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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yaadhum Oorae

From Urumeen · 2015

Lyricist
Kaniyan Poongunranar
Singers
Guna, Rohan Prakash, Kamala Rajagopal
Music director
Achu Rajamani
Details
Urumeen2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oh yaathum ooraeOh, every town is our hometown,
Yaavarum kaeleerand all people are our kin.
Theethum nandrumGoodness and evil
Pirarthara vaaraado not come caused by others.
Male
Oh nothalum thanithalumOh, pain and its relief
Avatror annaare also the same (arising from within).
Saaathalum puthuvathuDying is nothing new,
Andrae vazhthalnor is living.
Male
Oh oh inithu yenaOh oh, saying life is sweet
Magizhthandrum ilamaeand rejoicing is not our way,
Munivin innathunor calling it painful in distress
Endraalum ilamaeand lamenting.
Male
Minnodu vaanamLike the sky with lightning
Thanthuli thalaiyeepouring drops of rain,
Yanaathu.. yanaathu..my life... my life...
Yanaathu.. heymy life... hey!
Male
{Kal poruthu miranku{Just as a raft drifts along the water
Mallal periyaatruof a mighty river crashing against rocks,
Neervazhi paduvoomour precious life follows the course of nature}
Punaipol aaruyir} (2){like a raft in the river}
Male
Murai vazhi paduvoom enbathuThat life follows its destined course
Thiravor kaatchiyil thelinthanamwe have understood through the vision of the wise.
Nam nam nam..We, we, we...
Chorus
………………………………
Male
Oh aagalin maatchiyinOh, therefore, out of greatness,
Periyorai viyathalum ilamaewe do not marvel at the great,
Oh oh ohOh oh oh
Siriyorai igazhthaland scorning those who are humble
Athinum ilamae ilamae..is even less our way...
Male
Oh..ho.. yaathum ooraeOh..ho.. every town is our hometown,
Yaavarum kaeleerand all people are our kin.
Theethum nandrumGoodness and evil
Pirarthara vaaraado not come caused by others.
Male
Oh nothalum thanithalumOh, pain and its relief
Avatror annaare also the same (arising from within).
Saaathalum puthuvathuDying is nothing new,
Andrae vazhthalnor is living.
Male
{Andrae vazhthal..{Nor is living..
Andrae vazhthal..Nor is living..
Andrae vazhthal..Nor is living..
Andrae vazhthal} (3)Nor is living}
Male
{Kal poruthu miranku{Just as a raft drifts along the water
Mallal periyaatruof a mighty river crashing against rocks,
Neervazhi paduvoomour precious life follows the course of nature}
Punaipol aaruyir} (2){like a raft in the river}
Male
Murai vazhi paduvoom enbathuThat life follows its destined course
Thiravor kaatchiyil thelinthanamwe have understood through the vision of the wise.
Nam nam nam..We, we, we...
Male
Oh yaathum ooraeOh, every town is our hometown,
Yaavarum kaeleerand all people are our kin.
Theethum nandrumGoodness and evil
Pirarthara vaaraado not come caused by others.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This track adapts the timeless classical Tamil Sangam poem 'Yaathum Oorae Yaavarum Kaeleer' written by Kaniyan Poongunranar from the ancient anthology Purananuru (Poem 192). The song conveys a universal philosophy of human equality, cosmic order, and detachment. It proclaims that all places on Earth belong to everyone and all human beings are family. Furthermore, it emphasizes that joy and sorrow, good and evil, life and death are natural, self-induced experiences rather than inflicted by external sources.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai Ani)

Neervazhi paduvoom Punaipol aaruyir

Compares human life ('aaruyir') to a raft ('punai') drifting along the natural course of a fast-flowing river.

Muran (Antithesis)

Theethum nandrum

Uses contrasting opposites ('Theethum' meaning evil and 'Nandrum' meaning good) side by side to emphasize self-responsibility.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Theethum / Nothalum

Consonance in the second letter of consecutive or structural lines in classical Tamil verse.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

Yaathum oorae / Yaavarum kaeleer

Alliteration on the initial letter ('Yaa') establishing rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics are directly taken from Purananuru 192, one of the most famous poems in Sangam literature composed by Kaniyan Poongunranar around 2000 years ago. The opening phrase 'Yaathum Oorae Yaavarum Kaeleer' serves as the motto of the World Tamil Confederation and was also quoted at the United Nations General Assembly.

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