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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Manam

From Dhruva Natchathiram · 2020

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singers
Karthik, Shashaa Tirupati
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Dhruva Natchathiram2020

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hmmm nana nana naanaHmmm nana nana naana
Nana nana naanaNana nana naana
Male
Oru manam nirkka solluthaeOne part of my heart tells me to stop,
Oru manam etti thalluthaeAnother part of my heart pushes me away.
Yedhai naanum ketpadhuWhich one should I listen to?
Thadumaatram thaakudhuStumbling hesitation strikes me.
Male
Dhinarasri unnai paarkavaeJust to see you every day,
Thirudiya nenjai meetkavaeAnd to reclaim my stolen heart,
Un veettai thedavaaShould I come searching for your house?
Urangaamal theiyavaaShould I wear myself out without sleep?
Male
Ohooo hoo hooo dhinamOhooo hoo hooo every day,
Ohooo hoo hooo ganamOhooo hoo hooo every moment,
Nee vandha soppanamThe dream where you appeared,
Ninaivil narthanamDances in my memory.
Male
Ohooo hoo hooo varumOhooo hoo hooo coming,
Ohooo hoo hooo kanamOhooo hoo hooo moment,
En anbae aayiram dhinam varumMy love, a thousand days may come,
Idhu dhaan mudhal kanamBut this is truly the first moment.
Male
Oru manam nirkka solluthaeOne part of my heart tells me to stop,
Oru manam etti thalluthaeAnother part of my heart pushes me away.
Yedhai naanum ketpadhuWhich one should I listen to?
Thadumaatram thaakudhuStumbling hesitation strikes me.
Male
Innum enna idaiveliWhy is there still a distance between us?
Dhooram maruthaliRefuse this distance!
Pakkam vandhaal anumadhiIf you come close, permission is granted;
Podhum arai nodiJust half a second is enough.
Male
Ohoo ennai unnai pirithidumOhoo, in the wind that separates you and me,
Kaatril kadhakaliThere is a Kathakali performance.
Melae nindru sirithidumStanding above and smiling,
Manjal nilavozhiIs the golden moonlight.
Female
Haaa thee moottum vaanathaiHaaa, at the sky that kindles a fire,
Thitta pogirenI am going to scold it.
Mazhai vandhum kaaivathaalBecause I burn even when rain falls,
Mutham thedinenI searched for a kiss.
Female
Oru puram naanam killuthaeOn one side, shyness pinches me,
Marupuram aasai thalluthaeOn the other side, desire pushes me.
Enai naanum ketpadhuI ask myself,
Thadumaatram thaakuthuStumbling hesitation strikes me.
Female
Dhinarasri unnai paarkavaeJust to see you every day,
Thirudiya nenjai meetkavaeAnd to reclaim my stolen heart,
En veettai thedi vaaCome searching for my house,
Urangaamal theiyavaaShould I wear myself out without sleep?
Chorus
…………………….
Male
Vaanam peiyakadavadhuLet the sky pour down rain,
Eeram iniyadhuThe moisture is sweet.
Female :Muththam kondu thulaippadhuFemale: Piercing through with a kiss
Innum eliyadhuIs even easier.
Male
Ullae thoongum anal idhuThis is an ember sleeping within,
Urakkam kalaiyudhuIts sleep is breaking.
Female :Eththanai naatkal poruppadhuFemale: How many days can I be patient?
Yengi thavikkudhuMy heart yearns and suffers.
Male
Hoo naan indru naan illaiHoo, today I am not myself,
Naanal aagiren…I am becoming a swaying reed...
Female :Laa la lalaFemale: Laa la lala
Male :Nadhi polae nee sendraalMale: If you flow like a river,
Naanum valaigirenI bend along with you.
Male
Oru manam nirkka solluthaeOne part of my heart tells me to stop,
Oru manam etti thalluthaeAnother part of my heart pushes me away.
Yedhai naanum ketpadhuWhich one should I listen to?
Thadumaatram thaakudhuStumbling hesitation strikes me.
Male
Dhinarasri unnai paarkavaeJust to see you every day,
Thirudiya nenjai meetkavaeAnd to reclaim my stolen heart,
Female :En veettai thedi vaaFemale: Come searching for my house,
Urangaamal theiyavaaShould I wear myself out without sleep?
Male
Ohooo hoo hooo dhinamOhooo hoo hooo every day,
Ohooo hoo hooo ganamOhooo hoo hooo every moment,
Nee vandha soppanamThe dream where you appeared,
Ninaivil narthanamDances in my memory.
Male
Ohooo hoo hooo varumOhooo hoo hooo coming,
Ohooo hoo hooo kanamOhooo hoo hooo moment,
En anbae aayiram dhinam varumMy love, a thousand days may come,
Idhu dhaan mudhal kanamBut this is truly the first moment.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oru Manam' encapsulates the beautiful emotional tug-of-war and inner dilemma experienced when falling deeply in love. The protagonist expresses the conflict between reason and desire—where one half of the heart hesitates and pulls back out of bashfulness, while the other half propels them forward to embrace love. Through evocative natural imagery like moonlight, rain, fires, and flowing rivers, the song paints a vivid picture of romantic yearning, anticipation, and passionate surrender. As the song progresses, both lovers express their helplessness against the overwhelming tide of affection. The distance between them vanishes as they give in to their feelings, realizing that despite a thousand ordinary days passing, the moment they truly connect feels like the first real moment of their lives.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Contrast)

Oru manam nirkka solluthae / Oru manam etti thalluthae

Contrasts two opposing feelings within the heart—one wanting to stop and stay still, while the other wants to push away/move forward.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

Nee vandha soppanam / Ninaivil narthanam

Repetition of the initial 'N' sound ('Nee', 'Ninaivil', 'Narthanam') creating melodic flow.

Metaphor

Naanal aagiren…

The singer metaphorically compares themselves to a flexible reed ('Naanal') swaying helpless in the wind of love.

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Nadhi polae nee sendraal / Naanum valaigiren

Uses 'polae' (like) to explicitly compare the lover to a flowing river, with the speaker bending along her curves like the riverbanks.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Dhinarasri unnai paarkavae / Thirudiya nenjai meetkavae

Matching of the second consonant sound 'r' ('Dhi-ra-rasri' and 'Thi-ru-diya') across consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oru Manam' marks another successful musical collaboration between director Gautham Vasudev Menon, composer Harris Jayaraj, lyricist Thamarai, and singer Karthik—a celebrated combo behind legendary Tamil romantic tracks such as 'Vaseegara', 'Anjalay', and 'Ava Enna'. Released as a single for the highly anticipated spy thriller 'Dhruva Natchathiram' starring Vikram, the song was widely praised for its soothing acoustic arrangement and poetic depth.

Keep listening

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