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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devan Thantha Veenai

From Unnai Naan Sandhithaen · 1984

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Unnai Naan Sandhithaen1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa….aaa….aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…Aaa...aaa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...
Dhevan thantha veenaiThe veena instrument gifted by God,
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanamThe melody created upon it by the Goddess.
Dhevan thantha veenaiThe veena instrument gifted by God,
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanamThe melody created upon it by the Goddess.
Thedum kaigal thedinaalIf searching hands keep seeking,
Adhil raagam indri pogumoWill it ever remain without a ragam?
Dhevan thantha veenaiThe veena instrument gifted by God,
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanamThe melody created upon it by the Goddess.
Female
Megam paadum…megam paadumThe cloud sings... the cloud sings...
Male
Megam paadum paadal kettenI heard the song sung by the cloud,
Naanum paadi paarkirenAnd I too am trying to sing.
Female
Megam paadum paadal kettenI heard the song sung by the cloud,
Naanum paadi paarkirenAnd I too am trying to sing.
Male
Mogamo…ooooIs it passion... oooo...
Mogamo…sogamoIs it passion... or is it sorrow?
Iniyum nenjam thoongumoWill my heart sleep anymore?
Female
Naalum naalum theduvenI will search day after day.
Dhevan thantha veenaiThe veena instrument gifted by God,
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanamThe melody created upon it by the Goddess.
Thedum kaigal thedinaalIf searching hands keep seeking,
Adhil raagam indri pogumoWill it ever remain without a ragam?
Dhevan thantha veenaiThe veena instrument gifted by God,
Adhil dhevi seitha gaanamThe melody created upon it by the Goddess.
Female
Vaanam endhan maaligaiThe sky is my palace,
Vaiyam endhan medaiyaeThe earth is my stage.
Vaanam endhan maaligaiThe sky is my palace,
Vaiyam endhan medaiyaeThe earth is my stage.
Male
Vaannangal naan ennum ennangalThoughts that I am a spectrum of vibrant colors,
Engirundho.. ingu vandhen..I arrived here from somewhere...
Isaiyinilae enai marandhenI lost myself within the music,
Iraivan sabaiyil kalaignan naanI am an artist in the court of God.
Female
Dhevan thantha veenaiThe veena instrument gifted by God,
Male :Adhil dhevi seitha gaanamMale: The melody created upon it by the Goddess,
Female :Thedum kaigal thedinaalFemale: If searching hands keep seeking,
Adhil raagam indri pogumoWill it ever remain without a ragam?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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