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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Murai

From Kaviya Thalaivan (1992 Film) · 1992

Lyricist
Aabavanan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Aravind Siddhartha
Movie name
Kaviya Thalaivan (1992 Film)
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
1 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru murai orae murai
Unnai arindhaalae podhum
Ini varum thalaimurai
Undhan paer solli vaazhum
Indha naal nalla naal
Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum
Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum
Oru murai orae murai…
…………………….
Kattazhagil illaiyadi sirappu
Kunguma pottazhagil thaan adhu irukku
Pon nagaiyil illaiyadi madhippu
Un punnagaiyil thaan adhu irukku
Matravarkku nee tharum madhippu
Unnai petravarkku saerthidum sirappu
Petra udan mudindhadhu kanakku
Paeru vaitha kadan theeravillai ivarkku
Than nilai thavariyae aadidum penmaiyae
Than nilai thavariyae aadidum penmaiyae
Un nilai thavarinaal thaazhndhidum thaaimaiyae
Oru murai orae murai
Unnai arindhaalae podhum
Ini varum thalaimurai
Undhan paer solli vaazhum
Indha naal nalla naal
Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum
Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum
………………………..
Maadi maela maadi katti vaazhum
Pana vargathukku pasi engu puriyum
Koodu pola veedu katti vaazhum
Ezhai koottathukku thaan adhu puriyum
Pirandha naalilae aattam
Verum panathukku thaan indha koottam
Unnai varappadhu uzhaippavar koottam
Avar uzhaippinil thaan indha aattam
Prappilum urappilum ondru thaan theriyumaa
Prappilum urappilum naam ondru thaan theriyumaa
Valarppilum vaaippilum nee vandhadhu puriyumaa
Oru murai orae murai
Unnai arindhaalae podhum
Ini varum thalaimurai
Undhan paer solli vaazhum
Indha naal nalla naal
Kaala kaalangal nee vaazha vendum
Gangai ival endru oor solla vendum
………………………..
Just once, only once,
if you truly understand yourself, that is enough.
The generations to come
will live by celebrating your name.
This day is a blessed day.
May you live on for ages and ages!
The world should praise you as pure as the Ganga!
Just once, only once...
...
True beauty does not lie in an attractive figure,
it lies in the grace of the kumkum dot on your forehead.
True worth does not lie in gold jewelry,
it lies right there in your gentle smile.
The respect and dignity you offer to others
brings honor to the parents who gave you birth.
Giving birth was a momentary chapter,
yet their duty to uphold your good name is never finished.
Oh woman, dancing away without self-control,
Oh woman, dancing away without self-control,
if you lose your dignity, motherhood itself will be lowered!
Just once, only once,
if you truly understand yourself, that is enough.
The generations to come
will live by celebrating your name.
This day is a blessed day.
May you live on for ages and ages!
The world should praise you as pure as the Ganga!
...
Living in mansions built high on mansions,
how could the wealthy class ever know the pain of hunger?
Living in humble huts built like tiny nests,
only the poor can truly understand that struggle.
Dancing and partying on a birthday,
this crowd gathers only for your money!
It is the working class who sustain your life,
and this celebration exists only because of their hard labor!
In birth and in death, all are equal, do you know?
In birth and in death, we are all the same, do you know?
Do you realize you came this far only because of your upbringing and opportunities?
Just once, only once,
if you truly understand yourself, that is enough.
The generations to come
will live by celebrating your name.
This day is a blessed day.
May you live on for ages and ages!
The world should praise you as pure as the Ganga!
...
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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