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Kanniyin Sabatham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Diyo Diyo Diyo

From Kanniyin Sabatham · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
Jikki
Music director
T. G. Lingappa
Movie name
Kanniyin Sabatham
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
23 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Diyo diyo diyo
Diyo diyo diyo
Jiyyo jiyyo jiyyo
Jiyyo jiyyo jiyyo
Oo jiyyo jiyyo jiyyo
Vanna mayilaaduthu
Kannithamizh paaduthu
Mannavaa ennai nee
Kannal konjam paar
Vanna mayilaaduthu kanni tamizh paaduthu
Mannavaa ennai nee
Kannaal konjam paar
Diyo diyo diyo
Diyo diyo diyo
Varupavarkkellaam vazhanguvathil
Kodai vallal karnanum neeyae oo….ooo…oo…
Varupavarkkellaam vazhanguvathil
Kodai vallal karnanum neeyae
Mangaiyar manathai kavarum kalaiyil
Mathimuga vijayanum neeyae
Mannil vaazhung kaaman
Marporil neeyae beeman
Mannil vaazhung kaaman
Marporil neeyae beeman
Mannavaa ennai nee
Kannaal konjam paar
Diyo diyo diyo
Diyo diyo diyo
Kalvi kadalin karaikanda
Kalai kaavalan kambanum neeyae
Kalvi kadalin karaikanda
Kalai kaavalan kambanum neeyae
Solvathai ellaam seyalil kaattum
Vallamai kondavan neeyae
Vellam polae inbam
Un ullanthannil pongum
Mannavaa ennai nee
Kannaal konjam paar
Diyo jiyyo diyo jiyyo
Diyo jiyyo diyo jiyyo
Vanna mayilaaduthu
Kanni thamizh paaduthu
Mannavaa ennai nee
Kannaal konjam paar
Diyo jiyyo diyo jiyyo
Diyo jiyyo diyo jiyyo
Diyo diyo diyo
Diyo diyo diyo
Jiyo jiyo jiyo
Jiyo jiyo jiyo
Oh jiyo jiyo jiyo
A colourful peacock dances,
pure, sweet Tamil sings.
O king, won't you
turn your eyes and look at me?
A colourful peacock dances, pure, sweet Tamil sings,
O king, won't you
turn your eyes and look at me?
Diyo diyo diyo
Diyo diyo diyo
In giving generously to everyone who comes,
you are the noble giver, Karna! Oh... oh... oh...
In giving generously to everyone who comes,
you are the noble giver, Karna!
In the art of winning women's hearts,
you are the bright-faced Arjuna!
You are the god of love walking on earth,
in wrestling, you are the mighty Bhima!
You are the god of love walking on earth,
in wrestling, you are the mighty Bhima!
O king, won't you
turn your eyes and look at me?
Diyo diyo diyo
Diyo diyo diyo
Mastering the vast ocean of learning,
you are Kamban, the great guardian of the arts!
Mastering the vast ocean of learning,
you are Kamban, the great guardian of the arts!
In turning every promise into action,
you are the one who has the power!
Joy, like a rushing flood,
overflows within your heart!
O king, won't you
turn your eyes and look at me?
Diyo jiyo diyo jiyo
Diyo jiyo diyo jiyo
A colourful peacock dances,
pure, sweet Tamil sings.
O king, won't you
turn your eyes and look at me?
Diyo jiyo diyo jiyo
Diyo jiyo diyo jiyo
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic court dance song from the film Kanniyin Sabatham features a woman singing praise to her king or beloved. She compares herself to a colorful peacock dancing and pure Tamil music singing, imploring him to cast his eyes upon her. She showers him with grand praise, comparing his noble qualities to legendary figures: his limitless generosity to Karna, his irresistible charm to Arjuna and Kamadeva, his physical prowess to Bhima, and his vast wisdom to the revered poet Kamban.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Vellam polae inbam

Compares overflowing happiness directly to a surging flood using the comparison marker 'polae'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor / Allusion)

Kodai vallal karnanum neeyae

Metaphorically attributes the virtues of epic figures (Karna for charity, Arjuna for romance, Bhima for strength, Kamban for knowledge) directly to the protagonist.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kalvi kadalin karaikanda

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words in the same line.

Ezhugai / Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vanna mayilaaduthu / Kannithamizh paaduthu

Matching second consonant 'nna' across successive lines creating rhythmic assonance.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kanniyin Sabatham (1958) was directed by M. G. Ramachandran's older brother M. G. Chakrapani and starred K. R. Ramasamy and Anjali Devi. The song features music by T. G. Lingappa and lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, with Jikki's vibrant vocals making the rhythmic chant refrain ('Diyo Diyo Diyo') immensely popular during that era.

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