The lyrics of “Oru Oorula Raja” and its English meaning are as follows: From the film “Vaazhai,” the folk-inspired Tamil song “Oru Oorula Raja” (Once Upon a Time, There Was a King) deftly explores grief and the responsibilities of leadership. The title is “A King in a Village,” and Mari Selvaraj’s lyrics probe the emotional conflicts of a ruler bearing the weight of his people’s suffering. Santhosh Narayanan wrote and sang the melancholy song that Ponvel M., Raghul R., and Kalaiyarasan composed.
Mari Selvaraj tells the story of a monarch whose tales in his Tamil songs are rife with tears. The chorus line “Oru Oorula Raja Oruthan Irunthanam… Antha Raja Sollura Kadhaiyellam Kanneer Thanam” translates to “Once upon a time, there was a king. All the stories the king tells are of tears.” This line encapsulates the song’s central theme, which is the king’s profound grief.
Vaazhai Movie’s Oru Oorula Raja Lyrics [English Meaning]
Oru Oorula Raja Oruthan Irundhaanam
Andha Raja Sollura Kadhaiyellam Kannirdhaanam
Oru Oorula Raja Oruthan Irundhaanam
Andha Raja Sollura Kadhaiyellam Kannirdhaanam
Once upon a time, there lived a king.
The tales he told were full of tears.
Once upon a time, there lived a king.
The tales he told were full of tears.
Avan Nimirthu Paarttha Vaanam
Kuninji Paarttha Bhoomi
Idayil Avandhaan Paaram
Kaal Nadakka Nadakka Neelum Dooram
The world below, and the sky above
He was the burden between
Longer the walk, farther the end.
Oru Oorula Raja
Oorula Oru Kaakka Iruthuchaan
There lived a king…
There was a crow in the village.
Kaakka Kadha Kaekkum Podhu
Yaanai Moonju Theriyudhu
Yaanai Kadha Kaekkum Podhu
Pona Satham Kaekkudhu
Upon hearing the crow’s tale,
The elephant’s face appears.
When you hear the elephant’s tale,
The cat meows.
Poonai Kadha Kaekkum Podhu
Theru Naai Korakkudhu, Velau Naai Korakka Korakka
Velau Velau Velau, Naai Korakka Velau Velau
When the cat listened to the story, the street dog barked.
As the stray dog barked and barked, woof, woof, woof,
the dog barked woof, woof.
Kaakka Koottam Sitharudhu
Yaanai Koottam Meraludhu
Poonai Vandhu Pirandhudhu
Sothu Paanai Udaiyudhu Udaiyudhu Udaiyudhu
Raja Veettu Sothu Paana Udaiyudhu Udaiyudhu
The flock of crows disperses.
The herd of elephants turned wild… The cat claws away.
The dinner pot breaks; it shatters and tatters.
The king’s dinner pot breaks…
Rajavukku Valikkudhu
Kazhuthellam Kanakkudhu
Kazhuthellam Kanakkudhu
Thanneer Kaekkudhu Kannir Pongudhu
Andha Raja Sollura Kadhaiyellam Kannirdhaanam
Once upon a time, there lived a king.
The tales he told were full of tears.
Once upon a time, there lived a king.
The tales he told were full of tears.
Avan Nimirthu Paarttha Vaanam
Kuninji Paarttha Bhoomi, Idayil Avandhaan Paaram
Kaal Nadakka Nadakka Neelum Dooram
The world below, and the sky above
He was the burden between
Longer the walk, farther the end…
Ey Innum Kadha Kaelu
Namma Raja Kadha Kaelu
Ey Innum Kadha Kaelu
Namma Raja Kadha Kaelu
Listen to the narrative…
Listen to our king’s tale.
Listen to the narrative…
Listen to our king’s tale.
Komali Raja Avan Thindaattaam Poduraan
Oor Koodi Paakkum Podhu Kuthaattaam Aaduran
Kuthaattaam Aaduran
Andha Raja Sollura Kadhaiyellam Kannirdhaanam
He is a clown king.
Look at his suffering.
When the town gathers around, he does a mad jig.
The tales the king told were full of tears.
Avan Nimirthu Paarttha Vaanam
Kuninji Paarttha Bhoomi
Idayil Avandhaan Paaram
Kaal Nadakka Nadakka Neelum Dooram
When he looked up, he saw the sky.
When he looked down, he saw the earth.
In between, he was the burden.
The distance grew longer as he walked.
Oru Oorula Raja Oruthan Irundhaanam
Andha Raja Sollura Kadhaiyellam Kannirdhaanam
There was a king in a village.
All the stories the king told were filled with tears.
Avan Nimirthu Paarttha Vaanam
Kuninji Paarttha Bhoomi
Idayil Avandhaan Paaram
Kaal Nadakka Nadakka Neelum Dooram
The world below and the sky above
He was the burden between
Longer the walk, farther the end…
Once upon a time, there lived a king.
Ele Nee Ippa Kanna Moodi Thoongu
Raja Kadha Romba Neelam
Neeyum Kanna Moodi Thoongu
Close your eyes and go to sleep, little one.
The king’s tale is too long.
Close your eyes and go to sleep, little one.
Oru Oorula Raja Music Video
The music video visually depicts the sad themes of “Oru Oorula Raja”. With the performers giving moving performances reflecting the king’s emotional condition, Director Mari Selvaraj’s vision brings the words to life.
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| Movie/Album | Vaazhai |
| Singer(s) | Santhosh Narayanan |
| Songwriter(s) | Mari Selvaraj |
| Music Composer(s) | Santhosh Narayanan |
| Actors | Ponvel. M, Raghul. R, Kalaiyarasan |