Edhuda Vazhkkai
From Sathiyam Thavarathe · 1968
- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- C. N. Pandurangan
- Details
- Sathiyam Thavarathe1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Edhuda vaazhkai | What is life, my friend? |
| Edhuda vaazhkai | What is life, my friend? |
| Male | |
| Edhuda vaazhkai idhuva vaazhkai | What is life? Is this truly life? |
| Ennada vaazhkai ellamae seyarkai | What a life this is, where everything is artificial! |
| Edhuda vaazhkai | What is life, my friend? |
| Male | |
| Manidhan endra kootinilae | Inside this nest or cage called a human being, |
| Nee maraindhu vaazhum mirugamada | You are a wild beast living in hiding, my friend! |
| Manidhan endra kootinilae | Inside this nest or cage called a human being, |
| Nee maraindhu vaazhum mirugamada | You are a wild beast living in hiding, my friend! |
| Vaazhndha naalai kalithu vittaal | If you subtract the days you have already lived, |
| Ini vaazhum naatkkal konjamada | The remaining days left to live are so very few, my friend! |
| Vaazhum naatkkal konjamada | The remaining days left to live are so very few, my friend! |
| Edhuda vaazhkai | What is life, my friend? |
| Male | |
| Maedaiyaeri paesi vittu | After getting onto the stage and giving speeches, |
| Maedhai polae nadithu vittu | After acting like a wise scholar, |
| Maedaiyaeri paesi vittu | After getting onto the stage and giving speeches, |
| Maedhai polae nadithu vittu | After acting like a wise scholar, |
| Kollagaiyai maatri thirivadhu thaan | To wander about changing one's core principles, |
| Indraiya manidhanin latchiyama | Is that the grand ambition of modern man? |
| Idhu dhaan manidhanin latchanama | Is this really the noble character of a human being? |
| Edhuda vaazhkai | What is life, my friend? |
| Male | |
| Pirandhaan valarndhaan padithaan | He was born, he grew up, he got educated, |
| Manandhaan….. petrraan pillaigalai | He got married... he fathered children, |
| Paruvathai izhandhaan paavathai seidhaan | He lost his youth and committed sins, |
| Paavi manidhan udalai pirindhaan | And then the sinful man departed from his body! |
| Hooo ooooo | Hooo ooooo |
| Male | |
| Edhuda vaazhkai idhuva vaazhkai | What is life? Is this truly life? |
| Ennada vaazhkai ellamae seyarkai | What a life this is, where everything is artificial! |
| Edhuda vaazhkai | What is life, my friend? |
எதுடா வாழ்க்கை
எதுடா வாழ்க்கை
What is life, my friend?
What is life, my friend?
எதுடா வாழ்க்கை இதுவா வாழ்க்கை
என்னடா வாழ்க்கை எல்லாமே செயற்கை
எதுடா வாழ்க்கை.....
What is life? Is this truly life?
What a life this is, where everything is artificial!
What is life, my friend?
மனிதன் என்ற கூட்டினிலே நீ
மறைந்து வாழும் மிருகமடா
மனிதன் என்ற கூட்டினிலே நீ
மறைந்து வாழும் மிருகமடா
வாழ்ந்த நாளை கழித்து விட்டால்
இனி வாழும் நாட்கள் கொஞ்சமடா....
வாழும் நாட்கள் கொஞ்சமடா....
எதுடா வாழ்க்கை.....
Inside this nest or cage called a human being,
You are a wild beast living in hiding, my friend!
Inside this nest or cage called a human being,
You are a wild beast living in hiding, my friend!
If you subtract the days you have already lived,
The remaining days left to live are so very few, my friend!
The remaining days left to live are so very few, my friend!
What is life, my friend?
மேடையேறி பேசி விட்டு
மேதை போலே நடித்து விட்டு
மேடையேறி பேசி விட்டு
மேதை போலே நடித்து விட்டு
கொள்கையை மாற்றி திரிவதுதான்
இன்றைய மனிதனின் லட்சியமாம்
இதுதான் மனிதனின் லட்சணமா...
எதுடா வாழ்க்கை.....
After getting onto the stage and giving speeches,
After acting like a wise scholar,
After getting onto the stage and giving speeches,
After acting like a wise scholar,
To wander about changing one's core principles,
Is that the grand ambition of modern man?
Is this really the noble character of a human being?
What is life, my friend?
பிறந்தான் வளர்ந்தான் படித்தான் மணந்தான்
பெற்றான் பிள்ளைகளை
பருவத்தை இழந்தான் பாவத்தை செய்தான்
பாவி மனிதன் உடலை பிரிந்தான்..
ஓஒ...ஓ..
He was born, he grew up, he got educated,
He got married... he fathered children,
He lost his youth and committed sins,
And then the sinful man departed from his body!
Hooo ooooo
எதுடா வாழ்க்கை இதுவா வாழ்க்கை
என்னடா வாழ்க்கை எல்லாமே செயற்கை
எதுடா வாழ்க்கை.....
What is life? Is this truly life?
What a life this is, where everything is artificial!
What is life, my friend?
Edhuda vaazhkai
What is life, my friend?
Edhuda vaazhkai
What is life, my friend?
Edhuda vaazhkai idhuva vaazhkai
What is life? Is this truly life?
Ennada vaazhkai ellamae seyarkai
What a life this is, where everything is artificial!
Edhuda vaazhkai
What is life, my friend?
Manidhan endra kootinilae
Inside this nest or cage called a human being,
Nee maraindhu vaazhum mirugamada
You are a wild beast living in hiding, my friend!
Manidhan endra kootinilae
Inside this nest or cage called a human being,
Nee maraindhu vaazhum mirugamada
You are a wild beast living in hiding, my friend!
Vaazhndha naalai kalithu vittaal
If you subtract the days you have already lived,
Ini vaazhum naatkkal konjamada
The remaining days left to live are so very few, my friend!
Vaazhum naatkkal konjamada
The remaining days left to live are so very few, my friend!
Edhuda vaazhkai
What is life, my friend?
Maedaiyaeri paesi vittu
After getting onto the stage and giving speeches,
Maedhai polae nadithu vittu
After acting like a wise scholar,
Maedaiyaeri paesi vittu
After getting onto the stage and giving speeches,
Maedhai polae nadithu vittu
After acting like a wise scholar,
Kollagaiyai maatri thirivadhu thaan
To wander about changing one's core principles,
Indraiya manidhanin latchiyama
Is that the grand ambition of modern man?
Idhu dhaan manidhanin latchanama
Is this really the noble character of a human being?
Edhuda vaazhkai
What is life, my friend?
Pirandhaan valarndhaan padithaan
He was born, he grew up, he got educated,
Manandhaan….. petrraan pillaigalai
He got married... he fathered children,
Paruvathai izhandhaan paavathai seidhaan
He lost his youth and committed sins,
Paavi manidhan udalai pirindhaan
And then the sinful man departed from his body!
Hooo ooooo
Hooo ooooo
Edhuda vaazhkai idhuva vaazhkai
What is life? Is this truly life?
Ennada vaazhkai ellamae seyarkai
What a life this is, where everything is artificial!
Edhuda vaazhkai
What is life, my friend?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Edhuda Vaazhkai' is a introspective philosophical track from the 1968 Tamil film 'Sathiyam Thavarathe', featuring lyrics by Aalangudi Somu and music by C. N. Pandurangan. Expressed through the velvety voice of P. B. Sreenivas, the song critiques the shallow and artificial nature of modern human life, questioning what truly constitutes a meaningful existence. The lyricist highlights human hypocrisy, pointing out how people project wisdom on public stages while harboring animalistic deceit inside. By summarizing human life into a brief, routine cycle of birth, education, marriage, aging, sin, and death, the song serves as a stern reminder of life's brevity and urges moral awakening.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Manidhan endra kootinilae / Nee maraindhu vaazhum mirugamada”
Compares the human body to a nest or outer shell ('kootinilae') hiding an untamed wild beast ('mirugamada'), symbolizing internal corruption beneath a civilized exterior.
Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai / Ethugai)
“Maedaiyaeri paesi vittu / Maedhai polae nadithu vittu”
Uses matching initial sounds and rhythmic wordplay ('Maedaiyaeri' / 'Maedhai') to enhance the oral cadence and musicality of the commentary.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Nayam)
“Indraiya manidhanin latchiyama / Idhu dhaan manidhanin latchanama”
Asks thought-provoking rhetorical questions ('Idhu dhaan manidhanin latchanama') to challenge the audience to evaluate their integrity and principles.
Asyndeton / Narrative Progression
“Pirandhaan valarndhaan padithaan / Manandhaan….. petrraan pillaigalai”
Lists key human life milestones rapidly without conjunctions ('Pirandhaan valarndhaan padithaan...') to depict life as a mechanical, fleeting routine.
Did you know?
Trivia
Penning several acclaimed philosophical songs in 1960s Tamil cinema, lyricist Aalangudi Somu worked closely with composer C. N. Pandurangan for this track. Sung by P. B. Sreenivas, who was renowned for rendering moral-philosophical songs for various legendary Tamil screen icons.
Keep listening
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