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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Deivam Irangadha

From Pillai Selvam · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Sakthi Kumar
Movie name
Pillai Selvam
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
2 Mar 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Deivam irangatha
Deivam unaku irangatha
Deivam irangatha
Un mugam parkatha
Kallil irupaane devan mannilum irupaane
Ezhai siruvan kangalil mattum illathu ponane
Deivam irangatha
Un mugam parkatha
Vithi enpavan unai thedi
Vizhaiyada vanthan kanne
Vithi enpavan unai thedi
Vizhaiyada vanthan kanne
Kanivai sirumozhi pookannanin
Kann vangi avanum kapothi aanaane
Deivam irangatha
Un mugam parkatha
Veri pidithe unai vizhungida enni
Thodaruthada oru kodu vilangu
Veri pidithe unai vizhungida enni
Thodaruthada oru kodu vilangu
Uravenum vilangugal madivai neeyendru
Ninaipathu enna palamadangu
Deivam irangatha
Un mugam parkatha
Un annai unakkaga
Uyir ilanthum valgindral
Un thanthai unai enni
Udal thalarnthu vegindran
Devi aval deepam
Un vizhiyaga vendum
Devanin kanneer
Or vazhi katta vendum
Deivam irangatha
Deivam unaku irangatha
Deivam irangatha
Un mugam parkatha
Won't God have mercy?
Won't God have mercy on you?
Won't God have mercy?
Won't He look at your face?
God dwells in stone, and He dwells in the earth,
yet why is He missing only from this poor boy's eyes?
Won't God have mercy?
Won't He look at your face?
Fate came looking for you,
to play with your life, my darling.
Fate came looking for you,
to play with your life, my darling.
From this sweet-voiced, flower-eyed boy,
Fate took his sight and turned blind himself!
Won't God have mercy?
Won't He look at your face?
Driven mad, wanting to swallow you whole,
a cruel beast chases after you!
Driven mad, wanting to swallow you whole,
a cruel beast chases after you!
And the beasts called relatives, wishing for your death,
plot with far greater cruelty!
Won't God have mercy?
Won't He look at your face?
For your sake, your mother
lives on though her life is broken.
Thinking of you, your father
grows weak and burns in grief.
The sacred flame of the Goddess
must become your sight.
The tears of the Lord
must show a way forward.
Won't God have mercy?
Won't God have mercy on you?
Won't God have mercy?
Won't He look at your face?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Deivam Irangatha is a deeply poignant emotional song questioning divine mercy and justice for an innocent young boy struck by tragedy and blindness. The lyrics express anguish at how God, who is believed to present everywhere in nature and idols, seems absent when it comes to granting sight and relief to a helpless child. The narrator reflects on the torment inflicted by fate and the unbearable suffering of the boy's parents—a mother living in spirit only for her child and a father broken by sorrow. The song concludes with a desperate prayer that divine light and grace will eventually illuminate the boy's dark world and show him a path forward.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

“Deivam irangatha”

The repeated phrase 'Deivam irangatha' (Won't God take pity?) serves as a poignant rhetorical question expressing grief and questioning divine justice.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Vithi enpavan unai thedi / Vizhaiyada vanthan kanne”

Matching initial consonants 'Vi' in 'Vithi' and 'Vizhaiyada' create a rhythmic, solemn flow in the line structure.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Uravenum vilangugal madivai neeyendru”

'Uravenum vilangugal' metaphorically compares human relationships and emotional attachments to heavy iron shackles or fetters.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Devi aval deepam / Un vizhiyaga vendum”

'Devi aval deepam' metaphorically compares the divine light/grace of the Goddess to the restoring sight needed by the child.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pillai Selvam (1973) features music composed by Sakthi Kumar and soul-stirring lyrics written by Kaviarasu Kannadasan. The track is sung by veteran playback singer T. M. Soundararajan, showcasing Kannadasan's signature style of questioning destiny and divine power during human suffering.

Keep listening

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Deivam Neethana1959
KalaivananGriefFate
Makkal Oru1963
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From the same album

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