Yengum Deivam Ange
From Sonnathu Neethana · 1978
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Sonnathu Neethana1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Yaengum deivam angae | The longing deity is over there, |
| Thoongum selvam ingae | The sleeping treasure is over here. |
| Oru niyaayam oru dharmam | There is one justice and one righteousness, |
| Idaiyil naan engae | Trapped in between, where do I stand? |
| Female | |
| Yaengum deivam angae | The longing deity is over there, |
| Thoongum selvam ingae | The sleeping treasure is over here. |
| Female | |
| Thoondilo irandu pakkam | Is the fishing hook set on both sides? |
| Thudikkavo meenai vaiththaan | Did He place me like a fish to writhe in pain? |
| Paasamo irandu pakkam | Is affection pulling from both sides? |
| Padhaikkavo nenjai vaiththaan | Did He give me a heart only to suffer? |
| Female | |
| Kanneerin vellam oru ullam | A heart filled with a flood of tears, |
| Adhilae sellum | Navigates through those waters. |
| Engae payanam engae mudiyum | Where is this journey headed, where will it end? |
| Angae thunaithaan yaaro | Who will be the companion along the way? |
| Female | |
| Yaengum deivam angae | The longing deity is over there, |
| Thoongum selvam ingae | The sleeping treasure is over here. |
| Oru niyaayam oru dharmam | There is one justice and one righteousness, |
| Idaiyil naan engae | Trapped in between, where do I stand? |
| Female | |
| Thaaliyum nilaikka vendum | The sacred marital thread (Thaali) must endure, |
| Thaaimaiyum vaazhvendum | Motherhood too must thrive and survive. |
| Vendidum irandil ondru | If one of these two essential desires |
| Vilaginaal enna undu | Is lost, what remains for me? |
| Female | |
| Thaalaattum pillai manam | A childlike heart that sings lullabies, |
| Vellai adhuvaa thollai | Is its pure innocence the source of trouble? |
| Kattil perithaa thottil perithaa | Is the marital bed greater, or is the cradle greater? |
| Endraal padhilthaan enna | If asked, what indeed is the answer? |
| Female | |
| Yaengum deivam angae | The longing deity is over there, |
| Thoongum selvam ingae | The sleeping treasure is over here. |
| Oru niyaayam oru dharmam | There is one justice and one righteousness, |
| Idaiyil naan engae…. | Trapped in between, where do I stand? |
ஏங்கும் தெய்வம் அங்கே
தூங்கும் செல்வம் இங்கே
ஒரு நியாயம் ஒரு தர்மம்
இடையில் நான் எங்கே....
The longing deity is over there,
The sleeping treasure is over here.
There is one justice and one righteousness,
Trapped in between, where do I stand?
ஏங்கும் தெய்வம் அங்கே
தூங்கும் செல்வம் இங்கே
The longing deity is over there,
The sleeping treasure is over here.
தூண்டிலோ இரண்டு பக்கம்
துடிக்கவோ மீனை வைத்தான்
பாசமோ இரண்டு பக்கம்
பதைக்கவோ நெஞ்சை வைத்தான்
Is the fishing hook set on both sides?
Did He place me like a fish to writhe in pain?
Is affection pulling from both sides?
Did He give me a heart only to suffer?
கண்ணீரின் வெள்ளம் ஒரு உள்ளம்
அதிலே செல்லும்
எங்கே பயணம் எங்கே முடியும்
அங்கே துணை தான் யாரோ.......
A heart filled with a flood of tears,
Navigates through those waters.
Where is this journey headed, where will it end?
Who will be the companion along the way?
ஏங்கும் தெய்வம் அங்கே
தூங்கும் செல்வம் இங்கே
ஒரு நியாயம் ஒரு தர்மம்
இடையில் நான் எங்கே....
The longing deity is over there,
The sleeping treasure is over here.
There is one justice and one righteousness,
Trapped in between, where do I stand?
தாலியும் நிலைக்க வேண்டும்
தாய்மையும் வாழவேண்டும்
வேண்டிடும் இரண்டில் ஒன்று
விலகினால் என்ன உண்டு
The sacred marital thread (Thaali) must endure,
Motherhood too must thrive and survive.
If one of these two essential desires
Is lost, what remains for me?
தாலாட்டும் பிள்ளை மனம்
வெள்ளை அதுவா தொல்லை
கட்டில் பெரிதா தொட்டில் பெரிதா
என்றால் பதில் தான் என்ன.......
A childlike heart that sings lullabies,
Is its pure innocence the source of trouble?
Is the marital bed greater, or is the cradle greater?
If asked, what indeed is the answer?
ஏங்கும் தெய்வம் அங்கே
தூங்கும் செல்வம் இங்கே
ஒரு நியாயம் ஒரு தர்மம்
இடையில் நான் எங்கே....
The longing deity is over there,
The sleeping treasure is over here.
There is one justice and one righteousness,
Trapped in between, where do I stand?
Yaengum deivam angae
The longing deity is over there,
Thoongum selvam ingae
The sleeping treasure is over here.
Oru niyaayam oru dharmam
There is one justice and one righteousness,
Idaiyil naan engae
Trapped in between, where do I stand?
Yaengum deivam angae
The longing deity is over there,
Thoongum selvam ingae
The sleeping treasure is over here.
Thoondilo irandu pakkam
Is the fishing hook set on both sides?
Thudikkavo meenai vaiththaan
Did He place me like a fish to writhe in pain?
Paasamo irandu pakkam
Is affection pulling from both sides?
Padhaikkavo nenjai vaiththaan
Did He give me a heart only to suffer?
Kanneerin vellam oru ullam
A heart filled with a flood of tears,
Adhilae sellum
Navigates through those waters.
Engae payanam engae mudiyum
Where is this journey headed, where will it end?
Angae thunaithaan yaaro
Who will be the companion along the way?
Yaengum deivam angae
The longing deity is over there,
Thoongum selvam ingae
The sleeping treasure is over here.
Oru niyaayam oru dharmam
There is one justice and one righteousness,
Idaiyil naan engae
Trapped in between, where do I stand?
Thaaliyum nilaikka vendum
The sacred marital thread (Thaali) must endure,
Thaaimaiyum vaazhvendum
Motherhood too must thrive and survive.
Vendidum irandil ondru
If one of these two essential desires
Vilaginaal enna undu
Is lost, what remains for me?
Thaalaattum pillai manam
A childlike heart that sings lullabies,
Vellai adhuvaa thollai
Is its pure innocence the source of trouble?
Kattil perithaa thottil perithaa
Is the marital bed greater, or is the cradle greater?
Endraal padhilthaan enna
If asked, what indeed is the answer?
Yaengum deivam angae
The longing deity is over there,
Thoongum selvam ingae
The sleeping treasure is over here.
Oru niyaayam oru dharmam
There is one justice and one righteousness,
Idaiyil naan engae….
Trapped in between, where do I stand?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from 'Sonnathu Neethana' (1978) expresses the overwhelming emotional dilemma of a woman caught in a tug-of-war between two sacred relationships—her devotion to her husband and her instinctual love for her child. Describing herself as torn between two righteous paths ('niyaayam' and 'dharmam'), she questions her own place and purpose amidst conflicting duties. Through vivid imagery, she compares her suffering to a fish hooked on both sides and a heart navigating a flood of tears. She questions whether her wifely obligations (symbolized by the 'thaali' and 'kattil') or her maternal duties (symbolized by 'thaaimai' and 'thottil') hold greater priority. Vani Jairam's soul-stirring vocal rendition combined with Ilaiyaraaja's deeply empathetic musical arrangement captures the agony of an innocent soul searching for light and answers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Yaengum deivam angae / Thoongum selvam ingae”
The second consonant 'ng' (ங்) matches in 'Yaengum' and 'Thoongum'.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Yaengum deivam angae / Thoongum selvam ingae”
The lines end with rhyming words 'angae' (there) and 'ingae' (here).
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thoondilo irandu pakkam, thudikkavo meenai vaiththaan”
Her tragic situation is metaphorically compared to a fish caught on a hook attached at both ends, writhing in helpless pain.
Symbolism & Contrast (Muran)
“Kattil perithaa thottil perithaa”
'Kattil' (marital bed) symbolizes conjugal bond/wifely duty, while 'Thottil' (cradle) symbolizes maternal bond/childcare, posing a philosophical contrast.
Monai (Initial Rhyme)
“Thaaliyum nilaikka vendum / Thaaimaiyum vaazhvendum”
Both lines start with the 'Thaa' (தா) sound.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and penned by the acclaimed poet Pulamaipithan, 'Yaengum Deivam Angae' is revered for its emotional depth and thought-provoking lyricism. The line 'Kattil perithaa thottil perithaa' (Is the bed greater or the cradle greater?) became a famous pop-culture idiom in Tamil literature and cinema to describe the universal conflict between marital life and motherhood. Vani Jairam's delicate and expressive vocals earned high praise for conveying deep vulnerability.
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