Naan Deivamaa
From Kavalai Illaadha Manithan · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. R. Mahalingam
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Kavalai Illaadha Manithan1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Illai nee deivamaa | Or are you a god? |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Illai nee deivamaa | Or are you a god? |
| Namakkullae yaar deivam | Between us, who is really god? |
| Nee sollamma | You tell me, mother. |
| Male | |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Illai nee deivamaa | Or are you a god? |
| Namakkullae yaar deivam | Between us, who is really god? |
| Nee sollamma | You tell me, mother. |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Male | |
| {Enakkendru thaai thandhai | I have no mother or father |
| Yaarum illai | To call my own, no one at all |
| Unai pettra thaayaarku | And for the mother who gave birth to you |
| Perum illai} (2) | There is not even a name |
| Male | |
| Pasi eduthaalum | Even when I starve of hunger |
| Enakkedhum tharuvor illai | There is no one to give me anything |
| Pasi eduthaalum | Even when I starve of hunger |
| Enakkedhum tharuvor illai | There is no one to give me anything |
| Pirar koduthaalum | Even if others offer food to you |
| Thaai unakku pasiyae illai | Mother, you do not feel hunger at all |
| Male | |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Illai nee deivamaa | Or are you a god? |
| Namakkullae yaar deivam | Between us, who is really god? |
| Nee sollamma | You tell me, mother. |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Male | |
| Panam kaasu kadan thanthu | By lending money and cash |
| Veettai eduthaan…aa.a….aa….aa…aa… | He took away my house... |
| Panam kaasu kadan thanthu | By lending money and cash |
| Veettai eduthaan | He took away my house |
| Unakku paal pazham kadan thanthu | By offering milk and fruit as debt to you |
| Kannai maraithaan | He covered up your eyes |
| Male | |
| {Ini nadai paadhai thanil | From now on, upon the footpath |
| Enthan thiru naalamma | Lies my holy day of living, mother |
| Adhu nadamaada mudiyadha | But for you who cannot walk about, |
| Unakkedhamma} (2) | Why would you need any of this, mother? |
| Male | |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
| Illai nee deivamaa | Or are you a god? |
| Namakkullae yaar deivam | Between us, who is really god? |
| Nee sollamma | You tell me, mother. |
| Naan deivamaa | Am I a god? |
நான் தெய்வமா
நான் தெய்வமா
இல்லை நீ தெய்வமா
நான் தெய்வமா
இல்லை நீ தெய்வமா
நமக்குள்ளே யார் தெய்வம்
நீ சொல்லம்மா
Am I a god?
Am I a god?
Or are you a god?
Am I a god?
Or are you a god?
Between us, who is really god?
You tell me, mother.
நான் தெய்வமா
இல்லை நீ தெய்வமா
நமக்குள்ளே யார் தெய்வம்
நீ சொல்லம்மா
நான் தெய்வமா
Am I a god?
Or are you a god?
Between us, who is really god?
You tell me, mother.
Am I a god?
{எனக்கென்று தாய் தந்தை
யாரும் இல்லை
உனைப் பெற்ற தாயாருக்கும்
பேரும் இல்லை} (2)
I have no mother or father
To call my own, no one at all
And for the mother who gave birth to you
There is not even a name
பசிஎடுத்தாலும்
எனக்கேதும் தருவார் இல்லை
பசிஎடுத்தாலும்
எனக்கேதும் தருவார் இல்லை
பிறர் கொடுத்தாலும்
தாய் உனக்குப் பசியே இல்லை
Even when I starve of hunger
There is no one to give me anything
Even when I starve of hunger
There is no one to give me anything
Even if others offer food to you
Mother, you do not feel hunger at all
நான் தெய்வமா
நான் தெய்வமா
இல்லை நீ தெய்வமா
நான் தெய்வமா
இல்லை நீ தெய்வமா
நமக்குள்ளே யார் தெய்வம்
நீ சொல்லம்மா
நான் தெய்வமா
Am I a god?
Am I a god?
Or are you a god?
Between us, who is really god?
You tell me, mother.
Am I a god?
பணம் காசு கடன் தந்து
வீட்டை எடுத்தான்....ஆஅ...ஆ....ஆ...ஆஅ...
பணம் காசு கடன் தந்து
வீட்டை எடுத்தான்
உனக்குப் பால் பழம் கடன் தந்து
கண்ணை மறைத்தான்
By lending money and cash
He took away my house...
By lending money and cash
He took away my house
By offering milk and fruit as debt to you
He covered up your eyes
{இனி நடை பாதைதனில்
எந்தன் திருநாளம்மா
அது நடமாட முடியாத
உனக்கேதம்மா} (2)
From now on, upon the footpath
Lies my holy day of living, mother
But for you who cannot walk about,
Why would you need any of this, mother?
நான் தெய்வமா
நான் தெய்வமா
இல்லை நீ தெய்வமா
நான் தெய்வமா
இல்லை நீ தெய்வமா
நமக்குள்ளே யார் தெய்வம்
நீ சொல்லம்மா
நான் தெய்வமா
Am I a god?
Am I a god?
Or are you a god?
Between us, who is really god?
You tell me, mother.
Am I a god?
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Illai nee deivamaa
Or are you a god?
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Illai nee deivamaa
Or are you a god?
Namakkullae yaar deivam
Between us, who is really god?
Nee sollamma
You tell me, mother.
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Illai nee deivamaa
Or are you a god?
Namakkullae yaar deivam
Between us, who is really god?
Nee sollamma
You tell me, mother.
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
{Enakkendru thaai thandhai
I have no mother or father
Yaarum illai
To call my own, no one at all
Unai pettra thaayaarku
And for the mother who gave birth to you
Perum illai} (2)
There is not even a name
Pasi eduthaalum
Even when I starve of hunger
Enakkedhum tharuvor illai
There is no one to give me anything
Pasi eduthaalum
Even when I starve of hunger
Enakkedhum tharuvor illai
There is no one to give me anything
Pirar koduthaalum
Even if others offer food to you
Thaai unakku pasiyae illai
Mother, you do not feel hunger at all
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Illai nee deivamaa
Or are you a god?
Namakkullae yaar deivam
Between us, who is really god?
Nee sollamma
You tell me, mother.
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Panam kaasu kadan thanthu
By lending money and cash
Veettai eduthaan…aa.a….aa….aa…aa…
He took away my house...
Panam kaasu kadan thanthu
By lending money and cash
Veettai eduthaan
He took away my house
Unakku paal pazham kadan thanthu
By offering milk and fruit as debt to you
Kannai maraithaan
He covered up your eyes
{Ini nadai paadhai thanil
From now on, upon the footpath
Enthan thiru naalamma
Lies my holy day of living, mother
Adhu nadamaada mudiyadha
But for you who cannot walk about,
Unakkedhamma} (2)
Why would you need any of this, mother?
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Illai nee deivamaa
Or are you a god?
Namakkullae yaar deivam
Between us, who is really god?
Nee sollamma
You tell me, mother.
Naan deivamaa
Am I a god?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this poignant song from Kavalai Illaadha Manithan, lyrical genius Kannadasan presents a philosophical critique of idol worship and societal hypocrisy through a direct address to a temple deity. The protagonist, reduced to poverty and homelessness after a moneylender takes his house, compares his miserable human plight with the silent stone deity inside the temple.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vina)
“Naan deivamaa / Illai nee deivamaa”
The repeated question 'Naan deivamaa / Illai nee deivamaa' creates a stark philosophical debate between an idol and a suffering human.
Irony (Maranatakkal / Sol-muraan)
“Unakku paal pazham kadan thanthu / Kannai maraithaan”
Highlighting the irony that wealthy oppressors bribe stone gods with milk and fruit after destroying human lives.
Emona / Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Yaarum illai / Perum illai”
The recurring end-rhymes 'illai' emphasize absolute deprivation and emptiness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kavalai Illaadha Manithan (1960) features music composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and stars J.P. Chandrababu. Chandrababu gave a memorable, emotionally nuanced performance in this film, contrasting his usual comedic roles.
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