Othaiya Rettaiyaa
From Vaigarai Pookkal · 1996
- Lyricist
- E. Mu. Vetrivelan
- Singer
- Gangai Amaran
- Music director
- Devendran
- Details
- Vaigarai Pookkal1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa | Odd or even, altogether, |
| Onnu sernthu varanum | Everyone must come united. |
| Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile | Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts, |
| Vetriyinai tharanum | Victory must be granted. |
| Male | |
| Pettai kozhi onnu sabatham poduthu | A hen takes a grand vow |
| Kolli malaiyile | Upon the Kolli hills. |
| Nathaangoodu onnu viratham kaakkuthu | A snail shell observes a fast |
| Nandu valaiyile | Inside a crab's hole. |
| Male | |
| Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa | Odd or even, altogether, |
| Ondru sernthu varanum | Everyone must come united. |
| Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile | Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts, |
| Vetriyinai tharanum | Victory must be granted. |
| Male | |
| Pattukotta paatta | The legendary song of Pattukkottai, |
| Puthu raagam pottu neetta | Set to a new ragam and extended, |
| Vanthirukku neram ithai | The time has come, |
| Ellaarum kondaada venum | Everyone must celebrate this. |
| Male | |
| Paavalara pola | Just like Pavalar, |
| Pala nooru medai kaana | To grace hundreds of stages, |
| Vaadaa chinna thambi | Come on, my younger brother, |
| Nee vanthaa kulirum en nenju | If you come, my heart will feel relieved and joyful. |
| Male | |
| Namma paattaali peraala | In the name of our working class, |
| Pallaanguzhi aadi | Playing mancala, |
| Koothaadi vikkiraandaa naatta | Making antics, he is selling off the country! |
| Itha solli ezhutha venum paatta | Highlighting this, you must write a song. |
| Male | |
| Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa | Odd or even, altogether, |
| Onnu sernthu varanum | Everyone must come united. |
| Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile | Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts, |
| Vetriyinai tharanum | Victory must be granted. |
| Male | |
| Saathi endru solli | In the name of caste, |
| Oru paathiyaagi ponom | We became divided into halves. |
| Neethi endru solli | In the name of justice, |
| Theru naayoda koottaali aanom | We became companions to stray dogs. |
| Male | |
| Sithan sonna vaakku | The wise words spoken by the Siddhars |
| Sudu saambalaagi pochu | Have turned into burning ashes. |
| Bakthan endra pechum | The talk of being a pious devotee |
| Puthu kattaari thuppaaki aachu | Has transformed into daggers and guns. |
| Male | |
| Namma paattaali ellaarum | Unless all our working people |
| Koottaali aagaamal | Unite as true allies, |
| Neraathada oru maatram | No real change will ever occur, my friend; |
| Nee sethaalum kittaathu motcham | Even if you die, salvation will not be attained. |
| Male | |
| Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa | Odd or even, altogether, |
| Ondru sernthu varanum | Everyone must come united. |
| Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile | Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts, |
| Vetriyinai tharanum | Victory must be granted. |
| Male | |
| Pettai kozhi onnu sabatham poduthu | A hen takes a grand vow |
| Kolli malaiyile | Upon the Kolli hills. |
| Nathaangoodu onnu viratham kaakkuthu | A snail shell observes a fast |
| Nandu valaiyile | Inside a crab's hole. |
| Male | |
| Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa | Odd or even, altogether, |
| Ondru sernthu varanum | Everyone must come united. |
| Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile | Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts, |
| Vetriyinai tharanum.. | Victory must be granted. |
கங்கை அமரன்
Odd or even, altogether,
Everyone must come united.
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Victory must be granted.
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா மொத்தமா
ஒன்று சேர்ந்து வரணும்
துச்சமா எண்ணித்தான் நெஞ்சிலே
வெற்றியினை தரணும்
A hen takes a grand vow
Upon the Kolli hills.
A snail shell observes a fast
Inside a crab's hole.
பெட்டைக்கோழி ஒண்ணு சபதம் போடுது
கொல்லி மலையிலே
நத்தாங்கூடு ஒண்ணு விரதம் காக்குது
நண்டு வலையிலே
Odd or even, altogether,
Everyone must come united.
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Victory must be granted.
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா மொத்தமா
ஒன்று சேர்ந்து வரணும்
துச்சமா எண்ணித்தான் நெஞ்சிலே
வெற்றியினை தரணும்
The legendary song of Pattukkottai,
Set to a new ragam and extended,
The time has come,
Everyone must celebrate this.
பட்டுக்கோட்ட பாட்ட
புது ராகம் போட்டு நீட்ட
வந்திருக்கு நேரம் இதை
எல்லாரும் கொண்டாட வேணும்
Just like Pavalar,
To grace hundreds of stages,
Come on, my younger brother,
If you come, my heart will feel relieved and joyful.
பாவலரப் போல
பல நூறு மேடை காண
வாடா சின்ன தம்பி
நீ வந்தா குளிரும் என் நெஞ்சு
In the name of our working class,
Playing mancala,
Making antics, he is selling off the country!
Highlighting this, you must write a song.
நம்ம பாட்டாளி பேரால
பல்லாங்குழி ஆடி
கூத்தாடி விக்கிறான்டா நாட்ட
இதச் சொல்லி எழுத வேணும் பாட்ட
Odd or even, altogether,
Everyone must come united.
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Victory must be granted.
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா மொத்தமா
ஒன்று சேர்ந்து வரணும்
துச்சமா எண்ணித்தான் நெஞ்சிலே
வெற்றியினை தரணும்
In the name of caste,
We became divided into halves.
In the name of justice,
We became companions to stray dogs.
சாதி என்று சொல்லி
ஒரு பாதியாகி போனோம்
நீதி என்று சொல்லி
தெரு நாயோட கூட்டாளி ஆனோம்
The wise words spoken by the Siddhars
Have turned into burning ashes.
The talk of being a pious devotee
Has transformed into daggers and guns.
சித்தன் சொன்ன வாக்கு
சுடு சாம்பலாகி போச்சு
பக்தன் என்ற பேச்சும்
புது கட்டாரி துப்பாக்கி ஆச்சு
Unless all our working people
Unite as true allies,
No real change will ever occur, my friend;
Even if you die, salvation will not be attained.
நம்ம பாட்டாளி எல்லாரும்
கூட்டாளி ஆகாமல்
நேராதடா ஒரு மாற்றம்
நீ செத்தாலும் கிட்டாது மோட்சம்
Odd or even, altogether,
Everyone must come united.
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Victory must be granted.
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா மொத்தமா
ஒன்று சேர்ந்து வரணும்
துச்சமா எண்ணித்தான் நெஞ்சிலே
வெற்றியினை தரணும்
A hen takes a grand vow
Upon the Kolli hills.
A snail shell observes a fast
Inside a crab's hole.
பெட்டைக்கோழி ஒண்ணு சபதம் போடுது
கொல்லி மலையிலே
நத்தாங்கூடு ஒண்ணு விரதம் காக்குது
நண்டு வலையிலே
Odd or even, altogether,
Everyone must come united.
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Victory must be granted.
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா மொத்தமா
ஒன்று சேர்ந்து வரணும்
துச்சமா எண்ணித்தான் நெஞ்சிலே
வெற்றியினை தரணும்....
Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa
Odd or even, altogether,
Onnu sernthu varanum
Everyone must come united.
Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Vetriyinai tharanum
Victory must be granted.
Pettai kozhi onnu sabatham poduthu
A hen takes a grand vow
Kolli malaiyile
Upon the Kolli hills.
Nathaangoodu onnu viratham kaakkuthu
A snail shell observes a fast
Nandu valaiyile
Inside a crab's hole.
Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa
Odd or even, altogether,
Ondru sernthu varanum
Everyone must come united.
Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Vetriyinai tharanum
Victory must be granted.
Pattukotta paatta
The legendary song of Pattukkottai,
Puthu raagam pottu neetta
Set to a new ragam and extended,
Vanthirukku neram ithai
The time has come,
Ellaarum kondaada venum
Everyone must celebrate this.
Paavalara pola
Just like Pavalar,
Pala nooru medai kaana
To grace hundreds of stages,
Vaadaa chinna thambi
Come on, my younger brother,
Nee vanthaa kulirum en nenju
If you come, my heart will feel relieved and joyful.
Namma paattaali peraala
In the name of our working class,
Pallaanguzhi aadi
Playing mancala,
Koothaadi vikkiraandaa naatta
Making antics, he is selling off the country!
Itha solli ezhutha venum paatta
Highlighting this, you must write a song.
Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa
Odd or even, altogether,
Onnu sernthu varanum
Everyone must come united.
Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Vetriyinai tharanum
Victory must be granted.
Saathi endru solli
In the name of caste,
Oru paathiyaagi ponom
We became divided into halves.
Neethi endru solli
In the name of justice,
Theru naayoda koottaali aanom
We became companions to stray dogs.
Sithan sonna vaakku
The wise words spoken by the Siddhars
Sudu saambalaagi pochu
Have turned into burning ashes.
Bakthan endra pechum
The talk of being a pious devotee
Puthu kattaari thuppaaki aachu
Has transformed into daggers and guns.
Namma paattaali ellaarum
Unless all our working people
Koottaali aagaamal
Unite as true allies,
Neraathada oru maatram
No real change will ever occur, my friend;
Nee sethaalum kittaathu motcham
Even if you die, salvation will not be attained.
Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa
Odd or even, altogether,
Ondru sernthu varanum
Everyone must come united.
Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Vetriyinai tharanum
Victory must be granted.
Pettai kozhi onnu sabatham poduthu
A hen takes a grand vow
Kolli malaiyile
Upon the Kolli hills.
Nathaangoodu onnu viratham kaakkuthu
A snail shell observes a fast
Nandu valaiyile
Inside a crab's hole.
Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa
Odd or even, altogether,
Ondru sernthu varanum
Everyone must come united.
Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile
Treating hardship as insignificant in our hearts,
Vetriyinai tharanum..
Victory must be granted.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This folk-infused social commentary song from 'Vaigarai Pookkal' (1996) calls for absolute unity among the working class to overcome systemic oppression and political deception. Through surreal folk metaphors—like a hen taking a vow on Kolli Hills or a snail fasting in a crab hole—the lyricist satirizes the empty promises and absurd claims made by corrupt politicians who play games while selling off the nation's assets. The song explicitly invokes the legacy of communist poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram and Pavalar Varadharajan, urging younger generations to use art and music as powerful weapons for social reform. Furthermore, the song strongly condemns the divisive forces of casteism and religious fanaticism, warning that spiritual pretense has turned into violence ('daggers and guns'). It asserts that true freedom and salvation can only be achieved when workers transcend superficial differences, stop being misled by fake justice, and stand completely united as one force.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Othaiyaa rettaiyaa mothamaa / Thutchamaa ennithaan nenjile”
Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive lines, such as 'Othaiyaa' and 'Thutchamaa' or 'Saathi' and 'Neethi'.
Moonaam Ezhuthu Ethukai (Third-letter Rhyme)
“Pattukotta paatta / Puthu raagam pottu neetta”
Matching of consonant sounds in subsequent lines like 'Pattukotta' and 'Puthu raagam'.
Satire / Folk Metaphor
“Pettai kozhi onnu sabatham poduthu / Kolli malaiyile”
Absurdist animal imagery ('Pettai kozhi' taking a vow on Kolli Hills) used to ridicule empty political rhetoric.
Allusion
“Pattukotta paatta / Paavalara pola”
Direct reference to historic Tamil socio-political bards Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram and Pavalar Varadharajan.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyric explicitly references 'Pattukotta paattu' (songs of Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram) and 'Paavalar' (Pavalar Varadharajan, the iconic elder brother of Ilaiyaraaja and Gangai Amaran), paying tribute to the Left-leaning Tamil musical tradition of social awakening.
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