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Lyrics & meaning

Naan Thedum Dhevadhaiye

From En Uyir Kannamma · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
En Uyir Kannamma1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aahaa…Aahaa…
Aahaa…Aahaa…
Aa… aaa… aaa… haaa…Aa… aaa… aaa… haaa…
Male
Naan thaedum dhevadhaiyaeO angel whom I search for,
Naan soodum thaamaraiyaeO lotus flower that I adorn,
Neengaadha en uyirae ponnammaa aa…O golden one, my inseparable soul...
Vaayaara naan azhaikkaWhile I call out to you wholeheartedly,
Theeyaaga naan kodhikkaWhile I boil inside like fire,
Vaaraamal vaattuvadhu ennammaa aa…Why do you torment me by not coming, my dear?
Male
Aathaa nee paathaakkaaO Goddess, if you look at me,
En paavam theerum ammaaMy sins will be absolved, my mother.
Annaadam un paattaiEvery day, your song...
En jeevan paadum ammaaMy life force shall sing, my mother.
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaaO Kannamma, O Kannamma, O Kannamma!
Male
Amman illaadha aalaiyamoIs this a temple without its presiding Goddess?
Kelvi kekkudhu en manadhuMy mind asks this question.
Unnai kaanaamal andharathilWithout seeing you, suspended in mid-air,
Oonjal aadudhu en uyiruMy soul swings like a pendulum.
Patta paadugal podhumadiThe hardships I have endured are enough, my girl.
Bakthan maeniyum vegudhadiEven this devotee's body is burning.
Male
Kutrangal kandaalaeIf one only looks for faults,
Sutrangal ingaedhuWhere will one find kin or loved ones here?
Kobathai nee vittu vaadiyammaaShed your anger and come to me, my dear.
Thunbangal vandhaalumEven if sorrows arrive,
Thollaigal thandhaalumEven if troubles are inflicted,
Anbukku yedhingu veliyammaaWhat fence or boundary can contain love, my dear?
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaa aa…O Kannamma, O Kannamma, O Kannamma...
Male
Naan thaedum dhevadhaiyaeO angel whom I search for,
Naan soodum thaamaraiyaeO lotus flower that I adorn,
Neengaadha en uyirae ponnammaa aa…O golden one, my inseparable soul...
Aathaa nee paathaakkaaO Goddess, if you look at me,
En paavam theerum ammaaMy sins will be absolved, my mother.
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaaO Kannamma, O Kannamma, O Kannamma!
Male
Naetru themmaangu paadiyavanThe one who sang joyful folk songs yesterday,
Soga raagangal paadugirenNow sings melodies of sorrow.
Devan poombaarai kaattinilaeIn the divine forest of Poombarai,
Dheva dheviyai thaedugirenI search for the divine goddess.
Kannil nee vandhu kaatchi koduAppear before my eyes and grant me a vision,
Kannin neer thuli thudaithu viduWipe away the tears from my eyes.
Male
Sondhangal bandhangalRelationships and emotional bonds,
Sethaalum pogaadhuWill not perish even in death.
Ammammaa nee ennaiOh dear, please allow me...
Vaazha vidu...to live my life.
Kannukku kannaagaProtecting like the apple of one's eye,
Kaappaatrum dheivam thaanYou are the deity who protects.
Penn endru in naeram perai eduAt this moment, earn the reputation of a compassionate woman.
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaa aa…O Kannamma, O Kannamma, O Kannamma...
Male
Naan thaedum dhevadhaiyaeO angel whom I search for,
Naan soodum thaamaraiyaeO lotus flower that I adorn,
Neengaadha en uyirae ponnammaa aa…O golden one, my inseparable soul...
Vaayaara naan azhaikkaWhile I call out to you wholeheartedly,
Theeyaaga naan kodhikkaWhile I boil inside like fire,
Vaaraamal vaattuvadhu ennammaa aa…Why do you torment me by not coming, my dear?
Male
Aathaa nee paathaakkaaO Goddess, if you look at me,
En paavam theerum ammaaMy sins will be absolved, my mother.
Annaadam un paattaiEvery day, your song...
En jeevan paadum ammaaMy life force shall sing, my mother.
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaaO Kannamma, O Kannamma, O Kannamma!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Naan Thaedum Dhevadhaiyae' from En Uyir Kannamma expresses the profound agony, devotional longing, and sorrow of a lover separated from his beloved, Kannamma. The protagonist elevates his lover to the status of a divine goddess (Amman), describing his life without her as a desolate temple devoid of its deity. He pleads with her to forgive any past errors, let go of her anger, and grant him solace, emphasizing that true love transcends all hardship and endures even beyond death. Throughout the track, lyricist Vaali masterfully blends sacred devotional imagery (Bakthi) with secular romantic passion (Sringara). The protagonist contrasts his past joyful state of singing cheerful folk tunes ('themmaangu') with his current state of singing tragic laments ('soga raagangal'), begging for her arrival to wipe away his tears and revive his soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Rupaka Alankaram)

Amman illaadha aalaiyamo

Compares his life devoid of his beloved to a temple without its Goddess ('Amman illaadha aalaiyamo') and his soul to a swinging pendulum ('andharathil oonjal aadudhu en uyiru').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Alankaram)

Theeyaaga naan kodhikka

Exaggerates emotional distress as literally boiling inside like fire ('theeyaaga naan kodhikka') and the devotee's body burning with agony ('Bakthan maeniyum vegudhadi').

Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Naan thaedum dhevadhaiyae

Repetition of the opening word/sound 'Naan' across consecutive lines ('Naan thaedum' / 'Naan soodum').

Ethirai (Second Letter Assonance)

Kutrangal kandaalae

Matching second consonants across adjacent lines ('Kutrangal' / 'Sutrangal' and 'Thunbangal' / 'Thollaigal').

Did you know?

Trivia

'En Uyir Kannamma' (1988) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with iconic lyrics penned by Vaali. The motif of calling the beloved 'Kannamma' draws deep inspiration from Mahakavi Bharathiyar's legendary poems, a tradition Vaali frequently honored in his film compositions.

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