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Ore Oru Gramathiley album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vanthirichu Vanthirichu

From Ore Oru Gramathiley · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Gangai Amaran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ore Oru Gramathiley
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
5 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haaa.haaan …haan …haaan
…………………………………………………
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchi
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchi
Mandhariya illa raasavaa amma namburiya
Andha paandiyan thaan paandiyan thaan
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchi
Ennaalum amma unna
Kannaattam kaatti kaappen
Ammaanna summa illa
Kora sonnaa thatti ketpen
Usilamaniyae vambiluthaal vaanganum paaru
Malaiyattam thaan saachiduven podura podu
Usilamaniyae vambiluthaal vaanganum paaru
Malaiyattam thaan saachiduven podura podu
Potta potti kaattaan kusthi
Ellam pottu eduppen baski
Yeri paarthen kudhira veeran
Egiri paainjaa madhura veeran
Ithanai naal illaiyamma ippozhuthu
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchi
Appellaam azhukku satta
Ippa ellam silukku satta
Udhavaadha ulutha katta
Enna nee yethukitta
Oru thaaiangae pethedukka
Vandhavan naanae
Maruthaai ingae thathedukka maarivittenae
Oru thaaiangae pethedukka
Vandhavan naanae
Maruthaai ingae thathedukka maarivittenae
Appa yaaru vaathiyaaru
Avarukku porantha vaathu naanu
Avara pola aaven amma
Americaa poyi padippen amma
Suthugira ulagam ellam suthi vara
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchi
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchi
Mandhariya illa raasavaa amma namburiya
Andha paandiyan thaan paandiyan thaan
Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu
Endhiruchu endhiruchu buthi vandhuruchi
Ah... ah... ah...
...
It has come, it has come, my brains have come!
Woken up, woken up, my wisdom has come!
It has come, it has come, my brains have come!
Woken up, woken up, my wisdom has come!
Is he a minister or a king? Mother, do you believe it?
He is that Pandiyan, yes, that Pandiyan!
It has come, it has come, my brains have come!
Woken up, woken up, my wisdom has come!
Every single day, mother, I will
Protect you like the apple of my eye.
A mother is no ordinary thing;
If anyone speaks ill of you, I will challenge them.
If even Usilaimani picks a fight, watch him take a blow!
I will bring him down like a mountain, play the beat!
If even Usilaimani picks a fight, watch him take a blow!
I will bring him down like a mountain, play the beat!
I will show my wrestling strength in any contest,
I will drop down and do all the push-ups!
I mounted and rode like a heroic knight on a horse,
Leaping into action like the warrior of Madurai!
It wasn't there all these days, mother, but now...
It has come, it has come, my brains have come!
Woken up, woken up, my wisdom has come!
Back then, I wore dirty shirts,
Now, it is all silk shirts!
A useless, rotten piece of wood,
Is what I was, yet you accepted me!
While one mother gave birth to me there,
I am the one who came along,
And as another mother adopted me here, I have transformed!
While one mother gave birth to me there,
I am the one who came along,
And as another mother adopted me here, I have transformed!
Who is my father? He is a teacher!
I am the duckling born to him!
I will become just like him, mother,
I will go to America and study, mother!
To travel around this spinning world,
It has come, it has come, my brains have come!
Woken up, woken up, my wisdom has come!
It has come, it has come, my brains have come!
Woken up, woken up, my wisdom has come!
Is he a minister or a king? Mother, do you believe it?
He is that Pandiyan, yes, that Pandiyan!
It has come, it has come, my brains have come!
Woken up, woken up, my wisdom has come!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song from the 1989 film 'Ore Oru Gramathiley' celebrates a character's mental awakening, newly found intelligence, and emotional growth. The lyrics playfully depict a transformation from an ignorant, 'dirty-shirt' state into a wise, ambitious, and dutiful individual who values his foster mother's affection and vows to protect her like his own eyes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu moola vanthiruchu

The deliberate duplication of verbs 'Vanthiruchu vanthiruchu' and 'Endhiruchu endhiruchu' emphasizes sudden, vivid realization and awakening.

Upamai (Simile)

Kannaattam kaatti kaappen

Comparing protection to how carefully one guards their own eyes ('Kannaattam'), expressing deep filial devotion.

Contrast / Anthesis (Ethirsol)

Appellaam azhukku satta / Ippa ellam silukku satta

Contrasting 'Azhukku satta' (dirty shirt / humble beginnings) with 'Silukku satta' (silk shirt / modern intellect and status) to highlight personal growth.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Ore Oru Gramathiley' (1989), produced by K. R. Gangadharan and written by Cho Ramaswamy with music by Ilaiyaraaja, was famous for its socio-political themes regarding reservation policies in India. The film faced a ban that was eventually overturned by a landmark Supreme Court ruling upholding freedom of expression.

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