyone here will preach
Ena solvaargal ingae
That 'all are one',
Ivaiyellaamae vedham
All these are mere lofty scriptures.
Aamaam pongadaa
Yes, get lost!
Oru kalam varum nalla neram varum
A time will come, a good time will come,
Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam
A fire may spark even from our tears.
Silar ooraarin thol meedhu
Some will ride on the shoulders of the townspeople
Oorkolam povaarkal
And go on a grand procession.
Palar yanaendru kelaamal
Many, without asking why or wherefore,
Yaemaanthu povargal
Will get duped and deceived.
Oru poongaattru naalai
A gentle breeze tomorrow
Oru puyalaaga koodum
Could gather into a storm.
Oru nadhi kooda naalai
Even a river tomorrow
Erimalaiyaga marum
Could turn into a volcano.
Adhu panjaangam paarththaa maarapoguthu
Will that change by looking at an almanac?
Oru kalam varum nalla neram varum
A time will come, a good time will come,
Engal kanneerilae theeyum thondralaam
A fire may spark even from our tears.
Adhil veeram varum pudhu vegam varum
Valor will emerge from it, along with a new momentum,
Andru bhoogambamae poovil thondralaam…
On that day, an earthquake may erupt even within a flower…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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