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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yaarukku Naan Theengu Seythen

From Aayiram Kalathu Payir · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Aayiram Kalathu Payir1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yaaruku naan theengu seithaenWhom have I harmed,
Iraivaa….aa….aa….Oh God....
Naattil Yaar kudiyai naan keduthaenWhose family in this country have I ruined,
Iraivaa….aa….aa….Oh God....
Oorukku naan enna seithaenWhat harm have I done to the town,
Iraivaa….aa….aa….Oh God....
Ennai Unakku kooda pidikkallaiyaaDon't even You like me?
Iraivaa….aa….aa….Oh God....
Male
Yaaruku naan theengu seithaen iraivaaWhom have I harmed, oh God?
Naattil Yaar kudiyai naan keduthaen iraivaaWhose family in this country have I ruined, oh God?
Yaaruku naan theengu seithaen iraivaaWhom have I harmed, oh God?
Naattil Yaar kudiyai naan keduthaen iraivaaWhose family in this country have I ruined, oh God?
Male
Oorukku naan enna seithaen iraivaaWhat harm have I done to the town, oh God?
Oorukku naan enna seithaen iraivaaWhat harm have I done to the town, oh God?
Ennai unakku kooda piikkallaiyaa iraivaaDon't even You like me, oh God?
Male
Yaaruku naan theengu seithaen iraivaaWhom have I harmed, oh God?
Naattil Yaar kudiyai naan keduthaen iraivaaWhose family in this country have I ruined, oh God?
Male
Makkal koodum mandapaththaiThe community hall where people gather,
Naan idiththenaa….aa…Did I demolish it?
Makkal koodum mandapaththaiThe community hall where people gather,
Naan idiththenaa….Did I demolish it?
Needhi mandaththila poiyuraiththu neri maranthanaaDid I lie in the court of justice and abandon moral righteousness?
Kattravar mael pazhi uraiththu kalanga vaiththaenaaDid I falsely accuse the learned and cause them distress?
Kattravar mael pazhi uraiththu kalanga vaiththaenaaDid I falsely accuse the learned and cause them distress?
Oru kadavul illaiyendru solli karuththazhinthaenaa…aa…Did I lose my wisdom by claiming that there is no God?
Karuththazhinthaenaa…Did I lose my wisdom?
Male
Yaaruku naan theengu seithaen iraivaaWhom have I harmed, oh God?
Naattil Yaar kudiyai naan keduthaen iraivaaWhose family in this country have I ruined, oh God?
Male
Kuzhanthai unnaum paalinilaeIn the milk consumed by infants,
Vishangalanthaenaa….aa..Did I mix poison?
Kuzhanthai unnaum paalinilaeIn the milk consumed by infants,
Vishangalanthaenaa….Did I mix poison?
Yeazhai kudiyirukkum kudisaikalai pirithernthenaaDid I single out and destroy the huts where poor people dwell?
Koduththa kadan illaiyendru maruththuraithenaaDid I deny a loan by falsely claiming it was never given?
Koduththa kadan illaiyendru maruththuraithenaaDid I deny a loan by falsely claiming it was never given?
Naalum kolai puriyum paavikattuTo the sinners who commit murder daily,
Kodi pidiththeenaa….aa….Did I hold up their flag in support?
Kodi pidiththeenaa….Did I hold up their flag in support?
Male
Yaaruku naan theengu seithaen iraivaaWhom have I harmed, oh God?
Naattil Yaar kudiyai naan keduthaen iraivaaWhose family in this country have I ruined, oh God?
Oorukku naan enna seithaen iraivaaWhat harm have I done to the town, oh God?
Ennai unakku kooda piikkallaiyaa iraivaaDon't even You like me, oh God?
Male
Yaaruku naan theengu seithaen iraivaa…aa…..Whom have I harmed, oh God...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply emotional, philosophical lament in which the protagonist questions God about the hardships and suffering they are enduring. Posing a series of rhetorical questions, the protagonist asks what heinous crime or moral sin they could have possibly committed to deserve such plight—whether it was demolishing public gathering spaces, perjury in court, defaming the wise, denying God, poisoning babies' milk, destroying poor people's homes, reneging on debts, or siding with murderers. Through these poignant verses written by Kannadasan, the protagonist asserts their complete innocence and expresses heartbreak over feeling abandoned by God Himself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe

Iraivaa….aa….aa….

Direct address to God (Iraiva) who is not physically present to respond.

Rhetorical Question

Yaaruku naan theengu seithaen iraivaa

Continuous use of unanswered questions to emphasize the protagonist's innocence and anguish.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Yaaruku naan theengu seithaen iraivaa / Naattil Yaar kudiyai naan keduthaen iraivaa

The repetition of 'iraivaa' at the end of multiple lines creates a rhythmic end-rhyme scheme.

Anaphora / Repetition

Oorukku naan enna seithaen iraivaa

Repetition of refrain lines throughout the song to reinforce the central theme of distress.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the 1963 film 'Aayiram Kalathu Payir', this track exemplifies his signature style of writing philosophical introspections where characters question divine justice and fate.

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