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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devi En Kanavum

From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Pudhu Vazhvu
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
4 Aug 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Devi en kanavum ninaivaaguma
Kaanal neeraaguma
Devi en kanavum ninaivaaguma
Kaanal neeraaguma
Devi en kanavum ninaivaaguma
Kaanal neeraaguma
Kaadhal illaiyael saathalae nandrennum
Kavigalin ponmozhi polae
Aadharavilla pengalin vaazhu
Abalai aagum mann melae devi
Kaanal neeraaguma kaanil kaayum nilavaagumaa
Ezhaiyavarkkae ettadha ulagil
Yenn piranthaen amma
Vaazha pirandhaval thanmaanathodu
Vaazha mudiyathu ammaa
Devi en kanavum ninaivaaguma
Kaanal neeraaguma
Devi en kanavum ninaivaaguma
Kaanal neeraaguma
O Goddess, will my dream come true?
Or will it turn into a mirage?
O Goddess, will my dream come true?
Or will it turn into a mirage?
O Goddess, will my dream come true?
Or will it turn into a mirage?
Saying that death is better than a life without love,
just like the golden words of the poets,
the life of women with no support
becomes utterly helpless on this earth, O Goddess...
Will it turn into a mirage, or moonlight wasted in a forest?
In this world that remains out of reach for the poor,
why was I ever born, Mother?
Though born to live with self-respect,
I cannot live that way, Mother!
O Goddess, will my dream come true?
Or will it turn into a mirage?
O Goddess, will my dream come true?
Or will it turn into a mirage?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song depicts a woman addressing the divine Goddess, questioning whether her hopes for a dignified life will materialize or remain an elusive mirage. Reflecting on classical poetic truths about love and dignity, she laments the vulnerable status of unsupported women in a harsh world that marginalizes the poor. Incapable of surviving with her self-respect intact, she painfully questions the reason behind her suffering and birth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kaanal neeraaguma kaanil kaayum nilavaagumaa

Comparing unfulfilled dreams to 'kaanal neer' (mirage) and wasted life to 'kaanil kaayum nilavu' (moonlight shining in a desolate forest where nobody appreciates it).

Rhetorical Question

Ezhaiyavarkkae ettadha ulagil Yenn piranthaen amma

Asking existential questions to the Goddess to emphasize helplessness and despair rather than expecting a direct physical answer.

Anaphora / Repetition

Vaazha pirandhaval thanmaanathodu Vaazha mudiyathu ammaa

Repeating 'Vaazha' to underscore the tragic contrast between being born to live and being unable to live with dignity.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Pudhu Vazhvu' (1957) featured music composed by the legendary G. Ramanathan, with lyrics penned by the revered Carnatic composer Papanasam Sivan, sung soulfully by P. Leela.

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