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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ottrai Kannale

From Vel · 2007

Lyricist
Hari
Singers
Haricharan, Suchithra Kartik Kumar
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Vel2007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
….....
Male
Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadiI looked at you with one eye, girl,
Orangha villa en manasuMy heart refuses to rest.
Orakkannaala ennai paarthaayadiYou looked at me from the corner of your eye, girl,
Orangha villa en manasuMy heart refuses to rest.
Male
Puriyalayae puriyalayae nee yaarunnu puriyalayaeI don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand who you are.
Theriyalayae theriyalayae idhu kaadhal thannu theriyalayaeI didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know that this is love.
Puriyaatha pennai paarthaaWhen looking at a mysterious girl,
Pudusaathaan kaadhal pookkuthaeLove blossoms anew.
Male
Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadiI looked at you with one eye, girl,
Orangha villa en manasuMy heart refuses to rest.
Male
O….. saalaiyora pookkal ellaamOh... all the flowers by the roadside,
Unnai parthu vizhugirathaeAre swooning as they look at you.
Maalai nera pattaamboochi unnai parkka thudikirathaeThe evening butterfly twitches in eagerness to see you.
Nitham nitham unnai ninaithuThinking of you every single day,
Ratham ellaam kothikkirathaeAll my blood boils inside.
Unnai unnai nerungumbothuWhen I get close to you,
Athanai narambum vedikirathaeEvery single nerve explodes with anticipation.
Male
Pennae unkaal thadangalGirl, your footprints,
Manmeethu OviyamaaiAre like paintings on the soil.
Kannae un kai nagangalMy dear, your fingernails,
Vinmeethu venpiraiyaaiAre like crescent moons in the sky.
Theriyaatha pennai paarthaalWhen looking at a girl unknown,
Theriyaamal kaadhal pookkuthaeLove unknowingly blossoms.
Male
Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadiI looked at you with one eye, girl,
Orangha villa en manasuMy heart refuses to rest.
Male
Oohhh..ooohhhoo..Kodaikaala saaral ondruOoh... a summer shower,
Ennai viratti nanaikirathaeChases and drenches me.
Kaalai neram kaalai thottaTouching my feet in the morning,
Panithuli kooda sudugirathaeEven the dewdrop feels hot.
Malarae malarae unthan vaasamOh flower, oh flower, your fragrance,
Enthan nenjai udakkirathaeShatters my heart into pieces.
Azhagay azhagay undhan paarvaiOh beautiful one, your gaze,
Ennai katti izhukkirathaeBinds me and pulls me in.
Male
Pennae un vaaimozhigal naan konda vethangalaaGirl, are your spoken words the sacred scriptures I hold?
Kannae un gyabagangal naan konda saabangalaaMy dear, are your memories the curses I carry?
Ariyaatha pennai paarthaalWhen looking at an unfamiliar girl,
Ariyaamal kaadhal pookkuthaeUnknowingly, love blossoms.
Male
Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadiI looked at you with one eye, girl,
Orangha villa en manasuMy heart refuses to rest.
Orakkannaala ennai paarthaayadiYou looked at me from the corner of your eye, girl,
Orangha villa en manasuMy heart refuses to rest.
Male
Puriyalayae puriyalayae nee yaarunnu puriyalayaeI don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand who you are.
Theriyalayae theriyalayae idhu kaadhal thannu theriyalayaeI didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know that this is love.
Puriyaatha pennai paarthaaWhen looking at a mysterious girl,
Pudusaathaan kaadhal pookkuthaeLove blossoms anew.
Male
Kaadhal pookkuthae..Love blossoms...
Nana nanana naanaa…Nana nanana naanaa…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Otrai Kannaala' expresses the overwhelming and exhilarating experience of sudden love. The protagonist describes how a mere glance from a mysterious, unfamiliar girl disrupts his peace of mind, making his blood boil with excitement and keeping him restless. He marvels at her beauty, comparing her footprints to artwork and her fingernails to crescent moons, while feeling that nature itself reacts to her presence. Ultimately, the song captures the magical, unexplainable awakening of romantic feelings toward someone who was previously a stranger.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaikkal (Alliteration / Initial Rhyme)

Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadi / Orangha villa en manasu

Repetition of the initial 'O' sound across consecutive lines ('Otrai', 'Orangha', 'Orakkannaala').

Edupukkal / Repetition (Anaphora)

Puriyalayae puriyalayae nee yaarunnu puriyalayae

Emphasis through repetition of words like 'Puriyalayae' and 'Theriyalayae' to convey intense confusion and emotional overwhelm.

Uvamaani (Simile)

Pennae unkaal thadangal / Manmeethu Oviyamaai

Comparing the girl's footprints to paintings on the dirt and her fingernails to crescent moons in the sky.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirtchi)

Kaalai neram kaalai thotta / Panithuli kooda sudugirathae

Exaggerating the feeling of love, describing blood boiling, nerves exploding, and dewdrops feeling hot to the touch.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Otrai Kannaala' is a popular hit from the 2007 Tamil action-drama film 'Vel', starring Suriya in dual roles alongside Asin. The soundtrack was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, and the song was sung by Haricharan and Suchitra, becoming a chartbuster upon its release.

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