Oruvanukku Oruthi Endru
From Thenum Paalum · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Thenum Paalum1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oruvanukku oruththi endrae | "One man for one woman," as the ideal |
| Uravu kondom thirukkuralinilae | We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural, |
| Ulagamenum tamil koyililae | In this temple of Tamil called the world, |
| Ulagamenum tamil koyililae | In this temple of Tamil called the world. |
| Female | |
| Nenjirunthaal ninaivirukkum | If there is a heart, memories will dwell within; |
| Ninaivil oru malar irukkum | In those memories, a blossom will bloom. |
| Nenjirunthaal ninaivirukkum | If there is a heart, memories will dwell within; |
| Ninaivil oru malar irukkum | In those memories, a blossom will bloom. |
| Oru malaril manathu vaiththu | Placing one's affection on a single flower, |
| Uravukondaal nalla sugam kidaikkum | And forming a bond with it brings true bliss. |
| Female | |
| Gangaiyilae kulikkaiyilae | While taking a dip in the holy Ganges, |
| Kaveriyil manathu vaiththaal | If your heart wanders away to the Cauvery, |
| Antha sugam idhu tharumo | Can that pleasure match this current bliss? |
| Intha sugam adhu tharumo | Can this pleasure ever match that one? |
| Female | |
| Oruvanukku oruththu endrae | "One man for one woman," as the ideal |
| Uravu kondom thirukuralinilae | We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural, |
| Ulagamenum tamil koyililae | In this temple of Tamil called the world, |
| Ulagamenum tamil koyililae | In this temple of Tamil called the world. |
| Female | |
| Sriraman janaki | Lord Sri Rama constantly gazed |
| Thirumugaththai paarththirunthaan | Upon the divine face of Janaki (Sita). |
| Indruvarai azhiyaamal | Immortal and unfading to this day, |
| Idhayangal meethe vaazhugindraal | She lives forever atop human hearts. |
| Female | |
| Ramanukku orr manathu nallavarkku orr uravu | Rama had a singular heart; noble people share a singular bond. |
| Kaalamellaam vaanamathil | Throughout all time, across the sky, |
| Kaanpathellaam orr nilavu | All we ever see is a single moon. |
| Female | |
| Oruvanukku oruththi endrae | "One man for one woman," as the ideal |
| Uravu kondom thirukkuralinilae | We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural, |
| Ulagamenum tamil koyililae | In this temple of Tamil called the world, |
| Ulagamenum tamil koyililae | In this temple of Tamil called the world. |
ஒருவனுக்கு ஒருத்தி என்றே
உறவுக் கொண்டோம் திருக்குறளினிலே
உலகமெனும் தமிழ் கோயிலிலே
உலகமெனும் தமிழ் கோயிலிலே
"One man for one woman," as the ideal
We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural,
In this temple of Tamil called the world,
In this temple of Tamil called the world.
நெஞ்சிருந்தால் நினைவிருக்கும்
நினைவில் ஒரு மலர் இருக்கும்
நெஞ்சிருந்தால் நினைவிருக்கும்
நினைவில் ஒரு மலர் இருக்கும்
ஒரு மலரில் மனது வைத்து
உறவுக்கொண்டால் நல்ல சுகம் கிடைக்கும்
If there is a heart, memories will dwell within;
In those memories, a blossom will bloom.
If there is a heart, memories will dwell within;
In those memories, a blossom will bloom.
Placing one's affection on a single flower,
And forming a bond with it brings true bliss.
கங்கையிலே குளிக்கையிலே
காவிரியில் மனது வைத்தால்
அந்த சுகம் இது தருமோ
இந்த சுகம் அது தருமோ
While taking a dip in the holy Ganges,
If your heart wanders away to the Cauvery,
Can that pleasure match this current bliss?
Can this pleasure ever match that one?
ஒருவனுக்கு ஒருத்தி என்றே
உறவுக் கொண்டோம் திருக்குறளினிலே
உலகமெனும் தமிழ் கோயிலிலே
உலகமெனும் தமிழ் கோயிலிலே
"One man for one woman," as the ideal
We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural,
In this temple of Tamil called the world,
In this temple of Tamil called the world.
ஸ்ரீராமன் ஜானகியின்
திருமுகத்தை பார்த்திருந்தான்
இன்றுவரை அழியாமல்
இதயங்கள் மீதே வாழுகின்றாள்
Lord Sri Rama constantly gazed
Upon the divine face of Janaki (Sita).
Immortal and unfading to this day,
She lives forever atop human hearts.
ராமனுக்கு ஓர் மனது நல்லவர்க்கு ஓர் உறவு
காலமெல்லாம் வானமதில்
காண்பதெல்லாம் ஓர் நிலவு
Rama had a singular heart; noble people share a singular bond.
Throughout all time, across the sky,
All we ever see is a single moon.
ஒருவனுக்கு ஒருத்தி என்றே
உறவுக் கொண்டோம் திருக்குறளினிலே
உலகமெனும் தமிழ் கோயிலிலே
உலகமெனும் தமிழ் கோயிலிலே
"One man for one woman," as the ideal
We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural,
In this temple of Tamil called the world,
In this temple of Tamil called the world.
Oruvanukku oruththi endrae
"One man for one woman," as the ideal
Uravu kondom thirukkuralinilae
We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural,
Ulagamenum tamil koyililae
In this temple of Tamil called the world,
Ulagamenum tamil koyililae
In this temple of Tamil called the world.
Nenjirunthaal ninaivirukkum
If there is a heart, memories will dwell within;
Ninaivil oru malar irukkum
In those memories, a blossom will bloom.
Nenjirunthaal ninaivirukkum
If there is a heart, memories will dwell within;
Ninaivil oru malar irukkum
In those memories, a blossom will bloom.
Oru malaril manathu vaiththu
Placing one's affection on a single flower,
Uravukondaal nalla sugam kidaikkum
And forming a bond with it brings true bliss.
Gangaiyilae kulikkaiyilae
While taking a dip in the holy Ganges,
Kaveriyil manathu vaiththaal
If your heart wanders away to the Cauvery,
Antha sugam idhu tharumo
Can that pleasure match this current bliss?
Intha sugam adhu tharumo
Can this pleasure ever match that one?
Oruvanukku oruththu endrae
"One man for one woman," as the ideal
Uravu kondom thirukuralinilae
We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural,
Ulagamenum tamil koyililae
In this temple of Tamil called the world,
Ulagamenum tamil koyililae
In this temple of Tamil called the world.
Sriraman janaki
Lord Sri Rama constantly gazed
Thirumugaththai paarththirunthaan
Upon the divine face of Janaki (Sita).
Indruvarai azhiyaamal
Immortal and unfading to this day,
Idhayangal meethe vaazhugindraal
She lives forever atop human hearts.
Ramanukku orr manathu nallavarkku orr uravu
Rama had a singular heart; noble people share a singular bond.
Kaalamellaam vaanamathil
Throughout all time, across the sky,
Kaanpathellaam orr nilavu
All we ever see is a single moon.
Oruvanukku oruththi endrae
"One man for one woman," as the ideal
Uravu kondom thirukkuralinilae
We formed relationships guided by the Thirukkural,
Ulagamenum tamil koyililae
In this temple of Tamil called the world,
Ulagamenum tamil koyililae
In this temple of Tamil called the world.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from 'Thenum Paalum' (1971) celebrates the cultural and moral ideal of monogamy and total devotion in romantic love, summarized by the famous Tamil adage 'Oruvanukku Oruththi' (One man for one woman). Drawing inspiration from the ancient wisdom of the Thirukkural, the lyrics argue that true happiness and contentment stem from unwavering commitment to a single partner rather than seeking satisfaction in divided affections.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Ulagamenum tamil koyililae”
Compares the world ('Ulagam') to a Tamil temple ('Tamil koyil'), elevating earthly life to a sacred space governed by virtuous ideals.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Antha sugam idhu tharumo / Intha sugam adhu tharumo”
Both consecutive lines end with the symmetrical interrogative word 'tharumo', creating a musical end-rhyme.
Allusion (Mythological / Cultural)
“Sriraman janaki thirumugaththai paarththirunthaan”
References the epic lore of Lord Rama and Sita (Janaki) as the ultimate cultural symbol of devotion and marital fidelity.
Analogy
“Kaalamellaam vaanamathil kaanpathellaam orr nilavu”
Draws an analogy between the single moon that illuminates the sky and the single partner who fills one's heart.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist Kannadasan anchored the song's primary theme around the core tenet of Tamil morality—monogamy—as codified in the Thirukkural. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung by P. Susheela, the song remains one of Tamil cinema's most revered cultural anthems on fidelity and romantic devotion.
Keep listening
More from Thenum Paalum
Thenum Paalum
Thenum Paalum
Thenum Paalum
Thenum Paalum