- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Movie name
- Orey Vazhi
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 14 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Orey Vazhi' serves as a profound philosophical treatise on moral integrity, family unity, and human purpose. It opens with classic Thirukkural verses that warn against the lasting damage of harsh words, the unpardonable sin of ingratitude, and the noble power of devotion within a household. Moving into the main narrative, it laments how anger and miscommunication can tear apart loving families and break bonds between brothers who were once as close as eyes to a body. Ultimately, Kannadasan advocates for moral clarity and spiritual unity. Despite the endless diversity of human traits and worldly pursuits, the song asserts that true wisdom lies in realizing oneness: one human family, one divine reality, and one righteous path to genuine happiness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Intertextuality / Quotation (Thirukkural)
“Theeyinaal sutta pun ullarum / Aaradhae naavinaal sutta vadu”
The opening lines (1-6) directly incorporate classical Tamil couplets from Thiruvalluvar's Tirukkural (Kural 129, Kural 110, and Kural 55) to establish moral authority.
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal / Ethanai vindhai manidharada”
The word 'Ethanai' (How many) is repeated at the start of consecutive phrases to highlight the overwhelming variety of human behaviors and paths.
Simile (Upamai)
“Kangalai polae kaathu valarthavan / Karai pol pirinthu vittaan”
'Kangalai polae' compares brotherly care to the vigilance with which one protects one's own eyes, while 'karai pol' compares separation to divided riverbanks.
Parallelism / Monotony for Rhetorical Effect
“Vaanathirkku orae nilavu / Maanidarkkellam orae inam”
The repetition of 'orae' (one single) across multiple lines builds a strong rhythmic cadence while delivering the central thesis of universal oneness.
Did you know?
Trivia
The opening portion of 'Orey Vazhi' is famous in Tamil cinema history for verbatim integrating three Thirukkural couplets set to classical melody before transitioning into Kannadasan's film lyrics, showcasing a unique bridge between 2,000-year-old Sangam-era ethics and mid-20th-century film music.
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