Aayiram Per Varuvar
From Vazhikatti · 1965
- Lyricist
- M. K. Aathmanathan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ibrahim
- Details
- Vazhikatti1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aayiram per varuvar | A thousand people will come |
| Aayiram per poovar | A thousand people will go |
| Aanaalum oru silar thaan | Yet only a select few |
| Manidharaaga vaazhvaar | Live truly as human beings |
| Ohoo ohoo ohoo | Ohoo ohoo ohoo |
| Aayiram per varuvar | A thousand people will come |
| Aayiram per poovar | A thousand people will go |
| Aanaalum oru silar thaan | Yet only a select few |
| Manidharaaga vaazhvaar | Live truly as human beings |
| Aayiram per varuvar | A thousand people will come |
| Female | |
| {Kalviyinaal uyarndhavargal sarithiram | The history of those who elevated themselves through education |
| Kaalathaalum azhiyaadha saritharam} (2) | Is an eternal history untouched by time |
| Vallavarai arivulagam parattum | The world of intellectuals praises the capable |
| Vallavarai arivulagam parattum | The world of intellectuals praises the capable |
| Vaazhndha kadhai ulagathukku vazhi kattum | The story of their life guides the world |
| Avar vaazhndha kadhai | The story of how they lived |
| Ulagathirkkae vazhi kattum | Shows the path to the entire world |
| Female | |
| Aayiram per varuvar | A thousand people will come |
| Aayiram per poovar | A thousand people will go |
| Aanaalum oru silar thaan | Yet only a select few |
| Manidharaaga vaazhvaar | Live truly as human beings |
| Aayiram per varuvar | A thousand people will come |
| Female | |
| Perukkaaga nallavargal Vaazhvadhum illai | Good people do not live merely for fame |
| Perumaikaaga vaazhndhu vittu | Nor do they live for pride |
| Povadhum illai | And simply pass away |
| Oorukkaaga uzhaithavargal | Those who tirelessly worked for their society |
| Irappadhum illai | Never truly die |
| Oru naalum ulagam avarai | Not even for a single day will the world |
| Marappadhum illai | Ever forget them |
| Oru naalum ulagam avarai | Not even for a single day will the world |
| Marappadhum illai | Ever forget them |
| Female | |
| Aayiram per varuvar | A thousand people will come |
| Aayiram per poovar | A thousand people will go |
| Aanaalum oru silar thaan | Yet only a select few |
| Manidharaaga vaazhvaar | Live truly as human beings |
| Aayiram per varuvar | A thousand people will come |
| Female | |
| {Nattukkaaga vazhndhavarai vaazhthidum | The world praises those who lived for their nation |
| Nandri solla silaigal vaithu pottridum} (2) | Erecting statues to express gratitude and honor them |
| Avar kaattiyulla paadhaiyilae sendridum | It follows the path shown by them |
| Kaattiyulla paadhaiyilae sendridum | It follows the path shown by them |
| Kadavulaaga enni avarai vanangidum | Revering them as gods |
| Ulagam kadavulaaga enni avarai vanangidum | The world reveres them as gods |
| Female | |
| {Aayiram per varuvar | A thousand people will come |
| Aayiram per poovar | A thousand people will go |
| Aanaalum oru silar thaan | Yet only a select few |
| Manidharaaga vaazhvaar} (2) | Live truly as human beings |
| Aayiram per varuvara | A thousand people will come |
ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார்
ஆயிரம் பேர் போவார்
ஆனாலும் ஒரு சிலர்தான்
மனிதராக வாழ்வார்
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ ஓஹோ
ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார்
ஆயிரம் பேர் போவார்
ஆனாலும் ஒரு சிலர்தான்
மனிதராக வாழ்வார்
ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார்
A thousand people will come
A thousand people will go
Yet only a select few
Live truly as human beings
Ohoo ohoo ohoo
A thousand people will come
A thousand people will go
Yet only a select few
Live truly as human beings
A thousand people will come
{கல்வியினால் உயர்ந்தவர்கள் சரித்திரம்
காலத்தாலும் அழியாத சரித்திரம்} (2)
வல்லவரை அறிவுலகம் பாராட்டும்
வல்லவரை அறிவுலகம் பாராட்டும்
வாழ்ந்த கதை உலகத்துக்கு வழி காட்டும்
அவர் வாழ்ந்த கதை உலகத்துக்கே வழி காட்டும்
The history of those who elevated themselves through education
Is an eternal history untouched by time
The world of intellectuals praises the capable
The world of intellectuals praises the capable
The story of their life guides the world
The story of how they lived
Shows the path to the entire world
ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார்
ஆயிரம் பேர் போவார்
ஆனாலும் ஒரு சிலர்தான்
மனிதராக வாழ்வார்
ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார்
A thousand people will come
A thousand people will go
Yet only a select few
Live truly as human beings
A thousand people will come
பேருக்காக நல்லவர்கள் வாழ்வதுமில்லை
பெருமைக்காக வாழ்ந்து விட்டு போவதும் இல்லை
ஊருக்காக உழைத்தவர்கள் இறப்பதும் இல்லை
ஒருநாளும் உலகம் அவரை மறப்பதும் இல்லை
ஒருநாளும் உலகம் அவரை மறப்பதும் இல்லை
Good people do not live merely for fame
Nor do they live for pride
And simply pass away
Those who tirelessly worked for their society
Never truly die
Not even for a single day will the world
Ever forget them
Not even for a single day will the world
Ever forget them
ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார்
ஆயிரம் பேர் போவார்
ஆனாலும் ஒரு சிலர்தான்
மனிதராக வாழ்வார்
ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார்
A thousand people will come
A thousand people will go
Yet only a select few
Live truly as human beings
A thousand people will come
{நாட்டுக்காக வாழ்ந்தவரை வாழ்த்திடும்
நன்றி சொல்ல சிலைகள் வைத்து போற்றிடும்} (2)
அவர் காட்டியுள்ள பாதையிலே சென்றிடும்
காட்டியுள்ள பாதையிலே சென்றிடும்
கடவுளாக எண்ணி அவரை வணங்கிடும்
உலகம் கடவுளாக எண்ணி அவரை வணங்கிடும்
The world praises those who lived for their nation
Erecting statues to express gratitude and honor them
It follows the path shown by them
It follows the path shown by them
Revering them as gods
The world reveres them as gods
{ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார்
ஆயிரம் பேர் போவார்
ஆனாலும் ஒரு சிலர்தான்
மனிதராக வாழ்வார்} (2)
ஆயிரம் பேர் வருவார் ....
A thousand people will come
A thousand people will go
Yet only a select few
Live truly as human beings
A thousand people will come
Aayiram per varuvar
A thousand people will come
Aayiram per poovar
A thousand people will go
Aanaalum oru silar thaan
Yet only a select few
Manidharaaga vaazhvaar
Live truly as human beings
Ohoo ohoo ohoo
Ohoo ohoo ohoo
Aayiram per varuvar
A thousand people will come
Aayiram per poovar
A thousand people will go
Aanaalum oru silar thaan
Yet only a select few
Manidharaaga vaazhvaar
Live truly as human beings
Aayiram per varuvar
A thousand people will come
{Kalviyinaal uyarndhavargal sarithiram
The history of those who elevated themselves through education
Kaalathaalum azhiyaadha saritharam} (2)
Is an eternal history untouched by time
Vallavarai arivulagam parattum
The world of intellectuals praises the capable
Vallavarai arivulagam parattum
The world of intellectuals praises the capable
Vaazhndha kadhai ulagathukku vazhi kattum
The story of their life guides the world
Avar vaazhndha kadhai
The story of how they lived
Ulagathirkkae vazhi kattum
Shows the path to the entire world
Aayiram per varuvar
A thousand people will come
Aayiram per poovar
A thousand people will go
Aanaalum oru silar thaan
Yet only a select few
Manidharaaga vaazhvaar
Live truly as human beings
Aayiram per varuvar
A thousand people will come
Perukkaaga nallavargal Vaazhvadhum illai
Good people do not live merely for fame
Perumaikaaga vaazhndhu vittu
Nor do they live for pride
Povadhum illai
And simply pass away
Oorukkaaga uzhaithavargal
Those who tirelessly worked for their society
Irappadhum illai
Never truly die
Oru naalum ulagam avarai
Not even for a single day will the world
Marappadhum illai
Ever forget them
Oru naalum ulagam avarai
Not even for a single day will the world
Marappadhum illai
Ever forget them
Aayiram per varuvar
A thousand people will come
Aayiram per poovar
A thousand people will go
Aanaalum oru silar thaan
Yet only a select few
Manidharaaga vaazhvaar
Live truly as human beings
Aayiram per varuvar
A thousand people will come
{Nattukkaaga vazhndhavarai vaazhthidum
The world praises those who lived for their nation
Nandri solla silaigal vaithu pottridum} (2)
Erecting statues to express gratitude and honor them
Avar kaattiyulla paadhaiyilae sendridum
It follows the path shown by them
Kaattiyulla paadhaiyilae sendridum
It follows the path shown by them
Kadavulaaga enni avarai vanangidum
Revering them as gods
Ulagam kadavulaaga enni avarai vanangidum
The world reveres them as gods
{Aayiram per varuvar
A thousand people will come
Aayiram per poovar
A thousand people will go
Aanaalum oru silar thaan
Yet only a select few
Manidharaaga vaazhvaar} (2)
Live truly as human beings
Aayiram per varuvara
A thousand people will come
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Aayiram Per Varuvar' from the 1965 Tamil film 'Vazhikatti' offers a profound philosophical reflection on human purpose, legacy, and true righteousness. It emphasizes that while millions walk the earth and pass away into oblivion, only a rare few truly embody humanity by dedicating their lives to knowledge, selfless service, and the upliftment of society.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“{Kalviyinaal uyarndhavargal sarithiram / Kaalathaalum azhiyaadha saritharam}”
The second consonant 'yi' in 'Aayiram' rhymes with 'Aayiram' across lines, and 'Ka' in 'Kalviyinaal' / 'Kaalathaalum'.
Anaphora (Repetition of words at the beginning of lines)
“Aayiram per varuvar / Aayiram per poovar”
Repetition of 'Aayiram per' at the beginning of successive opening lines reinforces the massive scale of ordinary human life.
Antithesis (Contrast)
“Oorukkaaga uzhaithavargal / Irappadhum illai”
Contrasting the departure/death of ordinary people ('poovar') with the immortality of selfless souls ('Irappadhum illai').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ibrahim with lyrics by M. K. Aathmanathan, 'Aayiram Per Varuvar' remains a celebrated classic sung by P. Susheela. The title of the movie 'Vazhikatti' (Guide) reflects the central metaphor of the song, which portrays great selfless leaders as guides to humanity.
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