- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Ila Arun, A. R. Rahman
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Muthu
- Movie release year
- 1995
- Lyrics added on
- 28 Dec 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Oruvan Oruvan Muthalaali' is a celebrated philosophical intro song from the 1995 Tamil movie 'Muthu', featuring Superstar Rajinikanth. Written by lyricist Vairamuthu, composed by A. R. Rahman, and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, the song serves as a practical guide to life, contentment, and humility. The lyricist conveys that God is the sole master of creation and all humans are equal laborers. It strongly advises against fatalism, emphasizing that true wisdom lies in actively shaping one's destiny rather than complaining about fate. The song cautions against corporate and material greed, pointing out the irony that man obsessively hungers for land, yet the earth eventually reclaims man in death. It also presents a sharp critique of wealth: having a manageable amount of money makes you its master, but chasing excessive wealth turns you into its servant. By living in harmony with nature and shedding unnecessary desires, one can experience endless inner youth and peace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Antithesis)
“Mannin meethu manithanukaasai / Manithan meethu mannukkaasai”
Contrasts man's desire to own the land with the land's inevitable desire to reclaim man in death.
Metaphor / Paradox
“Kaiyil konjam kaasu irunthaal neethan atharku ejamaanan / Kazhuthu varaikkum kasu irunthal athuthan unakku ejamanan”
Uses a metaphor of depth/height (up to the neck) to show how control shifts from the person to money when greed takes over.
Rhetorical Question & Simile/Analogy
“Pooparikka kodari etharku”
Asks why an axe is needed to pick a delicate flower, serving as an analogy for using excessive force or violence for simple human needs.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Vithiyai ninaippavan yemali / Athai vendru mudippavan arivali”
The second letter 'th' ('த்') rhymes across 'Vithiyai' and 'Athai'.
Personification
“Paravaigal ennai parkkumbothu nalama nalama engirathu”
Gives human speech characteristics to birds, describing them as asking after the protagonist's well-being.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman and sung by the legendary S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, 'Oruvan Oruvan Muthalaali' is one of Rajinikanth's most famous hero-introduction tracks. When 'Muthu' was released in Japan in 1998 as 'Muthu: Odoru Maharaja' (Muthu: Dancing Maharaja), it became a cultural phenomenon, establishing a huge Japanese fanbase for Rajinikanth and making this song globally recognized.
Keep listening
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