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Thaali Dhanam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

En Dheiva Veenaiye

From Thaali Dhanam · 1987

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thaali Dhanam
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
5 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
En dheiva veenaiyae
Nee pesinaal enna
Oru dheva gaaname
Nee paadinaal enna
Naan azhaitha kural ketkumaa
Un amudha vizhi paarkkumaa
En dheiva veenaiyae
Nee pesinaal enna
Oru dheva gaaname
Nee paadinaal enna
Naan azhaitha kural ketkumaa
Un amudha vizhi paarkkumaa
{Thirukkovil theepangal
Iru kangal aagum
Oru paarvai nee paarthaal
Uyir ondru vaazhum} (2)
Enakkendru yaarundu
En kaadhal dhevi
Imaikkaathu nee ponaal
Enakkethu aavi …enakkethu aavi
En dheiva veenaiyae
Nee pesinaal enna
Oru dheva gaaname
Nee paadinaal enna
Naan azhaitha kural ketkumaa
Un amudha vizhi paarkkumaa
{Maruthaani naan poosa
Varukindrapothae
Malarpaatham ponnaaga
Sivakkindra maanae} (2)
Nadanthaalum un paadham
Punnaagum endru
Nadakkaamal ponaayo
Kannae nee indru…kannae nee indru
En dheiva veenaiyae
Nee pesinaal enna
Oru dheva gaaname
Nee paadinaal enna
Naan azhaitha kural ketkumaa
Un amudha vizhi paarkkumaa
My divine veena,
Won't you speak to me?
A heavenly song,
Won't you sing for me?
Can you hear my voice calling out?
Will your sweet eyes look at me?
My divine veena,
Won't you speak to me?
A heavenly song,
Won't you sing for me?
Can you hear my voice calling out?
Will your sweet eyes look at me?
The lamps of a holy temple
Are like your two eyes.
If you give me just one glance,
This life of mine will survive.
Who else do I have in this world,
My goddess of love?
If you slip away without even blinking,
How can I go on living? ... How can I go on living?
My divine veena,
Won't you speak to me?
A heavenly song,
Won't you sing for me?
Can you hear my voice calling out?
Will your sweet eyes look at me?
Even as I come near
To apply henna on your hands and feet,
Your flower-soft feet turn golden
And blush red, my gentle deer.
Fearing that even walking
Would hurt your tender feet,
Did you choose to stop walking altogether,
My darling, today? ... My darling, today?
My divine veena,
Won't you speak to me?
A heavenly song,
Won't you sing for me?
Can you hear my voice calling out?
Will your sweet eyes look at me?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

En Dheiva Veenaiyae is a poignant Tamil song expressing deep emotional longing and intense devotion towards a beloved. The protagonist addresses his lover as a divine instrument (veena) and a heavenly song, yearning for her voice and a single glance. He compares her eyes to holy temple lamps that grant life and vitality to his existence. The lyrics highlight her tender and delicate nature—suggesting her feet are so soft that even walking could bruise them. Through rich metaphors and classical imagery, the singer pleads for her presence and responsiveness, portraying her as the sole anchor of his life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

En dheiva veenaiyae / Oru dheva gaaname

Compares the heroine directly to a divine musical instrument (veena) and a heavenly song (dheva gaanam) to highlight her sacred charm.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Thirukkovil theepangal iru kangal aagum

Equates the heroine's eyes with the sacred lamps lit inside a holy temple.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Nadanthaalum un paadham punnaagum endru

Exaggerates the extreme soft tenderness of her feet, claiming they would get wounded if she merely walked.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thaali Dhanam (1987) features lyrics written by the celebrated Tamil poet Pulamaipithan. The song incorporates classic Sangam-inspired metaphors like comparing a woman's feet to tender flowers and her gaze to temple lamps, showcasing traditional Tamil literary romantic tropes in 1980s film music.

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