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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Azhaikindren Deva

From Niraikudam · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, K. Jamunarani
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Niraikudam1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Deva..deva..deva..O Lord.. Lord.. Lord..
Azhaikkindren devaI am calling out to you, O Lord
Arul seivaai devaShower your grace, O Lord
Female
Ulagai kaana ninaithaen devaI desired to see the world, O Lord
Andha udhavikkae unai azhaithaen devaI called you seeking that very help, O Lord
Male :Kaadhalum kaanalaam kalaiyum kaanalaamMale: We can see love, and we can see art
Dharmamum kaanalaamWe can also see righteousness
Kaadhal kalai dharmmam selvathaal seeralinthaBecause love, art, and wealth stray from righteousness, a ruined sight
Kaatchiyum kaanalaam vaa..We can see that scene too, come..
Male
Idho paar thooimaiyaana kaadhalLook here at pure love
Male
Kangalin bashaiyil thuvanguvadhuThat begins in the language of the eyes
Kani vanna idhazhgalil mayanguvadhuThat gets swooned upon fruit-colored lips
Kangalin bashaiyil thuvanguvadhuThat begins in the language of the eyes
Kani vanna idhazhgalil mayanguvadhuThat gets swooned upon fruit-colored lips
Female :Utchi mudhal paadham varaiFemale: From head to toe
Muthamittu muthamittuKissing over and over again
Ulagathai marappadhu kaadhalForgetting the world is love
Inbam uyirgalai ninaippadhu kaadhalLove is considering all living beings with joy
Male
Kaadhalai selvam paduthumLook at the agony that wealth
Vaedhanaiyai paarcauses to love
Female :Kannu mela kanna vechi kaasai munne vechiFemale: Keeping eyes fixed on eyes, putting money in front
Kannu mela kanna vechi kaasai munne vechiKeeping eyes fixed on eyes, putting money in front
Kanni ennai aada vechi paaraiyaaLook at how you make me, a young girl, dance
Kanni ennai aada vechi paaraiyaaLook at how you make me, a young girl, dance
Female
Kammalanindhoru sundhari vandhaaloIf a beautiful maiden wearing ear ornaments arrives
Sundhari vandhaaloIf a beautiful maiden arrives
Kaalamarindhu ungalai kandaalo..kandaaloIf she notices you knowing the right time...
Male
Pannum bharathamum panbodu inaindhaJoining melody and Bharatanatyam with elegance
Kalaiyai paaru pennaeLook at the art, my dear girl
Female :Nadanam aadinaarFemale: He danced
Veghu naagareegamagavaeIn a highly sophisticated manner
Kanaga sabaiyil aanandha nadanam aadinaarHe performed the blissful dance in the golden hall
Female
Pakkam vaa thottu paarCome near and touch to see
Patharai mathu thangam polae odavaShall I run like pure 24-karat gold?
Lalalala…Lalalala…
Ettu per thottaalumEven if eight people touch
Kattu vidamal thullum katti karumbhuA firm sugarcane that leaps without losing grip
Female
Adhisayama idhu ragasiayama idhilIs this a wonder? Is this a secret?
Aadai thaan enna avasiyamaIn this, is clothing even necessary?
Ragaragama dhinam pudhuvidhama idhaiEveryday in various tunes and new ways
Anubavikkaavidil sugam varumaIf one does not experience this, will pleasure come?
Female
Irundhaal panju methaiIf available, a cotton mattress
Illaavittal thinnaiyilaeIf not, on the outer porch
Iravu poganum kaariyam aagnumThe night must pass, the task must be done
Idaiyodu valai poduCast a net around the waist
Un kaiyil ulla kaasai poduPut the money you have in your hand
Female
Ulagam idhu dhaan arindhu kondenI realized this is what the world is
Dharmathai nee ariya vaithaaiYou made me understand righteousness
Deva..deva..devaO Lord.. Lord.. Lord
Chorus
Vaishnava janatho thaenae kahiyae je"Vaishnava Jan To Tene Kahiye Je" (He is a true devotee)
Peedapraayi janaere"Peeḍ parāyī jāṇe re" (Who understands the pain of others)
Vaishnava janatho"Vaishnava Jan To"
Female
Maanida dharmam kulaindhadhammaHuman morality has crumbled, alas
Manidhanin veriyattam valarthathammaMan's demonic frenzy has grown, alas
Pana veriyum ina veriyum aadudhammaGreed for money and fanaticism for caste/race dance rampant, alas
Panpaadu seer kulaindhu ponadhammaCulture and tradition have fallen into ruin, alas

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song portrays a dramatic narrative journey through human nature, society, morality, and spiritual calling. Initially addressing the divine with a prayer to understand the world, the story transitions through various aspects of worldly existence—pure romantic love, the corrupting influence of wealth and commercialization, sensual bodily pleasures, and societal degradation. It weaves together classical dance imagery and folk rhythms, contrasting ideal love with material temptation. In its powerful climax, the song seamlessly incorporates lines from Narsinh Mehta's Gujarati hymn 'Vaishnava Jan To' to contrast pure empathy and divine righteousness with human greed. Lyricist Kannadasan uses this blend to deeply mourn the erosion of human values, culture, and ethics in a world overwhelmed by financial greed and prejudice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethirai and Monai (Tamil Alliteration and Rhyming)

Pana veriyum ina veriyum aadudhamma / Panpaadu seer kulaindhu ponadhamma

Kannadasan employs classic Tamil poetic rhyming with initial letter alliteration (Monai) and second-letter harmony (Ethirai) across lines like 'Pana veriyum' and 'Panpaadu seer'.

Simile (Uvamai)

Patharai mathu thangam polae odava

Compares pure bodily beauty and motion to 24-karat refined gold ('Patharai mathu thangam').

Juxtaposition / Dramatic Contrast

Vaishnava janatho... Maanida dharmam kulaindhadhamma

Juxtaposes Mahatma Gandhi's favorite pious hymn on ideal human compassion against the harsh reality of human degradation, moral decay, and greed.

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Trivia

The song uniquely incorporates the iconic 15th-century Gujarati bhajan 'Vaishnava Jan To' written by poet Narsinh Mehta. A popular favorite of Mahatma Gandhi, the bhajan is inserted into this Tamil film song by Kannadasan and V. Kumar to serve as a strong moral benchmark against the societal decay described in the narrative.

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