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Oruvanukku Oruthi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Saravanan Sonnan

From Oruvanukku Oruthi · 1977

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, K. J. Yesudass
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Oruvanukku Oruthi
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
19 Jul 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Saravanan sonnan sankaran kettaan
Saatchikku swami malai
Saravanan sonnan sankaran kettaan
Saravanan sonnan sankaran kettaan
Saatchikku swami malai
Andha sondhamum illai bandhamum illai
Adhu than enadhu nilai
Ambikai balan aathiram kondaan
Ambikai balan aathiram kondaan
Saatchikku pazhani maalai
Ariyaa pillai solvadharkku illai
Ariyaa pillai solvadharkku illai
Adhu dhaan enadhu nilai
Dasaratha maharajan kulam kaatha pillai
Thandhai sol maari nadanthaana illai
Dasaratha maharajan kulam kaatha pillai
Thandhai sol maari nadanthaana illai
Annai seethavin pillai selvangal
Annai seethavin pillai selvangal
Thaaiyai thaniyaaga vidavillaiyae
Thandhai ninaivaaga varavillaiyae
Gyaangal engae naan angae
Male :Dharmangal engae naan angae
Saravanan sonnaan sankaran kettaan
Saatchikku swami malai
Uravinil thalaiyaaya uruvaagum thandhai
Adhanai unaraadha magan thaanae vindhai
Uravinil thalaiyaaya uruvaagum thandhai
Adhanai unaraadha magan thaanae vindhai
Pathu mathangal palli kollaamal
Pathu mathangal palli kollaamal
Annai padum paadu ariyathatho
Indha pillaikku puriyaadhadho
Thandhai thaan perin aarambam
Male :Annai thaan pirappin aarambam
Thandhai thaan perin aarambam
Male :Annai thaan pirappin aarambam
Thandhai soll mikka mandhiram illai
Adhu thaan pazhamozhi
Thaayir sirandha kovilum illai
Adhuvum pazha mozhi
Aval thaan ellaam unakku
Annaiyidam yen vazhakku
Neruppukku yedhu azhukku
Thaaimaikku yedhu izhukku
Stop it
Ambikai baalan aathiram kondaan
Saatchikku palani malai
Saravanan spoke, and Shankara listened,
with the hill of Swamimalai as witness.
Saravanan spoke, and Shankara listened,
Saravanan spoke, and Shankara listened,
with the hill of Swamimalai as witness.
I have neither that kinship nor that bond;
that is my situation.
The son of Goddess Ambika grew furious,
the son of Goddess Ambika grew furious,
with the hill of Palani as witness.
An innocent child has nothing to say;
an innocent child has nothing to say;
that is my situation.
The son who protected King Dasharatha's lineage—
did he ever go against his father's word? No!
The son who protected King Dasharatha's lineage—
did he ever go against his father's word? No!
Mother Sita's precious children,
Mother Sita's precious children,
never left their mother alone,
and thoughts of their father never crossed their minds.
Where justice is, there I stand!
Where righteousness is, there I stand!
Saravanan spoke, and Shankara listened,
with the hill of Swamimalai as witness.
A father is the foremost of all relations;
a son who fails to see this is truly strange.
A father is the foremost of all relations;
a son who fails to see this is truly strange.
Without resting peacefully for ten whole months,
without resting peacefully for ten whole months,
don't you know the pain a mother endures?
Doesn't this child understand that?
A father is the beginning of one's name,
a mother is the beginning of one's very birth!
A father is the beginning of one's name,
a mother is the beginning of one's very birth!
“There is no sacred word greater than a father's,”
that is an old proverb.
“There is no temple greater than a mother,”
that too is an old proverb.
She is everything to you;
why fight with your mother?
How can fire ever be tainted?
How can motherhood ever have a flaw?
Stop it!
The son of Goddess Ambika grew furious,
with the hill of Palani as witness.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical philosophical musical debate from the film Oruvanukku Oruthi features a poignant debate between two voices contrasting the significance of the father and mother in a child's life. Drawing heavily from Hindu mythological allegories, such as Lord Murugan teaching Lord Shiva at Swamimalai and Lord Murugan leaving in anger to Palani, as well as stories from the Ramayana, the song pits filial duty to the father against the unmatched sacredness of motherhood. Ultimately, the song reconciles both viewpoints by highlighting classic proverbs that emphasize honoring both parents, concluding that motherhood remains pure and beyond fault while a father's guidance serves as a foundation for a child's name and character.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ezhuthu (Alliteration / Moonaai)

“Saravanan sonnan sankaran kettaan”

Repetition of 'S' sound in 'Saravanan sonnan sankaran' creates a rhythmic cadence in the opening line.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

“Andha sondhamum illai bandhamum illai”

Rhyming ending sound 'ilai' in 'sondhamum illai', 'bandhamum illai', and 'enadhu nilai'.

Mythological Allusion

“Saatchikku swami malai”

References Lord Murugan (Saravanan/Ambikai Balan) explaining the Pranava Mantra to Lord Shiva (Sankaran) at Swamimalai and his later fury leading to Palani.

Proverb Integration (Pazhamozhi)

“Thandhai soll mikka mandhiram illai”

Incorporates famous Tamil proverbs 'Thandhai sol mikka mandhiram illai' and 'Thaayir sirandha kovilum illai' directly into the lyrics.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features a legendary duet/philosophical argument between T. M. Soundararajan and K. J. Yesudas, composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Vaali. It cleverly uses Lord Murugan's mythologies (teaching Shiva at Swamimalai vs. leaving in anger to Palani) as metaphors for parent-child relations.

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