Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Anbu Kattalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Koottin Kiligal Thaan

From Anbu Kattalai · 1989

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Anbu Kattalai
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
17 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…
Aaa…..aaa…haaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…
Haa..aaa..aaa…aaa…haaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…
Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengo
Uravaadum nenjangal yengengo
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhu
Nenjam kondaadum pasam maaraadhu
Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengo
Uravaadum nenjangal yengengo
Bhaaradhathin pillai karnan
Thaayai kanda podhilum
Perai cholla thandhai thannai
Ariyavillai andru thaan
Kundhi dhevi thaan arindhaal
Karnan thandhai thannaiyae
Indha pillai thandhai thannai
Innum ariyavillaiyae
Andrum enna indrum enna
Bharadham endrum undu
Yetraal enna maruthaal enna
Inbam thunbam undu
Neeyae thaan vaadaadhae vaadaadhae
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhu
Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengo
Uravaadum nenjangal yengengo
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhu
Nenjam kondaadum pasam maaraadhu
Piravi pichai potta thandhai
Pichai vaangum kolamae
Potta picha meendum thandhai
Kondadhenna maaamae
Thalaivan undu thaali undu
Vidhavai indha paingili
Pottizhandhu poovizhandha
Nithiya chumangali
Theeyil vendhum thangam endrum
Maatru kuraiyaadhingae
Thunbathaalae nenjam vendhum
Anbum maaraadhingae
Neeyae thaan vaadaadhae vaadaadhae
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhu
Oru koottin kiligal thaan yengengo
Uravaadum nenjangal yengengo
Engae sendraalum anbae maaraadhu
Nenjam kondaadum pasam maaraadhu
Hmmm mm mm mm hmm mm mm mmm
Hmmm mm mm mm hmm mm hmm mm mm
Aa... Aa... Aa... Aa... Aa...
Aa... Aa... Haa... Aa... Aa... Aa...
Haa... Aa... Aa... Aa... Haa... Aa... Aa... Aa...
Parrots of the same nest are scattered everywhere,
Hearts that shared a close bond are scattered everywhere.
Wherever they go, love will never change,
The affection cherished by the heart will never fade.
Parrots of the same nest are scattered everywhere,
Hearts that shared a close bond are scattered everywhere.
Karna, the child of the Mahabharata,
Even when he found his mother,
To tell the name of his father,
He did not know who he was back then.
Only Queen Kunti knew
Who Karna's father was.
This child still does not know
Who his own father is even now.
Whether in the past or the present,
Such Mahabharata stories always exist.
Whether accepted or rejected,
Both joy and sorrow will always be there.
Do not wither, please do not despair!
Wherever you go, love will never change.
Parrots of the same nest are scattered everywhere,
Hearts that shared a close bond are scattered everywhere.
Wherever they go, love will never change,
The affection cherished by the heart will never fade.
The father who gifted the blessing of birth
Is now standing in the plight of a beggar.
Why did the father take back
The life he once gave, dear uncle?
She has a husband, she wears her wedding thread,
Yet this sweet parrot lives as a widow.
Having lost the auspicious mark and flowers,
She remains a Sumangali (married woman).
Even when melted in fire, gold
Never loses its purity here.
Even when burned by suffering,
Love will never change here.
Do not wither, please do not despair!
Wherever you go, love will never change.
Parrots of the same nest are scattered everywhere,
Hearts that shared a close bond are scattered everywhere.
Wherever they go, love will never change,
The affection cherished by the heart will never fade.
Mmm mm mm mm mm mm mm mmm
Mmm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Kolakolaya Munthirikka Sad1976
Palootti Valartha KiliSeparationGrief
Kaalam Mazhai1986
Vidinja KalyanamGriefMelancholic
Irul Neengumo Babu1960
Bala NagammaLongingSeparation
Oh Alagu Nilavu1990
My Dear MarthandanLongingMelancholic
Aadidum Odamaai1979
Suvarilladha ChithirangalGriefMelancholic
Naan Patta Kadan Sad1980
Viswaroopam – 1980MelancholicContemplative

From the same album

More songs from Anbu Kattalai

View album
Vethalai Vethalai1989
Anbu KattalaiPlayful
Ponmaaney Ponmaaney1989
Anbu KattalaiRomantic
Sonna Petcha Kelu1989
Anbu KattalaiTender
Raathiri Neram1989
Anbu KattalaiPassionate

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.