Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Theera Ulla

From O Kadhal Kanmani · 2015

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
A. R. Rahman, Dharshana
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
O Kadhal Kanmani2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Theeraa ulaaAn endless stroll
Theeraa kanaaAn endless dream
Theeraa ulaaAn endless stroll
Theeraa vizhaaAn endless festival
TheeraaEndless
Male
Kaattru veliyidaiIn the expanse of the wind
Mel isaiyaaiAs gentle music
Men siragaaiAs soft wings
Male
Kaala veliyidaiIn the expanse of time
PorkkanamaaiAs a golden moment
ArpputhamaaiAs a wonder
Male
Kaattru veliyidaiIn the expanse of the wind
Kaala veliyidaiIn the expanse of time
Kaattru veliyidai konjumCaressing in the expanse of the wind
Male
Theeraa ulaaAn endless stroll
Theeraa kanaaAn endless dream
Theeraa ulaaAn endless stroll
Theeraa vizhaaAn endless festival
TheeraaEndless
Female
Pirivondru nerumendruThat a separation will happen
Theriyum kannaaa…I know, my darling...
En piriyathai athanaalaeBecause of that, my affection
Kuraikka maattenI will not reduce
Sarinthu vidum azhagendruThat beauty will fade away
Theriyum kannaa….I know, my darling...
En sandhosha kalaigalaiMy joyful artistic expressions
Naan nirutha maattenI will not stop
Male
Theeraa ulaaAn endless stroll
Theeraa kanaaAn endless dream
Theeraa ulaaAn endless stroll
Theeraa vizhaaAn endless festival
TheeraaEndless
Male
Kaattru veliyidaiIn the expanse of the wind
Mel isaiyaaiAs gentle music
Men siragaaiAs soft wings
Male
Kaala veliyidaiIn the expanse of time
PorkkanamaaiAs a golden moment
ArpputhamaaiAs a wonder
Male
Kaattru veliyidaiIn the expanse of the wind
Kaala veliyidaiIn the expanse of time
Kaattru veliyidai konjumCaressing in the expanse of the wind
Male
Theeraa ulaaAn endless stroll
Theeraa kanaaAn endless dream
Theeraa ulaaAn endless stroll
Theeraa vizhaaAn endless festival
TheeraaEndless

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Theeraa Ulaa' is a soulful and contemporary exploration of love, impermanence, and living in the present. The protagonist acknowledges the inevitability of eventual separation or decay, yet consciously chooses not to withhold affection or curtail happiness. Love is celebrated as an eternal journey, an endless dream, and a fleeting yet golden moment suspended in the vast expanse of time and space. The song beautifully balances philosophical acceptance of reality with an unwavering commitment to experiencing joy without fear.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Theeraa ulaa / Theeraa kanaa / Theeraa vizhaa

Repetition of 'Theeraa' at the beginning of consecutive lines to emphasize the unending, eternal nature of love.

Literary Allusion

Kaattru veliyidai

The phrase 'Kaattru veliyidai' directly references the iconic line from Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's classical romantic poem 'Kaattru Veliyidai Kannamma'.

Metaphor

Mel isaiyaai / Men siragaai / Porkkanamaai

Comparing the feeling of love and time to gentle music ('Mel isaiyaai'), soft wings ('Men siragaai'), and golden moments ('Porkkanamaai').

Parallelism / Antitheton

Kaattru veliyidai / Kaala veliyidai

Juxtaposing 'Kaattru veliyidai' (expanse of wind/space) and 'Kaala veliyidai' (expanse of time) to frame romance across both spatial and temporal dimensions.

Did you know?

Trivia

The phrase 'Kaattru Veliyidai' used in this song is a tribute to Mahakavi Bharathiyar's poetry, which director Mani Ratnam later used as the title for his 2017 romantic drama film.

Keep listening

More from O Kadhal Kanmani