Azhagu Dheivam
From Pesum Dheivam · 1967
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Pesum Dheivam1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aazhiyilae piravaadha alai magalo… | Is she the goddess of wealth not born from the ocean? |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Haa…aaa…aaa…aa…haa….aa…aaa…aa… | Haa…aaa…aaa…aa…haa….aa…aaa…aa… |
| Male | |
| Ezhisaiyai payilaadha kalai magalo… | Is she the goddess of arts who hasn't practiced the seven musical notes? |
| Moozhi nadam puriyaadha malai magalo… | Is she the daughter of the mountain goddess who hasn't danced? |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa… |
| Male | |
| Azhaghu dheivam mella mella | Did the goddess of beauty step forward |
| Adiyeduthu vaithadho | Softly and gently? |
| Male | |
| Azhaghu dheivam mella mella | Did the goddess of beauty step forward |
| Adiyeduthu vaithadho | Softly and gently? |
| Naan anbu kavidhai solla solla | As I recited poems of love, |
| Adiyeduthu koduthadho | Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm? |
| Male | |
| Azhaghu dheivam mella mella | Did the goddess of beauty step forward |
| Adiyeduthu vaithadho | Softly and gently? |
| Naan anbu kavidhai solla solla | As I recited poems of love, |
| Adiyeduthu koduthadho hoo oo ooo | Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm? Hoo oo ooo |
| Male | |
| Azhaghu dheivam mella mella | Did the goddess of beauty step forward |
| Adiyeduthu vaithadho …hoo..oo | Softly and gently? …hoo..oo |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa… |
| Male | |
| Ilaneerai sumandhirukkum | She is not a coconut tree |
| Thennai maram alla | Bearing tender coconuts, |
| Mazhai megam kudai pidikkum | Nor is she the cool moon |
| Kulir nilavum alla | Sheltered under rain clouds like an umbrella. |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa… | Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa… |
| Male | |
| Ilaneerai sumandhirukkum | She is not a coconut tree |
| Thennai maram alla | Bearing tender coconuts, |
| Mazhai megam kudai pidikkum | Nor is she the cool moon |
| Kulir nilavum alla | Sheltered under rain clouds like an umbrella. |
| Ingum angum meen paayum neerodai alla | She is not a stream where fish dart here and there. |
| Ingum angum meen paayum neerodai alla | She is not a stream where fish dart here and there. |
| Idharkkum maelum ilakkiyathil | Beyond all this, in literature, |
| Vaarthai yaedhu solla | What words are left to describe her? |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa… |
| Male | |
| Azhaghu dheivam mella mella | Did the goddess of beauty step forward |
| Adiyeduthu vaithadho | Softly and gently? |
| Naan anbu kavidhai solla solla | As I recited poems of love, |
| Adiyeduthu koduthadho hoo oo ooo | Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm? Hoo oo ooo |
| Male | |
| Azhaghu dheivam mella mella | Did the goddess of beauty step forward |
| Adiyeduthu vaithadho …hoo..oo | Softly and gently? …hoo..oo |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa… | Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa… |
| Male | |
| Thathi varum thalar nadaiyil | In her faltering, toddling walk, |
| Pirandhadhu thaan thaalamo | Was rhythm (thaalam) born? |
| Male | |
| Thaavi varum kai asaivil | In the waving movement of her hands, |
| Vilaindhadhu thaan baavamo | Was expression (bhavam) created? |
| Male | |
| Dheiva magal vaai malarndhu | When the divine girl opened her lips, |
| Mozhindhadhu thaan raagamo | Was melody (raagam) born? |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa… |
| Male :Ithanaiyum sendhadhu thaan | Male : Is the union of all these |
| Iyal isai naadagamo……… | The embodiment of literature, music, and drama? |
ஆழியிலே பிறவாத அலைமகளோ....
Is she the goddess of wealth not born from the ocean?
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ....
ஹா......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆ....ஹா......ஆ....ஆஅ....ஆ....
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Haa…aaa…aaa…aa…haa….aa…aaa…aa…
ஏழிசையைப் பயிலாத கலைமகளோ
மொழி நடம் புரியாத மலைமகளோ
உலகத்தாய் பெற்றெடுத்த தலைமகளோ....ஓ.....ஓ.....
Is she the goddess of arts who hasn't practiced the seven musical notes?
Is she the daughter of the mountain goddess who hasn't danced?
ஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
அழகுத் தெய்வம் மெல்ல மெல்ல
அடியெடுத்து வைத்ததோ
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Softly and gently?
அழகுத் தெய்வம் மெல்ல மெல்ல
அடியெடுத்து வைத்ததோ
நான் அன்புக் கவிதை சொல்லச் சொல்ல
அடி எடுத்துக் கொடுத்ததோ
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Softly and gently?
As I recited poems of love,
Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm?
அழகுத் தெய்வம் மெல்ல மெல்ல
அடியெடுத்து வைத்ததோ
நான் அன்புக் கவிதை சொல்லச் சொல்ல
அடி எடுத்துக் கொடுத்ததோ ஹோ ஓ ஓஒ
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Softly and gently?
As I recited poems of love,
Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm? Hoo oo ooo
அழகுத் தெய்வம் மெல்ல மெல்ல
அடியெடுத்து வைத்ததோ....ஹோ....ஓ
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Softly and gently? …hoo..oo
ஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
இளநீரை சுமந்திருக்கும்
தென்னை மரம் அல்ல
மழை மேகம் குடை பிடிக்கும்
குளிர் நிலவும் அல்ல
She is not a coconut tree
Bearing tender coconuts,
Nor is she the cool moon
Sheltered under rain clouds like an umbrella.
ஆ....ஆஅ.....ஹாஆ....ஆஹா....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa…
இளநீரை சுமந்திருக்கும்
தென்னை மரம் அல்ல
மழை மேகம் குடை பிடிக்கும்
குளிர் நிலவும் அல்ல
இங்கும் அங்கும் மீன் பாயும்
நீரோடை அல்ல
இங்கும் அங்கும் மீன் பாயும்
நீரோடை அல்ல
இதற்கு மேலும் இலக்கியத்தில்
வார்த்தை ஏது சொல்ல
She is not a coconut tree
Bearing tender coconuts,
Nor is she the cool moon
Sheltered under rain clouds like an umbrella.
She is not a stream where fish dart here and there.
She is not a stream where fish dart here and there.
Beyond all this, in literature,
What words are left to describe her?
ஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
அழகுத் தெய்வம் மெல்ல மெல்ல
அடியெடுத்து வைத்ததோ
நான் அன்புக் கவிதை சொல்லச் சொல்ல
அடி எடுத்துக் கொடுத்ததோ ஹோ ஓ ஓஒ
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Softly and gently?
As I recited poems of love,
Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm? Hoo oo ooo
அழகுத் தெய்வம் மெல்ல மெல்ல
அடியெடுத்து வைத்ததோ....ஹோ....ஓ
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Softly and gently? …hoo..oo
ஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa…
தத்தி வரும் தளர் நடையில்
பிறந்ததுதான் தாளமோ
In her faltering, toddling walk,
Was rhythm (thaalam) born?
தாவி வரும் கையசைவில்
விளைந்ததுதான் பாவமோ
In the waving movement of her hands,
Was expression (bhavam) created?
தெய்வ மகள் வாய் மலர்ந்து
மொழிந்ததுதான் ராகமோ
When the divine girl opened her lips,
Was melody (raagam) born?
ஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
இத்தனையும் சேர்ந்ததுதான்
இயல் இசை நாடகமோ.......
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Male : Is the union of all these
The embodiment of literature, music, and drama?
Aazhiyilae piravaadha alai magalo…
Is she the goddess of wealth not born from the ocean?
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Haa…aaa…aaa…aa…haa….aa…aaa…aa…
Haa…aaa…aaa…aa…haa….aa…aaa…aa…
Ezhisaiyai payilaadha kalai magalo…
Is she the goddess of arts who hasn't practiced the seven musical notes?
Moozhi nadam puriyaadha malai magalo…
Is she the daughter of the mountain goddess who hasn't danced?
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Azhaghu dheivam mella mella
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Adiyeduthu vaithadho
Softly and gently?
Azhaghu dheivam mella mella
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Adiyeduthu vaithadho
Softly and gently?
Naan anbu kavidhai solla solla
As I recited poems of love,
Adiyeduthu koduthadho
Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm?
Azhaghu dheivam mella mella
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Adiyeduthu vaithadho
Softly and gently?
Naan anbu kavidhai solla solla
As I recited poems of love,
Adiyeduthu koduthadho hoo oo ooo
Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm? Hoo oo ooo
Azhaghu dheivam mella mella
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Adiyeduthu vaithadho …hoo..oo
Softly and gently? …hoo..oo
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Ilaneerai sumandhirukkum
She is not a coconut tree
Thennai maram alla
Bearing tender coconuts,
Mazhai megam kudai pidikkum
Nor is she the cool moon
Kulir nilavum alla
Sheltered under rain clouds like an umbrella.
Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa…
Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa…
Ilaneerai sumandhirukkum
She is not a coconut tree
Thennai maram alla
Bearing tender coconuts,
Mazhai megam kudai pidikkum
Nor is she the cool moon
Kulir nilavum alla
Sheltered under rain clouds like an umbrella.
Ingum angum meen paayum neerodai alla
She is not a stream where fish dart here and there.
Ingum angum meen paayum neerodai alla
She is not a stream where fish dart here and there.
Idharkkum maelum ilakkiyathil
Beyond all this, in literature,
Vaarthai yaedhu solla
What words are left to describe her?
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Azhaghu dheivam mella mella
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Adiyeduthu vaithadho
Softly and gently?
Naan anbu kavidhai solla solla
As I recited poems of love,
Adiyeduthu koduthadho hoo oo ooo
Did she provide the opening meter and rhythm? Hoo oo ooo
Azhaghu dheivam mella mella
Did the goddess of beauty step forward
Adiyeduthu vaithadho …hoo..oo
Softly and gently? …hoo..oo
Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa…
Aa… aa… haa… ahaaa… aa… aaa…aa…
Thathi varum thalar nadaiyil
In her faltering, toddling walk,
Pirandhadhu thaan thaalamo
Was rhythm (thaalam) born?
Thaavi varum kai asaivil
In the waving movement of her hands,
Vilaindhadhu thaan baavamo
Was expression (bhavam) created?
Dheiva magal vaai malarndhu
When the divine girl opened her lips,
Mozhindhadhu thaan raagamo
Was melody (raagam) born?
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aaa…aa…
Male :Ithanaiyum sendhadhu thaan
Male : Is the union of all these
Iyal isai naadagamo………
The embodiment of literature, music, and drama?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic song from 'Pesum Dheivam' (1967) expresses poetic admiration for a child or loved one, comparing her presence to divine forms of beauty and traditional Tamil artistic concepts. The singer wonders if she is a divine incarnation of Lakshmi, Saraswati, or Parvati, stepping gently into his life and supplying the metrical foot (adi) to his romantic poetry. As the song progresses, the speaker uses poetic negations, stating she is far greater than natural elements like coconut palms, moonlit clouds, or fish-filled streams. The child's toddling gait gives rise to rhythm (thaalam), her hand movements bring forth emotional expression (bhavam), and her sweet voice creates melody (raagam), together forming the ultimate union of traditional Tamil art—Iyal (prose/poetry), Isai (music), and Naadagam (drama).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Allegory (Uruvagam)
“Aazhiyilae piravaadha alai magalo…”
Compares the child to divine goddesses (Alai Magal, Kalai Magal, Malai Magal) and the core tenets of classical Tamil culture.
Metrical Wordplay / Pun (Sledai / Yaappu)
“Adiyeduthu vaithadho / Naan anbu kavidhai solla solla Adiyeduthu koduthadho”
'Adiyeduthu vaithadho' uses 'adi' in a double sense: taking a physical step with feet and providing a metrical line/foot for poetry.
Negation as Metaphor (Iliporul Anai / Il porul uvamai)
“Ilaneerai sumandhirukkum Thennai maram alla”
Employs poetic negation, arguing that common natural metaphors fall short of describing her true essence.
Rhyme and Alliteration (Edhukai and Monai)
“Thathi varum thalar nadaiyil / Thaavi varum kai asaivil”
Employs Tamil second-letter rhyming (Edhukai) across consecutive lines ('Thathi', 'Thaavi').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pesum Dheivam' (1967) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. The music for the film was composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by Vaali and vocals rendered by T. M. Soundararajan. The lyricist Vaali brilliantly weaves the classical concept of 'Muthamizh' (Iyal, Isai, Naadagam) into a popular cinematic song.
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