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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oviyathai Varaindhu

From Kizhakkum Merkkum Santhikkindrana · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Kizhakkum Merkkum Santhikkindrana
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
28 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Illallaahoo mahhahshapiri
Anbarukku intha nilai alitheerae
Allaah…..aa…aa…aa….aa….allaah
Oviyaththai varainthu vaithaen
Rasiththu paarkka kannillaiyae
Orazhagu vilakkirunthum
Ennai oottra kaiyillaiyae
Poongodiyai valarththu vittaen
Neeroottra vazhiyillaiyae
Ponnuzhagil aasai vaiththaen
Penn vaazhvil oliyillaiyae
Oviyaththai varainthu vaithaen
Rasiththu paarkka kannillaiyae
Orazhagu vilakkirunthum
Ennai oottra kaiyillaiyae
Kuttramillai endraalum thandanaiyo
Intha thandanaiyo
Kolkaiyilae nindraalum vedhanaiyo
Intha vedhanaiyo
Kuttramillai endraalum thandanaiyo
Intha thandanaiyo
Kolkaiyilae nindraalum vedhanaiyo
Intha vedhanaiyo
Suttrangalae kanneerin saathanaiyo
Intha saathanaiyo
Thooyavargal yaavarukkum sodhanaiyo
Intha sodhanaiyo….
Oviyaththai varainthu vaithaen
Rasiththu paarkka kannillaiyae
Orazhagu vilakkirunthum
Ennai oottra kaiyillaiyae
Manamaalai soottivitta kaikalaiyaa
Antha kaikalaiyaa
Malligaippoo vaangi varim kaikalaiyaa
Antha kaikalaiyaa
Manamaalai soottivitta kaikalaiyaa
Antha kaikalaiyaa
Malligaippoo vaangi varim kaikalaiyaa
Antha kaikalaiyaa
Avasaraththil udhavi seiyyum kaikalaiyaa
Antha kaikalaiyaa
Allaah neer pariththathu antha kaikalaiyaa
Antha kaikalaiyaa
Santhanaththaal manakka vaiththa thanga silai
Antha thangasilai
Thalaivanukkae vaazhnthu vantha thangachiyai
Enthan thangachiyai
Santhanaththaal manakka vaiththa thanga silai
Antha thangasilai
Thalaivanukkae vaazhnthu vantha thangachiyai
Enthan thangachiyai
Intha nilai seithathenna naayaganae
Allaah naayaganae
Innumenna vilaiyaatto naanariyaen
Allaah naanariyaen….
Oviyaththai varainthu vaithaen
Rasiththu paarkka kannillaiyae
Orazhagu vilakkirunthum
Ennai oottra kaiyillaiyae
Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient
Yet You gave this plight to Your devotee
Allah... ah... ah... ah... ah... Allah...
I painted a picture
Yet I have no eyes to look and admire it
Though there is a lovely lamp
There are no hands to pour the oil
I nurtured a flowering vine
Yet there is no way to water it
I set my hopes on a golden world
Yet there is no light in this woman's life...
I painted a picture
Yet I have no eyes to look and admire it
Though there is a lovely lamp
There are no hands to pour the oil
Is it punishment even without any wrongdoing?
Oh, this punishment...
Is there only agony even when standing by principles?
Oh, this agony...
Is it punishment even without any wrongdoing?
Oh, this punishment...
Is there only agony even when standing by principles?
Oh, this agony...
Are tears the only reward of having loved ones?
Oh, this reward...
Is life a trial for every pure soul?
Oh, this trial...
I painted a picture
Yet I have no eyes to look and admire it
Though there is a lovely lamp
There are no hands to pour the oil
Those were the hands that placed the wedding garland, Lord
Oh, those very hands
Those were the hands that bought jasmine flowers, Lord
Oh, those very hands
Those were the hands that placed the wedding garland, Lord
Oh, those very hands
Those were the hands that bought jasmine flowers, Lord
Oh, those very hands
Those were the hands that rushed to help in need, Lord
Oh, those very hands
Allah, it was those hands that You snatched away
Oh, those very hands...
A golden statue sweet with the scent of sandalwood
That golden statue
A younger sister who lived only for her husband
My dear younger sister
A golden statue sweet with the scent of sandalwood
That golden statue
A younger sister who lived only for her husband
My dear younger sister
Why did You reduce her to this state, O Lord?
Allah, my Lord
What more games You will play, I do not know
Allah, I do not know...
I painted a picture
Yet I have no eyes to look and admire it
Though there is a lovely lamp
There are no hands to pour the oil
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song from 'Kizhakkum Merkkum Santhikkindrana' expresses deep existential grief, questioning divine justice in the face of tragedy. The protagonist laments how despite living a pure, principled life and nurturing deep love for family, fate has brought devastating sorrow. Through metaphors of an unviewed painting and an unlit lamp, the lyrics convey the pain of lost love, broken lives, and the loss of helpful, loving hands. Kannadasan uses Islamic devotional elements and profound philosophical questions addressed directly to God (Allah). The singer questions why pure souls are tested so severely and mourns the tragedy that befell his beloved sister and family, wrestling with the inexplicable divine play of fate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

“Oviyaththai varainthu vaithaen / Rasiththu paarkka kannillaiyae”

Life and relationships are metaphorically depicted as a painting without eyes to behold it and an oil lamp without hands to fill it.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Kuttramillai endraalum thandanaiyo / Kolkaiyilae nindraalum vedhanaiyo”

Rhyming of the second letter 't' across consecutive lines (Kuttramillai / Kolkaiyilae).

Anaphora (Repetition for rhetorical emphasis)

“Manamaalai soottivitta kaikalaiyaa / Antha kaikalaiyaa”

The repetitive questioning motif 'Antha kaikalaiyaa' emphasizes grief and disbelief over the loss of helpful hands.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by legendary music director M. S. Viswanathan with soul-stirring vocals by K. J. Yesudas, this song stands out in Tamil cinema for blending Islamic devotional phrasing with deep melodic grief, characteristic of lyricist Kannadasan's emotive late-70s songwriting.

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From the same album

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