Oru Murai
From Kaviya Thalaivan (1992 Film) · 1992
- Lyricist
- Aabavanan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Aravind Siddhartha
- Details
- Kaviya Thalaivan (1992 Film)1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oru murai orae murai | Just once, only once |
| Unnai arindhaalae podhum | It is enough to understand who you are |
| Ini varum thalaimurai | The future generations |
| Undhan paer solli vaazhum | Will live by singing your praises |
| Indha naal nalla naal | Today is a blessed day |
| Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum | May you live long for ages to come |
| Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum | The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges |
| Male | |
| Oru murai orae murai… | Just once, only once... |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………. | |
| Male | |
| Kattazhagil illaiyadi sirappu | True greatness is not in physical beauty, my girl |
| Kunguma pottazhagil thaan adhu irukku | It resides in the auspicious beauty of the kungumam dot |
| Pon nagaiyil illaiyadi madhippu | True worth does not lie in golden jewelry, my girl |
| Un punnagaiyil thaan adhu irukku | It lies within your radiant smile |
| Male | |
| Matravarkku nee tharum madhippu | The respect you accord to others |
| Unnai petravarkku saerthidum sirappu | Brings honor to the parents who birthed you |
| Petra udan mudindhadhu kanakku | Their duty does not end at giving birth |
| Paeru vaitha kadan theeravillai ivarkku | They still carry the responsibility of upholding the family name |
| Than nilai thavariyae aadidum penmaiyae | Oh womanhood, swaying after straying from moral dignity |
| Than nilai thavariyae aadidum penmaiyae | Oh womanhood, swaying after straying from moral dignity |
| Un nilai thavarinaal thaazhndhidum thaaimaiyae | If you lose your virtue, motherhood itself suffers a downfall |
| Male | |
| Oru murai orae murai | Just once, only once |
| Unnai arindhaalae podhum | It is enough to understand who you are |
| Ini varum thalaimurai | The future generations |
| Undhan paer solli vaazhum | Will live by singing your praises |
| Indha naal nalla naal | Today is a blessed day |
| Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum | May you live long for ages to come |
| Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum | The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Maadi maela maadi katti vaazhum | Living in multi-storied mansions |
| Pana vargathukku pasi engu puriyum | How could the wealthy class ever comprehend hunger? |
| Koodu pola veedu katti vaazhum | Living in humble homes built like bird nests |
| Ezhai koottathukku thaan adhu puriyum | Only the poor folk can truly understand it |
| Male | |
| Pirandha naalilae aattam | Celebrations on a birthday |
| Verum panathukku thaan indha koottam | This crowd gathers only for the money |
| Unnai varappadhu uzhaippavar koottam | The ones surrounding you are the hard-working people |
| Avar uzhaippinil thaan indha aattam | This prosperity exists only through their labor |
| Prappilum urappilum ondru thaan theriyumaa | Do you know that in birth and death, we are all equal? |
| Prappilum urappilum naam ondru thaan theriyumaa | Do you know that in birth and death, we are all equal? |
| Valarppilum vaaippilum nee vandhadhu puriyumaa | Do you realize your position is due to your upbringing and opportunities? |
| Male | |
| Oru murai orae murai | Just once, only once |
| Unnai arindhaalae podhum | It is enough to understand who you are |
| Ini varum thalaimurai | The future generations |
| Undhan paer solli vaazhum | Will live by singing your praises |
| Indha naal nalla naal | Today is a blessed day |
| Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum | May you live long for ages to come |
| Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum | The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | |
ஒரு முறை ஒரே முறை
உன்னை அறிந்தாலே போதும்
இனி வரும் தலை முறை
உந்தன் பேர் சொல்லி வாழும்
இந்த நாள் நல்ல நாள்
கால காலங்கள் நீ வாழ வேண்டும்
கங்கை இவள் என்று ஊர் சொல்ல வேண்டும்
Just once, only once
It is enough to understand who you are
The future generations
Will live by singing your praises
Today is a blessed day
May you live long for ages to come
The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges
ஒரு முறை ஒரே முறை...
Just once, only once...
............................
கட்டழகில் இல்லையடி சிறப்பு
குங்குமப் பொட்டழகில்தான் அது இருக்கு
பொன் நகையில் இல்லையடி மதிப்பு
உன் புன்னகையில்தான் அது இருக்கு
True greatness is not in physical beauty, my girl
It resides in the auspicious beauty of the kungumam dot
True worth does not lie in golden jewelry, my girl
It lies within your radiant smile
மற்றவர்க்கு நீ தரும் மதிப்பு
உன்னைப் பெற்றவர்க்கு சேர்த்திடும் சிறப்பு
பெற்ற உடன் முடிந்தது கணக்கு
பேரு வைத்த கடன் தீரவில்லை இவர்க்கு
தன் நிலை தவறியே ஆடிடும் பெண்மையே
தன் நிலை தவறியே ஆடிடும் பெண்மையே
உன் நிலை தவறினால் தாழ்ந்திடும் தாய்மையே
The respect you accord to others
Brings honor to the parents who birthed you
Their duty does not end at giving birth
They still carry the responsibility of upholding the family name
Oh womanhood, swaying after straying from moral dignity
Oh womanhood, swaying after straying from moral dignity
If you lose your virtue, motherhood itself suffers a downfall
ஒரு முறை ஒரே முறை
உன்னை அறிந்தாலே போதும்
இனி வரும் தலை முறை
உந்தன் பேர் சொல்லி வாழும்
இந்த நாள் நல்ல நாள்
கால காலங்கள் நீ வாழ வேண்டும்
கங்கை இவள் என்று ஊர் சொல்ல வேண்டும்
Just once, only once
It is enough to understand who you are
The future generations
Will live by singing your praises
Today is a blessed day
May you live long for ages to come
The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges
................................
மாடி மேல மாடி கட்டி வாழும்
பண வர்கத்துக்குப் பசி எங்கு தெரியும்
கூடு போல வீடு கட்டி வாழும்
ஏழை கூட்டத்துக்குத் தான் அது புரியும்
Living in multi-storied mansions
How could the wealthy class ever comprehend hunger?
Living in humble homes built like bird nests
Only the poor folk can truly understand it
பிறந்த நாளிலே ஆட்டம்
வெறும் பணத்துக்குத்தான் இந்தக் கூட்டம்
உன்னை வளர்ப்பது உழைப்பவர் கூட்டம்
அவர் உழைப்பினில்தான் இந்த ஆட்டம்
பிறப்பிலும் இறப்பிலும் ஒன்றுதான் தெரியுமா
பிறப்பிலும் இறப்பிலும் நாம் ஒன்றுதான் தெரியுமா
வளர்ப்பிலும் வாய்ப்பிலும் நீ வந்தது புரியுமா
Celebrations on a birthday
This crowd gathers only for the money
The ones surrounding you are the hard-working people
This prosperity exists only through their labor
Do you know that in birth and death, we are all equal?
Do you know that in birth and death, we are all equal?
Do you realize your position is due to your upbringing and opportunities?
ஒரு முறை ஒரே முறை
உன்னை அறிந்தாலே போதும்
இனி வரும் தலை முறை
உந்தன் பேர் சொல்லி வாழும்
இந்த நாள் நல்ல நாள்
கால காலங்கள் நீ வாழ வேண்டும்
கங்கை இவள் என்று ஊர் சொல்ல வேண்டும்
Just once, only once
It is enough to understand who you are
The future generations
Will live by singing your praises
Today is a blessed day
May you live long for ages to come
The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges
................................
Oru murai orae murai
Just once, only once
Unnai arindhaalae podhum
It is enough to understand who you are
Ini varum thalaimurai
The future generations
Undhan paer solli vaazhum
Will live by singing your praises
Indha naal nalla naal
Today is a blessed day
Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum
May you live long for ages to come
Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum
The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges
Oru murai orae murai…
Just once, only once...
…………………….
Kattazhagil illaiyadi sirappu
True greatness is not in physical beauty, my girl
Kunguma pottazhagil thaan adhu irukku
It resides in the auspicious beauty of the kungumam dot
Pon nagaiyil illaiyadi madhippu
True worth does not lie in golden jewelry, my girl
Un punnagaiyil thaan adhu irukku
It lies within your radiant smile
Matravarkku nee tharum madhippu
The respect you accord to others
Unnai petravarkku saerthidum sirappu
Brings honor to the parents who birthed you
Petra udan mudindhadhu kanakku
Their duty does not end at giving birth
Paeru vaitha kadan theeravillai ivarkku
They still carry the responsibility of upholding the family name
Than nilai thavariyae aadidum penmaiyae
Oh womanhood, swaying after straying from moral dignity
Than nilai thavariyae aadidum penmaiyae
Oh womanhood, swaying after straying from moral dignity
Un nilai thavarinaal thaazhndhidum thaaimaiyae
If you lose your virtue, motherhood itself suffers a downfall
Oru murai orae murai
Just once, only once
Unnai arindhaalae podhum
It is enough to understand who you are
Ini varum thalaimurai
The future generations
Undhan paer solli vaazhum
Will live by singing your praises
Indha naal nalla naal
Today is a blessed day
Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum
May you live long for ages to come
Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum
The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges
………………………..
Maadi maela maadi katti vaazhum
Living in multi-storied mansions
Pana vargathukku pasi engu puriyum
How could the wealthy class ever comprehend hunger?
Koodu pola veedu katti vaazhum
Living in humble homes built like bird nests
Ezhai koottathukku thaan adhu puriyum
Only the poor folk can truly understand it
Pirandha naalilae aattam
Celebrations on a birthday
Verum panathukku thaan indha koottam
This crowd gathers only for the money
Unnai varappadhu uzhaippavar koottam
The ones surrounding you are the hard-working people
Avar uzhaippinil thaan indha aattam
This prosperity exists only through their labor
Prappilum urappilum ondru thaan theriyumaa
Do you know that in birth and death, we are all equal?
Prappilum urappilum naam ondru thaan theriyumaa
Do you know that in birth and death, we are all equal?
Valarppilum vaaippilum nee vandhadhu puriyumaa
Do you realize your position is due to your upbringing and opportunities?
Oru murai orae murai
Just once, only once
Unnai arindhaalae podhum
It is enough to understand who you are
Ini varum thalaimurai
The future generations
Undhan paer solli vaazhum
Will live by singing your praises
Indha naal nalla naal
Today is a blessed day
Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum
May you live long for ages to come
Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum
The town should praise you as pure as the Ganges
………………………..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Oru Murai Orae Murai' from the 1992 film 'Kaviya Thalaivan' is a reflective and moralistic composition centered on virtue, class awareness, and human dignity. Written by lyricist Aabavanan, the song offers profound advice to a young woman, encouraging her to value moral character, respect for others, and simplicity over superficial beauty, golden ornaments, or arrogance. It highlights how a woman's character brings honor to her family and reinforces the sanctity of motherhood.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum”
Compares the woman's moral purity and virtue directly to the holy River Ganges.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kattazhagil illaiyadi sirappu / Kunguma pottazhagil thaan adhu irukku”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' / 'Ku' sound across consecutive lines.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Pon nagaiyil illaiyadi madhippu / Un punnagaiyil thaan adhu irukku”
The second consonant sound 'n' ('Pon' / 'Un') creates a harmonious Tamil rhythmic match.
Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)
“Maadi maela maadi katti vaazhum Pana vargathukku... / Ezhai koottathukku thaan adhu puriyum”
Contrasts the affluent lifestyle of the wealthy living in mansions with the harsh reality of hunger experienced by the working poor.
Simile
“Koodu pola veedu katti vaazhum”
Uses 'pola' (like) to compare the small, modest houses of poor people to bird nests.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Kaviya Thalaivan' (1992) was produced and written by Aabavanan, a prominent Tamil filmmaker, screenwriter, and lyricist known for creating socially conscious content in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His songs often blended traditional moral values with realistic critiques of class disparity.
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