Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ithayamathai Kovil Endren

From Uyirullavarai Usha · 1983

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
T. Rajendar
Details
Uyirullavarai Usha1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Idhayamathai kovil endraenI called this heart a temple
Nee devi endraen yerkkavillaiI called you a goddess, but you did not accept it
Uyirulla varai paadiduvenAs long as there is life in me, I will keep singing
Unn ninaivu enakku marakkavillaiI have not forgotten your memory
Ninaivenakku marakkavillaiI have not forgotten your memory
Male
Idhayamathai kovil endraenI called this heart a temple
Nee devi endraen yerkkavillaiI called you a goddess, but you did not accept it
Uyirulla varai paadiduvenAs long as there is life in me, I will keep singing
Unn ninaivu enakku marakkavillaiI have not forgotten your memory
Ninaivenakku marakkavillaiI have not forgotten your memory
Male
Devathai nee ena ninaithuThinking of you as an angel
Kavithaigal aayiram vadithuComposing thousands of poems
Devathai nee ena ninaithuThinking of you as an angel
Kavithaigal aayiram vadithuComposing thousands of poems
Raagathil naan adhai padithuSinging them in melodious tunes
Un rasanaiyai ketkkindra podhuWhen I ask for your appreciation
Nee sevidrendru nadigindra maadhuYou are a woman pretending to be deaf
Nee sevidrendru nadigindra maadhuYou are a woman pretending to be deaf
Naan siripadhu vaazhvinil yedhuWhere is the place for laughter in my life?
Naan siripadhu vaazhvinil yedhuWhere is the place for laughter in my life?
Male
Idhayamathai kovil endraenI called this heart a temple
Nee devi endraen yerkkavillaiI called you a goddess, but you did not accept it
Uyirulla varai paadiduvenAs long as there is life in me, I will keep singing
Unn ninaivu enakku marakkavillaiI have not forgotten your memory
Ninaivenakku marakkavillaiI have not forgotten your memory
Male
En viruppathil udhirvathu neeraaIs that water shedding from my longing?
Un veruppinil therivathu neruppaaIs that fire visible in your hatred?
En viruppathil udhirvathu neeraaIs that water shedding from my longing?
Un veruppinil therivathu neruppaaIs that fire visible in your hatred?
Neer pattu neruppathu anaiyumTouched by water, the fire will be extinguished
Un veruppendru en mel theerumWhen will your hatred towards me come to an end?
Nee anaithidum naalinai paarppenI will wait for the day you embrace me
Nee anaithidum naalinai paarppenI will wait for the day you embrace me
Illai uyirinai anaiththittu povenOtherwise, I will depart after taking my own life
Illai uyirinai anaiththittu povenOtherwise, I will depart after taking my own life
Female
Ivan viruppathil udhirvathu neeraaIs that water shedding from his longing?
Ival veruppinil therivathu neruppaaIs that fire visible in her hatred?
Neer pattu neruppathu anaiyumTouched by water, the fire will be extinguished
Ival veruppindru ivan mel theerumHer hatred towards him will come to an end today
Ival anaithidum naalinai paarkkaTo see the day she embraces him
Chorus
……………………………………....
Female
……………………………………....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses the deep pain of unrequited love and devotion. The protagonist compares his heart to a sacred temple and his beloved to a goddess, yet mourns that she refuses to acknowledge his pure affection. Despite her cold indifference and pretense of ignoring his artistic expressions, he vows to continue singing his sorrow as long as he lives, trapped in the memory of his love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Idhayamathai kovil endraen

The speaker compares his heart to a temple ('Idhayamathai kovil endraen') and his beloved to a deity/angel ('Nee devi endraen', 'Devathai nee').

Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)

En viruppathil udhirvathu neeraa / Un veruppinil therivathu neruppaa

Contrasting 'Neer' (water representing tears/desire) with 'Neruppu' (fire representing hatred/anger) to illustrate the clash of emotion.

Monorhyme / Second-letter Rhyming (Edhukai)

En viruppathil udhirvathu neeraa

Rhyming of second syllables in Tamil poetry, seen in 'viruppathil' and 'veruppinil'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Uyirullavarai Usha' (1983) was written, directed, composed, and produced by multi-talented artist T. Rajendar, starring himself alongside Ganga and Saritha. The soundtrack became a massive hit in Tamil Nadu during the early 1980s.

Keep listening

More from Uyirullavarai Usha