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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devanin Kovil

From Aruvadai Naal · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilayaraja, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aruvadai Naal1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neramWhen God's temple is closed,
Naan enna ketppen dheivamaeWhat shall I ask of You, my God?
Indru en jeevan thaeiyudhaeToday, my life force is eroding away,
En manam yaeno saayudhaeMy heart leans with sorrow for some reason.
Female
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neramWhen God's temple is closed,
Naan enna ketppen dheivamaeWhat shall I ask of You, my God?
Female
Naan oru soga sumai thaangiI am a bearer of sorrowful burdens,
Thunbam thaangum idi thaangiA lightning rod absorbing pain.
Naan oru soga sumai thaangiI am a bearer of sorrowful burdens,
Thunbam thaangum idi thaangiA lightning rod absorbing pain.
Pirindhae vaazhum nadhi karai polaLike riverbanks that live eternally separated,
Thanithae vaazhum naayagiI am a heroine living all alone.
Inaivadhu ellaam pirivadharkkaagaEvery union happens only to lead to separation,
Idhayangal ellaam marappadharkkaagaAll hearts exist only to forget eventually,
Marandhaal thaanae nimmadhiFor peace of mind comes only through forgetting.
Female
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neramWhen God's temple is closed,
Naan enna ketppen dheivamaeWhat shall I ask of You, my God?
Male
Ae… ae…Ae… ae…
Thandhana thandhana thandhanaa… aa…aaaThandhana thandhana thandhanaa… aa…aaa
Thandhaana thandhaana thaanannaa nanaaThandhaana thandhaana thaanannaa nanaa
Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa hae…Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa hae…
Female
Oru vazhi paadhai en payanamMy journey is on a one-way path,
Manadhinil yaeno pala salanamYet why is there so much turmoil in my mind?
Oru vazhi paadhai en payanamMy journey is on a one-way path,
Manadhinil yaeno pala salanamYet why is there so much turmoil in my mind?
Female
Kettaal tharuven endravan neeyaeYou said You would grant whatever is asked,
Ketten ondru thandhaayaaI asked for one thing, did You grant it?
Aarudhal thaedi alaiyudhu nenjamSearching for comfort, my heart wanders,
Azhudhida kannil neerukku panjamThere is a drought of tears in my eyes to cry,
Naan or kanneer kaadhaliI am a lover made of tears.
Female
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neramWhen God's temple is closed,
Naan enna ketppen dheivamaeWhat shall I ask of You, my God?
Indru en jeevan thaeiyudhaeToday, my life force is eroding away,
En manam yaeno saayudhaeMy heart leans with sorrow for some reason.
Female
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neramWhen God's temple is closed,
Naan enna ketppen dheivamaeWhat shall I ask of You, my God?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Dhevanin Kovil Moodiya Neram' conveys profound grief, heartbreak, and spiritual disillusionment. The protagonist uses the metaphor of arriving at a temple after its doors have closed to symbolize unanswered prayers and absolute helplessness. She reflects on her painful life journey as an unavoidable one-way path filled with suffering. Throughout the lyrics, she describes herself through poignant imagery—a lightning rod taking the brunt of life's painful strikes, riverbanks that run parallel yet can never meet, and a lover born of tears. She comes to the melancholic conclusion that every human connection eventually dissolves into separation, and true peace can only be attained through the act of forgetting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

Pirindhae vaazhum nadhi karai pola

Compares her eternal isolation to parallel riverbanks that flow together but never touch.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Thunbam thaangum idi thaangi

Metaphorically compares herself to a lightning conductor ('idi thaangi') that absorbs all life's suffering and sorrow.

Paradox

Inaivadhu ellaam pirivadharkkaaga

Presents a paradoxical view of human relationships, claiming that the sole purpose of coming together is ultimate separation.

Metaphor

Naan or kanneer kaadhali

Refers to herself as a 'lover made of tears', accentuating her sorrowful identity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the music credits are listed as unknown in some song books, 'Dhevanin Kovil Moodiya Neram' from the movie 'Aruvadai Naal' (1986) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The film was directed by G. M. Kumar and marked the debut of actor Ramarajan as a lead hero.

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