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Lyrics & meaning

Ushaaraiyaa

From Theertha Karaiyinile · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilayaraja, Gangai Amaran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Theertha Karaiyinile
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
13 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ushaaraiyaa ushaaru…
Oranjaaram ushaaru…
Ushaaraiyaa ushaaru
Oranjaaram ushaaru
Aa… ushaaraiyaa ushaaru
Oranjaaram ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Buthi ketta ooru maathuradhu yaaru
Buthi ketta ooru maathuradhu yaaru
Aa… ushaaraiyaa ushaaru
Oranjaaram ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Aalaana pinnaalae
Aththa maga ushaaru
Aththa maga valachu podum
Machaanellaam ushaaru
Aalaana pinnaalae aththa maga
Chorus :Ushaaru
Male :Aththa maga valachu podum
Machaanellaam
Chorus :Ushaaru
Enga ooru maariyammaa
Selaiya thaan kaanumammaa
Thangamuthu maariyammaa
Thaaliya thaan paathukkammaa
Enga ooru maariyammaa
Male :Selaiya thaan kaanumammaa
Chorus :Thangamuthu maariyammaa
Male :Thaaliya thaan paathukkammaa
Kadukkan potta kaadhum ushaar
Kaappu potta kaiyum ushaar
Thavalai sombum ushaaru
Thalaivar annae varaaru
Ae ushaaraiyaa ushaaru
Oranjaaram ushaaru
Ae ushaaraiyaa ushaaru
Oranjaaram ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Aa… buthi ketta ooru
Maathuradhu yaaru
Aa… buthi ketta ooru
Maathuradhu yaaru
Aa… ushaaraiyaa ushaaru
Oranjaaram ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Porulukkaaga sollum vaakku
Arulu vaakku aagaadhu
Arulu vaakku solli
Porula vaangum saami ushaaru
Aehae porulukkaaga sollum vaakku
Arulu vaakkuChorus :Aagaadhu
Male :Arulu vaakku solli
Porula vaangum saami
Chorus :Ushaaru
Pallikkodam katti vechaan
Vaathiyaaru illaiyadaa
Thanni thotti katti vechaan
Thanniya thaan kaanomadaa
Pallikkodam katti vechaan
Male :Vaathiyaaru illaiyadaa
Chorus :Thanni thotti katti vechaan
Male :Thanniya thaan kaanomadaa
Naalellaam vandhavanga
Naamellaam indhiyaru
Oorukkooru sandiyaru
Orumappaadu ushaaru
{Ushaaraiyaa
Male :Ushaaru
Male :Oranjaaram
Male :Ushaaru } (2)
Annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Buthi ketta ooru
Maathuradhu yaaru
Buthi ketta ooru
Maathuradhu yaaru
Aa… ushaaraiyaa ushaaru
Oranjaaram ushaaru
Aa… ushaaraiyaa ushaaru
Oranjaaram ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Aa… annan thambi akkaa maaman
Ooru pooraa ushaaru
Watch out, folks, watch out...
Be alert in every corner...
Watch out, folks, watch out!
Be alert in every corner!
Ah... Watch out, folks, watch out!
Be alert in every corner!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
This senseless town, who will change it?
This senseless town, who will change it?
Ah... Watch out, folks, watch out!
Be alert in every corner!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
Once she comes of age,
your aunt's daughter gets smart!
The cousins she tries to trap,
all those cousins, watch out!
Once she comes of age, your aunt's daughter—
Chorus: —gets smart!
Male: The cousins she tries to trap,
all those cousins—
Chorus: —watch out!
Oh Mariyamma of our town,
even your sari is missing!
Oh golden, precious Mariyamma,
better protect your thali (sacred marriage thread)!
Oh Mariyamma of our town,
Male: even your sari is missing!
Chorus: Oh golden, precious Mariyamma,
Male: better protect your thali (sacred marriage thread)!
Ears wearing studs, watch out!
Wrists wearing bangles, watch out!
Brass pots and metal vessels, watch out,
the local leader is arriving!
Hey, watch out, folks, watch out!
Be alert in every corner!
Hey, watch out, folks, watch out!
Be alert in every corner!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
Ah... This senseless town,
who will change it?
Ah... This senseless town,
who will change it?
Ah... Watch out, folks, watch out!
Be alert in every corner!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
Words spoken only for money
can never be a divine oracle!
Pretending to give divine words,
the holy man takes your money—watch out!
Hey, words spoken only for money
Chorus: can never be a divine oracle!
Male: Pretending to give divine words,
the holy man takes your money—
Chorus: —watch out!
They built a school,
but there is no teacher inside!
They built a water tank,
but there is no water to be seen!
They built a school,
Male: but there is no teacher inside!
Chorus: They built a water tank,
Male: but there is no water to be seen!
All the visitors preach,
"We are all Indians!"
Yet every village has its bully,
so watch out for this "unity"!
Watch out,
Male: folks, watch out!
Male: In every corner,
Male: watch out!
Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
This senseless town,
who will change it?
This senseless town,
who will change it?
Ah... Watch out, folks, watch out!
Be alert in every corner!
Ah... Watch out, folks, watch out!
Be alert in every corner!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
Ah... Brothers, sisters, uncles, and all,
let the whole town watch out!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a satirical social commentary written by Gangai Amaran for the 1987 film 'Theertha Karaiyinile'. It serves as a humorous yet sharp warning to villagers and common people to remain vigilant ('ushaar') against various societal ploys, hypocrisies, and systemic flaws. The narrator cautions everyone from family members to whole villages to guard their belongings, money, and values against corrupt politicians, fraudulent godmen, and social dysfunction. Throughout the track, the lyricist highlights everyday absurdities—such as government infrastructure built without functionality (schools without teachers, water tanks without water), theft occurring right inside temple sanctums, and greedy individuals profiting off superstitious beliefs. The song uses catchy folk rhythms and lively refrains to deliver an engaging yet thought-provoking message about national integrity, civic awareness, and social reform.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pallikkodam katti vechaan / Thanni thotti katti vechaan

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Ushaaraiyaa' / 'Oranjaaram' (sh/r patterns) and 'Pallikkodam' / 'Thanni thotti' (ll/nn matching sound structural patterns in folk song phrasing).

Anaaphora / Repetition (Sol Pinvaru Nilaiyani)

Ushaaraiyaa ushaaru / Oranjaaram ushaaru

The word 'ushaaru' (be alert/vigilant) is repeatedly emphasized at the end of lines across the entire song to reinforce the central theme of alertness.

Irony and Satire

Thanni thotti katti vechaan / Thanniya thaan kaanomadaa

The lyrics use sharp satire to expose civic neglect and corruption (e.g., building a school with no teacher, a tank with no water, or theft occurring in a temple).

Did you know?

Trivia

Gangai Amaran, who penned the lyrics for 'Theertha Karaiyinile' starring Prabhu, frequently incorporated rural folk idioms and social satire into his songs, blending comedic refrains with potent political and social awareness messages typical of late 1980s Tamil cinema culture.

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