Oruthi Oruvanai
From Saradha · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Saradha1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal | If a woman thinks of a man, |
| Andha uravukku peyarenna | What is the name of that relationship? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal… | Love… |
| Female | |
| Andha oruvan orthiyai manandhu kondaal | If that man marries that woman, |
| Andha urimaikku peyar enna | What is the name of that entitlement? |
| Male | |
| Kudumbam… | Family… |
| Female | |
| Ninaithavan alavai marandhu vittaal | If the one who thought forgets his limits, |
| Andha nilamaiyin mudivenna | What is the outcome of that situation? |
| Male | |
| Thuyaram…mm..mm…mm… | Sorrow…mm..mm…mm… |
| Female | |
| Pirindhavar meendum serndhu vittaal | If those who were separated unite again, |
| Angu penmaiyin nilai enna | What is the state of womanhood there? |
| Male | |
| Maunam… | Silence… |
| Female | |
| Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal | If a woman thinks of a man, |
| Andha uravukku peyarenna | What is the name of that relationship? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal… | Love… |
| Female | |
| Iravum pagalum unnuruvam | Day and night, it is your form, |
| Adhil ingum angum unnuruvam | In that, here and there, it is your form. |
| Iravum pagalum unnuruvam | Day and night, it is your form, |
| Adhil ingum angum unnuruvam | In that, here and there, it is your form. |
| Male | |
| Adakkam enbadhu pennuruvam | Modesty is the very form of a woman, |
| Adhai arindhaal maraiyum ennuruvam | If one realizes that, my form disappears. |
| Adakkam enbadhu pennuruvam | Modesty is the very form of a woman, |
| Adhai arindhaal maraiyum ennuruvam | If one realizes that, my form disappears. |
| Female | |
| Maraikka muyandren mudiyavillai unnai | I tried to hide you, but I could not; |
| Marakka muyandren nadakkavillai | I tried to forget, but it did not happen. |
| Maraikka muyandren mudiyavillai unnai | I tried to hide you, but I could not; |
| Marakka muyandren nadakkavillai | I tried to forget, but it did not happen. |
| Male | |
| Ninaikkum nilaiyilum naan illai | I am not even in a state to think, |
| Unai nerungum thagudhiyum enakkillai | Nor do I have the worthiness to approach you. |
| Female | |
| Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal | If a woman thinks of a man, |
| Andha uravukku peyarenna | What is the name of that relationship? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal… | Love… |
| Female | |
| Ketten kettadhu kidaikkavillai | I asked, but what I asked for was not granted, |
| Ennai gaeli seidhaai manam porukkavillai | You mocked me, and my heart could not bear it. |
| Ketten kettadhu kidaikkavillai | I asked, but what I asked for was not granted, |
| Ennai gaeli seidhaai manam porukkavillai | You mocked me, and my heart could not bear it. |
| Male | |
| Vaadham seivadhu en kadamai | To debate is my duty, |
| Adhil vazhiyai kaanbadhu un thiramai | To find a solution in it is your skill. |
| Vaadham seivadhu yen kadamai | To debate is my duty, |
| Adhil vazhiyai kaanbadhu un thiramai | To find a solution in it is your skill. |
| Female | |
| Kanden kandadhu nalla vazhi | I saw, and what I saw was a good path, |
| Adhu kaadhalan udanae sellum vazhi | It is the path to go along with the lover. |
| Kanden kandadhu nalla vazhi | I saw, and what I saw was a good path, |
| Adhu kaadhalan udanae sellum vazhi | It is the path to go along with the lover. |
| Male | |
| Sonnen pala murai yaasikkiraai | I told you many times, yet you keep pleading, |
| Nee sonnadhai naanum yosikkiren | I too am pondering what you said. |
| Female | |
| Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal | If a woman thinks of a man, |
| Andha uravukku peyarenna | What is the name of that relationship? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal… | Love… |
ஒருத்தி ஒருவனை
நினைத்து விட்டால்
அந்த உறவுக்குப் பெயரென்ன
If a woman thinks of a man,
What is the name of that relationship?
காதல்......
Love…
அந்த ஒருவன் ஒருத்தியை
மணந்து கொண்டால்
அந்த உரிமைக்குப் பெயர் என்ன
If that man marries that woman,
What is the name of that entitlement?
குடும்பம்......
Family…
நினைத்தவன் அவளை
மறந்து விட்டால்
அந்த நிலைமையின் முடிவென்ன
If the one who thought forgets his limits,
What is the outcome of that situation?
துயரம்......ம்ம்.....ம்ம்.....ம்ம்.....
Sorrow…mm..mm…mm…
பிரிந்தவர் மீண்டும்
சேர்ந்து விட்டால்
அங்கு பெண்மையின் நிலை என்ன
If those who were separated unite again,
What is the state of womanhood there?
மௌனம்........
Silence…
ஒருத்தி ஒருவனை
நினைத்து விட்டால்
அந்த உறவுக்குப் பெயரென்ன
If a woman thinks of a man,
What is the name of that relationship?
காதல்......
Love…
இரவும் பகலும் உன்னுருவம்
அதில் இங்கும் அங்கும் உன் உருவம்
இரவும் பகலும் உன்னுருவம்
அதில் இங்கும் அங்கும் உன் உருவம்
Day and night, it is your form,
In that, here and there, it is your form.
Day and night, it is your form,
In that, here and there, it is your form.
அடக்கம் என்பது பெண்ணுருவம்
அதை அறிந்தால் மறையும் என்னுருவம்
அடக்கம் என்பது பெண்ணுருவம்
அதை அறிந்தால் மறையும் என்னுருவம்
Modesty is the very form of a woman,
If one realizes that, my form disappears.
Modesty is the very form of a woman,
If one realizes that, my form disappears.
மறைக்க முயன்றேன்
முடியவில்லை உன்னை
மறக்க முயன்றேன் நடக்கவில்லை
மறைக்க முயன்றேன் முடியவில்லை உன்னை
மறக்க முயன்றேன் நடக்கவில்லை
I tried to hide you, but I could not;
I tried to forget, but it did not happen.
I tried to hide you, but I could not;
I tried to forget, but it did not happen.
நினைக்கும் நிலையிலும் நான் இல்லை
உன்னை நெருங்கும் தகுதியும் எனக்கில்லை
I am not even in a state to think,
Nor do I have the worthiness to approach you.
ஒருத்தி ஒருவனை
நினைத்து விட்டால்
அந்த உறவுக்குப் பெயரென்ன
If a woman thinks of a man,
What is the name of that relationship?
காதல்......
Love…
கேட்டேன் கேட்டது கிடைக்கவில்லை
என்னை கேலி செய்தாய் மனம் பொறுக்கவில்லை
கேட்டேன் கேட்டது கிடைக்கவில்லை
என்னை கேலி செய்தாய் மனம் பொறுக்கவில்லை
I asked, but what I asked for was not granted,
You mocked me, and my heart could not bear it.
I asked, but what I asked for was not granted,
You mocked me, and my heart could not bear it.
வாதம் செய்வது என் கடமை அதில்
வழியைக் காண்பது உன் திறமை
வாதம் செய்வது என் கடமை அதில்
வழியைக் காண்பது உன் திறமை
To debate is my duty,
To find a solution in it is your skill.
To debate is my duty,
To find a solution in it is your skill.
கண்டேன் கண்டது நல்ல வழி
அது காதலன் உடனே செல்லும் வழி
கண்டேன் கண்டது நல்ல வழி
அது காதலன் உடனே செல்லும் வழி
I saw, and what I saw was a good path,
It is the path to go along with the lover.
I saw, and what I saw was a good path,
It is the path to go along with the lover.
சொன்னேன் பல முறை யாசிக்கிறாய்
நீ சொன்னதை நானும் யோசிக்கிறேன்
I told you many times, yet you keep pleading,
I too am pondering what you said.
ஒருத்தி ஒருவனை
நினைத்து விட்டால்
அந்த உறவுக்குப் பெயரென்ன
If a woman thinks of a man,
What is the name of that relationship?
காதல்......
Love…
Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal
If a woman thinks of a man,
Andha uravukku peyarenna
What is the name of that relationship?
Kaadhal…
Love…
Andha oruvan orthiyai manandhu kondaal
If that man marries that woman,
Andha urimaikku peyar enna
What is the name of that entitlement?
Kudumbam…
Family…
Ninaithavan alavai marandhu vittaal
If the one who thought forgets his limits,
Andha nilamaiyin mudivenna
What is the outcome of that situation?
Thuyaram…mm..mm…mm…
Sorrow…mm..mm…mm…
Pirindhavar meendum serndhu vittaal
If those who were separated unite again,
Angu penmaiyin nilai enna
What is the state of womanhood there?
Maunam…
Silence…
Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal
If a woman thinks of a man,
Andha uravukku peyarenna
What is the name of that relationship?
Kaadhal…
Love…
Iravum pagalum unnuruvam
Day and night, it is your form,
Adhil ingum angum unnuruvam
In that, here and there, it is your form.
Iravum pagalum unnuruvam
Day and night, it is your form,
Adhil ingum angum unnuruvam
In that, here and there, it is your form.
Adakkam enbadhu pennuruvam
Modesty is the very form of a woman,
Adhai arindhaal maraiyum ennuruvam
If one realizes that, my form disappears.
Adakkam enbadhu pennuruvam
Modesty is the very form of a woman,
Adhai arindhaal maraiyum ennuruvam
If one realizes that, my form disappears.
Maraikka muyandren mudiyavillai unnai
I tried to hide you, but I could not;
Marakka muyandren nadakkavillai
I tried to forget, but it did not happen.
Maraikka muyandren mudiyavillai unnai
I tried to hide you, but I could not;
Marakka muyandren nadakkavillai
I tried to forget, but it did not happen.
Ninaikkum nilaiyilum naan illai
I am not even in a state to think,
Unai nerungum thagudhiyum enakkillai
Nor do I have the worthiness to approach you.
Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal
If a woman thinks of a man,
Andha uravukku peyarenna
What is the name of that relationship?
Kaadhal…
Love…
Ketten kettadhu kidaikkavillai
I asked, but what I asked for was not granted,
Ennai gaeli seidhaai manam porukkavillai
You mocked me, and my heart could not bear it.
Ketten kettadhu kidaikkavillai
I asked, but what I asked for was not granted,
Ennai gaeli seidhaai manam porukkavillai
You mocked me, and my heart could not bear it.
Vaadham seivadhu en kadamai
To debate is my duty,
Adhil vazhiyai kaanbadhu un thiramai
To find a solution in it is your skill.
Vaadham seivadhu yen kadamai
To debate is my duty,
Adhil vazhiyai kaanbadhu un thiramai
To find a solution in it is your skill.
Kanden kandadhu nalla vazhi
I saw, and what I saw was a good path,
Adhu kaadhalan udanae sellum vazhi
It is the path to go along with the lover.
Kanden kandadhu nalla vazhi
I saw, and what I saw was a good path,
Adhu kaadhalan udanae sellum vazhi
It is the path to go along with the lover.
Sonnen pala murai yaasikkiraai
I told you many times, yet you keep pleading,
Nee sonnadhai naanum yosikkiren
I too am pondering what you said.
Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal
If a woman thinks of a man,
Andha uravukku peyarenna
What is the name of that relationship?
Kaadhal…
Love…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from 'Saradha' (1962) takes the form of a poetic conversation structured as a riddle and response between lovers. It systematically defines the progression of human relationships—from love to family, from crossing boundaries to sorrow, and finally, the dignifying 'silence' of womanhood upon reunion. Through this philosophical exchange, the lovers reflect on intimacy, emotional vulnerability, and mutual respect. The verse sections highlight deep yearning, playful banter, and humility. The female voice speaks of modesty, overwhelming love, and the inability to hide or forget her devotion. In response, the male voice acknowledges the playful conflict and finding resolution together. Ultimately, the song reinforces that true love transcends misunderstandings through understanding, patience, and shared destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Vina-Vidai (Question and Answer Format)
“Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal / Andha uravukku peyarenna / Kaadhal…”
Kannadasan uses a classical Tamil riddle/dialogue structure where rhetorical questions are posed in sequence and answered succinctly in one word (Love, Family, Sorrow, Silence).
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Maraikka muyandren mudiyavillai unnai / Marakka muyandren nadakkavillai”
The second letter 'ra' (ரா) rhymes in 'Maraikka' and 'Marakka', creating a rhythmic harmony between the two lines.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Oruthi oruvanai ninathu vittaal”
The repetition of the initial 'O' sound in 'Oruthi' and 'oruvanai' exemplifies Monai (alliteration) in Tamil verse.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Iravum pagalum unnuruvam / Adhil ingum angum unnuruvam”
The repetition of 'unnuruvam' (your form) reinforces the omnipresence of the beloved in the lover's mind.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song from the 1962 film 'Saradha' features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan. Sung as a duet by P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela, the track is celebrated for its deep philosophical lyricism packaged into a lighthearted and soulful melodious dialogue.
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