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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devan Thiruchabai Malar Idhu

From Avar Enakke Sontham · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Avar Enakke Sontham1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Devan thiruchabai malar idhuThis is a flower in God's holy court,
Vedham olikkindra mani idhuThis is the chime resonating sacred scripture.
Engellaam un punnagai kolamWherever your smiling beauty extends,
Angellaam en mellisai aagumThere, my soft melody comes alive.
Male
Devan thiruchabai malar idhuThis is a flower in God's holy court,
Vedham olikkindra mani idhuThis is the chime resonating sacred scripture.
Engellaam un punnagai kolamWherever your smiling beauty extends,
Angellaam en mellisai aagumThere, my soft melody comes alive.
Male
Vin meenai un kangalil paarkkirenI see stars shining in your eyes,
Pon maanai un saayalil kaangirenI see a golden deer in your graceful demeanor.
Endrum annai mariyinForever under Mother Mary's
Pongum karunai mazhaiyilaeOverflowing rain of divine mercy,
En selvamae en deviyaeOh my treasure, my goddess,
Pallaayiram aandugal vaazhgavaeMay you live for thousands of years!
Male
Devan thiruchabai malar idhuThis is a flower in God's holy court,
Vedham olikkindra mani idhuThis is the chime resonating sacred scripture.
Engellaam un punnagai kolamWherever your smiling beauty extends,
Angellaam en mellisai aagumThere, my soft melody comes alive.
Male
Kannae maniyae pon ezhil raaniyaeOh beloved eye, my precious jewel, golden queen of beauty,
Anbae amudhae arunthava selviyaeOh love, divine nectar, maiden born of noble virtue,
Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilaeIn your endearing, lisping speech,
Ullam mayanga mayangavaeAs the heart becomes completely entranced,
Kavi paadi vaa kadhai solli vaaCome singing poetry, come telling stories,
Nam vaazhvilae inbam niraigavaeMay happiness fill our lives completely.
Male
Devan thiruchabai malar idhuThis is a flower in God's holy court,
Vedham olikkindra mani idhuThis is the chime resonating sacred scripture.
Engellaam un punnagai kolamWherever your smiling beauty extends,
Angellaam en mellisai aagumThere, my soft melody comes alive.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poetic song expresses deep admiration and tender love by framing the beloved as a sacred creation—a holy flower in God's court and a bell ringing divine scripture. The singer describes how her smile inspires music, her eyes shine like stars, and her grace resembles a golden deer. The song invokes blessings from Mother Mary for a long, joyous, and blissful life filled with music and shared happiness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Rupaka)

Vin meenai un kangalil paarkkiren / Pon maanai un saayalil kaangiren

Compares the beloved's eyes to stars ('Vin meenai') and her grace to a golden deer ('Pon maanai').

Anaphora / Structural Parallelism

Engellaam un punnagai kolam / Angellaam en mellisai aagum

Uses matching sentence structures 'Engellaam...' and 'Angellaam...' to create a rhythmic echo establishing cause and effect between her smile and his music.

Emona / Rhyme (Monnai & Etukai)

Devan thiruchabai malar idhu / Vedham olikkindra mani idhu

Tamil poetic rhyming where corresponding syllables match across line openings ('Devan' / 'Vedham').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the 1977 film 'Avar Enakke Sontham' (featuring music by Ilaiyaraaja), this song stands out for seamlessly integrating Christian devotional imagery—such as Mother Mary's grace and holy church bells—into a mainstream Tamil romantic melody.

Keep listening

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