Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ellam Deiva Cheyal

From Deiva Cheyal · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
D. Diwakar
Movie name
Deiva Cheyal
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
12 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ellam deiva seyal
Pazhagum vagaiyil pazhagi paarthaal
Pagaivan kooda nanbanae
Paasam katti aasai vaithaal
Mirugam kooda deivamae
Ellam deiva seyal
Ellam deiva seyal
Ellam deiva seyal
Everything is the work of God.
If you relate to others the right way,
Even an enemy becomes a friend.
If you shower affection and love,
Even a beast becomes divine.
Everything is the work of God.
Everything is the work of God.
Everything is the work of God.
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song conveys a profound moral and philosophical message about the power of love, understanding, and divine will. The lyricist emphasizes that everything in human life operates under divine guidance ('Ellam deiva seyal'). Through compassion and proper conduct, human relationships can undergo miraculous transformations: hostility melts away to turn foes into friends, and cruelty softens to turn even beasts into gentle, godlike beings.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain

Ellam deiva seyal

The line 'Ellam deiva seyal' acts as a repeating refrain to anchor the song's central belief in divine providence.

Juxtaposition / Antithesis

Pagaivan kooda nanbanae

Contrasting 'Pagaivan' (enemy) with 'Nanbanae' (friend), and 'Mirugam' (beast) with 'Deivamae' (god) to highlight the transformative power of affection.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Mirugam kooda deivamae

The lines end with rhythmic, rhyming suffixes like 'nanbanae' and 'deivamae' to heighten the lyricism.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Deiva Cheyal' (1967) featured music composed by D. Diwakar, a lesser-known composer from the 1960s Tamil cinema era. Kannadasan's signature simple philosophical lyrics paired with T. M. Soundararajan's resonant voice made this song a classic moral anthem.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Deiva Cheyal

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.