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Lyrics & meaning

Deivam Thantha Veedu

From Aval Oru Thodarkathai · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Aval Oru Thodarkathai
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
6 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mmmmmm…mmm..mmmmmm
oooo… ooooo.. ohooo
Deivam thantha veedu veedhi irukku
Deivam thantha veedu veedhi irukku
Intha oorenna sondha veedenna
Intha oorenna sondha veedenna
Gnyaana pennae
Vaazhvin porul enna
Nee vandha kadhai enna
Vaazhvin porul enna
Nee vandha kadhai enna
Naan kettu
Thaai thandhai padaitharaa
aaa…aaaaa..aa..aaaa…aaaa
Naan kettu
Thaai thandhai padaitharaa
Illai en pillai enai
Kettu pirandhaanaa
Deivam seidha paavam
Ithu podi thangachi
Kondraal paavam thindraal pochu
Idhuthaan en katchi
Aadhi veedu andham kaadu
Ithil naan enna
Adiyae nee enna
Gnyaana pennae
Vaazhvin porulenna
Nee vandha kadhai enna
Deivam thantha veedu
Veedhi irukku
Deivam thantha veedu
Veedhi irukku
Verum kovil
Idhilenna abhishekam..
Un manam engum therukkoothu
Pagal vesham
Kallikkenna mullil veli
Podi thangachi
Kaatrukkedhu thottakkaaran
Idhuthaan en katchi
Kondadhenna koduppadhenna
Idhil thaai enna
Manandha thaaram enna
Gnyaana pennae
Vaazhvin porul enna
Nee vandha kadhai enna
Thelivaaga therindhaalae
Sithaandham
Adhu theriyaamal ponaalae
Vedhaandham
Mannai thondi thanneer thedum
Anbu thangachi
Ennai thondi gnyaanam kanden
Idhuthaan en katchi
Unmai enna poimai enna
Idhil thaen enna
Kadikkum thael enna
Gnyaana pennae
Vaazhvin porul enna
Nee vandha kadhai enna
Deivam thantha veedu
Veedhi irukku
Deivam thantha veedu
Veedhi irukku
Mmm... mm... mmm...
Oh... oh... oho...
God gave a home, but the street is always there.
God gave a home, but the street is always there.
What is this town, and what is this home of our own?
What is this town, and what is this home of our own?
Oh wise girl,
what is the meaning of life?
What is the story of how you came to be?
What is the meaning of life?
What is the story of how you came to be?
Did I ask,
and did my parents create me?
Aah... aah...
Did I ask,
and did my parents create me?
Or did my child ask me
before being born?
This is a blunder made by God,
let it go, little sister!
"Kill it, it is a sin; eat it, it is gone"—
that is my philosophy!
The beginning is home, the end is the graveyard,
so who am I in all this?
And hey, who are you?
Oh wise girl,
what is the meaning of life?
What is the story of how you came to be?
God gave a home,
but the street is always there.
God gave a home,
but the street is always there.
When it is just an empty temple,
what is the use of a sacred bath?
Your mind is full of street drama,
putting on an act in broad daylight!
Why build a fence of thorns around a cactus?
Let it go, little sister!
Who can ever be a gardener to the wind?
That is my philosophy!
What did we receive, and what do we give?
In this, what is a mother?
And what is a wedded wife?
Oh wise girl,
what is the meaning of life?
What is the story of how you came to be?
If you understand it clearly,
it is proven truth (Siddhantam);
if it remains beyond understanding,
it is deep philosophy (Vedantham)!
You dig into the earth searching for water,
my dear little sister,
but I dug into myself and found wisdom—
that is my philosophy!
What is the truth, and what is the lie?
In this, what is sweet honey,
and what is the stinging scorpion?
Oh wise girl,
what is the meaning of life?
What is the story of how you came to be?
God gave a home,
but the street is always there.
God gave a home,
but the street is always there.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Deivam Thantha Veedu' is a deeply philosophical philosophical song from K. Balachander's 1974 classic film 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai', composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by Kannadasan. Sung brilliantly by K. J. Yesudas, the song is performed by a cynical, intoxicated character who wanders the streets, reflecting on the existential absurdities of human birth, social bonds, material attachments, and fate. Through sharp philosophical rhetoric, he addresses his sister ('Thangachi') and women in general ('Gnyaana Pennae'), questioning why humans cling to societal constructs when life's beginning is arbitrary and its ultimate end is dust.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Mon rhyme / Second letter rhyming)

“Aadhi veedu andham kaadu / Ithil naan enna”

Matching of the second consonant across lines, such as 'Deivam' / 'Intha' or 'Aadhi' / 'Ithil' in traditional Tamil prosody.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Verum kovil Idhilenna abhishekam.. Un manam engum therukkoothu”

Comparing the human body/life to an empty temple ('Verum kovil') and human emotions to a street theater ('Therukkoothu').

Rhetorical Question

“Naan kettu Thaai thandhai padaitharaa / Illai en pillai enai Kettu pirandhaanaa”

Using questions that do not seek an answer to highlight the illusion of human control over existence.

Antithesis / Contrast

“Aadhi veedu andham kaadu”

Juxtaposition of opposites like 'Aadhi' (Beginning) and 'Andham' (End), or 'Unmai' (Truth) and 'Poimai' (Falsehood).

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song marked one of K. J. Yesudas's most famous Tamil solos under M. S. Viswanathan's direction. In 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai', the song is picturized on actor Vijayakumar, who plays an alcoholic character expressing detached philosophical wisdom. Lyricist Kannadasan famously drew inspiration from classical Siddhar poetry and Advaita philosophy to compose these lyrics.

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