Oru Poraliyin Payanam
From Ore Raththam · 1987
- Lyricist
- M. Karunanidhi
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Devendran
- Details
- Ore Raththam1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oru poraaliyin payanam idhu | This is the journey of a revolutionary warrior, |
| Avan poraadi petra parisu idhu | This is the reward he earned through his relentless struggle. |
| Male | |
| Oivillaamal uzhaiththavanae | Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest, |
| Nee oivu kolla poriyaa | Are you really going to rest now? |
| Thaayin madiyil thavazhnthaa | Having once crawled upon your mother's lap, |
| Nee tharaikkul thoonga poriyaa | Are you now going to sleep beneath the earth? |
| Male | |
| Oivillaamal uzhaiththavanae | Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest, |
| Nee oivu kolla poriyaa | Are you really going to rest now? |
| Male | |
| Ilaingargalai ezhuppa vantha | Oh young lion cub who came to awaken the youth, |
| Kutti singamae | Shining bright like the rising sun, |
| Ilam sooriyanaai oli veesiya | Oh pure block of gold! |
| Katti thangamae | Murderous fanatics driven by caste bigotry |
| Kolai veriyar jaadhi pedha | Snatched your life away! |
| Thatti thookkinaarae | For you who lived steadfastly for your principles, |
| Kolkaikaga vaazhntha unthan | They took away your precious life! |
| Uyirai pokkinaarae | |
| Male | |
| Oivillaamal uzhaiththavanae | Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest, |
| Nee oivu kolla poriyaa | Are you really going to rest now? |
| Male | |
| Yaesu puththar nabigal gandhi | In the noble path shown by Jesus, Buddha, the Prophet, and Gandhi, |
| Kaattum vazhiyilae | Through the words of the eloquent storm Periyar, Anna, |
| Pesum puyal peryaar annaa | And Ambedkar, |
| Ambedkar mozhiyilae | You walked roaring with strength like a majestic mountain, |
| Kundram pola muzhangi nadantha | You are the shining light of our community! |
| Kulavilakku neeyadaa | Under the shadow of your flag, |
| Un kodi nizhalil | Look, we will unite forever! |
| Endrum naangal kooduvom paaradaa….aa…. | |
| Male | |
| Oivillaamal uzhaiththavanae | Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest, |
| Nee oivu kolla poriyaa | Are you really going to rest now? |
ஒரு போராளியின் பயணம் இது
அவன் போராடி பெற்ற பரிசு இது
This is the journey of a revolutionary warrior,
This is the reward he earned through his relentless struggle.
ஓய்வில்லாமல் உழைத்தவனே
நீ ஓய்வுக் கொள்ள போறியா
தாயின் மடியில் தவழ்ந்தவனே
நீ தரைக்குள் தூங்க போறியா
Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest,
Are you really going to rest now?
Having once crawled upon your mother's lap,
Are you now going to sleep beneath the earth?
ஓய்வில்லாமல் உழைத்தவனே
நீ ஓய்வுக் கொள்ள போறியா..
Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest,
Are you really going to rest now?
இளைஞர்களை எழுப்ப வந்த
குட்டி சிங்கமே
இளம் சூரியனாய் ஒளி வீசிய
கட்டித் தங்கமே
கொலை வெறியர் ஜாதி பேத
தட்டி தூக்கினாரே
கொள்கைக்காக வாழ்ந்த உந்தன்
உயிரை போக்கினாரே
Oh young lion cub who came to awaken the youth,
Shining bright like the rising sun,
Oh pure block of gold!
Murderous fanatics driven by caste bigotry
Snatched your life away!
For you who lived steadfastly for your principles,
They took away your precious life!
ஓய்வில்லாமல் உழைத்தவனே
நீ ஓய்வுக் கொள்ள போறியா
Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest,
Are you really going to rest now?
இயேசு புத்தர் நபிகள் காந்தி
காட்டும் வழியிலே
பேசும் புயல் பெரியார் அண்ணா
அம்பேத்கார் மொழியிலே
குன்றம் போல முழங்கி நடந்த
குலவிளக்கு நீயடா
உன் கொடி நிழலில்
என்றும் நாங்கள் கூடுவோம் பாரடா.....ஆ....
In the noble path shown by Jesus, Buddha, the Prophet, and Gandhi,
Through the words of the eloquent storm Periyar, Anna,
And Ambedkar,
You walked roaring with strength like a majestic mountain,
You are the shining light of our community!
Under the shadow of your flag,
Look, we will unite forever!
ஓய்வில்லாமல் உழைத்தவனே
நீ ஓய்வுக் கொள்ள போறியா
Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest,
Are you really going to rest now?
Oru poraaliyin payanam idhu
This is the journey of a revolutionary warrior,
Avan poraadi petra parisu idhu
This is the reward he earned through his relentless struggle.
Oivillaamal uzhaiththavanae
Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest,
Nee oivu kolla poriyaa
Are you really going to rest now?
Thaayin madiyil thavazhnthaa
Having once crawled upon your mother's lap,
Nee tharaikkul thoonga poriyaa
Are you now going to sleep beneath the earth?
Oivillaamal uzhaiththavanae
Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest,
Nee oivu kolla poriyaa
Are you really going to rest now?
Ilaingargalai ezhuppa vantha
Oh young lion cub who came to awaken the youth,
Kutti singamae
Shining bright like the rising sun,
Ilam sooriyanaai oli veesiya
Oh pure block of gold!
Katti thangamae
Murderous fanatics driven by caste bigotry
Kolai veriyar jaadhi pedha
Snatched your life away!
Thatti thookkinaarae
For you who lived steadfastly for your principles,
Kolkaikaga vaazhntha unthan
They took away your precious life!
Uyirai pokkinaarae
Oivillaamal uzhaiththavanae
Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest,
Nee oivu kolla poriyaa
Are you really going to rest now?
Yaesu puththar nabigal gandhi
In the noble path shown by Jesus, Buddha, the Prophet, and Gandhi,
Kaattum vazhiyilae
Through the words of the eloquent storm Periyar, Anna,
Pesum puyal peryaar annaa
And Ambedkar,
Ambedkar mozhiyilae
You walked roaring with strength like a majestic mountain,
Kundram pola muzhangi nadantha
You are the shining light of our community!
Kulavilakku neeyadaa
Under the shadow of your flag,
Un kodi nizhalil
Look, we will unite forever!
Endrum naangal kooduvom paaradaa….aa….
Oivillaamal uzhaiththavanae
Oh one who labored tirelessly without rest,
Nee oivu kolla poriyaa
Are you really going to rest now?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song serves as a solemn elegy for a fallen revolutionary leader who fought tirelessly for social justice, equality, and human dignity. Written by M. Karunanidhi, the song laments the tragic loss of a young champion who was targeted and killed by fanatical, casteist forces. The lyrics grieve his untimely passing while celebrating his fiery spirit, comparing him to a lion cub, a rising sun, and pure gold. The song contextualizes his sacrifice within the reformist traditions of iconic world leaders and social reformers such as Jesus, Buddha, Prophet Muhammad, Mahatma Gandhi, Periyar, C.N. Annadurai, and B.R. Ambedkar. Ultimately, the song serves as both a eulogy and a battle cry, assuring the fallen leader that his followers will remain united under his flag and continue his noble cause.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Kutti singamae / Katti thangamae / Kulavilakku neeyadaa”
Directly compares the young leader to a lion cub ('Kutti singam'), pure gold ('Katti thangam'), and the auspicious light/beacon of the clan ('Kulavilakku') to emphasize his courage, purity of intent, and guidance.
Simile
“Ilam sooriyanaai oli veesiya / Kundram pola muzhangi nadantha”
Uses explicit similes ('sooriyanaai' - like the sun, 'pola' - like a mountain) to depict his radiant intellect and his towering, majestic presence.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Kolai veriyar... / Kolkaikaga...”
The second letter 'l' (ல்) rhymes across 'Kolai' and 'Kolkai', adding rhythmic resonance to the lines describing his struggle and sacrifice.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Pesum puyal peryaar annaa”
Repetition of the 'P' sound in 'Pesum', 'puyal', and 'peryaar' creates a strong phonetic punch emphasizing Periyar's powerful, stormy speeches.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Ore Raththam' (1987) was written by M. Karunanidhi, a veteran Tamil politician and literary figure known for embedding Rationalist and Dravidian ideology into film dialogue and lyrics. This film marked the cinematic debut of M.K. Stalin (Karunanidhi's son and future Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu). The music for the film was composed by Devendran, and the lyrics specifically highlight DMK ideological icons like Periyar and Anna alongside global religious and social reformers.
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