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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devadasum Naanum

From Vidhi · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Vidhi1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Radhaaa…ooo… radhaaaa…Radha… ooo… Radha…
Radhaaa…ooo… radhaaaa…Radha… ooo… Radha…
Male
{Devadaasum naanumDevadas and I
Oru jaadhi dhaanadiAre of the same kind, my girl
Unai thedi ingu vandhenSearching for you, I came here
Nadu veedhi dhaanadi} (2)To the middle of the street, my girl
Male
Unnala dhanOnly because of you
Manam pithaanadhuMy mind went crazy
Kaneeru dhanTears alone
En sothaanadhuBecame my wealth
Male
Devadaasum naanumDevadas and I
Oru jaadhi dhaanadiAre of the same kind, my girl
Unai thedi ingu vandhenSearching for you, I came here
Nadu veedhi dhaanadiTo the middle of the street, my girl
Male
Type adikkum oviyamaeOh painting who types on a typewriter!
KaipidipaaiyoWill you hold my hand?
Unnalae yenginenI yearned because of you
Ull moochu vaanginenI gasped for breath deep within
Paithiyama aanadhukkuFor turning mad because of love
Vaithiyam neeyaeYou are the cure
Unnoda vaazhanumI must live with you
Illatti saaganumOtherwise, I must die
Male
Veliyila varanumYou must come outside
Dharisanam tharanumYou must grant me a vision
Azhagiya kiliye thiruvadi saranamBeautiful parrot, I surrender at your feet
Urugaama urugi naan odaa theyirenMelting without melting, I wear out like a broken shell
Male
Radhaaa…ooo… radhaaaa…Radha… ooo… Radha…
Radhaaa…ooo… radhaaaa…Radha… ooo… Radha…
Male
Devadaasum naanumDevadas and I
Oru jaadhi dhaanadiAre of the same kind, my girl
Unai thedi ingu vandhenSearching for you, I came here
Nadu veedhi dhaanadiTo the middle of the street, my girl
Male
Unnala dhanOnly because of you
Manam pithaanadhuMy mind went crazy
Kaneeru dhanTears alone
En sothaanadhuBecame my wealth
Male
Devadaasum naanumDevadas and I
Oru jaadhi dhaanadiAre of the same kind, my girl
Unai thedi ingu vandhenSearching for you, I came here
Nadu veedhi dhaanadiTo the middle of the street, my girl
Male
Devadaasapola naanumShould I also suffer severely
Paadaa venumaLike Devadas?
Ulagae maayandhanThe world is an illusion
Vaazhvae maayandhanLife itself is an illusion
Thanni pottu naanumShould I drink liquor
Ippo iruma venumaAnd sit here coughing now?
Adiyae paarvathiHey Parvathi!
Enakku yaargadhiWho is my refuge?
Male
Thudikkudhu kaadhalLove throbs within
Padikkidhu paadalIt recites a song
Adikkadi yendi unakkindha oodalWhy do you have this lover's quarrel so often?
Vidamaatten kannaeI won't let you go, my dear
Nee vandhae theeranumYou must definitely come
Male
Radhaaa…ooo… radhaaaa…Radha… ooo… Radha…
Radhaaa…ooo… radhaaaa…Radha… ooo… Radha…
Male
Devadaasum naanumDevadas and I
Oru jaadhi dhaanadiAre of the same kind, my girl
Unai thedi ingu vandhenSearching for you, I came here
Nadu veedhi dhaanadiTo the middle of the street, my girl
Male
Unnala dhanOnly because of you
Manam pithaanadhuMy mind went crazy
Kaneeru dhanTears alone
En sothaanadhuBecame my wealth
Male
Devadaasum naanumDevadas and I
Oru jaadhi dhaanadiAre of the same kind, my girl
Unai thedi ingu vandhenSearching for you, I came here
Nadu veedhi dhaanadiTo the middle of the street, my girl

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Devadaasum Naanum' is a expressive tragicomic love song from the 1984 Tamil courtroom drama film Vidhi. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with lyrics by Vaali and music by Shankar-Ganesh, the song portrays a lover dramatically comparing his romantic heartbreak to the legendary tragic lover Devadas, calling out to his beloved Radha (and invoking Parvathi). The protagonist laments how love has left him distraught on the streets, turning tears into his only wealth. Blending heartbreak with quirky lyricism, he urges his beloved to grant him her presence and cure his affection-driven ailment before he descends into full devastation like Devadas.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Cultural Allusion (Upamai)

Devadaasum naanum oru jaadhi dhaanadi

Compares the protagonist's suffering in love to the legendary tragic character Devadas.

Modern Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Type adikkum oviyamae

Compares the heroine (a typist) to a living painting that operates a typewriter.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thudikkudhu kaadhal / Padikkidhu paadal

The second letters 'da' in 'Thudikkudhu' and 'Padikkidhu' rhyme together.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Unnoda vaazhanum / Illatti saaganum

Matching end sounds in successive lines creating rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Vidhi (1984), directed by K. Vijayan, was a massive blockbuster courtroom drama starring Mohan, Sujatha, Jaishankar, and Radhika. The soundtrack composed by Shankar-Ganesh featured this hugely popular track sung with characteristic flair and dramatic modulation by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

Keep listening

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