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Chandraharam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Dhayavillaiyo En Kurai

From Chandraharam · 1954

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
Ghantasala
Movie name
Chandraharam
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
9 Feb 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo
Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo
Thayaapuri allavo maathaa
Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo
Entha thuyarthaninum yaar ninaiththaalum
Entha aabaththilum yaar azhaiththaalum
Entha thuyarthaninum yaar ninaiththaalum
Entha aabaththilum yaar azhaiththaalum
Abayathaana selvi neeyae maathaa
Abayathaana selvi neeyae maathaa
Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo
Thayaapuri allavo maathaa
Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo
Pathitharai baapiyai paamara maantharai
Unai thuthiththidavae ariyaa piraaniyai
Pathitharai baapiyai paamara maantharai
Unai thuthiththidavae ariyaa piraaniyai
Kaaththu arul puriyum yae jegan maathaa
Kaaththu arul puriyum yae jegan maathaa
Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo
Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo
Thayaapuri allavo maathaa
Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo
Kurai kelaayo kurai kelaayo
Have you no mercy? Won't you hear my sorrow?
Have you no mercy? Won't you hear my sorrow?
Aren't you the abode of mercy, O Mother?
Have you no mercy? Won't you hear my sorrow?
In whatever sorrow, whoever thinks of you,
In whatever danger, whoever calls for you,
In whatever sorrow, whoever thinks of you,
In whatever danger, whoever calls for you,
You are the gracious mother who grants refuge to all!
You are the gracious mother who grants refuge to all!
Have you no mercy? Won't you hear my sorrow?
Aren't you the abode of mercy, O Mother?
Have you no mercy? Won't you hear my sorrow?
The fallen, the sinners, and the simple folk,
Even the poor souls who do not know how to praise you,
The fallen, the sinners, and the simple folk,
Even the poor souls who do not know how to praise you,
You protect and bless them, O Mother of the universe!
You protect and bless them, O Mother of the universe!
Have you no mercy? Won't you hear my sorrow?
Have you no mercy? Won't you hear my sorrow?
Aren't you the abode of mercy, O Mother?
Have you no mercy? Won't you hear my sorrow?
Won't you hear my sorrow? Won't you hear my sorrow?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thayavillaiyo En Kurai Kelaayo is a deeply soulful devotional prayer from the 1954 film Chandraharam. Rendered exquisitely by P. Leela, the song captures a devotee's heartfelt plea to the Divine Mother, asking if she lacks mercy to hear a child's suffering. The lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass emphasizes that the Goddess is the ultimate embodiment of compassion (Thayaapuri) and refuge (Abayathaana Selvi). The hymn highlights the Mother's unconditional grace, noting that she protects everyone—whether they are sinners, ignorant common folk, or beings who lack the refined ability to chant formal prayers. It is a timeless expression of total surrender and intense spiritual yearning.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

“Thayavillaiyo en kurai kelaayo”

The opening line uses rhetorical questioning ('Thayavillaiyo?', 'Kurai kelaayo?') to appeal to the Goddess's maternal empathy rather than expecting a literal answer.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Pathitharai baapiyai paamara maantharai”

The line features alliteration of 'P' sounds ('Pathitharai', 'baapiyai', 'paamara') creating a rhythmic, solemn cadence.

Ethukai (Anaphora & Parallelism)

“Entha thuyarthaninum yaar ninaiththaalum”

The repeated structure 'Entha... yaar...' creates poetic rhythm and emphasizes the universality of divine protection.

Epizeuxis (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Kurai kelaayo kurai kelaayo”

Immediate repetition of 'Kurai kelaayo' at the climax reinforces the urgency and intensity of the devotional plea.

Did you know?

Trivia

Chandraharam (1954) was a lavish fantasy film produced by Vijaya Vauhini Studios, made concurrently in Telugu and Tamil. The soundtrack composed by legendary singer-composer Ghantasala is revered for its classical depth, and P. Leela's emotive singing in 'Thayavillaiyo' remains one of the highlights of early South Indian cinema devotional songs.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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