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Isaimozhi
Kidaari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pagaivanukku Arulvaai

From Kidaari · 2016

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
Haricharan
Music director
Darbuka Siva
Movie name
Kidaari
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
16 Jul 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Pagaivanukku arulvaai
Nan nenjae
Pagaivanukku arulvaai} (2)
{Pugai naduvinil
Thee iruppadhai
Boomiyil kandomae
Nan nenjae
Boomiyil kandomae} (2)
Pagai naduvinil
Anburuvana nam
Paraman vazhgindran
Nan nenjae
Paraman vazhgindran
Ooo…oooo…….oooo…ooo..
{Pagaivanukku arulvaai
Nan nenjae
Pagaivanukku arulvaai} (2)
Vazhvai ninaithapin
Thazhvai ninaippadhu
Vazhvukku neraamo
Thazhvu pirarkkenna
Thaan azhivan endra
Saathiram kelayo
Thinna varum
Puli thannaiyum
Anbodu sindhaiyil
Potriduvaai
Annaiyin parasakthi
Avvuru vayinal
Avalai kumbiduvaai
Avalai kumbiduvaai
Mmmm…mmm…mmm…mmm…
{Pagaivanukku arulvaai
Nan nenjae
Pagaivanukku arulvaai} (2)
Bless your enemy,
O good heart,
Bless your enemy.
In the midst of smoke,
that fire exists,
have we not seen on this earth?
O good heart,
Have we not seen on this earth?
In the midst of hatred,
our Supreme Lord who is love itself,
lives and dwells.
O good heart,
The Supreme Lord lives and dwells.
Oh... oh... oh... oh...
Bless your enemy,
O good heart,
Bless your enemy.
Having chosen a noble life,
to think of doing low deeds,
does it suit that life?
"If you wish harm upon others,
you will destroy yourself"—
haven't you heard this teaching?
Even the tiger
that comes to devour you,
with love in your heart,
revere and cherish it.
Mother Parasakthi (the supreme goddess)
has taken that very form;
bow down and pray to her.
Bow down and pray to her.
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
Bless your enemy,
O good heart,
Bless your enemy.
Male
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Female
Male
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic philosophical poem written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar delivers a profound spiritual message of non-violence, unconditional forgiveness, and divine oneness. Bharathiyar instructs his own mind ('Nan nenjae') to show love and grace even towards enemies. He illustrates that just as fire is concealed within smoke, the Supreme Lord (as love) resides inside hostile environments.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe (Munnilai)

Nan nenjae

Directly addressing one's own conscience or heart throughout the song ('Nan nenjae').

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)

Pugai naduvinil thee iruppadhai

Comparing God's hidden presence amidst enmity to fire concealed within smoke ('Pugai naduvinil thee iruppadhai').

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Vazhvai ninaithapin / Thazhvai ninaippadhu

Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive lines: 'Vazhvai' and 'Thazhvai' (the 'zh' sound).

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Pagaivanukku arulvaai

Repeated refrain emphasizing the core message of showing mercy to enemies.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is based on the famous poem 'Pagaivanukku Arulvaai' by the legendary nationalist poet Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar. For the 2016 film 'Kidaari', the poem was set to a modern rock-influenced composition by music director Darbuka Siva.

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