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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Devane Unnidam

From Idhu Ivargalin Kadhai · 1976

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singer
A. M. Raja
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Idhu Ivargalin Kadhai1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
En devanin unnidam ondru ketppenMy Lord, I ask you for one thing.
En deviyin ponmugam endru parppenWhen will I behold the golden face of my goddess?
Neyyallavo thandhadhu indha vaazhkaiWas it not you who bestowed this life?
Nee kaatinaal pogiren andha paadhaiIf you show the path, I shall walk upon it.
Male
Ponnoonjal ondru en veetil aadumA golden swing sways in my home,
Thaaiyullam angae thaalattu paadumWhere a motherly heart sings a soothing lullaby.
Naaldhorum ennai thedaamal thedumEvery single day, it endlessly seeks me,
Kaanadha kangal kanneeril aadumAnd unseeing eyes swim in tears.
Male
Kanneerai maatrum un kaigal engaeWhere are your hands that would dry these tears?
Engendruthedum un pillai ingaeYour child here searches everywhere for you.
Male
En devanin unnidam ondru ketppenMy Lord, I ask you for one thing.
En deviyin ponmugam endru parppenWhen will I behold the golden face of my goddess?
Neyyallavo thandhadhu indha vaazhkaiWas it not you who bestowed this life?
Nee kaatinaal pogiren andha paadhaiIf you show the path, I shall walk upon it.
Male
Naan thandha maalai vaadatha munnaeBefore the garland I presented even fades,
Nee konda kaadhal thaan maaralaamaShould the love you harbored ever change?
En pillai kooda en sondham illaiWhen even my child is no longer truly mine,
Endraana pinnae vaazhdhenna laabamWhat is the worth of living any longer?
Male
Indrodu vaazhkai pogattum ingaeLet my life end here today,
Ennaasai nanban vaazhattum angaeAnd let my beloved friend live happily over there.
Male
En devanin unnidam ondru ketppenMy Lord, I ask you for one thing.
En deviyin ponmugam endru parppenWhen will I behold the golden face of my goddess?
Neyyallavo thandhadhu indha vaazhkaiWas it not you who bestowed this life?
Nee kaatinaal pogiren andha paadhaiIf you show the path, I shall walk upon it.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses a deep emotional plea to the Divine and a beloved motherly figure. The speaker laments the tragic turns of fate, reflecting on maternal warmth, lost affection, and broken family ties. Overwhelmed by grief when feeling disconnected even from their own child, the speaker reaches a state of ultimate surrender, wishing peace and happiness for others even at the cost of their own existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

En devanin unnidam ondru ketppen / En deviyin ponmugam endru parppen

The second consonant sound 'n' is repeated in 'En devanin' and 'En deviyin', providing melodic harmony typical of classical Tamil verse.

Metaphor & Imagery

Kaanadha kangal kanneeril aadum

The phrase 'eyes dancing in tears' creates evocative visual imagery depicting profound sorrow and weeping.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Naan thandha maalai vaadatha munnae / Nee konda kaadhal thaan maaralaama

Repetition of initial 'N' sounds ('Naan', 'Nee') across lines creates rhythmic structure.

Refrain (Pallavi repetition)

En devanin unnidam ondru ketppen

The repeating verse acts as a structural anchor, constantly returning to the speaker's existential prayer.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Poovai Senguttavan, this track features the soulful vocals of legendary singer-composer A. M. Raja, whose velvety voice famously brought immense emotional depth to melancholic Tamil songs of the era.

Keep listening

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