Aattuviththaal Yaaroruvar
From Avandhan Manidhan · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Avandhan Manidhan1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aattuvithaal yar oruvar | If you make them dance, who is there |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not dance, Oh Krishna? |
| Aasai ennum thottililae | In the cradle of desire |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not swing, Oh Krishna? |
| Male | |
| Aattuvithaal yar oruvar | If you make them dance, who is there |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not dance, Oh Krishna? |
| Aasai ennum thottililae | In the cradle of desire |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not swing, Oh Krishna? |
| Nee nadathum naadagathil | In the drama that you direct |
| Nanum undu | I am also a part |
| Nee nadathum naadagathil | In the drama that you direct |
| Nanum undu | I am also a part |
| En nizhalil kooda anubavathil | Even in my reflection, through experience |
| Sogam undu | Sorrow exists |
| Pagaivargalai naanum velven | I can defeat my enemies |
| Arivinaalae | Using my intellect |
| Aanaal nanbaridam thotru vitten | But I lost to my friends |
| Paasathaalae | Out of pure affection |
| Nanbaridam thotru vitten paasathaalae | I lost to my friends out of affection |
| Male | |
| Aattuvithaal yar oruvar | If you make them dance, who is there |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not dance, Oh Krishna? |
| Aasai ennum thottililae | In the cradle of desire |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not swing, Oh Krishna? |
| Male | |
| Paanjaali unnidathil | Panchali asked of you |
| Saelai kettaal | A drape of garment |
| Andha paarthanavan unnidathil | That Arjuna asked of you |
| Geedhai kettaan | The wisdom of Gita |
| Naanirukkum nilaiyil unnai | In the state that I am in, from you |
| Enna kaetppen | What shall I ask? |
| Innum nanamai seidhu | A heart that keeps doing good |
| Thunbam vaangum | Even while receiving suffering in return |
| Ullam ketppen | That is the heart I ask for |
| Nanamai seidhu thunbam vaangum | Doing good and receiving suffering |
| Ullam ketppen | That is the heart I ask for |
| Male | |
| Aattuvithaal yar oruvar | If you make them dance, who is there |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not dance, Oh Krishna? |
| Aasai ennum thottililae | In the cradle of desire |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not swing, Oh Krishna? |
| Male | |
| Kadalalavu kidaithaalum | Even if I gain wealth as vast as the ocean |
| Mayanga maatten | I will not be dazzled |
| Adhu kaiyalavae aanaalum | Even if it shrinks to the size of a handful |
| Kalanga maatten | I will not be distressed |
| Ullathilae ulladhu thaan | What resides within the inner self alone is |
| Ulagam kannaa | The real world, Oh Krishna |
| Idhai unarndhu konden | Having realized this |
| Thunbam ellaam | All suffering |
| Vilagum kannaa | Will fade away, Oh Krishna |
| Unarndhu konden thunbam ellaam | Having realized this, all suffering |
| Vilagum kannaa | Will fade away, Oh Krishna |
| Male | |
| Aattuvithaal yar oruvar | If you make them dance, who is there |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not dance, Oh Krishna? |
| Aasai ennum thottililae | In the cradle of desire |
| Aadaadhaarae kannaa | Who will not swing, Oh Krishna? |
ஆட்டுவித்தால் யார் ஒருவர்
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
ஆசை என்னும் தொட்டிலிலே
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
If you make them dance, who is there
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
In the cradle of desire
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
ஆட்டுவித்தால் யார் ஒருவர்
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
ஆசை என்னும் தொட்டிலிலே
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
நீ நடத்தும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் உண்டு
நீ நடத்தும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் உண்டு
என் நிழலில் கூட அனுபவத்தில்
சோகம் உண்டு
பகைவர்களை நானும் வெல்வேன்
அறிவினாலே
ஆனால் நண்பரிடம் தோற்று விட்டேன்
பாசத்தாலே
நண்பரிடம் தோற்று விட்டேன் பாசத்தாலே
If you make them dance, who is there
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
In the cradle of desire
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
In the drama that you direct
I am also a part
In the drama that you direct
I am also a part
Even in my reflection, through experience
Sorrow exists
I can defeat my enemies
Using my intellect
But I lost to my friends
Out of pure affection
I lost to my friends out of affection
ஆட்டுவித்தால் யார் ஒருவர்
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
ஆசை என்னும் தொட்டிலிலே
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
If you make them dance, who is there
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
In the cradle of desire
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
பாஞ்சாலி உன்னிடத்தில்
சேலை கேட்டாள்
அந்த பார்த்தனவன் உன்னிடத்தில்
கீதை கேட்டான்
நானிருக்கும் நிலையில் உன்னை
என்ன கேட்பேன்
இன்னும் நன்மை செய்து
துன்பம் வாங்கும்
உள்ளம் கேட்பேன்
நன்மை செய்து துன்பம் வாங்கும்
உள்ளம் கேட்பேன்
Panchali asked of you
A drape of garment
That Arjuna asked of you
The wisdom of Gita
In the state that I am in, from you
What shall I ask?
A heart that keeps doing good
Even while receiving suffering in return
That is the heart I ask for
Doing good and receiving suffering
That is the heart I ask for
ஆட்டுவித்தால் யார் ஒருவர்
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
ஆசை என்னும் தொட்டிலிலே
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
If you make them dance, who is there
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
In the cradle of desire
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
கடலளவு கிடைத்தாலும்
மயங்க மாட்டேன்
அது கையளவே ஆனாலும்
கலங்க மாட்டேன்
உள்ளத்திலே உள்ளதுதான்
உலகம் கண்ணா
இதை உணர்ந்து கொண்டேன்
துன்பம் எல்லாம்
விலகும் கண்ணா
உணர்ந்து கொண்டேன் துன்பம் எல்லாம்
விலகும் கண்ணா
Even if I gain wealth as vast as the ocean
I will not be dazzled
Even if it shrinks to the size of a handful
I will not be distressed
What resides within the inner self alone is
The real world, Oh Krishna
Having realized this
All suffering
Will fade away, Oh Krishna
Having realized this, all suffering
Will fade away, Oh Krishna
ஆட்டுவித்தால் யார் ஒருவர்
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
ஆசை என்னும் தொட்டிலிலே
ஆடாதாரே கண்ணா
If you make them dance, who is there
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
In the cradle of desire
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
Aattuvithaal yar oruvar
If you make them dance, who is there
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
Aasai ennum thottililae
In the cradle of desire
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
Aattuvithaal yar oruvar
If you make them dance, who is there
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
Aasai ennum thottililae
In the cradle of desire
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
Nee nadathum naadagathil
In the drama that you direct
Nanum undu
I am also a part
Nee nadathum naadagathil
In the drama that you direct
Nanum undu
I am also a part
En nizhalil kooda anubavathil
Even in my reflection, through experience
Sogam undu
Sorrow exists
Pagaivargalai naanum velven
I can defeat my enemies
Arivinaalae
Using my intellect
Aanaal nanbaridam thotru vitten
But I lost to my friends
Paasathaalae
Out of pure affection
Nanbaridam thotru vitten paasathaalae
I lost to my friends out of affection
Aattuvithaal yar oruvar
If you make them dance, who is there
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
Aasai ennum thottililae
In the cradle of desire
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
Paanjaali unnidathil
Panchali asked of you
Saelai kettaal
A drape of garment
Andha paarthanavan unnidathil
That Arjuna asked of you
Geedhai kettaan
The wisdom of Gita
Naanirukkum nilaiyil unnai
In the state that I am in, from you
Enna kaetppen
What shall I ask?
Innum nanamai seidhu
A heart that keeps doing good
Thunbam vaangum
Even while receiving suffering in return
Ullam ketppen
That is the heart I ask for
Nanamai seidhu thunbam vaangum
Doing good and receiving suffering
Ullam ketppen
That is the heart I ask for
Aattuvithaal yar oruvar
If you make them dance, who is there
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
Aasai ennum thottililae
In the cradle of desire
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
Kadalalavu kidaithaalum
Even if I gain wealth as vast as the ocean
Mayanga maatten
I will not be dazzled
Adhu kaiyalavae aanaalum
Even if it shrinks to the size of a handful
Kalanga maatten
I will not be distressed
Ullathilae ulladhu thaan
What resides within the inner self alone is
Ulagam kannaa
The real world, Oh Krishna
Idhai unarndhu konden
Having realized this
Thunbam ellaam
All suffering
Vilagum kannaa
Will fade away, Oh Krishna
Unarndhu konden thunbam ellaam
Having realized this, all suffering
Vilagum kannaa
Will fade away, Oh Krishna
Aattuvithaal yar oruvar
If you make them dance, who is there
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not dance, Oh Krishna?
Aasai ennum thottililae
In the cradle of desire
Aadaadhaarae kannaa
Who will not swing, Oh Krishna?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Aattuvithaal Yar Oruvar is a philosophical masterpiece from the movie Avandhan Manidhan (1975), featuring lyrics by Kannadasan. The song explores the concept that human beings are mere puppets in the grand cosmic play directed by Lord Krishna, endlessly swinging in the cradle of desires. The narrator reflects on life's bitter ironies—how intellect enables one to defeat enemies, yet bond and affection make one vulnerable to betrayal by friends. Unlike traditional devotees who pray for material protection like Draupadi or spiritual wisdom like Arjuna, the speaker asks for something far more selfless: a resilient heart that continues to do good even when repaid with pain. Recognizing that true peace comes from equanimity—neither swayed by immense wealth nor troubled by sudden poverty—he realizes that the inner world of the mind defines reality, and understanding this truth dissolves all suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Aasai ennum thottililae”
Desire is metaphorically equated to a cradle ('thottil') in which human beings swing endlessly.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Pagaivargalai naanum velven arivinaalae / Aanaal nanbaridam thotru vitten paasathaalae”
Contrasts conquering enemies through intellect with surrendering/losing to loved ones through affection.
Hyperbole & Equanimity (Scale Imagery)
“Kadalalavu kidaithaalum mayanga maatten / Adhu kaiyalavae aanaalum kalanga maatten”
Uses extreme scales—'ocean size' (abundance) vs 'handful size' (scarcity)—to demonstrate mental balance regardless of material condition.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aattuvithaal yar oruvar / Aadaadhaarae kannaa”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'Aa' creating rhythmic poetic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic track from Avandhan Manidhan (1975) features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and vocals by T. M. Soundararajan (TMS), picturized on Sivaji Ganesan. Kannadasan wrote these deeply philosophical lines drawing from his personal life experiences of trust, betrayal, and financial hardship, interweaving Vedantic philosophies from the Bhagavad Gita into mainstream Tamil film lyrics.
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