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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Koottin Kiligal Thaan

From Anbu Kattalai · 1989

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Anbu Kattalai1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…Aaa… (Vocalizing)
Aaa…..aaa…haaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…Aaa… (Vocalizing)
Haa..aaa..aaa…aaa…haaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…Haa… (Vocalizing)
Male
Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengoBirds from a single nest are scattered everywhere
Uravaadum nenjangal yengengoLoving hearts that bond are scattered everywhere
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhuWherever they go, love will never change
Nenjam kondaadum pasam maaraadhuThe affection celebrated by the heart will never change
Male
Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengoBirds from a single nest are scattered everywhere
Uravaadum nenjangal yengengoLoving hearts that bond are scattered everywhere
Male
Bhaaradhathin pillai karnanKarna, a child of the epic Mahabharata
Thaayai kanda podhilumEven when he found his mother
Perai cholla thandhai thannaiHe did not know who his father was
Ariyavillai andru thaanTo name him back then
Kundhi dhevi thaan arindhaalOnly Kunti Devi knew
Karnan thandhai thannaiyaeWho Karna's father was
Indha pillai thandhai thannaiThis child still does not know
Innum ariyavillaiyaeWho his father is today
Male
Andrum enna indrum ennaWhat about back then, or what about today?
Bharadham endrum unduThe Mahabharata story always endures
Yetraal enna maruthaal ennaWhether accepted or rejected
Inbam thunbam unduBoth joy and sorrow always exist
Neeyae thaan vaadaadhae vaadaadhaeDo not wither, do not wither!
Male
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhuWherever you go, love will never change
Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengoBirds from a single nest are scattered everywhere
Uravaadum nenjangal yengengoLoving hearts that bond are scattered everywhere
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhuWherever they go, love will never change
Nenjam kondaadum pasam maaraadhuThe affection celebrated by the heart will never change
Male
Piravi pichai potta thandhaiThe father who granted the alms of birth
Pichai vaangum kolamaeIs now in a state of begging for alms
Potta picha meendum thandhaiWhy did the father take back
Kondadhenna maaamaeThe alms he gave, uncle?
Thalaivan undu thaali unduShe has a husband, she has a sacred thread (thaali)
Vidhavai indha paingiliYet this sweet bird lives like a widow
Pottizhandhu poovizhandhaHaving lost her bindi and flowers
Nithiya chumangaliShe remains an eternal married woman
Male
Theeyil vendhum thangam endrumGold that is refined in fire
Maatru kuraiyaadhingaeNever loses its purity here
Thunbathaalae nenjam vendhumEven if the heart burns with sorrow
Anbum maaraadhingaeLove will never diminish here
Neeyae thaan vaadaadhae vaadaadhaeDo not wither, do not wither!
Male
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhuWherever you go, love will never change
Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengoBirds from a single nest are scattered everywhere
Uravaadum nenjangal yengengoLoving hearts that bond are scattered everywhere
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhuWherever they go, love will never change
Nenjam kondaadum pasam maaraadhuThe affection celebrated by the heart will never change
Hmmm mm mm mm hmm mm mm mmmHmmm… (Humming)
Hmmm mm mm mm hmm mm hmm mm mmHmmm… (Humming)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant emotional song uses allegories from the Indian epic Mahabharata—specifically referencing Karna's unknown lineage and tragedy—to draw parallels to the complex web of family relationships, secrets, and grief experienced by the characters. It likens family members to birds born in the same nest who have been separated by fate, yet remain bound by an eternal, unbreakable thread of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengo

Compares siblings or family members separated by destiny to birds belonging to a single nest scattered far apart.

Muran (Antithesis/Contrast)

Inbam thunbam undu

Contrasts 'Inbam' (Joy) with 'Thunbam' (Sorrow) to highlight the duality of human life.

Analogy / Simile (Upamai)

Theeyil vendhum thangam endrum maatru kuraiyaadhingae

Compares an enduring heart experiencing hardship to pure gold refined in fire without losing its quality.

Monai (Alliteration)

Piravi pichai potta thandhai / Pichai vaangum kolamae

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound ('Piravi', 'Pichai', 'Potta') creating rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Piraisoodan for the 1989 Tamil film 'Anbu Kattalai' starring Ramarajan and Pallavi, the song uses epic mythological references to Mahabharata (such as Kunti and Karna) to elevate emotional family drama into an archetypal tale of destiny and unconditional love.

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