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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devane Ennai

From Gnana Oli · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Gnana Oli1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Aa….aa….aa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa..Aa....aa....aa....aaa...aaa...aaa...aa...aa..
Male
Dhevanae ennai paarungalOh God, look upon me
En paavangal thammai vaangi kollungalAbsorb and take away my sins
Dhevanae ennai paarungalOh God, look upon me
En paavangal thammai vaangi kollungalAbsorb and take away my sins
Aayiram nanmai theemaigalA thousand good deeds and sins
Naangal seigindromWe keep committing
Neengal ariveer mannitharulveerYou know it all, please forgive us
Male
Oh my lord pardon me…Oh my lord pardon me…
Male
Ungal mandhaiyil irundhuFrom your flock of sheep
Irandu aadugalTwo sheep
Vaeru vaeru paadhaiyil poi vittanaHave wandered off into different paths
Irandum sandhitha podhuWhen those two met each other
Pesa mudiyavillaiyae…They were unable to speak...
Male
Thaai madiyilae mazhalaigal oomaiyoAre the babies mute in their mother's lap?
Saei uravilum ninaivugal mounamoAre memories silent even in the child's bond?
Noi udalilaa manadhila dhevanaeIs the illness in the body or in the mind, oh Lord?
Naan azhuvadhaa sirippadhaa kartharae… oo…Should I cry or should I laugh, my Lord? Oo...
Male
Maangalum sondham thaedumaeEven deer seek out their own kin
Im maanidan seidha paavam ennavoWhat sin has this human committed?
Kaavalae satta vaeliyae un paarvaiyilGuardianship and the fence of law, in your view
Pillai paasam illaiyoIs there no love for a child?
Male
Selvangal kuvindhadhuRiches accumulated
Maaligai vandhadhuA mansion arrived
Saevai purindhida saevagar aayiramA thousand servants to serve
Thaedi kondaadida nanbargal vandhanarFriends came seeking to celebrate
Aayiram irundhum vasadhigal irundhumDespite having a thousand comforts and luxuries
No peace of mindNo peace of mind
Chorus
Aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…Aaa...aaa....aaa....aaa....aaa....aaa...aaa...
Male
Dhevanae ennai paarungalOh God, look upon me
En paavangal thammai vaangi kollungalAbsorb and take away my sins
Chorus
Aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa.Aaa...aaa....aaa....aaa....aaa.
Aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa.Aaa...aaa....aaa....aaa....aaa.
Male
Kael tharugiren endradhae neerandroDid you not say 'Ask and it shall be given'?
Naan pala murai ketkiren tharavillaiI have asked many times, but it was not given
En karunaiyae thirakkumaa sannidhiOh my merciful one, will your sanctum open?
En kartharae kidaikkumaa nimmadhi… oo…Oh my Lord, will I find peace of mind? Oo...
Male
Oh lord please answer my prayerOh lord please answer my prayer
Male
Kangalil kanneer illaiyaeThere are no tears left in my eyes
Indha ullamum idhai thaangavillaiyaeThis heart cannot bear this anymore
Kondu vaa illai kondu poBring them to me or take me away
Un kovilil vandhu saevai seigindrenI will come and serve in your temple
Male
{Mullai valaithoru magudam anindhadhumWearing a crown fashioned out of thorns
Aani adithhoru siluvaiyil araindhadhumBeing nailed to a cross with iron nails
Andru nadandhadhu aavi thudithadhuThat happened back then, making the spirit writhe
Indru nadappadhu nenju thudikkudhu }What happens today makes my heart writhe
Chorus
Aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa.Aaa...aaa....aaa....aaa....aaa.
Aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa.Aaa...aaa....aaa....aaa....aaa.
Male
Dhevanae ennai paarungalOh God, look upon me
En paavangal thammai vaangi kollungalAbsorb and take away my sins
En paavangal thammai vaangi kollungalAbsorb and take away my sins

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant Christian devotional hymn from Gnana Oli (1972) expresses the intense grief, remorse, and desperate cry for redemption of a man bearing the heavy burden of guilt and emotional pain. He appeals directly to God, asking for forgiveness for human flaws and sins while lamenting his loss of inner peace despite his material wealth and status.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Ungal mandhaiyil irundhu / Irandu aadugal

The speaker compares human souls to stray sheep wandering away from God's flock ('Ungal mandhaiyil irundhu irandu aadugal').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Andru nadandhadhu aavi thudithadhu / Indru nadappadhu nenju thudikkudhu

Rhyming pattern on the second letter across lines ('Andru' and 'Indru').

Biblical Allusion

Kael tharugiren endradhae neerandro

Direct references to Gospel scriptures, such as the Crown of Thorns, Crucifixion, and Jesus' promise 'Ask, and it shall be given to you'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, this song features Sivaji Ganesan in an emotionally charged dramatic performance in the movie Gnana Oli (1972).

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