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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Deivam Irangadha

From Pillai Selvam · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Sakthi Kumar
Details
Pillai Selvam1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Deivam irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Deivam unaku irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Deivam irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Un mugam parkathaWon't He look at your face?
Kallil irupaane devan mannilum irupaaneGod resides in stone and resides on earth,
Ezhai siruvan kangalil mattum illathu ponaneDid He go missing only in the eyes of this poor young boy?
Deivam irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Un mugam parkathaWon't He look at your face?
Male
Vithi enpavan unai thediFate came looking for you,
Vizhaiyada vanthan kanneTo play its wicked game, my dear child.
Vithi enpavan unai thediFate came looking for you,
Vizhaiyada vanthan kanneTo play its wicked game, my dear child.
Kanivai sirumozhi pookannaninThe sweet-spoken, flower-eyed boy...
Kann vangi avanum kapothi aanaaneTaking away his sight, did God Himself become blind to mercy?
Deivam irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Un mugam parkathaWon't He look at your face?
Male
Veri pidithe unai vizhungida enniIntoxicated with rage, intending to devour you,
Thodaruthada oru kodu vilanguA cruel wild beast pursues you!
Veri pidithe unai vizhungida enniIntoxicated with rage, intending to devour you,
Thodaruthada oru kodu vilanguA cruel wild beast pursues you!
Uravenum vilangugal madivai neeyendruKnowing that you would perish under the fetters of relationships,
Ninaipathu enna palamadanguWhat is the use of contemplating it manifold times?
Deivam irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Un mugam parkathaWon't He look at your face?
Male
Un annai unakkagaYour mother, for your sake,
Uyir ilanthum valgindralLives on even after losing her life.
Un thanthai unai enniYour father, thinking of you,
Udal thalarnthu vegindranSuffers with a weary body.
Devi aval deepamThe lamp of the Goddess
Un vizhiyaga vendumMust become your vision.
Devanin kanneerThe tears of God
Or vazhi katta vendumMust show you a way forward.
Male
Deivam irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Deivam unaku irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Deivam irangathaWon't God take pity on you?
Un mugam parkathaWon't He look at your face?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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