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Government Mappillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Veppamara Thoppu

From Government Mappillai · 1992

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Government Mappillai
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
27 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru veppammara thoppukullae
Paatu ketkkudhu
Andha aathangarai odam onnu
Kaatril aadudhu
Oru kaadhal ennum raagam
Adhu kalaindhu pona megam
Oru kaadhal ennum raagam
Adhu kalaindhu pona megam
Veppammara thoppukullae
Paatu ketkkudhu
Andha aathangarai odam onnu
Kaatril aadudhu
Sollum kadhai nooru
Ingu ulla kadhai veru
Ooo hoo ooo aa aa aaa
Orr sollum kadhai nooru
Ingu ulla kadhai veru
Ada nallavargal yaaru
Nee nenjai thottu kooru
Oru koottukkullae kuruvi rendu
Paattu padichadhu
Puyal kaathu vandhu kaadhal ennum
Kootta kalachadhu
Mana aasaigalin osai
Adhu aandavanin baashai
Mana aasaigalin osai
Adhu aandavanin baashai
Veppammara thoppukullae
Paatu ketkkudhu
Andha aathangarai odam onnu
Kaatril aadudhu
Aal illaadha virundhu
Mana aasai theeyin kolundhu
Hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Oru aal illaadha virundhu
Mana aasai theeyin kolundhu
Oru paasam niraintha kaniyae
Adhu pazhuthu irukkudhu thaniyae
Oru kootukkullae pottu vecha
Thaenu naan amma
Ival paattu kural kettu varum
Thaalam yaar amma
Idhu ilai illaadha naathu
Verum mazhaiyil adikkum kaathu
Idhu ilai illaadha naathu
Verum mazhaiyil adikkum kaathu
Veppammara thoppukullae
Paatu ketkkudhu
Andha aathangarai odam onnu
Kaatril aadudhu
Oru kaadhal ennum raagam
Adhu kalaindhu pona megam
Oru kaadhal ennum raagam
Adhu kalaindhu pona megam
Veppammara thoppukullae
Paatu ketkkudhu
Andha aathangarai odam onnu
Kaatril aadudhu
Hmm mm mm mm mm
Hmm mm mm
Female :Hmm mm mm mm mm
Hmm mm mm
Inside a neem grove,
a song is heard.
That boat by the riverbank
sways in the wind.
A melody called love
is a cloud that drifted apart.
A melody called love
is a cloud that drifted apart.
Inside the neem grove,
a song is heard.
That boat by the riverbank
sways in the wind.
A hundred stories are told,
but the story here is different.
Oh ho oh oh aa aa aa
A hundred stories are told,
but the story here is different.
Tell me, who are the good people?
Touch your heart and answer.
Two little birds inside a nest
sang a song together.
A storm came and shattered
that nest called love.
The voice of the heart's longing
is the language of God.
The voice of the heart's longing
is the language of God.
Inside the neem grove,
a song is heard.
That boat by the riverbank
sways in the wind.
A feast with no one to share it,
the heart's desire is a blazing flame.
Hoo oh oh hoo oh oh oh
A feast with no one to share it,
the heart's desire is a blazing flame.
A fruit brimming with sweet affection,
it ripens all alone.
Like honey stored inside a hive,
I am kept away, my friend.
Hearing her sweet singing voice,
who will become the matching rhythm?
This is a sapling with no leaves,
just the wind howling in the rain.
This is a sapling with no leaves,
just the wind howling in the rain.
Inside the neem grove,
a song is heard.
That boat by the riverbank
sways in the wind.
A melody called love
is a cloud that drifted apart.
A melody called love
is a cloud that drifted apart.
Inside the neem grove,
a song is heard.
That boat by the riverbank
sways in the wind.
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm
Female: Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Oru Veppammara Thoppukullae' is a poignant, melancholic song expressing solitude, heartbreak, and unfulfilled yearning. Set against rural imagery—a neem grove, a swaying riverboat, and birds in a nest—the song uses nature as a canvas to portray a broken love story. The melody of love is likened to a cloud that dissolved before it could bring rain, representing lost hopes and destroyed dreams. The lyrics continuously question morality and fate, asking who truly remains good when adversity strikes. The protagonist feels like a leaf-less sapling caught in a storm, or a sweet fruit ripening in total loneliness. Despite the pain, the song treats the desires of the heart as divine ('God's language'), capturing a deeply sorrowful yet soulful acceptance of life's tragic turns.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Oru kaadhal ennum raagam / Adhu kalaindhu pona megam”

Love is directly compared to a melody and a cloud that has scattered away.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Mana aasaigalin osai / Adhu aandavanin baashai”

The words 'osai' and 'baashai' end with matching rhyming sounds.

Visual Imagery & Metaphor

“Idhu ilai illaadha naathu / Verum mazhaiyil adikkum kaathu”

Paints a vivid picture of vulnerability by comparing oneself to a leafless sapling battling rain and wind.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Government Mappillai' is a 1992 Tamil comedy-drama film directed by Pandiarajan, starring Pandiarajan and Kasthuri in the lead roles. The film's soundtrack was composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by Kalidasan. This track showcases the classic 1990s Tamil rural folk-melody style featuring expressive wind instruments and evocative natural metaphors.

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