- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Osai
- Movie release year
- 1984
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Jul 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Allah Allah is a soul-stirring devotional prayer from the 1984 Tamil film Osai, composed by Shankar-Ganesh and sung by K. J. Yesudas. The song expresses a father's heart-wrenching anguish and desperate plea to the Almighty for the well-being and healing of his mute or suffering child, questioning why righteous people must undergo severe tribulations. Through Vaali's poignant lyrics, God is invoked as the universal protector whose glory shines from Mecca to the sacred shrine of Nagore. The track beautifully blends Islamic devotional motifs with universal human emotions of paternal sorrow, resilience, and ultimate faith in divine mercy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyai (End Rhyme)
“Antha meccavilum unthan aatchi / Entha dharkkavilum unthan maatchi”
Matching end sounds in adjacent lines, such as 'aatchi' (reign) and 'maatchi' (glory).
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Mounaththil vaaduthu manimozhi killaiyae”
Comparing the child's sweet speech to a parrot ('killai') and God's compassion to an overwhelming flood ('karunaiyin vellam').
Mona (Initial Alliteration)
“Nakur aandavaa iraivaa iraivaa / Naanmarai naayagaa iraivaa iraivaa”
Repetition of starting consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Na' in 'Nakur' and 'Naanmarai'.
Rhetorical Question
“Nallavar vaazhvilae yaenintha sodhanai / Neeyariyaayo thanthaiyin vedhanai”
Questions posed to God out of despair, highlighting human suffering rather than seeking an explicit factual answer.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although lyricist Vaali was a devout Hindu known for his classic songs on Hindu deities, he was equally revered for writing deeply touching Islamic devotional songs in Tamil cinema, including this track from Osai (1984) and songs in Nagore Dargah tribute albums. Singer K. J. Yesudas is similarly celebrated across South India for his cross-religious devotional repertoire.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Osai
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.