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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Osaka Muraiya

From Alli Arjuna · 2001

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Vasundhara Das, Karthik
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Alli Arjuna2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oh vaa vaa vaa vaa paattu paaduOh, come, come, come, come, sing a song
Oh no no no no kattuppaaduOh, no, no, no, no restrictions
Oh yen yen yen yen kattuppaaduOh, why, why, why, why restrictions?
Kaattrukku kadivaalam edharkkuWhy put a bridle on the wind?
Female
Osakkaa muraiyaaIs this proper, Osaka?
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahOh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Orae kelvi ketppenI will ask just one question
Badhil enna aiyaaWhat is the answer, sir?
Female
Osakkaa muraiyaaIs this proper, Osaka?
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahOh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Ilam pennai vidavumCompared to young women
Ada aangal niraiyaaHey, are there more men?
Male
Ada idhae kelviyai nootraandaaiHey, don't ask this same question
Ketkkaadhae ketkkaadhaeFor centuries, don't ask it!
Male
Orae pondra vaazhkkaiAn identical life
Ada mann meedhu illaiHey, does not exist on this earth
Orae pondra meghamAn identical cloud
Ada vaan meedhu illaiHey, does not exist in the sky
Male
Orae sattamA single law
Sellaadhu sellaadhuWill not work, will not work!
Oiyoiyoyo oiyoiyoyoOiyoiyoyo oiyoiyoyo
Aanum pennum thottaalIf a man and a woman touch each other
Kudi moozhgividaadhuThe household won't fall apart
Thiri thodum minnal melOver lightning that touches a wick
Courttu minnaadhuThe court does not strike a flash
Male
Osakkaa muraiyaaIs this proper, Osaka?
Female :Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahFemale: Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Female
Oh vaa vaa vaa vaa paattu paaduOh, come, come, come, come, sing a song
Oh no no no no kattuppaaduOh, no, no, no, no restrictions
Oh yen yen yen yen kattuppaaduOh, why, why, why, why restrictions?
Kaattrukku kadivaalam edharkkuWhy put a bridle on the wind?
Male
Ho… bhoomidhaanaeHo... the earth itself
Unnai sumakka vendumShould carry you
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeahYeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Bhoomi thookki nee yenWhy should you lift the earth
Sumakka vendumAnd carry it yourself?
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeahYeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Female
Ho…vaarthai unnai pandhaadiHo... before words juggle you
Paarkkum munnaeAnd watch
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahOh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Vaazhkkaiyodu pandhaadiWhat if you juggle with life
Paarththaal ennaAnd see?
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahOh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Male
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeahYeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yaaya yeahYeah yeah yeah yeah yaaya yeah
Muraiyaa yeah yeah yeah yeah yeahIs it proper? Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Male
Ulagangal rockettilWhen the worlds travel on rockets
Viraigindra podhuAnd speed along
Naththaiyodu payanamaaIs it a journey with a snail?
Thaathaavin pallaakkilIf I ride and go
Naan yeri ponaalIn grandfather's palanquin
America poi serkkumaaWill it reach America?
Female
Osakkaa muraiyaaIs this proper, Osaka?
Male :Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahMale: Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Osakkaa muraiyaaIs this proper, Osaka?
Female :Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahFemale: Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Male
Rendu nenjum sandhithaalIf two hearts meet
E p covil kuttram illaiyaeThere is no crime under the IPC code
Mounam vandhu seraavittaalIf silence doesn't come and join in
Dhegham ondrum thevaiyillaiyaeThe physical body isn't required at all
Female
Oh ho sondha bandangal vaaithaalaeOh ho, if genuine relationships are formed
Konji kolla kuttram illaiyaeDoting on each other is not a crime
Carrom boardil kaai edhumOn a carrom board, if no coin
Vizhaavittaal nattam illaiyaePockets in, there is no loss
Male
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeahOh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yaaya yeahYeah yeah yeah yeah yaaya yeah
Muraiyaa yeah yeah yeah yeah yeahIs it proper? Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Male
Mayakkam illaadhaCrowns without excitement
Magudangal vendaamAre not needed
Manam pola thunai thedungalSeek a companion according to your heart's desire
Karaiyeri vilaiyaadumLike a cluster of waves
Alai koottam polaThat come ashore and play
Karam serththu vilaiyaadungalJoin hands and play
Male
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahOh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Osaakkaa muraiyaaIs this proper, Osaka?
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeahOh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Male
Orae pondra vaazhkkaiAn identical life
Ada mann meedhu illaiHey, does not exist on this earth
Orae pondra meghamAn identical cloud
Ada vaan meedhu illaiHey, does not exist in the sky
Male
Orae sattamA single law
Sellaadhu sellaadhuWill not work, will not work!
Oiyoiyoyo oiyoiyoyoOiyoiyoyo oiyoiyoyo
Aanum pennum thottaalIf a man and a woman touch each other
Kudi moozhgividaadhuThe household won't fall apart
Thiri thodum minnal melOver lightning that touches a wick
Courttu minnaadhuThe court does not strike a flash
Osaakkaa muraiyaaIs this proper, Osaka?
Female
Oh vaa vaa vaa vaa paattu paaduOh, come, come, come, come, sing a song
Oh no no no no kattuppaaduOh, no, no, no, no restrictions
Oh yen yen yen yen kattuppaaduOh, why, why, why, why restrictions?
Kaattrukku kadivaalam edharkkuWhy put a bridle on the wind?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Osakkaa Muraiyaa' from the movie Alli Arjuna is an upbeat youth anthem that challenges outdated traditional norms, societal constraints, and moral policing. Vairamuthu's lyrics advocate for individual freedom, progressive thinking, and living life on one's own terms rather than adhering to centuries-old dogmas. Through energetic metaphors—such as questioning if a grandfather's palanquin can take someone to America or why one would put a bridle on the wind—the track urges the younger generation to embrace modern progress, fall in love freely, and enjoy life without fear of unwritten social restrictions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kaattrukku kadivaalam edharkku

Compares human freedom and youthfulness to the wild wind, asking why society attempts to put a bridle (bridle/control) on it.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Orae pondra vaazhkkai / Orae pondra megham

Repetition of the initial word 'Orae' across consecutive lines creates an engaging rhythmic harmony.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Oh vaa vaa vaa vaa paattu paadu / Oh no no no no kattuppaadu

Matching ending sounds 'paadu' and 'kattuppaadu' create a playful rhyming scheme.

Hyperbole / Rhetorical Question

Thaathaavin pallaakkil naan yeri ponaal America poi serkkumaa

Uses an exaggerated hypothetical question about riding a grandfather's palanquin to America to highlight how obsolete traditional methods are in modern times.

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack for 'Alli Arjuna' (2001) was composed by A. R. Rahman, featuring lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song blends contemporary pop/dance rhythms with progressive, rebellious Tamil lyrics standard for youth-centric films of the early 2000s.

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