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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paavam Oridama

From Bhagya Devathai · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Trichy Loganathan
Music director
Master Venu
Details
Bhagya Devathai1959

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Paavam oridamaa pazhiyum oridamaaIs sin committed in one place and blame placed in another?
Pagavaanae idhu niyaayamaaOh God, is this fair?
Male
Paavam oridamaa pazhiyum oridamaaIs sin committed in one place and blame placed in another?
Pagavaanae idhu niyaayamaaOh God, is this fair?
Male
Kobamindri gunamaaga vaazhnthaalumEven if one lives virtuously without any anger,
Kodumaikku mudhaludamaaIs that the primary target for cruelty?
Kuttramillaatha patchikke siraiFor an innocent, blameless bird, is a prison
Koondae pugalidamaa…Cage its only refuge?
Male
Paavam oridamaa pazhiyum oridamaaIs sin committed in one place and blame placed in another?
Pagavaanae idhu niyaayamaaOh God, is this fair?
Male
Iraivan kannilae thiraiyai pottu neeBy placing a veil over the eyes of God,
Maraiyaththaan mudiyumaaCan you really stay hidden?
Varaiyai meeriyae vaazha ninaiththaalumEven if one wishes to live crossing all moral limits,
Vaiyagamthaan vidumaaWill the world ever allow it?
Male
Paavam oridamaa pazhiyum oridamaaIs sin committed in one place and blame placed in another?
Pagavaanae idhu niyaayamaaOh God, is this fair?
Male
Dharmamae thalai kaakkum endra mozhiThe proverb that righteousness will protect one's head,
Thavaraaga pogumaaWill it prove to be false?
Karma vedhanaikku kaimelae palanFor the suffering caused by karma, an immediate result,
Kidaikkaamal pogumaaWill it fail to be received?
Male
Paavam oridamaa pazhiyum oridamaaIs sin committed in one place and blame placed in another?
Pagavaanae idhu niyaayamaaOh God, is this fair?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a poignant philosophical lament questioning divine justice and the cruel ironies of fate. The protagonist expresses deep anguish that one person commits a crime or sin while an innocent person ends up taking the blame and suffering the consequences. It uses metaphors like an innocent bird being trapped in a cage to illustrate how peaceful and righteous people often become victims of cruelty. Ultimately, the song serves as a moral warning to wrongdoers that no one can hide their actions from the divine eye. It questions whether ancient adages about virtue protecting the good will hold true, expressing faith that karma will eventually deliver swift justice to the guilty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kobamindri gunamaaga vaazhnthaalum / Kodumaikku mudhaludamaa”

Repetition of the initial consonant/vowel sound across consecutive words or lines, such as 'Kobamindri' and 'Kodumaikku' (K- sound), or 'Kuttramillaatha' and 'Koondae' (K- sound).

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Alangaaram)

“Pagavaanae idhu niyaayamaa”

Ending lines with questioning suffixes like '-aa' ('niyaayamaa', 'mudiyumaa', 'pogumaa') to express grief, protest injustice, and engage the listener philosophically rather than seeking a direct answer.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kuttramillaatha patchikke sirai / Koondae pugalidamaa…”

Comparing an innocent, harmless human being to a faultless bird ('kuttramillaatha patchi') locked inside a cage ('koondae sirai').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Bhagya Devathai' (1959) featured evocative philosophical compositions by Master Venu with lyrics penned by the legendary Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. Sung with rich emotive depth by Trichy Loganathan, this track exemplifies the 1950s Tamil cinema trope of dramatic, morality-focused philosophical songs that questioned fate and social injustice.

Keep listening

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