Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Othayilae

From Endrendrum Punnagai · 2013

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singers
Tippu, Abhay Jodhpurkar
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Endrendrum Punnagai2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Othaiyila ulaghamBeing alone, the world
Maranthu pochuHas been forgotten
Unna paththi ussuruMy entire life is filled with thoughts
Muzhukka pechuAnd talk about you
Male
Nenjai thulaikuthae…It pierces my heart...
Uyir valikuthae…My soul aches...
Ohoho… ho… hoOhoho… ho… ho
Nammai naamaeRelying on
Nambi vazhnthaEach other as we lived
Natppu meendum varumaaWill that friendship ever return?
Chorus
Othaiyila ulaghamBeing alone, the world
Maranthu pochuHas been forgotten
Unna paththi ussuruMy entire life is filled with thoughts
Muzhukka pechuAnd talk about you
Chorus
Nenjai thulaikuthae…ae…It pierces my heart...
Uyir valikuthae…ae….My soul aches...
Nammai naamaeRelying on
Nambi vazhnthaEach other as we lived
Natppu meendum varumaaWill that friendship ever return?
Female
Ah.. aaaa aaa ahAh.. aaaa aaa ah
Ah.. aaaa aaa ahAh.. aaaa aaa ah
Male
Arattaigal adithomaeWe chattered endlessly
Kurattaiyil sirithomaeWe laughed out loud at snorts
Parattaiyaai thirinthomaeWe wandered with unkempt hair
Ippodhu paadhiyil pirinthomaeNow we have parted ways midway
Male
Iravinil nizhalaghaaLike a shadow in the night
Iruvarai izhunthenaeI lost both of them
Mazhayinil azhuthalaeIf one cries in the rain
Kanneerai yaaru adhai arivaroWho would notice those tears?
Chorus
Avan tholaivinilIs he a continuing story
Thodar kadhaiyyoIn the distance?
Ivan vizhigalil vidukadhaiyyoIs it a riddle in his eyes?
Inimel nanae thaniyal aanenFrom now on, I am left all alone
Natppu enna nadippoIs friendship just an act?
Female
Uu uu uoo u oo uuuUu uu uoo u oo uuu
Uu uu uoo u oo uuuUu uu uoo u oo uuu
Hmmm…mmmm..mmmHmmm…mmmm..mmm
Hmmmm…mmm…mmmmHmmm…mmm…mmmm
Male
Namakena irunthomaeWe lived for each other
Dhinasari piranthomaeWe were reborn every single day
Dhisaigalaai pirinthomaeWe drifted apart in different directions
Kalyaana kaattinil tholainthomaeWe got lost in the jungle of marriage
Male
Panithuli malaroduLike a dewdrop with a flower
Pazhakkangal silaroduAre habits/bonds with certain people
Natppuku mudivedhuWhere is the end for true friendship?
Endrae nee sonnathu marakkathuWhat you said will never be forgotten
Chorus
Nanum marakiren mudiyalayaeI try to forget, but I cannot
Kanneer vadikiren karaiyillaiyaeI shed tears that have no shore
Irunthen unnalI existed because of you
Iruppen unnaalI will live because of you
Natppu serkum oru naalFriendship will unite us one day
Chorus
Othaiyila ulaghamBeing alone, the world
Maranthu pochuHas been forgotten
Female :Aaaa…aaa…aaaFemale: Aaaa…aaa…aaa
Chorus :Unna paththi ussuruChorus: My entire life is filled with thoughts
Muzhukka pechuAnd talk about you
Female :Aaaa…aaa…aaaFemale: Aaaa…aaa…aaa
Male
Nenjai thulaikuthae…ae…It pierces my heart...
Uyir valikuthae…ae….My soul aches...
Nammai naamaeRelying on
Nambi vazhnthaEach other as we lived
Natppu meendum varumaaWill that friendship ever return?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Othaiyila' from 'Endrendrum Punnagai' depicts the deep grief, loneliness, and emotional pain experienced when an unbreakable bond between close friends breaks down. The narrator reflects on nostalgic memories of their careless, joyous past—chattering, laughing, and wandering together—contrasting it with the present state of isolation and misunderstanding brought on by life's changes and ego.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Arattaigal adithomae / Kurattaiyil sirithomae / Parattaiyaai thirinthomae / Ippodhu paadhiyil pirinthomae

The lines end with similar sounding rhythmic suffixes ('thomae'), creating an internal rhyming structure that highlights nostalgic memories.

Metaphor

Kalyaana kaattinil tholainthomae

Compares marriage to a dense wilderness or jungle where the friends got lost and separated from each other.

Simile

Iravinil nizhalaghaa

Compares losing companions to disappearing like a shadow merging into the dark night.

Ethugai (Second-letter agreement)

Arattaigal / Kurattaiyil / Parattaiyaai

The second consonant sound 'ra' (ர) is repeated across consecutive lines to establish poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Othaiyila' was composed by Harris Jayaraj for the film 'Endrendrum Punnagai' (2013), directed by I. Ahmed. Sung emotionally by Tippu and Abhay Jodhpurkar, with lyrics by Kabilan, the track plays during a crucial narrative turning point where the central trio of friends (played by Jiiva, Vinay Rai, and Santhanam) drift apart due to ego and life commitments.

Keep listening

More from Endrendrum Punnagai