- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Aayiram Nilave Vaa
- Movie release year
- 1983
- Lyrics added on
- 2 Sept 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Devadhai Ilam Devi is a poignant romantic lament where the protagonist expresses intense anguish and grief over separation from his beloved. He addresses her as a divine young goddess while describing himself as a restless spirit bound to her presence. Through memories of past togetherness—such as drawing patterns on river sand and listening to the flowers along the lake—he questions why love has turned into a painful trial and why fate has forced them apart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Vidhi enbathaa / Sadhi enbathaa”
The lines end with identical rhyming suffixes ('enbathaa'), creating a rhythmic and mournful echo.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Idhu kanneer rathiri / En kannae aadhari”
The second consonant sound 'nn' is repeated in 'kanneer' and 'kannae' across consecutive lines, enhancing melodic flow.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Oru vaanambaadi dhegam vaadi / Paadum sogam kodi”
The protagonist compares himself to a withered skylark ('vaanambaadi') singing endless sorrows and his lover to a dried Kaveri river.
Rhetorical Question
“Oh.. nee illaamal naanaa ….”
The protagonist poses haunting questions about identity, fate, and abandonment to highlight his emotional despair.
Did you know?
Trivia
This classic song features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the film 'Aayiram Nilave Vaa' (1983), starring Karthik and Sulakshana. Sung masterfully by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu, it remains one of the most celebrated melancholic tracks in Tamil cinema history.
Keep listening
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