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Lyrics & meaning

Kan Kanda Deivame

From Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kan kanda deivamaeOh God visible to my eyes,
Kai vandha selvamaeOh treasure that came to my hands,
Murugaa murugaa murugaaMuruga, Muruga, Muruga!
Kan kanda deivamaeOh God visible to my eyes,
Kai vandha selvamaeOh treasure that came to my hands,
Murugaa murugaa murugaaMuruga, Muruga, Muruga!
Female
Ennenna solgindraarLook at all the things they say,
Ennenna seigindraarLook at all the things they do!
Sila ullatthukkul pallamDid you dig a pit inside some hearts,
Vaithadhun velaiyaaIs that your work?
Vaelaiyaa idhu un velaiyaaIs it your Spear's deed, or is it your doing?
Male
Kan kanda deivamaeOh God visible to my eyes,
Kai vandha selvamaeOh treasure that came to my hands,
Murugaa murugaa murugaaMuruga, Muruga, Muruga!
Murugaa murugaa murugaaMuruga, Muruga, Muruga!
Female
{Sundhara vael murugaaOh beautiful Spear-wielding Muruga,
Thundugal irandaagaInto two split pieces,
Sooranai kizhithaayandro} (2)Didn't you tear apart the demon Sooran?
Oru thogaiyai kaaladiyilOne piece as a peacock at your feet,
Saevalai kai anaivilThe rooster embraced in your hands,
Kaavalil vaithaaiyandroYou placed them under your protection, didn't you?
Male
{Mandhira deivangalinOf the mystical deities,
Maaya kadhaigalukkuTo their miraculous stories,
Varai murai kidaiyaadhenraar} (2)They said there are no limits or rules.
Avai thandhiram seivadhunduThey perform tricks,
Saagasam kolvadhunduThey perform feats of bravery,
Sagalamum nandraeyandroAnd isn't everything for the good?
Male
Ennenna solgindraarLook at all the things they say,
Ennenna seigindraarLook at all the things they do!
Sila ullatthukkul pallamDid you dig a pit inside some hearts,
Vaithadhun velaiyaaIs that your work?
Vaelaiyaa idhu un velaiyaaIs it your Spear's deed, or is it your doing?
Male
Kan kanda deivamaeOh God visible to my eyes,
Kai vandha selvamaeOh treasure that came to my hands,
Murugaa murugaa murugaaMuruga, Muruga, Muruga!
Murugaa murugaa murugaaMuruga, Muruga, Muruga!
Female
{Kaatchiyai kondravar munBefore those who destroyed the vision,
Saatchiyai kondru vittuAfter destroying the witness as well,
Aatchiyum seidhaayaiyaa} (2)Did you rule over them, Oh Lord?
Undhan maatchimai ennavendruWhat your grandeur is,
Saatchikkum thondravillaiEven the witness could not fathom;
Soozhchiyai solvaai aiyaaPlease reveal the deception, Oh Lord!
Male
{Pillaiyai kondru vittuAfter killing the child,
Periya virundhu vaithaanHe hosted a grand feast,
Kallamil paranjothiyae…ae…} (2)Oh guileless Supreme Light!
Virundhu ellaam mudindha pinnaeAfter the feast came to an end,
Pillaiyaiyinai azhaithaanHe called out for the child,
Iraivan arul jothiyaeOh divine Light of Grace!
Female
Kaarirul soozhndhadhuPitch darkness has surrounded us,
Kadhiravan maraindhadhuThe sun has hidden away,
Needhi ellaam thudikkumAll justice trembles in agony.
Male
Maerkinil sooriyan maraindhaalumEven if the sun sets in the west,
Keezh vaanam sivakkumThe eastern sky will turn red with dawn!
Female
Kandhan iruppadhuIf Lord Murugan's existence
Unmai endraal silaIs the truth, then some
Unmaigal veliyaagumTruths are bound to come to light.
Male
Kaalam varum varaiUntil that right time comes,
KaathirundhaalIf one waits patiently,
Adhu nallavar vazhiyaagumThat is the path of the righteous!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply emotional, devotional, and philosophical prayer addressed to Lord Murugan. The singer questions the divine justice of Lord Murugan when evil seems to prevail, referencing famous Hindu mythological legends. These include the vanquishing of demon Soorapadman (who was split into a peacock and a rooster) and the legendary devotion of Siruthondar, who sacrificed his child to serve the divine. The lyrics reflect a human struggle against deceit, injustice, and dark times, questioning why wickedness exists in human hearts. Despite the surrounding darkness and moral anguish, the song culminates in ultimate hope and conviction in cosmic justice. Using the powerful metaphor 'Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum' (the eastern sky will turn red), the lyricist emphasizes that even when the sun sets and dark times prevail, truth and justice will inevitably dawn again. It encourages righteous people to remain patient until divine truth exposes deceit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Shlesha / Pun (Sledai)

Vaelaiyaa idhu un velaiyaa

Wordplay on 'Vael' (Lord Murugan's holy spear) and 'Velai' (work or action), cleverly asking if the outcome is the work of his spear or his cosmic play.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kaatchiyai kondravar mun / Saatchiyai kondru vittu / Aatchiyum seidhaayaiyaa

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'tch' across consecutive lines ('Kaatchiyai', 'Saatchiyai', 'Aatchiyum').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Ennenna solgindraar / Ennenna seigindraar

Matching end sounds ('solgindraar' / 'seigindraar' and 'seivadhundu' / 'kolvadhundu') creating rhythmic symmetry.

Metaphor & Imagery

Maerkinil sooriyan maraindhaalum / Keezh vaanam sivakkum

The reddening of the eastern sky serves as a metaphor for the dawn of justice and triumph of truth after a period of pitch darkness.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kan kanda deivamae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('K') in words 'Kan' and 'kanda'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic devotional-philosophical track is from the 1981 Tamil film 'Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum', directed by Muktha Srinivasan and starring Sivaji Ganesan and Saritha. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with legendary lyrics penned by Kannadasan, sung powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan. The song's metaphor 'Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum' serves as the film's title.

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