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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chandhiranai Vaanam

From Devaki (1951) · 1951

Lyricist
Ka. Mu. Sheriff
Singer
N. L. Ganasaraswathi
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Devaki (1951)1951

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chandhiranai vaanamJust as the sky pushed away the moon
Thalliyae vaiththathu polAnd kept it far apart
Saernthiruntha poongodiyaiJust as the tree destroyed
Maramae sithaiththathu polThe flowering vine that clung to it
Female
Veenaiyilae naathamJust as the melody was refused
Kalanthirukka maruththathu polTo remain merged within the Veena
En naathan enai veruththaarMy lord hated me
Enai piriththaarHe separated me
En deivam veruththaarMy God hated me
Female
Ilai udhirntha maramaagaLike a tree that shed all its leaves
Azhagizhanthu vaazhvenoWill I live on having lost my beauty?
Niram kuraintha oviyamaaiLike a painting with faded colors
Nilai kulainthu saavenoWill I crumble and die?
Female
En seiven yaedhariyaenWhat shall I do, I know nothing
Yaarai novathuWhom can I blame?
En naathan enai veruththaarMy lord hated me
Enai piriththaarHe separated me
Female
Uyir vaazhveno innaal naanaeWill I survive these days?
Uyar vaazhve illaa ulagile kadhiyindriDestitute in a world without a noble life
Uyir vaazhveno innaal naanaeWill I survive these days?
Uyar vaazhve illaa ulagile kadhiyindriDestitute in a world without a noble life
Uyir vaazhvenoWill I survive?
Female
Alai mothi ingu naan veenaeTossed by waves, am I wasted here in vain?
Alai mothi ingu naan veenaeTossed by waves, am I wasted here in vain?
Alainthu thirinthu manam novenoWandering aimlessly, will my heart ache?
Alainthu thirinthu manam novenoWandering aimlessly, will my heart ache?
Female
Uyir vaazhveno innaal naanaeWill I survive these days?
Uyar vaazhve illaa ulagile kadhiyindriDestitute in a world without a noble life
Uyir vaazhveno…..Will I survive?...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses the deep pain of abandonment and rejection suffered by a woman whose husband has turned away from her. Using expressive poetic imagery, she compares her distress to the sky casting out the moon, a tree destroying a vine attached to it, and a Veena devoid of its music. Stripped of her joy and status, she agonizes over her bleak future, questioning whether she can endure a desolate existence destitute and devoid of purpose.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Chandhiranai vaanam Thalliyae vaiththathu pol

Uses 'pol' (like/as) and 'aga' to compare her rejection to natural phenomena (sky pushing moon, tree ruining vine, leaf-shed tree, faded painting).

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Uyir vaazhveno innaal naanae / Uyar vaazhve illaa ulagile kadhiyindri

Repetition of initial vocalic sounds like 'Uyir' and 'Uyar' across consecutive lines for rhythmic flow.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

En naathan enai veruththaar / Enai piriththaar

Matching terminal sounds 'veruththaar' and 'piriththaar' creates melodic emphasis on her sorrow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Devaki (1951) was an early Tamil drama film starring V. N. Janaki, M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), and S. Balachander. Composed by legendary maestro G. Ramanathan with lyrics by Ka. Mu. Sheriff, the music highlights classic Carnatic melodic motifs used in mid-20th-century Tamil cinema to depict intense melodrama.

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