Oora Therinjukitten

Title: Oora Therinjukitten/I’ve gained knowledge of the society

Movie: Padikathavan/Illiterate (1985)

Composer: Ilayaraja

Lyricist: Vairamuthu

Singer: K.J. Yesudas

Tamil Lyrics:

Oora therinjukitten, olagam purinjikitten, kanmani, en kanmani

Gnanam poranthuruchu, naalum purinchiduchu, kanmani, en kanmani

Oora therinjukitten, olagam purinjikitten, kanmani, en kanmani

Gnanam poranthuruchu, naalum purinchiduchu, kanmani, en kanmani

Oora therinjukitten, olagam purinjikitten, kanmani, en kanmani

Gnanam poranthuruchu, naalum purinchiduchu, kanmani, en kanmani

Pacha kozhanthainnu paaluti valarthen

Paala kudichiputtu paambaga kothuthadi

Oora therinjukitten, olagam purinjikitten, kanmani, en kanmani

Gnanam poranthuruchu, naalum purinchiduchu, kanmani, en kanmani

Aedhu bandha paasam? Ellaam veli vesham 

Kaasu panam vandhaa, naesam sila maasam 

Sindhinaen, raththam sindhinaen, adhu ellaam veendhaano

Veppilai, kariveppilai, adhu yaaro naandhano 

En veettu kannukutti ennoada mallu katti en maarbil muttudhadi kanmani en kanmani 

Theeppatta kaayathila thael vandhu kottudhadi kanmani en kanmani 

Oora therinjukitten, olagam purinjikitten, kanmani, en kanmani

Gnanam poranthuruchu, naalum purinchiduchu, kanmani, en kanmani

Naetru ivan aeni

Inru ivan gnyani 

Aala kara saeththu aadum indhath thoani 

Sondhamae oru vaanavil andha varnam konja naeram 

Bandhamae mullaanadhal indha nenjil oru baaram 

Panangaasa kanduputtaa puli kooda pullaththinnum, kaligaalamaachchudhadi kanmani en kanmani 

Adangadha kaala onnu adimaadaa poanadhadi kanmani en kanmani

Oora therinjukitten, olagam purinjikitten, kanmani, en kanmani

Gnanam poranthuruchu, naalum purinchiduchu, kanmani, en kanmani

English Translation:

I’ve gained knowledge of the society, I’ve understood the world, darling, my darling

Wisdom has been born in me, I’ve understood a few things, darling, my darling

(2) From a newborn I’ve fed him milk and nurtured him

He drank my milk and stung me as a snake 

I’ve gained knowledge of the society, I’ve understood the world, darling, my darling

Wisdom has been born in me, I’ve understood a few things, darling, my darling

Where is the love from our familial bond? It was all merely an outward disguise

When money interferes, affection lasts but for a few months

I’ve spilled, spilled blood (3), that must have all been for nothing

Leaves, curry leaves, is that what I am now? (4)

My own calf fights with me stubbornly and hits me in my chest, darling, my darling

The scorpion stings me in my burn wound, darling, oh darling

I’ve gained knowledge of the society, I’ve understood the world, darling, my darling

Wisdom has been born in me, I’ve understood a few things, darling, my darling

Yesterday he was a ladder (5)

Today he becomes a wise sage

The boat that in bringing people to shores, has to toil and work

Family is a rainbow, its colours only lasting for a short while

Even familial bonds have become a thorn, and thus there is a burden on my chest

If it sees money, even a tiger would eat grass. The world has become horrible, darling, my darling 

An unstoppable bull has become one for the slaughter, darling, my darling

I’ve gained knowledge of the society, I’ve understood the world, darling, my darling

Wisdom has been born in me, I’ve understood a few things, darling, my darling

Translator’s note:

(1) Here, kanmani actually means “pearl of my eye”. However, it has the same use as “dear” or

“darling”, which I have used as a means of simplification.

(2) Although I have included he/him in this verse as the protagonist is singing about his

younger brother, in the Tamil verse there is no gender mentioned and thus can be

extrapolated/generalised to any gender.

(3) Spilled blood, not as in violence, but through his hard work.

(4) Curry leaves after cooking and giving all of their scent to the food, are not eaten and just

thrown away. This is used as a metaphor to show that the protagonist has given away all his

value (scent) and cast aside. 

(5) Ladder - Letting people climb all over him. Similar to “doormat” in English.