Dei
From Dei (2022) Album · 2022
- Lyricist
- Inbaraj Rajendran
- Singer
- Anugraha Raphy
- Music director
- Inbaraj Rajendran
- Details
- Dei (2022) Album2022
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maalai mangum nerathil | In the dimming evening hours |
| Maanam atri pogutha | Does honor drift away? |
| Vaayil atra vaazhkkaiyil | In a voiceless life |
| Vaazhnthu paarkka thonutha | Do you feel like trying to live? |
| Female | |
| Maanam konda jenmamaa | Is this a life bound by honor? |
| Vaazhntha vaazhkka podhuma | Is the life lived so far enough? |
| Maanam eenam rosam ellaam | Honor, shame, self-respect, all these |
| Innum inga venuma | Are they still needed here? |
| Female | |
| Dei neeyum vena | Hey man, I don't want you |
| Un love-um vena | I don't want your love either |
| Oru gate pottu | Putting up a gate |
| Vaazha vantha poottu naana | Am I the lock that came to live? |
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkaiye oru vattamdhaana | Life is a full circle, isn't it? |
| Ithu ezhuthi vacha sattamdhaana | Is this a written law? |
| Athu yeduthu kizhichu | Tearing it apart |
| Thirutha vantha saththam naana | Am I the voice that came to correct it? |
| Naana naana naana | Me, me, me, me |
| Female | |
| Naalkanakkaa ozhaikkiren | I work for days on end |
| Raathiriyil muzhikkiren | I stay awake at night |
| Nee kudichu puttu vandhaalum | Even if you come home drunk |
| Kuduthanantha nadathuraen | I manage the household |
| Female | |
| Nee chumma suthi thirinchaalum | Even if you wander aimlessly |
| Kaadhalathaan valakkuren | I still nurture our love |
| Unna poi perumai pesi pesi | Praising you falsely again and again |
| Ooru vaaya adaikkuren | I shut the townspeople's mouths |
| Female | |
| Un tholu mela saayathaan | To lean on your shoulder |
| Naanum dhinam thavikkuren | I yearn every single day |
| Nee thalli thalli pogumbothu | When you push me further and further away |
| Erimalaya vedikkiren | I erupt like a volcano |
| Female | |
| Kannu moodi thoongiyum | Even sleeping with closed eyes |
| Kanavukkulla vizhikkiraen | I wake up inside dreams |
| Nizhalukkulla maattikkittu | Trapped within shadows |
| Nejatha mattum theduraen | I search only for truth |
| Female | |
| Poda Dei neeyum vena | Go away man, I don't want you |
| Un love-um vena | I don't want your love either |
| Oru gate pottu | Putting up a gate |
| Vaazha vantha poottu naana | Am I the lock that came to live? |
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkaiye oru vattamdhaana | Life is a full circle, isn't it? |
| Ithu ezhuthi vacha sattamdhaana | Is this a written law? |
| Athu yeduthu thiruthi | Taking it up to correct |
| Ezhutha vantha saththam naana | Am I the voice that came to rewrite it? |
| Naana naana naana | Me, me, me, me |
| Female | |
| Poovukkulla puguntha thenee | A honeybee that entered inside a flower |
| Thena vittu poguma | Will it ever leave the honey behind? |
| Bodhaikkulla vizhuntha neeyum | Having fallen into intoxication, can you |
| Yezhunthukkathaan mudiyuma | Ever manage to get back up? |
| Female | |
| Pombalaya poranthuputta | Just because one is born a woman |
| Potthi potthi ponuma | Must she remain sheltered and hidden? |
| Aadi paadi aattam poda | To dance and sing and make merry |
| Aambalathaan venuma | Do we really need a man? |
| Female | |
| Ulagu romba perisudaa | The world is very vast, man |
| Athu unakku mattum sirisudaa | It's small only to you, man |
| Un achcham madam naanam ellaam | All your fear, shyness, and modesty |
| Thookki mootta kattudaa | Pack them up into a bundle and throw them away |
| Female | |
| Kaalam romba kirukkudaa | Time is utterly crazy, man |
| Enna kirukki thalli irukkudaa | It has pushed me around like crazy |
| Atha thiruthikollum neram konjam | The time to rectify that |
| Thirumbidichu ippodaa | Has turned around right now, man! |
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkaiye oru vattamdhaana | Life is a full circle, isn't it? |
| Ithu ezhuthi vacha sattamdhaana | Is this a written law? |
| Athu yeduthu thiruthi | Taking it up to correct |
| Ezhutha vantha saththam naana | Am I the voice that came to rewrite it? |
| Naana naana naana | Me, me, me, me |
| Female | |
| Maalai mangum nerathil | In the dimming evening hours |
| Maanam atri pogutha | Does honor drift away? |
| Vaayil atra vaazhkkaiyil | In a voiceless life |
| Vaazhnthu paarkka thonutha | Do you feel like trying to live? |
| Female | |
| Maanam konda jenmamaa | Is this a life bound by honor? |
| Vaazhntha vaazhkka podhuma | Is the life lived so far enough? |
| Maanam eenam rosam ellaam | Honor, shame, self-respect, all these |
| Innum inga venuma | Are they still needed here? |
மாலை மங்கும் நேரத்தில்
மானம் அற்றி போகுதா
வாயில் அற்ற வாழ்க்கையில்
வாழ்ந்து பார்க்க தோணுதா
In the dimming evening hours
Does honor drift away?
In a voiceless life
Do you feel like trying to live?
மானம் கொண்ட ஜென்மமா
வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்க போதுமா
மானம் ஈனம் ரோசம் எல்லாம்
இன்னும் இங்க வேணுமா
Is this a life bound by honor?
Is the life lived so far enough?
Honor, shame, self-respect, all these
Are they still needed here?
டேய் நீயும் வேணா
உன் லவ்வும் வேணா
ஒரு கேட்டு போட்டு
வாழ வந்த பூட்டு நானா
Hey man, I don't want you
I don't want your love either
Putting up a gate
Am I the lock that came to live?
வாழ்க்கையே ஒரு வட்டம்தானா
இது எழுதி வச்ச சட்டம்தானா
அத எடுத்து கிழிச்சு
திருத்த வந்த சத்தம் நானா
நானா நானா நானா
Life is a full circle, isn't it?
Is this a written law?
Tearing it apart
Am I the voice that came to correct it?
Me, me, me, me
நாள்கணக்கா ஒழைக்கிறேன்
ராத்திரியில் முழிக்கிறேன்
நீ குடிச்சு புட்டு வந்தாலும்
குடுத்தனந்தா நடத்துறேன்
I work for days on end
I stay awake at night
Even if you come home drunk
I manage the household
நீ சும்மா சுத்தி திரிஞ்சாலும்
காதலதான் வளக்குறேன்
உன்ன பொய் பெருமை பேசி பேசி
ஊரு வாய அடைக்குறேன்
Even if you wander aimlessly
I still nurture our love
Praising you falsely again and again
I shut the townspeople's mouths
உன் தோளு மேல சாயத்தான்
நானும் தினம் தவிக்குறேன்
நீ தள்ளி தள்ளி போகும் போது
எரிமலையா வெடிக்கிறேன்
To lean on your shoulder
I yearn every single day
When you push me further and further away
I erupt like a volcano
கண்ணு மூடி தூங்கியும்
கனவுக்குள்ள விழிக்கிறேன்
நிழலுக்குள்ள மாட்டிக்கிட்டு
நெஜத்த மட்டும் தேடுறேன்
Even sleeping with closed eyes
I wake up inside dreams
Trapped within shadows
I search only for truth
போடா டேய் நீயும் வேணா
உன் லவ்வும் வேணா
ஒரு கேட்டு போட்டு
வாழ வந்த பூட்டு நானா
Go away man, I don't want you
I don't want your love either
Putting up a gate
Am I the lock that came to live?
வாழ்க்கையே ஒரு வட்டம்தானா
இது எழுதி வச்ச சட்டம்தானா
அத எடுத்து கிழிச்சு
திருத்த வந்த சத்தம் நானா
நானா நானா நானா
Life is a full circle, isn't it?
Is this a written law?
Taking it up to correct
Am I the voice that came to rewrite it?
Me, me, me, me
பூவுக்குள்ள புகுந்த தேனீ
தேன விட்டு போகுமா
போதைக்குள்ள விழுந்த நீயும்
எழுந்துக்கதான் முடியுமா
A honeybee that entered inside a flower
Will it ever leave the honey behind?
Having fallen into intoxication, can you
Ever manage to get back up?
பொம்பளையா பொறந்துபுட்டா
பொத்தி பொத்தி போவுமா
ஆடி பாடி ஆட்டம் போட
ஆம்பளதான் வேணுமா
Just because one is born a woman
Must she remain sheltered and hidden?
To dance and sing and make merry
Do we really need a man?
உலகு ரொம்ப பெரிசுடா
அது உனக்கு மட்டும் சிறிசுடா
உன் அச்சம் மடம் நாணம் எல்லாம்
தூக்கி மூட்ட கட்டுடா
The world is very vast, man
It's small only to you, man
All your fear, shyness, and modesty
Pack them up into a bundle and throw them away
ஆளு ரொம்ப கிறுக்குடா
என்ன கிறுக்கி தள்ளி இருக்குடா
அத திருத்திக்கொள்ளும் நேரம் கொஞ்சம்
திரும்பிடிச்சி இப்போடா
Time is utterly crazy, man
It has pushed me around like crazy
The time to rectify that
Has turned around right now, man!
போடா டேய் நீயும் வேணா
உன் லவ்வும் வேணா
ஒரு கேட்டு போட்டு
வாழ வந்த பூட்டு நானா
Life is a full circle, isn't it?
Is this a written law?
Taking it up to correct
Am I the voice that came to rewrite it?
Me, me, me, me
வாழ்க்கையே ஒரு வட்டம்தானா
இது எழுதி வச்ச சட்டம்தானா
அத எடுத்து கிழிச்சு
திருத்த வந்த சத்தம் நானா
நானா நானா நானா
In the dimming evening hours
Does honor drift away?
In a voiceless life
Do you feel like trying to live?
மாலை மங்கும் நேரத்தில்
மானம் அற்றி போகுதா
வாயில் அற்ற வாழ்க்கையில்
வாழ்ந்து பார்க்க தோணுதா
Is this a life bound by honor?
Is the life lived so far enough?
Honor, shame, self-respect, all these
Are they still needed here?
மானம் கொண்ட ஜென்மமா
வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்க போதுமா
மானம் ஈனம் ரோசம் எல்லாம்
இன்னும் இங்க வேணுமா
Maalai mangum nerathil
In the dimming evening hours
Maanam atri pogutha
Does honor drift away?
Vaayil atra vaazhkkaiyil
In a voiceless life
Vaazhnthu paarkka thonutha
Do you feel like trying to live?
Maanam konda jenmamaa
Is this a life bound by honor?
Vaazhntha vaazhkka podhuma
Is the life lived so far enough?
Maanam eenam rosam ellaam
Honor, shame, self-respect, all these
Innum inga venuma
Are they still needed here?
Dei neeyum vena
Hey man, I don't want you
Un love-um vena
I don't want your love either
Oru gate pottu
Putting up a gate
Vaazha vantha poottu naana
Am I the lock that came to live?
Vaazhkkaiye oru vattamdhaana
Life is a full circle, isn't it?
Ithu ezhuthi vacha sattamdhaana
Is this a written law?
Athu yeduthu kizhichu
Tearing it apart
Thirutha vantha saththam naana
Am I the voice that came to correct it?
Naana naana naana
Me, me, me, me
Naalkanakkaa ozhaikkiren
I work for days on end
Raathiriyil muzhikkiren
I stay awake at night
Nee kudichu puttu vandhaalum
Even if you come home drunk
Kuduthanantha nadathuraen
I manage the household
Nee chumma suthi thirinchaalum
Even if you wander aimlessly
Kaadhalathaan valakkuren
I still nurture our love
Unna poi perumai pesi pesi
Praising you falsely again and again
Ooru vaaya adaikkuren
I shut the townspeople's mouths
Un tholu mela saayathaan
To lean on your shoulder
Naanum dhinam thavikkuren
I yearn every single day
Nee thalli thalli pogumbothu
When you push me further and further away
Erimalaya vedikkiren
I erupt like a volcano
Kannu moodi thoongiyum
Even sleeping with closed eyes
Kanavukkulla vizhikkiraen
I wake up inside dreams
Nizhalukkulla maattikkittu
Trapped within shadows
Nejatha mattum theduraen
I search only for truth
Poda Dei neeyum vena
Go away man, I don't want you
Un love-um vena
I don't want your love either
Oru gate pottu
Putting up a gate
Vaazha vantha poottu naana
Am I the lock that came to live?
Vaazhkkaiye oru vattamdhaana
Life is a full circle, isn't it?
Ithu ezhuthi vacha sattamdhaana
Is this a written law?
Athu yeduthu thiruthi
Taking it up to correct
Ezhutha vantha saththam naana
Am I the voice that came to rewrite it?
Naana naana naana
Me, me, me, me
Poovukkulla puguntha thenee
A honeybee that entered inside a flower
Thena vittu poguma
Will it ever leave the honey behind?
Bodhaikkulla vizhuntha neeyum
Having fallen into intoxication, can you
Yezhunthukkathaan mudiyuma
Ever manage to get back up?
Pombalaya poranthuputta
Just because one is born a woman
Potthi potthi ponuma
Must she remain sheltered and hidden?
Aadi paadi aattam poda
To dance and sing and make merry
Aambalathaan venuma
Do we really need a man?
Ulagu romba perisudaa
The world is very vast, man
Athu unakku mattum sirisudaa
It's small only to you, man
Un achcham madam naanam ellaam
All your fear, shyness, and modesty
Thookki mootta kattudaa
Pack them up into a bundle and throw them away
Kaalam romba kirukkudaa
Time is utterly crazy, man
Enna kirukki thalli irukkudaa
It has pushed me around like crazy
Atha thiruthikollum neram konjam
The time to rectify that
Thirumbidichu ippodaa
Has turned around right now, man!
Vaazhkkaiye oru vattamdhaana
Life is a full circle, isn't it?
Ithu ezhuthi vacha sattamdhaana
Is this a written law?
Athu yeduthu thiruthi
Taking it up to correct
Ezhutha vantha saththam naana
Am I the voice that came to rewrite it?
Naana naana naana
Me, me, me, me
Maalai mangum nerathil
In the dimming evening hours
Maanam atri pogutha
Does honor drift away?
Vaayil atra vaazhkkaiyil
In a voiceless life
Vaazhnthu paarkka thonutha
Do you feel like trying to live?
Maanam konda jenmamaa
Is this a life bound by honor?
Vaazhntha vaazhkka podhuma
Is the life lived so far enough?
Maanam eenam rosam ellaam
Honor, shame, self-respect, all these
Innum inga venuma
Are they still needed here?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Dei' is a fierce feminist anthem that speaks against domestic neglect, toxic relationships, and patriarchal control. The female protagonist reflects on a voiceless life burdened by archaic concepts of women's honor and shame. She openly rejects her unappreciative partner, questioning why a woman must live confined within boundaries or depend on a man to enjoy life and express happiness. As the song unfolds, she sheds societal constraints such as 'Achcham, Madam, Naanam' (fear, shyness, and modesty) and asserts her determination to break rigid, pre-written rules. Shifting from silent endurance to active empowerment, she declares her independence and reclaims her agency to rewrite her own destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Vaazhkkaiye oru vattamdhaana”
Compares life to a circle ('vattam') and societal rules to written laws that can be rewritten.
Hyperbole / Imagery
“Erimalaya vedikkiren”
Uses the vivid image of a erupting volcano to represent overwhelming frustration and anger.
Rhetorical Question
“Aadi paadi aattam poda Aambalathaan venuma”
Questions the patriarchal assumption that women need men to be happy, sing, or dance.
Tamil Prosody - Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)
“Maalai mangum nerathil / Maanam atri pogutha”
The initial letter 'Maa' repeats in consecutive lines ('Maalai' / 'Maanam').
Cultural Allusion
“Un achcham madam naanam ellaam Thookki mootta kattudaa”
References the classical Tamil virtues prescribed for women (Achcham, Madam, Naanam) and rejects them as outdated burdens.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Dei' is an independent Tamil track composed and written by Inbaraj Rajendran and sung by Anugraha Raphy. The song gained traction on digital platforms for its bold narrative against patriarchal expectations and its modern, electro-folk musical arrangement.
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