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En Uyir Kannamma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Thedum Dhevadhaiye

From En Uyir Kannamma · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
En Uyir Kannamma
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
8 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aahaa…
Aahaa…
Aa… aaa… aaa… haaa…
Naan thaedum dhevadhaiyae
Naan soodum thaamaraiyae
Neengaadha en uyirae ponnammaa aa…
Vaayaara naan azhaikka
Theeyaaga naan kodhikka
Vaaraamal vaattuvadhu ennammaa aa…
Aathaa nee paathaakkaa
En paavam theerum ammaa
Annaadam un paattai
En jeevan paadum ammaa
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaa
Amman illaadha aalaiyamo
Kelvi kekkudhu en manadhu
Unnai kaanaamal andharathil
Oonjal aadudhu en uyiru
Patta paadugal podhumadi
Bakthan maeniyum vegudhadi
Kutrangal kandaalae
Sutrangal ingaedhu
Kobathai nee vittu vaadiyammaa
Thunbangal vandhaalum
Thollaigal thandhaalum
Anbukku yedhingu veliyammaa
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaa aa…
Naan thaedum dhevadhaiyae
Naan soodum thaamaraiyae
Neengaadha en uyirae ponnammaa aa…
Aathaa nee paathaakkaa
En paavam theerum ammaa
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaa
Naetru themmaangu paadiyavan
Soga raagangal paadugiren
Devan poombaarai kaattinilae
Dheva dheviyai thaedugiren
Kannil nee vandhu kaatchi kodu
Kannin neer thuli thudaithu vidu
Sondhangal bandhangal
Sethaalum pogaadhu
Ammammaa nee ennai
Vaazha vidu
Kannukku kannaaga
Kaappaatrum dheivam thaan
Penn endru in naeram perai edu
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaa aa…
Naan thaedum dhevadhaiyae
Naan soodum thaamaraiyae
Neengaadha en uyirae ponnammaa aa…
Vaayaara naan azhaikka
Theeyaaga naan kodhikka
Vaaraamal vaattuvadhu ennammaa aa…
Aathaa nee paathaakkaa
En paavam theerum ammaa
Annaadam un paattai
En jeevan paadum ammaa
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaa
Aha...
Aha...
Ah... aah... aah... haa...
You are the goddess I seek,
The lotus flower I cherish,
My inseparable soul, my precious Ponnamma, ah...
As I call your name with all my heart,
While burning inside like fire,
Why do you torment me by staying away, my dear?
Mother, if you only look at me,
All my sins will be washed away, my dear.
Every day, your song,
My soul will keep singing, my dear.
Kannamma, Kannamma, Kannamma!
Is this a temple without its goddess?
My heart keeps asking this question.
Without seeing you, hanging in mid-air,
My life swings back and forth in agony.
The pain I have endured is enough, my girl!
This devotee's body is burning in pain, girl!
If we keep finding faults in each other,
How can any kinship survive here?
Let go of your anger and come to me, my dear.
Even if sorrows come our way,
And troubles weigh us down,
What fence can ever hold back love, my dear?
Kannamma, Kannamma, Kannamma, ah...
You are the goddess I seek,
The lotus flower I cherish,
My inseparable soul, my precious Ponnamma, ah...
Mother, if you only look at me,
All my sins will be washed away, my dear.
Kannamma, Kannamma, Kannamma!
Yesterday I sang cheerful folk songs,
Today I sing melodies of sorrow.
In the forest of Devan Poombarai,
I am searching for my divine goddess.
Appear before my eyes and reveal yourself,
Wipe away the tears from my eyes.
Family ties and bonds of love
Do not end even after death.
Oh please, my dear,
Let me live!
Like a guardian deity who protects us
As dearly as our own eyes,
Prove right now that a woman is such a goddess!
Kannamma, Kannamma, Kannamma, ah...
You are the goddess I seek,
The lotus flower I cherish,
My inseparable soul, my precious Ponnamma, ah...
As I call your name with all my heart,
While burning inside like fire,
Why do you torment me by staying away, my dear?
Mother, if you only look at me,
All my sins will be washed away, my dear.
Every day, your song,
My soul will keep singing, my dear.
Kannamma, Kannamma, Kannamma!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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