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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ovoru Pookalume

From Autograph · 2004

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Autograph2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{ Ovvoru pookalumae solkiradhaeEvery flower says,
Vaazhvendral poraadum porkalamae } (2)Life is a battlefield where you must fight.
Ovvoru vidiyalumae solgiradhaeEvery flower says,
Iravanaal pagal ondru vanthidumaeLife is a battlefield where you must fight.
Female
Nambikai enbathu vendum nam vaazhvilEvery dawn says,
Latchiyam nichayam vellum oru naalilIf night falls, a day will definitely come.
Manamae oh manamae nee maarividuFaith is required in our lives,
Malaiyo adhu paniyo nee mothividuAmbition will surely win one day.
Female
………………………………………Oh mind, oh mind, change yourself!
Female
Ullam endrum eppothumWhether it is a mountain or snow, clash against it!
Udainthu poga kudaathuThe heart should never,
Enna indha vaazhkai endraBreak down at any time.
Ennam thondra kudaathu
Female
Endha manitha nenjukul"What kind of life is this?"
Kaayam illai sollungalSuch a thought should never arise.
Kaalapokil kaayamellaamInside which human heart,
Marainthu pogum maayangalIs there no wound? Tell me.
Female
Uzhi thaangum karkal thaanaeAs time passes, all wounds,
Manmeethu silaiyaagumAre magical illusions that disappear.
Vali thaangum ullam thaanaeOnly stones that endure the chisel,
Nilaiyaana sugam kaanumBecome statues upon the earth.
Female
Yaarukillai poraatamOnly a heart that endures pain,
Kannil enna neerotamWill experience permanent happiness.
Oru kanavu kandaalWho does not have a struggle?
Adhai thinam muyandraalWhy are there tears in your eyes?
Oru naalil nijamaagumIf you dream a dream,
Female
Manamae oh manamae nee maarividuAnd strive for it every day,
Malaiyo adhu paniyo nee mothividuIt will become reality one day.
Female
Ovvoru pookalumae solkiradhaeOh mind, oh mind, change yourself!
Vaazhvendral poraadum porkalamaeWhether it is a mountain or snow, clash against it!
Female
Vaazhkai kavidhai vaasipomEvery flower says,
Vaanam alavu yosipomLife is a battlefield where you must fight.
Muyarchi endra ondrai matumLet us read the poem of life,
Moochu polae swaasipomLet us think as vast as the sky.
Female
Latcham kanavu kannoduEffort alone as the single thing,
Latchiyangal nenjoduLet us breathe like our breath.
Unnai vella yaarum illaiWith a hundred thousand dreams in the eyes,
Uruthiyodu poraaduWith ambitions in the heart,
Female
Manithaa un manathai keeriThere is no one to conquer you,
Vithai podu maramaagumFight with determination!
Avamaanam padutholviOh human, tear open your mind,
Ellamae uravaagumPlant a seed, and it will become a tree.
Female
Tholvi indri varalaaraaInsults and huge failures,
Thukam enna en thozhaEverything will become your kin.
Oru mudivirunthaal adhil thelivirunthaalIs there history without failure?
Andha vaanam vasamaagumWhy sadness, my friend?
Female
Manamae oh manamae nee maarividuIf there is a decision and clarity in it,
Malaiyo adhu paniyo nee mothividuEven that sky will be under your control.
Female
Ovvoru pookalumae solkiradhaeOh mind, oh mind, change yourself!
Vaazhvendral poraadum porkalamaeWhether it is a mountain or snow, clash against it!
Ovvoru vidiyalumae solgiradhaeEvery flower says,
Iravanaal pagal ondru vanthidumaeLife is a battlefield where you must fight.
Female
Nambikai enbathu vendum nam vaazhvilEvery dawn says,
Latchiyam nichayam vellum oru naalilIf night falls, a day will definitely come.
Manamae oh manamae nee maarividuFaith is required in our lives,
Malaiyo adhu paniyo nee mothividuAmbition will surely win one day.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ovvoru Pookalume' is an iconic Tamil motivational song from Cheran's film 'Autograph' (2004), written by Pa. Vijay with music composed by Bharadwaj. The song serves as an uplifting anthem that encourages resilience, hope, and perseverance in the face of life's struggles and failures. Using vivid metaphors from nature—such as flowers blooming against odds, dawn succeeding night, and chiselled stones becoming statues—the lyrics urge the listener never to lose heart or give up on their dreams. The song emphasizes that pain, humiliation, and failure are universal human experiences that sculpt character and pave the path to ultimate success. By advocating for unwavering self-belief, clarity of purpose, and relentless effort, it inspires individuals to break through mental barriers and conquer their goals, asserting that every night inevitably yields to a bright new day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Ovvoru pookalumae solkiradhae

Attributing the human ability of speech and wisdom to flowers and dawns to convey life lessons.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Vaazhvendral poraadum porkalamae

Life is directly compared to a battlefield ('porkalam') where struggle is essential.

Analogy / Metaphor

Uzhi thaangum karkal thaanae / Manmeethu silaiyaagum

Comparing humans enduring hardships to raw stones bearing the chisel's blow to transform into revered statues.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Vaazhkai kavidhai vaasipom / Vaanam alavu yosipom

Repetition of the initial letter/sound 'Va' across consecutive lines ('Vaazhkai' and 'Vaanam').

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Latcham kanavu kannodu / Latchiyangal nenjodu

Matching second consonants across lines ('tcha' in 'Latcham' and 'Latchiyangal').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Pa. Vijay and composed by Bharadwaj, 'Ovvoru Pookalume' won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics, while singer K. S. Chithra won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2004. In the film 'Autograph', the song is performed on screen by Comagan, a visually impaired musician, alongside his real-life troupe of visually challenged artists (Comagan's Raaga Priya).

Keep listening

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