Oru Muttharathil
From Sorgam · 1970
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Sorgam1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Haa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa… | Haa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa… |
| Haa…aaa….aa….aaa…aaa… | Haa…aaa….aa….aaa…aaa… |
| Female | |
| Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu | In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls, |
| Serthu vaithirundhen | I had gathered and kept together. |
| Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal | Golden lines before and behind it, |
| Pottu vaithirundhen | I had drawn and placed around it. |
| Female | |
| Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu | In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls, |
| Serthu vaithirundhen | I had gathered and kept together. |
| Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal | Golden lines before and behind it, |
| Pottu vaithirundhen | I had drawn and placed around it. |
| En kangal adhan kaaval | My eyes were its guard, |
| En nenjam adhan manjam | My heart was its bed. |
| Female | |
| Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu | In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls, |
| Serthu vaithirundhen | I had gathered and kept together. |
| Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal | Golden lines before and behind it, |
| Pottu vaithirundhen | I had drawn and placed around it. |
| Female | |
| Andha maalai indha | That garland belongs to this |
| Pennin sondhamaanadhae | Woman now as her own; |
| Andhi maalai neram paarthu aadugindradhae | It sways and dances watching the evening dusk. |
| Andha maalai indha pennin sondhamaanadhae | That garland became this woman's very own possession; |
| Andhi maalai neram paarthu aadugindradhae | It sways and dances watching the evening dusk. |
| Ponnarangam thannil vandhu | Stepping onto the golden stage, |
| Ennai mattum paada sonnadhenna | Why did it ask only me to sing? |
| Female | |
| Kannarangam minna minna | As the arena of eyes glittered, |
| Kaadhal kondadho | Did it fall in love? |
| Andharangam kandu kolla azhaithu vandhadho | Or did it invite me to discover intimacy? |
| Andha kinnam sondham illai | That cup is not my own, |
| Endru indru kandu kondadhenna | Why did I realize this truth today? |
| Female | |
| Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu | In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls, |
| Serthu vaithirundhen | I had gathered and kept together. |
| Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal | Golden lines before and behind it, |
| Pottu vaithirundhen | I had drawn and placed around it. |
| Female | |
| Neela vaanam mella mella | The blue sky, slowly and gradually, |
| Sivandhu ponadhae | Turned into a reddish evening dusk. |
| Kaaval konda maalai indru kalavu ponadhae | The garland that was guarded has been stolen today. |
| Neela vaanam mella mella sivandhu ponadhae | The blue sky slowly turned red, |
| Kaaval konda maalai indru kalavu ponadhae | The garland that was guarded has been stolen today. |
| Paadal ondru raagam ondru | The song is the same, the melody is the same, |
| Thaalam konjam maari vittadhenna | Why has the rhythm changed a little? |
| Female | |
| Kaalam yennum dhaevan ennai | The God named Time |
| Kaeli seigiraan | Is mocking me. |
| Kolam vaeru kolgai vaeru | The appearance is one thing, the principle another— |
| Kaana cholgiraan | He tells me to witness it so. |
| Indru mattum naalai illai | "There is only today, no tomorrow"— |
| Endra sollil unmai ini illai | There is no truth left in those words anymore. |
| Female | |
| Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu | In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls, |
| Serthu vaithirundhen | I had gathered and kept together. |
| Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal | Golden lines before and behind it, |
| Pottu vaithirundhen | I had drawn and placed around it. |
| En kangal adhan kaaval | My eyes were its guard, |
| En nenjam adhan manjam | My heart was its bed. |
ஹா......ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....
ஹா......ஆஅ......ஆ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
Haa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
Haa…aaa….aa….aaa…aaa…
ஒரு முத்தாரத்தில் முப்பது முத்து
சேர்த்து வைத்திருந்தேன்
அதன் முன்னும் பின்னும் தங்கக் கோடுகள்
போட்டு வைத்திருந்தேன்
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
I had gathered and kept together.
Golden lines before and behind it,
I had drawn and placed around it.
ஒரு முத்தாரத்தில் முப்பது முத்து
சேர்த்து வைத்திருந்தேன்
அதன் முன்னும் பின்னும் தங்கக் கோடுகள்
போட்டு வைத்திருந்தேன்
என் கண்கள் அதன் காவல்
என் நெஞ்சம் அதன் மஞ்சம்
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
I had gathered and kept together.
Golden lines before and behind it,
I had drawn and placed around it.
My eyes were its guard,
My heart was its bed.
ஒரு முத்தாரத்தில் முப்பது முத்து
சேர்த்து வைத்திருந்தேன்
அதன் முன்னும் பின்னும் தங்கக் கோடுகள்
போட்டு வைத்திருந்தேன்
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
I had gathered and kept together.
Golden lines before and behind it,
I had drawn and placed around it.
அந்த மாலை இந்தப்
பெண்ணின் சொந்தமானதே
அந்தி மாலை நேரம் பார்த்து ஆடுகின்றதே
அந்தி மாலை நேரம் பார்த்து ஆடுகின்றதே
அந்தி மாலை நேரம் பார்த்து ஆடுகின்றதே
பொன்னரங்கம் தன்னில் வந்து
என்னை மட்டும் பாடச் சொன்னதென்ன
That garland belongs to this
Woman now as her own;
It sways and dances watching the evening dusk.
That garland became this woman's very own possession;
It sways and dances watching the evening dusk.
Stepping onto the golden stage,
Why did it ask only me to sing?
கன்னரங்கம் மின்ன மின்ன
காதல் கொண்டதோ
அந்தரங்கம் கண்டு கொள்ள அழைப்பு வந்ததோ
அந்தக் கிண்ணம் சொந்தம் இல்லை
என்று இன்று கண்டு கொண்டதென்ன
As the arena of eyes glittered,
Did it fall in love?
Or did it invite me to discover intimacy?
That cup is not my own,
Why did I realize this truth today?
ஒரு முத்தாரத்தில் முப்பது முத்து
சேர்த்து வைத்திருந்தேன்
அதன் முன்னும் பின்னும் தங்கக் கோடுகள்
போட்டு வைத்திருந்தேன்
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
I had gathered and kept together.
Golden lines before and behind it,
I had drawn and placed around it.
நீல வானம் மெல்ல மெல்ல
சிவந்து போனதே
காவல் கொண்ட மாலை இன்று களவு போனதே
நீல வானம் மெல்ல மெல்ல சிவந்து போனதே
காவல் கொண்ட மாலை இன்று களவு போனதே
பாடல் ஒன்று ராகம் ஒன்று
தாளம் கொஞ்சம் மாறி விட்டதென்ன
The blue sky, slowly and gradually,
Turned into a reddish evening dusk.
The garland that was guarded has been stolen today.
The blue sky slowly turned red,
The garland that was guarded has been stolen today.
The song is the same, the melody is the same,
Why has the rhythm changed a little?
காலம் என்னும் தேவன் என்னை
கேலி செய்கிறான்
கோலம் வேறு கொள்கை வேறு
காண சொல்கிறான்
இன்று மட்டும் நாளை இல்லை
என்ற சொல்லில் உண்மை இனி இல்லை
The God named Time
Is mocking me.
The appearance is one thing, the principle another—
He tells me to witness it so.
"There is only today, no tomorrow"—
There is no truth left in those words anymore.
ஒரு முத்தாரத்தில் முப்பது முத்து
சேர்த்து வைத்திருந்தேன்
அதன் முன்னும் பின்னும் தங்கக் கோடுகள்
போட்டு வைத்திருந்தேன்
என் கண்கள் அதன் காவல்
என் நெஞ்சம் அதன் மஞ்சம்
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
I had gathered and kept together.
Golden lines before and behind it,
I had drawn and placed around it.
My eyes were its guard,
My heart was its bed.
Haa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
Haa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
Haa…aaa….aa….aaa…aaa…
Haa…aaa….aa….aaa…aaa…
Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
Serthu vaithirundhen
I had gathered and kept together.
Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal
Golden lines before and behind it,
Pottu vaithirundhen
I had drawn and placed around it.
Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
Serthu vaithirundhen
I had gathered and kept together.
Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal
Golden lines before and behind it,
Pottu vaithirundhen
I had drawn and placed around it.
En kangal adhan kaaval
My eyes were its guard,
En nenjam adhan manjam
My heart was its bed.
Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
Serthu vaithirundhen
I had gathered and kept together.
Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal
Golden lines before and behind it,
Pottu vaithirundhen
I had drawn and placed around it.
Andha maalai indha
That garland belongs to this
Pennin sondhamaanadhae
Woman now as her own;
Andhi maalai neram paarthu aadugindradhae
It sways and dances watching the evening dusk.
Andha maalai indha pennin sondhamaanadhae
That garland became this woman's very own possession;
Andhi maalai neram paarthu aadugindradhae
It sways and dances watching the evening dusk.
Ponnarangam thannil vandhu
Stepping onto the golden stage,
Ennai mattum paada sonnadhenna
Why did it ask only me to sing?
Kannarangam minna minna
As the arena of eyes glittered,
Kaadhal kondadho
Did it fall in love?
Andharangam kandu kolla azhaithu vandhadho
Or did it invite me to discover intimacy?
Andha kinnam sondham illai
That cup is not my own,
Endru indru kandu kondadhenna
Why did I realize this truth today?
Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
Serthu vaithirundhen
I had gathered and kept together.
Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal
Golden lines before and behind it,
Pottu vaithirundhen
I had drawn and placed around it.
Neela vaanam mella mella
The blue sky, slowly and gradually,
Sivandhu ponadhae
Turned into a reddish evening dusk.
Kaaval konda maalai indru kalavu ponadhae
The garland that was guarded has been stolen today.
Neela vaanam mella mella sivandhu ponadhae
The blue sky slowly turned red,
Kaaval konda maalai indru kalavu ponadhae
The garland that was guarded has been stolen today.
Paadal ondru raagam ondru
The song is the same, the melody is the same,
Thaalam konjam maari vittadhenna
Why has the rhythm changed a little?
Kaalam yennum dhaevan ennai
The God named Time
Kaeli seigiraan
Is mocking me.
Kolam vaeru kolgai vaeru
The appearance is one thing, the principle another—
Kaana cholgiraan
He tells me to witness it so.
Indru mattum naalai illai
"There is only today, no tomorrow"—
Endra sollil unmai ini illai
There is no truth left in those words anymore.
Oru muthaarathil muppadhu muthu
In a single pearl necklace, thirty pearls,
Serthu vaithirundhen
I had gathered and kept together.
Adhan munnum pinnum thanga kodugal
Golden lines before and behind it,
Pottu vaithirundhen
I had drawn and placed around it.
En kangal adhan kaaval
My eyes were its guard,
En nenjam adhan manjam
My heart was its bed.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Oru Muthaarathil Muppadhu Muthu' is a deeply metaphorical and emotional piece expressing loss, illusion, and the unpredictable twists of fate. The lead character uses a necklace made of thirty pearls, framed by gold lines, as a metaphor for something precious she carefully nurtured, guarded with her eyes, and cherished within her heart—possibly her youth, innocence, or a cherished love affair.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“En kangal adhan kaaval / En nenjam adhan manjam”
Compares the eyes directly to a protective guard ('kaaval') and the heart to a resting bed ('manjam') for the precious pearls/feelings.
Personification
“Kaalam yennum dhaevan ennai kaeli seigiraan”
Attributes human action to 'Time', portraying it as a deity who actively mocks and plays tricks on the protagonist.
Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)
“sondhamaanadhae / aadugindradhae”
The lines end with rhythmic matching sounds ('-adhae') creating a melodic flow characteristic of traditional Tamil lyricism.
Ethugai (Second letter agreement)
“Paadal ondru raagam ondru / Kaalam yennum dhaevan ennai”
In poetic structure, the second letters or sound patterns align to create rhythmic symmetry across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song was composed by the legendary music director M. S. Viswanathan for the 1970 movie 'Sorgam', starring Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya. Sung exquisitely by S. Janaki with lyrics by Kannadasan, this track is renowned for its philosophical undertones hidden within romantic imagery.
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