Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Porkaalam

From Kasthuri Maan · 2005

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Karthik, Manjari
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kasthuri Maan2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru porkkaalam thodangumA golden era begins,
Ilam poongaatraeOh gentle breeze of youth!
Vanna pook kolam varaiyumDrawing a colorful rangoli of flowers,
Endhan pudhu paattaeIs my new song!
Indha naal mudhal ilavaenilFrom this day onward, it is spring,
Manam neendhidum isai thaenilThe mind swims in the honey of music,
Endhan vaazhvilae vilakkaetravaeTo light the lamp in my life!
Male
Oru porkkaalam thodangumA golden era begins,
Ilam poongaatraeOh gentle breeze of youth!
Vanna pook kolam varaiyumDrawing a colorful rangoli of flowers,
Endhan pudhu paattaeIs my new song!
Male
Kallooriyin vaasalgalilAt the gates of college,
Yaedho yaedho kadhaigalSo many different stories!
Ondraa rendaa oraayiramAre they one, two, or a thousand?
Nandro theedho vidhaigalSeeds of good and bad!
Female
Solli thandha paadangalilIn the lessons taught to us,
Sellaadhu nam manadhuOur mind does not stay;
Sollaamalae naam kandadhuWhat we experienced without being told,
Ellaam ilamai kanavuAre all youthful dreams!
Male
Vaadaadhadhu anna pookkalThose flowers never wither,
Thevittaadhadhu andha paadalThat song never turns insipid,
Female
Nenjil neengidaa ninaivaagavaeBecoming memories that never leave the heart!
Male
Oru porkkaalam thodangumA golden era begins,
Ilam poongaatraeOh gentle breeze of youth!
Female
Vanna pook kolam varaiyumDrawing a colorful rangoli of flowers,
Endhan pudhu paattaeIs my new song!
Female
Raajaa undhan raajaangathilRaja, in your kingdom,
Kalaai maalai isai thaanMusic plays morning and evening.
Kaayangalai aatrum adhuIt heals all emotional wounds,
Ketpaen ketpaen dhinam naanI will listen to it every day!
Male
Aaroganam avaroganamAscending scale and descending scale,
Rendum undu isaiyilBoth exist in music.
Adhu polavae vaazhkkai endruLife is just like that,
Kaalgal sellum dhisaiyilAs our feet wander in any direction!
Female
Yaarum illaa enakkaagaFor me, who had no one,
Vandhaai ingae uravaagaYou came here as a loved one.
Male
Idhu neerin mel ezhuthallavaeThis is not written on water (it is permanent)!
Female
Oru porkkaalam thodangumA golden era begins,
Ilam poongaatraeOh gentle breeze of youth!
Vanna pook kolam varaiyumDrawing a colorful rangoli of flowers,
Endhan pudhu paattaeIs my new song!
Indha naal mudhal ilavaenilFrom this day onward, it is spring,
Manam neendhidum isai thaenilThe mind swims in the honey of music,
Endhan vaazhvilae vilakkaetravaeTo light the lamp in my life!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oru Porkkaalam Thodangum' is a joyous and reflective song celebrating hope, new beginnings, and the transformative power of music and love. The speaker expresses a sense of rebirth, comparing the arrival of a happy era to a fresh spring breeze and a vibrant floral rangoli that lights up life's path. The lyrics evoke nostalgia about college days, youthful dreams, and unspoken life lessons that leave indelible memories.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Manam neendhidum isai thaenil

Music is directly compared to honey ('isai thaenil'), symbolizing its sweetness in which the mind delightfully swims.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Oru porkkaalam thodangum

'Porkkaalam' (golden era) is used metaphorically to represent a bright, prosperous, and blissful phase in life.

Ethugai (Second letter rhyming)

Kallooriyin vaasalgalil / Solli thandha paadangalil

The second letter 'l' (ல்) rhymes across both lines ('Kallooriyin' and 'Solli').

Idiom / Cultural Imagery

Idhu neerin mel ezhuthallavae

Refers to the Tamil idiom 'neerin mel ezhuthu' (writing on water, meaning temporary/ephemeral). The negation 'allavae' asserts that the relationship/bond is permanent and lasting.

Meta-reference / Personification

Raajaa undhan raajaangathil

A subtle wordplay referring both to a king's kingdom and to the composer Ilaiyaraaja's kingdom of music.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Kasthuri Maan' (2005) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, and the lyrics were written by Na. Muthu Kumar. The line 'Raajaa undhan raajaangathil' serves as a poetic tribute from lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar to Ilaiyaraaja himself. The film was directed by A. K. Lohithadas, remaking his own acclaimed 2003 Malayalam film of the same title.

Keep listening

More from Kasthuri Maan