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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Naalil – Star Version

From Star – 2024 Film · 2024

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Star – 2024 Film2024

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru naalil vaazhkkai ingaeIn a single day, life here
Engum odi pogaathu…Will not run away anywhere...
Maru naalum vanthu vittaalOnce the next day arrives,
Thunbam theiyum thodaraathuSorrow will diminish and not linger.
Eththanai kodi kanneerHow many crores of tears
Mann meedhu vizhunthirukkumMust have fallen upon this earth?
Aththanai kanda pinnumEven after witnessing all that,
Boomi ingu poo pookkumThe earth here still blooms with flowers.
Male
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Karu vaasal vittu vantha naal thottuFrom the day we left the womb's entrance,
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Oru vaasal thediyae vilaiyaattu..Life is a game of searching for an exit...
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Kann thiranthu paarthaal pala koothuIf you open your eyes, you see many dramas.
Hoo hoo ho…ooHoo hoo ho…oo
Kanmudi kondaal…….If you close your eyes...
Male
Hoo hoo hooooooHoo hoo hoooooo
Hoo hooo ooo hoo hoo hooHoo hooo ooo hoo hoo hoo
Male
Por kalathil piranthu vittomWe were born into a battlefield,
Vanthavai ponavai varutham illaiThere are no regrets for what came and went.
Kaatinilae vaazhkindromWe are living in a dense forest,
Mutkalin vali ondrum maranam illaiThe pain of thorns is not death.
Male
Iruttinilae nee nadakkaiyilaeWhen you walk in the dark,
Un nizhalum unnai vittu vilagividumEven your own shadow will abandon you.
Nee mattum thaan intha ulagathilaeYou will come to understand that in this world,
Unakku thunai endru vilangividumYou are your only true companion.
Male
Theeyodu pogum varaiyil ..Until we go into the fire...
Theeraathu intha thanimai..This loneliness will never end...
Karai varum naeram paarthuWatching for the shore to arrive,
Kappalil kaathiruppomWe shall wait on the ship.
Erimalai vanthaal koodaEven if a volcano erupts,
Yeri nindru por thoduppomWe shall climb it and wage war.
Male
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Andha theiva ragasiyam purigirathaeThat divine secret is now understood,
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Ingu ethuvum nilai illai karaigirathaeNothing here is permanent; everything dissolves.
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Manam vetta veliyilae alaigirathaeThe mind wanders in open space,
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Antha kadavulai kandaal …….If we see that God...
Male
Hoo hoo hooooooHoo hoo hoooooo
Yeahhh ehh..ehhh ….ehhYeahhh ehh..ehhh ….ehh
Laara rara raaraa….rari rara….Laara rara raaraa….rari rara….
Male
Athu unakku ithu enakkuThat is for you, this is for me,
Idhayangal podum thani kanakkuHearts calculate their own private math.
Aval enakku ival unakkuShe is for me, this woman is for you,
Udalgalum podum puthir kanakkuBodies calculate a puzzling math.
Male
Unakkum illai ithu enakkum illaiThis isn't yours, nor is it mine,
Padaithavanae ingu eduthu kolvaanThe Creator himself will take it back here.
Nallavan yaar ada kettavan yaarWho is good, hey, who is bad?
Kadaisiyil avanae mudivu seivaanIn the end, He alone will decide.
Male
Pazhi podum ulagam ingae..The world here places blame...
Baliyaana uyirgal engae….Where are the sacrificed lives?
Ulagathin oram nindruStanding at the edge of the world,
Aththanaiyum paarthiruppom..We would have watched it all...
Nadappavai nadagam endruAccepting that whatever happens is a theatrical act,
Naamum sernthu nadithiruppomWe too would have acted along.
Male
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Pala muganggal vendumIf many masks are needed,
Sari maattikolvom….Fine, we shall wear them...
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Pala thiruppam theriyumIf many turns appear,
Athil thirumbi kolvom…We shall turn along with them...
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Kathai mudiyum pokkil athaiAs the story naturally draws to a close,
Mudithu kolvom….We shall bring it to an end...
Hoo hoo hoooHoo hoo hooo
Maru piravi venduma ….Do we really need another rebirth...?
Male
AahhhhhhAahhhhhh
Laaraa laaraa laaallaa laaralaaLaaraa laaraa laaallaa laaralaa
Laaara…. lralaa ..yeahhh hey yeahhhLaaara…. lralaa ..yeahhh hey yeahhh
Oooo…oo….ooo…..oo…….hoo oooOooo…oo….ooo…..oo…….hoo ooo
Oooo…oo….ooo…..oo…….wow wowu wowOooo…oo….ooo…..oo…….wow wowu wow
Yeah ehh ehhh………………….Yeah ehh ehhh……………….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oru Naalil' is a deeply philosophical and existential song that reflects on the impermanence of life, human suffering, and ultimate solitude. Written by the late Na. Muthu Kumar and composed and sung by Yuvan Shankar Raja, the song reminds the listener that life is an unpredictable battlefield where sorrow is temporary, and material or emotional attachments are illusions. It highlights the stark reality of human existence—where even one's shadow leaves in the dark, proving that self-reliance and inner strength are paramount. Despite its melancholic tone, the song serves as a guide for resilience. It urges one to view life as a cosmic drama, encouraging people to adapt, wear necessary masks, face volcanic trials, and accept life's natural end with stoicism. Ultimately, it questions the desire for rebirth, advocating for peace with the present journey.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Por kalathil piranthu vittom

Compares human life and its daily struggles directly to being born onto a battlefield.

Personification

Un nizhalum unnai vittu vilagividum

Personifies a person's shadow as a companion that chooses to abandon them in the darkness.

Metaphor

Nadappavai nadagam endru

Compares all real-world events and human interactions to a theatrical play or drama.

Iyaipu (Rhyming)

Athu unakku ithu enakku / Aval enakku ival unakku

Uses end-rhyming structures ('unakku' and 'enakku') to create a rhythmic internal harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Originally written and composed for Selvaraghavan's cult classic 'Pudhupettai' (2006), 'Oru Naalil' is widely considered one of the greatest philosophical anthems in Tamil cinema history. The track was reused and re-imagined in the 2024 film 'Star' (directed by Elan, starring Kavin), serving as a thematic backbone for the protagonist's journey through acting, rejection, and life struggles, honoring Yuvan Shankar Raja's timeless musical legacy.

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