Avana Ivana
From Maharasan · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Maharasan1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Avanaa ivanaa | Is it him or is it that guy? |
| Theriyaadhu | Don't know. |
| Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu | Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know. |
| Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu | Is it that or is it this, I don't understand. |
| Njaana thangam njaana thangamae | Oh wise gold, oh wise gold! |
| Indha rendil yedhu sokka thangamae | Out of these two, which one is pure gold? |
| Ada maanagettu eenangettadhae | Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing! |
| Chedi rendil ondru yaaro andru | One of these two plants back then, someone... |
| Thittam pottu nattadhae | Planted with a plan! |
| Male | |
| Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu | Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know. |
| Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu | Is it that or is it this, I don't understand. |
| Male | |
| Vittathula kayiru katti | Tie a rope to the ceiling beam, |
| Thongi vidu dhairiyamaa | Hang yourself courageously! |
| Un weight nooru kilo | Your weight is a hundred kilos, |
| Vittam unna thaangidumaa | Will the ceiling beam even hold you? |
| Thandavaalam mela padu poi vidum usuru | Lie down on the railway tracks, your life will leave. |
| Namba ooru titthukku endha rail varudhu | Which train comes to our town's harbor anyway? |
| Sattunu aala kollum cyanide irukku | There is cyanide that instantly kills a person, |
| Yaar yaaro vaangi thinnu rate yaeri kidakku | So many people bought and consumed it that its price went up! |
| Illaatti pallavanil poiyaa | Otherwise, go travel on a Pallavan bus, man! |
| Eppodhum break down thaan enna seiva govindhaa | It's always broken down, what will you do, Govindha! |
| Male | |
| Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu | Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know. |
| Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu | Is it that or is it this, I don't understand. |
| Njaana thangam njaana thangamae | Oh wise gold, oh wise gold! |
| Indha rendil yedhu sokka thangamae | Out of these two, which one is pure gold? |
| Ada maanagettu eenangettadhae | Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing! |
| Chedi rendil ondru yaaro andru | One of these two plants back then, someone... |
| Thittam pottu nattadhae | Planted with a plan! |
| Male | |
| Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu | Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know. |
| Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu | Is it that or is it this, I don't understand. |
| Male | |
| Innoruthan maganukkingae | Here, for another man's son, |
| Unnudaiya intialaa | Is your initial given? |
| Appanennum pattaa mattum | Only the title of fatherhood, |
| Unnudaiya peyarinilaa | Is attached to your name! |
| Innamum yaeiyaa ingae iduppula vaetti | Why do you still wear a veshti around your waist, sir? |
| Pondaatti vachupputtaa unakkoru potti | Your wife has taken a lover, creating competition for you! |
| Pilot premnathai pola paadidu paattu | Sing a song like Pilot Premnath, |
| Who is the black sheep endru kelviya kettu | Asking the question 'Who is the black sheep?' |
| Saareeram romba katti pochu | My voice has become too strained, |
| Unna naan paada cholli eppadi ketpaen govindhaa | How can I ask you to sing? Govindha! |
| Male | |
| Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu | Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know. |
| Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu | Is it that or is it this, I don't understand. |
| Njaana thangam njaana thangamae | Oh wise gold, oh wise gold! |
| Indha rendil yedhu sokka thangamae | Out of these two, which one is pure gold? |
| Ada maanagettu eenangettadhae | Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing! |
| Chedi rendil ondru yaaro andru | One of these two plants back then, someone... |
| Thittam pottu nattadhae | Planted with a plan! |
| Male | |
| Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu | Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know. |
| Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu | Is it that or is it this, I don't understand. |
அவனா இவனா
தெரியாது
அவனா இவனா தெரியாது
அதுவோ இதுவோ புரியாது
ஞானத் தங்கம் ஞானத் தங்கமே
இந்த ரெண்டில் எது சொக்கத் தங்கமே
அட மானங்கெட்டு ஈனங்கெட்டதே
செடி ரெண்டில் ஒன்று யாரோ அன்று
திட்டம் போட்டு நட்டதே
Is it him or is it that guy?
Don't know.
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Oh wise gold, oh wise gold!
Out of these two, which one is pure gold?
Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing!
One of these two plants back then, someone...
Planted with a plan!
அவனா இவனா தெரியாது
அதுவோ இதுவோ புரியாது
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
விட்டத்துல கயிறு கட்டி
தொங்கி விடு தைரியமா
உன் வெயிட்டு நூறு கிலோ
விட்டம் உன்ன தாங்கிடுமா
தண்டவாளம் மேல படு போய் விடும் உசுரு
நம்ப ஊரு டையத்துக்கு எந்த ரயில் வருது
சட்டுனு ஆள கொல்லும் சைனடு இருக்கு
யார் யாரோ வாங்கித் தின்னு ரேட்டு ஏறிக் கிடக்கு
இல்லாட்டி பல்லவனில் போய்யா
எப்போதும் ப்ரேக் டவுன் தான் என்ன செய்வேன் கோவிந்தா
Tie a rope to the ceiling beam,
Hang yourself courageously!
Your weight is a hundred kilos,
Will the ceiling beam even hold you?
Lie down on the railway tracks, your life will leave.
Which train comes to our town's harbor anyway?
There is cyanide that instantly kills a person,
So many people bought and consumed it that its price went up!
Otherwise, go travel on a Pallavan bus, man!
It's always broken down, what will you do, Govindha!
அவனா இவனா தெரியாது
அதுவோ இதுவோ புரியாது
ஞானத் தங்கம் ஞானத் தங்கமே
இந்த ரெண்டில் எது சொக்கத் தங்கமே
அட மானங்கெட்டு ஈனங்கெட்டதே
செடி ரெண்டில் ஒன்று யாரோ அன்று
திட்டம் போட்டு நட்டதே
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Oh wise gold, oh wise gold!
Out of these two, which one is pure gold?
Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing!
One of these two plants back then, someone...
Planted with a plan!
அவனா இவனா தெரியாது
அதுவோ இதுவோ புரியாது
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
இன்னொருத்தன் மகனுக்கிங்கே
உன்னுடைய இன்ஷியலா
அப்பனென்னும் பட்டா மட்டும்
உன்னுடைய பெயரினிலா
இன்னமும் ஏய்யா இங்கே இடுப்புல வேட்டி
பொண்டாட்டி வச்சுப்புட்டா உனக்கொரு போட்டி
பைலட்டு பிரேம்னாத்தைப் போல் பாடிடு பாட்டு
ஹூ ஈஸ் த பிளாக் ஷீப் என்று கேள்வியக் கேட்டு
சாரீரம் ரொம்பக் கட்டிப் போச்சு
உன்ன நான் பாட சொல்லி எப்படி கேட்பேன் கோவிந்தா
Here, for another man's son,
Is your initial given?
Only the title of fatherhood,
Is attached to your name!
Why do you still wear a veshti around your waist, sir?
Your wife has taken a lover, creating competition for you!
Sing a song like Pilot Premnath,
Asking the question 'Who is the black sheep?'
My voice has become too strained,
How can I ask you to sing? Govindha!
அவனா இவனா தெரியாது
அதுவோ இதுவோ புரியாது
ஞானத் தங்கம் ஞானத் தங்கமே
இந்த ரெண்டில் எது சொக்கத் தங்கமே
அட மானங்கெட்டு ஈனங்கெட்டதே
செடி ரெண்டில் ஒன்று யாரோ அன்று
திட்டம் போட்டு நட்டதே
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Oh wise gold, oh wise gold!
Out of these two, which one is pure gold?
Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing!
One of these two plants back then, someone...
Planted with a plan!
அவனா இவனா தெரியாது
அதுவோ இதுவோ புரியாது
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Avanaa ivanaa
Is it him or is it that guy?
Theriyaadhu
Don't know.
Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Njaana thangam njaana thangamae
Oh wise gold, oh wise gold!
Indha rendil yedhu sokka thangamae
Out of these two, which one is pure gold?
Ada maanagettu eenangettadhae
Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing!
Chedi rendil ondru yaaro andru
One of these two plants back then, someone...
Thittam pottu nattadhae
Planted with a plan!
Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Vittathula kayiru katti
Tie a rope to the ceiling beam,
Thongi vidu dhairiyamaa
Hang yourself courageously!
Un weight nooru kilo
Your weight is a hundred kilos,
Vittam unna thaangidumaa
Will the ceiling beam even hold you?
Thandavaalam mela padu poi vidum usuru
Lie down on the railway tracks, your life will leave.
Namba ooru titthukku endha rail varudhu
Which train comes to our town's harbor anyway?
Sattunu aala kollum cyanide irukku
There is cyanide that instantly kills a person,
Yaar yaaro vaangi thinnu rate yaeri kidakku
So many people bought and consumed it that its price went up!
Illaatti pallavanil poiyaa
Otherwise, go travel on a Pallavan bus, man!
Eppodhum break down thaan enna seiva govindhaa
It's always broken down, what will you do, Govindha!
Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Njaana thangam njaana thangamae
Oh wise gold, oh wise gold!
Indha rendil yedhu sokka thangamae
Out of these two, which one is pure gold?
Ada maanagettu eenangettadhae
Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing!
Chedi rendil ondru yaaro andru
One of these two plants back then, someone...
Thittam pottu nattadhae
Planted with a plan!
Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Innoruthan maganukkingae
Here, for another man's son,
Unnudaiya intialaa
Is your initial given?
Appanennum pattaa mattum
Only the title of fatherhood,
Unnudaiya peyarinilaa
Is attached to your name!
Innamum yaeiyaa ingae iduppula vaetti
Why do you still wear a veshti around your waist, sir?
Pondaatti vachupputtaa unakkoru potti
Your wife has taken a lover, creating competition for you!
Pilot premnathai pola paadidu paattu
Sing a song like Pilot Premnath,
Who is the black sheep endru kelviya kettu
Asking the question 'Who is the black sheep?'
Saareeram romba katti pochu
My voice has become too strained,
Unna naan paada cholli eppadi ketpaen govindhaa
How can I ask you to sing? Govindha!
Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Njaana thangam njaana thangamae
Oh wise gold, oh wise gold!
Indha rendil yedhu sokka thangamae
Out of these two, which one is pure gold?
Ada maanagettu eenangettadhae
Oh, shameless and dishonorable thing!
Chedi rendil ondru yaaro andru
One of these two plants back then, someone...
Thittam pottu nattadhae
Planted with a plan!
Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu
Is it him or is it that guy, I don't know.
Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu
Is it that or is it this, I don't understand.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Avanaa Ivanaa' from the movie Maharasan (1993) is a satirical, lighthearted song pondering identity confusion, illegitimate lineage, and moral dilemmas. The track humorously questions paternity and identity between two individuals, calling out a past deceptive scheme while addressing the protagonist with playful mockery. In the verses, the lyrics sarcastically propose comedic methods of suicide—hanging, railway tracks, cyanide, and riding broken-down public buses—only to dismantle each idea with ridiculous practical flaws. Penned by Vaali, the song features rich local Chennai slangs, cultural commentary, and a direct nod to Sivaji Ganesan's classic movie Pilot Premnath.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Satire (Angadam)
“Illaatti pallavanil poiyaa / Eppodhum break down thaan enna seiva govindhaa”
The lyrics use humorous exaggeration to mock suicide options, such as mentioning that local buses are always broken down so even attempting suicide by bus would fail.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Chedi rendil ondru yaaro andru / Thittam pottu nattadhae”
Comparing people or offspring to plants that were planted as part of a calculated plot or deception.
Alliteration / Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)
“Avanaa ivanaa theriyaadhu / Adhuvo idhuvo puriyaadhu”
Use of matching second consonant sound ('dhu') in consecutive lines ('Theriyaadhu' / 'puriyaadhu').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song incorporates a popular pop-culture reference to the 1978 film 'Pilot Premnath' starring Sivaji Ganesan, specifically referencing its famous English-Tamil crossover song 'Who is the Black Sheep?'. Maharasan (1993), starring Kamal Haasan and Bhanupriya, featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Vaali.
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