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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ayyan Enbom Appan

From Kaaval Deivam · 1969

Lyricist
Nellai Arulmani
Singers
Raajagopal, Krishnamoorthy, Shanmugasundari, Aandal
Music director
G. Devarajan
Details
Kaaval Deivam1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aiyan enbom… appan enbomWe call you Master... we call you Father
Chorus :Amaam appan enbomChorus: Yes, we call you Father
Aadhisivan needhaan enbomWe say you alone are Lord Shiva
Chorus :Amaam needhaan enbomChorus: Yes, we say you alone
Male :Vishnu enbomMale: We call you Vishnu
Chorus :AamaamChorus: Yes
Male :Bhramman enbomMale: We call you Brahma
Chorus :AamaamChorus: Yes
Male :Vel muruganum needhaan enbom ..Male: We say you are also Lord Murugan with the spear...
Chorus :AamaamChorus: Yes
Male
Ennillaa deivangalCountless gods
Ethanaiyo irundhaalum ..Though there are so many...
Chorus :AamaamChorus: Yes
Male :Mannulagilae needhaaneMale: On this earth, it is you alone
En manadhilae vaazhgindraaiWho lives in my heart
Female
Pattakkathi palapalakkudhuThe broad sword gleams and glitters
Paartha udal kalakalakkudhuWhoever sees it, their body shivers
Male :AhaanMale: Aha
Female :Analai kakki vizhi pakkudhuFemale: Her eyes stare, spewing fire
Aadu kozhi bali kekkudhu ..Asking for the sacrifice of goats and chickens...
Male :EppadiMale: How so?
Male
Adi ivale …aiyyanaaru pattakkathiHey woman... Lord Ayyanaar's broad sword
Aatta matta vettadhu..Does not strike down goats or cattle..
Female :Pinna..edhaFemale: Then what does it cut?
Male :Poiyan pulugan pokkiri paiyanMale: Liars, deceivers, and rogue youths
Polladhavanai vetti pudum ..It will chop down the wicked ones...
Poiyan pulugan pokkiri paiyanLiars, deceivers, and rogue youths
Polladhavanai vetti pudum ..It will chop down the wicked ones...
Female
EppadiMale: How so?
Male
Kobathinaal ullam vedithuHeart bursting with rage
Pallai kadithu kaalai madithuGrit the teeth, bend the leg
Paavi kudumaiyai kaiyil pidithuGrab the sinner's tuft of hair in hand
Andha padupaaviyin thalai vettidaTo sever that vile sinner's head
Sudukattinil parai kottidaWhile drums beat at the cremation ground
Paarudan thudikkudhu meesaiHis mustache twitches with grandeur
Ennaalum seivaayadi poojaiPerform worship to him every day, woman
Male
Aiyyanaana deivamaana aiyyanaaru nambaBelieve in Lord Ayyanaar who is our deity
Aiyam theerthu mei anbodu solluvaaruHe will clear all doubts and speak with true love
Female :Aiyyanaana deivamaana aiyyanaaru nambaFemale: Believe in Lord Ayyanaar who is our deity
Aiyam theerthu mei anbodu solluvaaruHe will clear all doubts and speak with true love
All :Aiyyanaana deivamaana aiyyanaaru nambaAll: Believe in Lord Ayyanaar who is our deity
Aiyam theerthu mei anbodu solluvaaruHe will clear all doubts and speak with true love
Chorus :Swaamiyae aiyyanaarappa swaamiyae aiyyanaarappaChorus: Oh Lord Ayyanaar! Oh Lord Ayyanaar!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk deity hymn from the 1969 film 'Kaaval Deivam' glorifies Ayyanar, the guardian deity of Tamil villages. The song equates Ayyanar with the supreme Hindu trinity (Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma) and Lord Murugan, emphasizing that among all deities, Ayyanar holds a special supreme place in the hearts of village devotees. The lyrics narrate the fiery presence of Ayyanar's sword and his fierce form. When the female voice questions whether the deity demands blood sacrifices of livestock, the male voice clarifies that Ayyanar's sword does not target innocent animals, but rather slays liars, scoundrels, and evil oppressors. The song vividly describes the deity's righteous anger toward sinners and concludes with a call for faithful worship, assuring that Ayyanar dispels all doubts and protects his worshippers with deep devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Adi ivale …aiyyanaaru pattakkathi / Aatta matta vettadhu..

The second letter 'da'/'tta' rhymes across adjacent lines: 'Pattakkathi' and 'Vettadhu'.

Monaai (Alliteration / Initial Rhyming)

Poiyan pulugan pokkiri paiyan / Polladhavanai vetti pudum ..

The sound 'Po' is repeated at the beginning of adjacent words and lines.

Iyaibu (End Rhyming)

Kobathinaal ullam vedithu / Pallai kadithu kaalai madithu / Paavi kudumaiyai kaiyil pidithu

Lines ending with the same rhyming verbal participle structure (-thu): 'vedithu', 'kadithu', 'madithu', 'pidithu'.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)

Pattakkathi palapalakkudhu / Paartha udal kalakalakkudhu

'Palapalakkudhu' (glittering/gleaming sound) and 'kalakalakkudhu' (shivering/trembling reaction) create sensory vividness.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kaaval Deivam' (1969), starring Sivaji Ganesan and S. V. Subbaiah, revolves around village folk life and guardian deity traditions in Tamil Nadu. The music was composed by legendary Malayalam composer G. Devarajan in one of his rare direct Tamil film assignments. The song captures authentic Tamil folk music traditions (Villupattu / Gramiya style) glorifying village protection gods (Kaval Deivam) like Ayyanar.

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