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Kaanchi Thalaivan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal

From Kaanchi Thalaivan · 1963

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kaanchi Thalaivan
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
13 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru kodiyil iru malargal
Pirandhadhammaa pirandhadhammaa
Annan thangai uravu murai
Malarndhadhammaa malarndhadhammaa
Oru kodiyil iru malargal
Pirandhadhammaa pirandhadhammaa
Karumaniyin thuyaram kandu
Imaigal thoongumaa
Annan kanneeril midhandhida en
Idhayam thaangumaa
Karumaniyin thuyaram kandu
Imaigal thoongumaa
Annan kanneeril midhandhida en
Idhayam thaangumaa
Varum puyalai edhirthu nindru
Sirikkindraenammaa
Varum puyalai edhirthu nindru
Sirikkindraenammaa
Thangai vaazhvukkaaga en sugathai
Kodukkindraenammaa
Oru kodiyil iru malargal
Pirandhadhammaa pirandhadhammaa
Annan thangai uravu murai
Malarndhadhammaa malarndhadhammaa
Oru kodiyil iru malargal
Pirandhadhammaa pirandhadhammaa
Piravi ennum paadhaiyilae
Unnudan vandhen
Andha payanathilae kadamai seiyum
Thunivai adaindhen
Piravi ennum paadhaiyilae
Unnudan vandhen
Andha payanathilae kadamai seiyum
Thunivai adaindhen
Siragadikkum aasaigalai
Siraiyil poottuven
Siragadikkum aasaigalai siraiyil poottuven
Nee sirithirukkum kaatchiyilae
Manadhai thaettruven
Oru kodiyil
Iru malargal
Pirandhadhammaa pirandhadhammaa
Annan thangai
Uravu murai
Malarndhadhammaa malarndhadhammaa
Two flowers on a single vine
were born, oh they were born!
The bond between brother and sister
has blossomed, oh it has blossomed!
Two flowers on a single vine
were born, oh they were born!
Seeing the sorrow of the eye's pupil,
can the eyelids ever sleep?
If my brother is drowning in tears,
can my heart endure it?
Seeing the sorrow of the eye's pupil,
can the eyelids ever sleep?
If my brother is drowning in tears,
can my heart endure it?
Standing against the oncoming storm,
I smile through it all.
Standing against the oncoming storm,
I smile through it all.
For the sake of my sister's life,
I give up all my comforts.
Two flowers on a single vine
were born, oh they were born!
The bond between brother and sister
has blossomed, oh it has blossomed!
Two flowers on a single vine
were born, oh they were born!
On the pathway of this life,
I walked alongside you.
On that journey, to fulfill my duty,
I found the courage.
On the pathway of this life,
I walked alongside you.
On that journey, to fulfill my duty,
I found the courage.
The desires fluttering their wings,
I will lock away in prison.
The desires fluttering their wings, I will lock away in prison.
In the sight of your smiling face,
I will comfort my heart.
On a single vine,
two flowers
were born, oh they were born!
Brother and sister,
this bond between them
has blossomed, oh it has blossomed!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song depicts the profound and selfless affection between a brother and a sister. Using the poignant metaphor of two flowers blooming on the same creeper vine, the lyrics emphasize how intimately intertwined their lives and emotions are. Each sibling feels the pain of the other acutely and is prepared to make personal sacrifices to ensure the other's happiness. The narrative illustrates the brother's unwavering resolve to shield his sister from life's storms, willingly locking away his own aspirations and personal comforts for her well-being. In response, the sister acknowledges his protection and finds solace and strength in his happiness. The song stands as an iconic ode to pure familial devotion, duty, and mutual sacrifice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Oru kodiyil iru malargal

Compares the brother and sister to two flowers blooming on a single vine, symbolizing their common origin and shared emotional life.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Piravi ennum paadhaiyilae

Frames life as a continuous pathway or journey ('Piravi ennum paadhai').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Siragadikkum aasaigalai / Siraiyil poottuven

Repetition of the initial sound 'Si' ('Siragadikkum' and 'Siraiyil') creates melodic alliteration.

Repetition / Anaphora (Adukku Thodar)

Pirandhadhammaa pirandhadhammaa / Malarndhadhammaa malarndhadhammaa

Repetition of words creates emotional emphasis and rhythmic resonance typical of traditional Tamil song structures.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kaanchi Thalaivan' (1963) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), S. S. Rajendran, and C. R. Vijayakumari. The music for the film was composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by Aalangudi Somu. This song remains one of the seminal brother-sister sentiment anthems in Tamil cinema history.

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