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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devi Devi

From Naan Adimai Illai · 1986

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Vijay Anand
Details
Naan Adimai Illai1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thananam….(8)Humming vocalization (Thananam...)
Thananam thanamHumming vocalization (Thananam thanam)
Thananam thanam..aaa…Humming vocalization (Thananam thanam..aaa...)
………………………………………....
Male
Devi devi thaenil kulithenGoddess, O goddess, I bathed in honey
Female :Kaadhal paadam kannil padithenFemale: I learned the lesson of love in your eyes
Male :Indru nee paarkadalMale: Today, across the ocean of milk
Neendhi vandhyaeYou came swimming across
Female :Paavayin paarkudamFemale: To hold the maiden's vessel of milk
Yendha vandhayaeYou came over to lift it
Male :Azhagae ini oru pirivillaiMale: O beautiful one, there is no separation anymore
Ilamaiku mudivillaiThere is no end to youth
Devi devi theanil kulithenGoddess, O goddess, I bathed in honey
Chorus
Haaa…aaa…aaa…aa…..Vocalization (Haaa...aaa...)
Female
Raathiri muzhudhum thookamillaiThere was no sleep all night long
Kanngal enn pechai ketkavillai ahhhhMy eyes did not obey my words, ahhhh
Male :Kadidhangal ezhudha neramillaiMale: There was no time to write letters
Ezhuthukol eduthen eeramillaiI picked up the pen, but it lacked moisture
Female
Palli konda naanoI, who was resting in sleep
Thulli ezhunthenLeapt up with excitement
Sollividum munbaeBefore it could even be said
Vandhu vizhunthenI came and fell here
Male :Thanae vandhai maanaeMale: You came on your own, my deer-like love
Kaiyil adangu thodanguYield into my hands, let it begin
Male
DeviFemale :AahhhMale: Goddess Female: Aahhh
Male :DeviFemale :AahhhMale: Goddess Female: Aahhh
Male :Thaenil kulithenMale: I bathed in honey
Female :KaadhalMale :HmmmFemale: Love Male: Hmmm
Female :PaadamMale :AhhhFemale: Lesson Male: Ahhh
Female :Kannil padithenFemale: I learned in your eyes
Female
Aaaaaa haaaaaaVocalization (Aaaaaa haaaaaa)
Aaaaaa hhahaaaaaaaaaVocalization (Aaaaaa hhahaaaaaaaaa)
Aaa….aaa…aaa….Vocalization (Aaa....aaa...)
Male
Neer illai endraal meenumillaiWithout water, there is no fish
Nee illai endraal naanumillaiWithout you, there is no me
Aaaa….aaa….aa.a….aa.a…Vocalization (Aaaa....aaa...)
Female :Poi illai endraal gaanamillaiFemale: Without a lie, there is no song
Unn mozhi illai endraal naanumillaiWithout your words, there is no me
Male
Kattazhagu maeni kattu pattadhuThe beautifully structured body was bound
Endhan kannil yedho thattupatadhuSomething caught my eyes
Female :Bodhai yerumbodhuFemale: As the intoxication rises
Suga virundhu arundhuPartake in the sweet feast of pleasure
Female
Kaadhal paadam kannil padithenI learned the lesson of love in your eyes
Male :Aaa devi devi theanil kulithenMale: Aaa goddess, O goddess, I bathed in honey
Female :Paavayin paarkudamFemale: To hold the maiden's vessel of milk
Yendha vandhayaeYou came over to lift it
Male :Indru nee paarkadalMale: Today, across the ocean of milk
Neendhi vandhayaeYou came swimming across
Female :Azhagae ini oru pirivillaiFemale: O beautiful one, there is no separation anymore
Ilamaikku mudivillaiThere is no end to youth
Female
DevaMale :AahhFemale: O Lord Male: Aahh
Female :DevaMale :AahhFemale: O Lord Male: Aahh
Thaenil kulithenI bathed in honey
Female :AhhhhaaaaaaFemale: Ahhhhaaaaaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Devi Devi is an intimate romantic duet that portrays the deep bliss and passion shared between two lovers. The male lead reveres his beloved as a goddess ('Devi') and compares the overwhelming joy of her love to bathing in pure honey. In response, the female lead expresses how her lover's gaze serves as a school where she learns the nuances of love and romance. Through poetic imagery such as fish dependent on water, swimming across an ocean of milk, and sleepless nights consumed by thoughts of each other, the song celebrates youthful exuberance and the promise of an eternal union without separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Devi devi thaenil kulithen

Comparing the sensation of joy in love to physically bathing in sweet honey ('thaenil kulithen').

Analogy / Simile (Uvamai)

Neer illai endraal meenumillai / Nee illai endraal naanumillai

Drawing a direct parallel between a fish needing water to live and a lover needing their partner to exist.

Initial Rhyme (Monai)

Neer illai endraal meenumillai / Nee illai endraal naanumillai

Repetition of the initial sound 'Neer' and 'Nee' in consecutive lines creating melodic cadence.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Neer illai endraal meenumillai

Rhyming line endings ('meenumillai' and 'naanumillai') enhancing poetic musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Naan Adimai Illai (1986) was directed by Dwarkish and features Rajinikanth and Sridevi in the lead roles. Notably, this film marked the final onscreen pairing of Rajinikanth and Sridevi together as a lead romantic couple. The music for the movie was composed by Vijay Anand.

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