Aandavane Nee Irunthaa
From Paasa Deepam · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Paasa Deepam1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aandavanae nee irunthaa sollu | O God, tell me if you exist |
| Silar arivaiyellaam kedukuthadaa kallu | Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend |
| Maandavanum kudithavanum ondru | A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same |
| Silar mandaiyilae yaeralaiyae indru | This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today |
| Male | |
| Thaali kodiyai viththu | Selling even the wife's sacred wedding thread |
| Thanni podum manithanukku | To a man who indulges in drinking alcohol |
| Santhosam ethanai naal solladaa | Tell me, how many days will such happiness last? |
| Un thalaiyezhuththu istam pola seiyada | It is your fate, do as you please |
| Male | |
| Kallai kudithavargal | Those who drink alcohol |
| Nanjai undorendru | Are considered equal to those who have consumed poison |
| Valluvanaar solli | Sage Valluvar has stated this |
| Vaiththaar kuralilae | And recorded it in his Thirukkural |
| Male | |
| Sonnaalum purivathillai | Even when explained, they do not understand |
| Sontha puthi yaedhumillai | They possess no wisdom or intellect of their own |
| Pattaalthaan thelivu | Only after suffering consequences will clarity |
| Varum arivilae | Finally dawn upon their intellect |
| Male | |
| Aandavanae nee irunthaa sollu | O God, tell me if you exist |
| Silar arivaiyellaam kedukuthadaa kallu | Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend |
| Maandavanum kudithavanum ondru | A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same |
| Silar mandaiyilae yaeralaiyae indru | This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today |
| Male | |
| Naanum kudithirukkaen | I too have consumed alcohol in the past |
| Kudipporai paarththirukkaen | I have observed those who drink |
| Nalla puthi varuvathillai kudiyilae | Good wisdom never comes through alcohol addiction |
| Oru naai kooda mathippathillai theruvilae | Even a stray dog does not respect a drunkard on the street |
| Male | |
| Ooril nallavanaai pereduthu paaru | Try earning a good reputation as a righteous person in town |
| Ulloora bodhai varum pugazhilae | An inner intoxication arises from that genuine fame |
| Paaraattu ketkaiyilae thalai varaikkum yaerum | When listening to praise, that high rises all the way to the head |
| Panpaana bodhaiyillai kudiyillae | There is no such noble intoxication in drinking alcohol |
| Male | |
| Aandavanae nee irunthaa sollu | O God, tell me if you exist |
| Silar arivaiyellaam kedukuthadaa kallu | Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend |
| Maandavanum kudithavanum ondru | A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same |
| Silar mandaiyilae yaeralaiyae indru | This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today |
ஆண்டவனே நீ இருந்தா சொல்லு
சிலர் அறிவையெல்லாம் கெடுக்குதடா கள்ளு
மாண்டவனும் குடித்தவனும் ஒன்று
சிலர் மண்டையிலே ஏறலையே இன்று
O God, tell me if you exist
Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend
A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same
This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today
தாலிக் கொடியை வித்து
தண்ணி போடும் மனிதனுக்கு
சந்தோசம் எத்தனை நாள் சொல்லடா
உன் தலையெழுத்து இஷ்டம் போல செய்யடா
Selling even the wife's sacred wedding thread
To a man who indulges in drinking alcohol
Tell me, how many days will such happiness last?
It is your fate, do as you please
கள்ளைக் குடித்தவர்கள்
நஞ்சை உண்டோரென்று
வள்ளுவனார் சொல்லி
வைத்தார் குறளிலே
Those who drink alcohol
Are considered equal to those who have consumed poison
Sage Valluvar has stated this
And recorded it in his Thirukkural
சொன்னாலும் புரிவதில்லை
சொந்த புத்தி ஏதுமில்லை
பட்டால்தான் தெளிவு
வரும் அறிவிலே........
Even when explained, they do not understand
They possess no wisdom or intellect of their own
Only after suffering consequences will clarity
Finally dawn upon their intellect
ஆண்டவனே நீ இருந்தா சொல்லு
சிலர் அறிவையெல்லாம் கெடுக்குதடா கள்ளு
மாண்டவனும் குடித்தவனும் ஒன்று
சிலர் மண்டையிலே ஏறலையே இன்று
O God, tell me if you exist
Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend
A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same
This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today
நானும் குடித்திருக்கேன்
குடிப்போரை பார்த்திருக்கேன்
நல்ல புத்தி வருவதில்லை குடியிலே
ஒரு நாய் கூட மதிப்பதில்லை தெருவிலே
I too have consumed alcohol in the past
I have observed those who drink
Good wisdom never comes through alcohol addiction
Even a stray dog does not respect a drunkard on the street
ஊரில் நல்லவனாய் பேரெடுத்து பாரு
உள்ளூர போதை வரும் புகழிலே
பாராட்டு கேட்கையிலே தலை வரைக்கும் ஏறும்
பண்பான போதையில்லை குடியிலே....
Try earning a good reputation as a righteous person in town
An inner intoxication arises from that genuine fame
When listening to praise, that high rises all the way to the head
There is no such noble intoxication in drinking alcohol
ஆண்டவனே நீ இருந்தா சொல்லு
சிலர் அறிவையெல்லாம் கெடுக்குதடா கள்ளு
மாண்டவனும் குடித்தவனும் ஒன்று
சிலர் மண்டையிலே ஏறலையே இன்று
O God, tell me if you exist
Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend
A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same
This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today
Aandavanae nee irunthaa sollu
O God, tell me if you exist
Silar arivaiyellaam kedukuthadaa kallu
Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend
Maandavanum kudithavanum ondru
A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same
Silar mandaiyilae yaeralaiyae indru
This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today
Thaali kodiyai viththu
Selling even the wife's sacred wedding thread
Thanni podum manithanukku
To a man who indulges in drinking alcohol
Santhosam ethanai naal solladaa
Tell me, how many days will such happiness last?
Un thalaiyezhuththu istam pola seiyada
It is your fate, do as you please
Kallai kudithavargal
Those who drink alcohol
Nanjai undorendru
Are considered equal to those who have consumed poison
Valluvanaar solli
Sage Valluvar has stated this
Vaiththaar kuralilae
And recorded it in his Thirukkural
Sonnaalum purivathillai
Even when explained, they do not understand
Sontha puthi yaedhumillai
They possess no wisdom or intellect of their own
Pattaalthaan thelivu
Only after suffering consequences will clarity
Varum arivilae
Finally dawn upon their intellect
Aandavanae nee irunthaa sollu
O God, tell me if you exist
Silar arivaiyellaam kedukuthadaa kallu
Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend
Maandavanum kudithavanum ondru
A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same
Silar mandaiyilae yaeralaiyae indru
This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today
Naanum kudithirukkaen
I too have consumed alcohol in the past
Kudipporai paarththirukkaen
I have observed those who drink
Nalla puthi varuvathillai kudiyilae
Good wisdom never comes through alcohol addiction
Oru naai kooda mathippathillai theruvilae
Even a stray dog does not respect a drunkard on the street
Ooril nallavanaai pereduthu paaru
Try earning a good reputation as a righteous person in town
Ulloora bodhai varum pugazhilae
An inner intoxication arises from that genuine fame
Paaraattu ketkaiyilae thalai varaikkum yaerum
When listening to praise, that high rises all the way to the head
Panpaana bodhaiyillai kudiyillae
There is no such noble intoxication in drinking alcohol
Aandavanae nee irunthaa sollu
O God, tell me if you exist
Silar arivaiyellaam kedukuthadaa kallu
Toddy spoils the wisdom of some people, my friend
Maandavanum kudithavanum ondru
A dead person and a drunkard are one and the same
Silar mandaiyilae yaeralaiyae indru
This truth hasn't entered the heads of some today
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from Paasa Deepam (1973), written by Kannadasan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan under M. S. Viswanathan's musical composition, delivers a powerful message against alcoholism. The protagonist questions God about human folly, expressing anguish over how liquor destroys a person's intellect and ruins families, even driving men to sell their wives' sacred mangalsutra. Citing Sage Valluvar's ancient wisdom from the Thirukkural—which equates liquor drinkers to poison consumers—the song laments that people rarely learn until personal tragedy strikes. Kannadasan skillfully contrasts the destructive, shameful high of liquor with the refined, noble intoxication derived from earning genuine respect and praise through good deeds, concluding that virtue brings true joy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Classical Allusion / Intertextuality
“Kallai kudithavargal Nanjai undorendru Valluvanaar solli Vaiththaar kuralilae”
Refers directly to Thiruvalluvar and his Thirukkural (specifically Kural 922, 'Kallunnoor nanjunnoor...'), reinforcing moral philosophy using ancient Tamil literature.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Aandavanae nee irunthaa sollu / Maandavanum kudithavanum ondru”
Tamil poetic convention where the second letter of consecutive lines share harmony (nd in Aandavanae / Maandavanum).
Antithesis / Contrast
“Ulloora bodhai varum pugazhilae / Panpaana bodhaiyillai kudiyillae”
Contrasts the base, disrespectful intoxication of alcohol ('kudiyillae') with the elevated, noble high derived from earned respect and fame ('pugazhilae').
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist Kannadasan was well known for weaving his own personal life experiences and classic Tamil literature into film songs. In this track, he adapts Thirukkural Chapter 93 (Kallunnamai / Abstaining from Liquor) to address social themes, delivering moral lessons in simple, conversational Tamil that resonated deeply with everyday audiences.
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