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Unnai Naan Sandhithaen album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Devan Thantha Veenai

From Unnai Naan Sandhithaen · 1984

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Unnai Naan Sandhithaen
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
14 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa….aaa….aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Dhevan thantha veenai
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanam
Dhevan thantha veenai
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanam
Thedum kaigal thedinaal
Adhil raagam indri pogumo
Dhevan thantha veenai
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanam
Megam paadum…megam paadum
Megam paadum paadal ketten
Naanum paadi paarkiren
Megam paadum paadal ketten
Naanum paadi paarkiren
Mogamo…oooo
Mogamo…sogamo
Iniyum nenjam thoongumo
Naalum naalum theduven
Dhevan thantha veenai
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanam
Thedum kaigal thedinaal
Adhil raagam indri pogumo
Dhevan thantha veenai
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanam
Vaanam endhan maaligai
Vaiyam endhan medaiyae
Vaanam endhan maaligai
Vaiyam endhan medaiyae
Vaannangal naan ennum ennangal
Engirundho.. ingu vandhen..
Isaiyinilae enai marandhen
Iraivan sabaiyil kalaignan naan
Dhevan thantha veenai
Male :Adhil dhevi seitha gaanam
Female :Thedum kaigal thedinaal
Adhil raagam indri pogumo
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
A veena given by God,
playing a melody made by the goddess.
A veena given by God,
playing a melody made by the goddess.
When searching hands come to play it,
can it ever lack a melody?
A veena given by God,
playing a melody made by the goddess.
The clouds sing... the clouds sing...
I heard the song sung by the clouds,
and I too try to sing it.
I heard the song sung by the clouds,
and I too try to sing it.
Is this longing... oh...
Is this longing... or is it sorrow?
Will my heart ever sleep again?
Day after day, I will search for it.
A veena given by God,
playing a melody made by the goddess.
When searching hands come to play it,
can it ever lack a melody?
A veena given by God,
playing a melody made by the goddess.
The sky is my palace,
the world is my stage.
The sky is my palace,
the world is my stage.
With thoughts that I am made of colors,
I came here from somewhere unknown...
and lost myself in music.
In the court of God, I am an artist.
A veena given by God,
playing a melody made by the goddess.
When searching hands come to play it,
can it ever lack a melody?
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song presents a deeply spiritual and poetic perspective on life and art, comparing human life to a divine instrument (veena) gifted by God and tuned by fate/divinity. The protagonist sees the entire world as a stage and the sky as a palace, identifying as a humble artist performing in the supreme court of the Divine. Through metaphors of clouds singing and hands searching for melodies, the lyrics convey that earnest seeking and passion will always yield true art and emotional fulfillment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Dhevan thantha veenai

Compares human life and soul to a 'veena' (musical instrument) gifted directly by God.

Personification

Megam paadum paadal ketten

Attributes the human ability of singing to clouds ('megam paadum paadal').

Moanai (Initial Alliteration)

Vaanam endhan maaligai / Vaiyam endhan medaiyae

Repetition of the initial 'V' sound across consecutive lines ('Vaanam' and 'Vaiyam').

Rhetorical Question

Adhil raagam indri pogumo

Asks whether persistent effort ('searching hands') could ever go without producing melody, emphasizing that effort always yields results.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Unnai Naan Sandhithaen' (1984) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with memorable vocals by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. The film stars Sivakumar and Sujatha, and features lyrics by the legendary poet Kannadasan.

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