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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Vaarthai Ketka

From Ayya · 2005

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Kay Kay, Sadhana Sargam
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Ayya2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oru vaarthai ketka oru varusam kaathirundhenI waited for a whole year just to hear a single word.
Indha paarvai paarka pagal iravaa poothirundhenI remained in bloom day and night just to catch this single glance.
Female
Oru vaarthai ketka oru varusam kaathirundhenI waited for a whole year just to hear a single word.
Indha paarvai paarka pagal iravaa poothirundhenI remained in bloom day and night just to catch this single glance.
Manamaalai onna poo poovaai korthirundhenI strung together a wedding garland flower by flower.
Andha sedhikaaga nodi nodiya verthirundhenI broke into sweat every single second waiting for that news.
Female
Sooriyana sooriyana suruku paiyilThe sun, oh the sun... inside a small drawstring pouch,
Naan alli vara alli vara aasai pattenI longed to scoop it up and bring it along.
Female
Singathaiyum singathaiyum sila naalaaAnd the lion, oh the mighty lion... for a few days now,
En chinna chinna kammalukul pootti kittenI have locked inside my tiny little earrings.
Thannikula thaan natta thaamarai kodiThe lotus vine planted inside the water
Theppa kulathaiyae kudichiruchaeae ….Has drunk up the entire temple tank!
Male
Oru vaarthai solla oru varusam thayangi ninnenI hesitated for a whole year to speak a single word.
Andha paarvai paarka mudiyama naan odhungi ninnenUnable to face that glance, I stepped aside and stood shyly.
Female
Oorukulla odum theruvil paadha thadangal aayiram irukumIn the streets running through the town, there may be thousands of footprints.
Nee nadantha suvadugal irundhaal endhan kangal kandu pidikumYet if there are tracks left by you, my eyes will instantly spot them.
Male
Idhayatha thatti thatti paarthu puttaYou repeatedly knocked on my heart to test it,
Adhu therakala endradhumae odaichu puttaAnd when it did not open, you broke it wide open!
Female
Nee kedaika vendum endru thundu seetai ezhudhi pottenPraying to win your heart, I wrote my wish on a slip of paper and offered it.
Pechi amman koil saami paper saami aanadhu ennaWhy did the deity at the Pechi Amman temple turn into a deity of paper?
Male
Kannukulla odiya unna thoratha manasukul nee vandhu olinjaWhen I tried to chase you out from my eyes, you hid inside my mind.
Manasukul olinjidum unna verata usurukul nee mella nozhainjaWhen I tried to drive you away from my mind, you slowly slipped into my very soul.
Female
Ohh nee kodutha kal kooda sengal saami aanadhaiyaaOh, even a simple stone given by you turned into a brick deity to worship!
Male
Oru vaarthai solla oru varusam thayangi ninnenI hesitated for a whole year to speak a single word.
Andha paarvai paarka mudiyama naan odhungi ninnenUnable to face that glance, I stepped aside and stood shyly.
Female
Aaaaa aaaaa aaaa ….Aaaaa aaaaa aaaa …
Female
Adutha veetu kalyanathin pathirikai paarkum bodhuWhenever I look at a neighbor's wedding invitation card,
Namadhu perai manamakalaaga maatri ezhudhi rasithu paarthenI playfully rewrite the couple's names with ours and admire it.
Male
Netru varai enakulla irumbu nenjuUntil yesterday, I possessed a heart made of iron inside me;
Adhu indru mudhal aanadhu ilavam panjuStarting today, it has turned as soft as silk-cotton.
Female
Katta bomman uruvam polae unna varaindhu maraidhae VaithenI drew your portrait resembling Veerapandiya Kattabomman and kept it hidden.
Dhesa patru oviyam endru vettu suvatril appa maataThinking it was a patriotic painting, my father went ahead and hung it on the wall!
Male
Anaikattu polaevae irukum manasu nee thottu odainjadhu ennaMy heart, which stood strong like a grand dam, why did it break at your gentle touch?
Puyaluku badhil sollum endhan idhayam poo pattu sarinjadhu ennaMy heart, which could face a wild storm, why did it crumble upon touching a flower?
Female
Veppa maram suthi vandhen arasa maramum poothadhaiyaaI walked around the neem tree in prayer, and behold, even the sacred peepal tree blossomed!
Oru vaarthai ketka oru varusam kaathirundhenI waited for a whole year just to hear a single word.
Male
Oru vaarthai solla oru varusam thayangi ninnenI hesitated for a whole year to speak a single word.
Female
Indha paarvai paarka pagal iravaa poothirundhenI remained in bloom day and night just to catch this single glance.
Male
Andha paarvai paarka mudiyama naan odhungi ninnenUnable to face that glance, I stepped aside and stood shyly.
Female
Sooriyana sooriyana suruku paiyilThe sun, oh the sun... inside a small drawstring pouch,
Naan alli vara alli vara aasai pattenI longed to scoop it up and bring it along.
Female
Singathaiyum singathaiyum sila naalaaAnd the lion, oh the mighty lion... for a few days now,
En chinna chinna kammalukul pootti kittenI have locked inside my tiny little earrings.
Thannikula thaan natta thaamarai kodiThe lotus vine planted inside the water
Theppa kulathaiyae kudichiruchaeae ….Has drunk up the entire temple tank!
Female
Lala laala laala laalalala laalalalaLala laala laala laalalala laalalala
Lala laala laala laalalala laalalalaLala laala laala laalalala laalalala

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oru Vaarthai Ketka' is a romantic duet from the movie Ayya (2005) that captures the sweet anticipation, shyness, and overwhelming emotion of young love. The lovers express how a single word or look from each other has disrupted their entire world. The female protagonist describes her tender wait and how love has transformed her once-firm demeanor into pure vulnerability, while the male protagonist reflects on his shyness and intense devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Atisayokthi Ani (Hyperbole)

Sooriyana sooriyana suruku paiyil / Naan alli vara alli vara aasai patten

Exaggerates the grand feeling of love by speaking of carrying the entire sun inside a tiny drawstring bag.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Netru varai enakulla irumbu nenju / Adhu indru mudhal aanadhu ilavam panju

Compares a rigid, unyielding heart to iron and its sudden emotional softening due to love to delicate silk-cotton.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Singathaiyum singathaiyum sila naalaa / En chinna chinna kammalukul pootti kitten

Repetition of the initial 'S' and 'Ch' consonant sounds creates a rhythmic flow in the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oru Vaarthai Ketka' features music composed by Bharadwaj and lyrics by Pa. Vijay. The song is from the hit 2005 film 'Ayya', which marked the Tamil cinema debut of actress Nayanthara opposite Sarathkumar. Sung by Anuradha Sriram and Tippu, the track became a chartbuster, noted for its expressive rural melody and inventive folk-pop imagery.

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