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Shanthi Nilayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Iraivan Varuvaan

From Shanthi Nilayam · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Shanthi Nilayam
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
1 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Iraivan iraivan iraivan
Varuvaan varuvaan varuvaan
Aahaa ahaha aha
Aahaha aa aa aa aaa haa…aaa….
Iraivan varuvaan
Avan endrum nal vazhi tharuvaan
Iraivan varuvaan
Avan endrum nal vazhi tharuvaan
Arivom avanai
Avan anbae naam perum karunai
Arivom avanai
Avan anbae naam perum karunai
Iraivan varuvaan
Avan endrum nal vazhi tharuvaan
Vanna vanna poovinil
Kaayai vaithavan
Sippi ondrin naduvae
Muththai vaithavan
Vanna vanna poovil
Kaayai vaithavan
Sippi ondrin naduvae
Muththai vaithavan
Chinna chinna nenjinil
Paasam vaithaan
Nenjil varum paasathai
Pesa vaithaan
Chinna chinna nenjinil
Paasam vaithaan
Nenjil varum paasathai
Pesa vaithaan
Anbae enbadhu koil
Aasai enbadhu naadu
Paasam enbadhu veedu
Paasam enbadhu veedu
Iraivan varuvaan
Avan endrum nal vazhi tharuvaan
Ullam ennum koyilai
Katti vaithavan
Kangal ennum vaasalai
Thandhu vaithavan
Ullam ennum koyilai
Katti vaithavan
Kangal ennum vaasalai
Thandhu vaithavan
Kannil varum paadhaiyai
Kaana sonnaan
Nalla nalla paadhaiyil poga sonnaan
Kannil varum paadhaiyai
Kaana sonnaan
Nalla nalla paadhaiyil poga sonnaan
Kangal avanai kaana
Ullam avanai ninaikka
Kaigal avanai vananga
Chorus :Kaigal avanai vananga
Iraivan varuvaan
Avan endrum nal vazhi tharuvaan
Arivom avanai
Chorus :Avan anbae naam perum karunai
Iraivan varuvaan
Avan endrum nal vazhi tharuvaan
God, God, God
He will come, He will come, He will come
Aaha ahaha aha
Aahaha aa aa aa aahaa... aaaa...
God will come
He will always guide us on the right path
God will come
He will always guide us on the right path
Let us come to know Him
His love is the grace we receive
Let us come to know Him
His love is the grace we receive
God will come
He will always guide us on the right path
Inside the colorful flower,
He is the one who placed the fruit
Inside an oyster shell,
He is the one who placed the pearl
Inside the colorful flower,
He is the one who placed the fruit
Inside an oyster shell,
He is the one who placed the pearl
Inside little, tender hearts,
He placed affection
And the affection born in the heart,
He gave it a voice to speak
Inside little, tender hearts,
He placed affection
And the affection born in the heart,
He gave it a voice to speak
Love is a temple
Desire is a land
Affection is a home
Affection is a home
God will come
He will always guide us on the right path
The temple called the heart,
He is the one who built it
The doorway called the eyes,
He is the one who gave it
The temple called the heart,
He is the one who built it
The doorway called the eyes,
He is the one who gave it
The paths that appear before our eyes,
He told us to observe
And He told us to walk along the good paths
The paths that appear before our eyes,
He told us to observe
And He told us to walk along the good paths
While our eyes behold Him,
While our hearts remember Him,
While our hands fold in prayer to Him,
Chorus: While our hands fold in prayer to Him,
God will come
He will always guide us on the right path
Let us come to know Him
Chorus: His love is the grace we receive
God will come
He will always guide us on the right path
Female
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Chorus
Female
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Chorus
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Iraivan Varuvaan from the 1969 Tamil film Shanthi Nilayam is a soul-stirring devotional and philosophical song written by Kannadasan. The lyrics express absolute faith in divine grace, assuring that God will guide humanity toward righteous living. Kannadasan marvels at divine creation, noting how God places fruits in colorful blossoms, pearls in oysters, and love within human hearts, establishing love as the ultimate temple and foundation of life. Furthermore, the song metaphorically compares the human heart to a sacred shrine built by God, with the eyes serving as its gateway. It urges people to use their senses productively—walking along noble paths, keeping divinity in their thoughts, and offering heartfelt worship. Through lyrical imagery, the song conveys that divine mercy is best understood and experienced through unconditional love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Iraivan iraivan iraivan”

Words like 'Iraivan', 'Varuvaan', 'Vanna vanna', and 'Chinna chinna' are repeated consecutively to enhance rhythmic cadence and emotional intensity.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Ullam ennum koyilai Katti vaithavan”

The line equates the human heart to a temple ('Ullam ennum koyilai') and eyes to its entrance doorway ('Kangal ennum vaasalai').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Ullam ennum koyilai / Kangal ennum vaasalai”

Rhyming of second consonant letters in adjacent lines, such as 'Ullam' and 'Kangal', creating acoustic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Shanthi Nilayam (1969) was an adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's classic novel Jane Eyre. The song features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and vocals by P. Susheela.

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