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Isaimozhi
Vel album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ottrai Kannale

From Vel · 2007

Lyricist
Hari
Singers
Haricharan, Suchithra Kartik Kumar
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Movie name
Vel
Movie release year
2007
Lyrics added on
14 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…..
Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadi
Orangha villa en manasu
Orakkannaala ennai paarthaayadi
Orangha villa en manasu
Puriyalayae puriyalayae nee yaarunnu puriyalayae
Theriyalayae theriyalayae idhu kaadhal thannu theriyalayae
Puriyaatha pennai paarthaa
Pudusaathaan kaadhal pookkuthae
Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadi
Orangha villa en manasu
O….. saalaiyora pookkal ellaam
Unnai parthu vizhugirathae
Maalai nera pattaamboochi unnai parkka thudikirathae
Nitham nitham unnai ninaithu
Ratham ellaam kothikkirathae
Unnai unnai nerungumbothu
Athanai narambum vedikirathae
Pennae unkaal thadangal
Manmeethu Oviyamaai
Kannae un kai nagangal
Vinmeethu venpiraiyaai
Theriyaatha pennai paarthaal
Theriyaamal kaadhal pookkuthae
Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadi
Orangha villa en manasu
Oohhh..ooohhhoo..Kodaikaala saaral ondru
Ennai viratti nanaikirathae
Kaalai neram kaalai thotta
Panithuli kooda sudugirathae
Malarae malarae unthan vaasam
Enthan nenjai udakkirathae
Azhagay azhagay undhan paarvai
Ennai katti izhukkirathae
Pennae un vaaimozhigal naan konda vethangalaa
Kannae un gyabagangal naan konda saabangalaa
Ariyaatha pennai paarthaal
Ariyaamal kaadhal pookkuthae
Otrai kannaala unnai parthenadi
Orangha villa en manasu
Orakkannaala ennai paarthaayadi
Orangha villa en manasu
Puriyalayae puriyalayae nee yaarunnu puriyalayae
Theriyalayae theriyalayae idhu kaadhal thannu theriyalayae
Puriyaatha pennai paarthaa
Pudusaathaan kaadhal pookkuthae
Kaadhal pookkuthae..
Nana nanana naanaa…
...
I looked at you with one eye, girl
And my heart couldn't sleep
You looked at me from the corner of your eye, girl
And my heart couldn't sleep
I don't understand, I don't understand who you are
I didn't know, I didn't know that this is love
When I look at an unfamiliar girl,
Love blooms in a brand new way
I looked at you with one eye, girl
And my heart couldn't sleep
Oh... all the flowers by the roadside
Fall down just looking at you
The evening butterfly is eager to see you
Thinking of you every single day,
All my blood boils with excitement
Every time I come near you,
Every single nerve explodes inside me
Girl, your footprints
Look like artwork on the ground
My dear, your fingernails
Look like white crescent moons in the sky
When I look at a girl I don't know,
Love blooms without my knowing
I looked at you with one eye, girl
And my heart couldn't sleep
Ooh... ooho... a sudden summer drizzle
Chases after me and gets me wet
Touching my feet in the morning,
Even a drop of dew burns hot
O flower, your fragrance
Breaks my heart in pieces
O beauty, your gaze
Ties me up and pulls me in
Girl, are the words you speak sacred scriptures to me?
My dear, are the memories of you curses upon me?
When I look at a girl I don't know,
Love blooms without me realizing
I looked at you with one eye, girl
And my heart couldn't sleep
You looked at me from the corner of your eye, girl
And my heart couldn't sleep
I don't understand, I don't understand who you are
I didn't know, I didn't know that this is love
When I look at an unfamiliar girl,
Love blooms in a brand new way
Love is blooming...
Nana nanana naanaa...
Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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