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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Veppamara Thoppu

From Government Mappillai · 1992

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Details
Government Mappillai1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru veppammara thoppukullaeInside the neem tree grove,
Paatu ketkkudhuA song is heard.
Andha aathangarai odam onnuThat boat by the riverbank,
Kaatril aadudhuIs swaying in the wind.
Oru kaadhal ennum raagamA melody called love,
Adhu kalaindhu pona megamIs like a cloud that has dispersed.
Oru kaadhal ennum raagamA melody called love,
Adhu kalaindhu pona megamIs like a cloud that has dispersed.
Male
Veppammara thoppukullaeInside the neem tree grove,
Paatu ketkkudhuA song is heard.
Andha aathangarai odam onnuThat boat by the riverbank,
Kaatril aadudhuIs swaying in the wind.
Male
Sollum kadhai nooruThe stories told are a hundred,
Ingu ulla kadhai veruBut the story here is different.
Ooo hoo ooo aa aa aaaOoo hoo ooo aa aa aaa
Orr sollum kadhai nooruThe stories told are a hundred,
Ingu ulla kadhai veruBut the story here is different.
Male
Ada nallavargal yaaruHey, who are the good people?
Nee nenjai thottu kooruTouch your heart and tell me.
Oru koottukkullae kuruvi renduTwo birds inside a nest,
Paattu padichadhuWere singing a song.
Puyal kaathu vandhu kaadhal ennumA stormy wind came and destroyed,
Kootta kalachadhuThe nest of love.
Male
Mana aasaigalin osaiThe sound of heart's desires,
Adhu aandavanin baashaiThat is God's language.
Mana aasaigalin osaiThe sound of heart's desires,
Adhu aandavanin baashaiThat is God's language.
Male
Veppammara thoppukullaeInside the neem tree grove,
Paatu ketkkudhuA song is heard.
Andha aathangarai odam onnuThat boat by the riverbank,
Kaatril aadudhuIs swaying in the wind.
Female
Aal illaadha virundhuA feast with no guests around,
Mana aasai theeyin kolundhuA flame from the fire of heart's desire.
Hoo oo oo hoo oo oo ooHoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Oru aal illaadha virundhuA feast with no guests around,
Mana aasai theeyin kolundhuA flame from the fire of heart's desire.
Female
Oru paasam niraintha kaniyaeOh fruit filled with affection,
Adhu pazhuthu irukkudhu thaniyaeIt is ripening all alone.
Oru kootukkullae pottu vechaKept inside a pot,
Thaenu naan ammaI am honey, oh mother.
Ival paattu kural kettu varumHearing her singing voice, who will come,
Thaalam yaar ammaAs the matching rhythm, oh mother?
Female
Idhu ilai illaadha naathuThis is a sapling with no leaves,
Verum mazhaiyil adikkum kaathuBlown by the wind in the heavy rain.
Idhu ilai illaadha naathuThis is a sapling with no leaves,
Verum mazhaiyil adikkum kaathuBlown by the wind in the heavy rain.
Female
Veppammara thoppukullaeInside the neem tree grove,
Paatu ketkkudhuA song is heard.
Andha aathangarai odam onnuThat boat by the riverbank,
Kaatril aadudhuIs swaying in the wind.
Oru kaadhal ennum raagamA melody called love,
Adhu kalaindhu pona megamIs like a cloud that has dispersed.
Oru kaadhal ennum raagamA melody called love,
Adhu kalaindhu pona megamIs like a cloud that has dispersed.
Female
Veppammara thoppukullaeInside the neem tree grove,
Paatu ketkkudhuA song is heard.
Andha aathangarai odam onnuThat boat by the riverbank,
Kaatril aadudhuIs swaying in the wind.
Male
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Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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.

Keep listening

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