Ethanai Manithargal
From Needhikku Thalaivanangu · 1976
- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Needhikku Thalaivanangu1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae | How many people are there in this world! |
| Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae | Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart! |
| Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae | How many people are there in this world! |
| Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae | Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart! |
| Ezhaiyin urakkangal paadhaiyilae | The sleep of the poor is out on the open streets, |
| Andha maaligai mayakkangal bodhaiyilae | While the illusions of mansions are drowned in intoxication. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae | How many people are there in this world! |
| Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae | Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart! |
| Male | |
| Ettadi mannukku pogum varai | Until reaching the final plot of earth, |
| Indha karpanai oorvala vaazhkkaiyilae | In this life that moves like an imaginary procession, |
| Yaaro oruvan thottamittaan | Someone planted the garden, |
| Adhil yaaro palanai anubavithaar | And someone else reaped its fruits! |
| Adhil yaaro palanai anubavithaar | And someone else reaped its fruits! |
| Male | |
| Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae | How many people are there in this world! |
| Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae | Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart! |
| Male | |
| Thaayinai kadavul yena ninaithaan | He considered his mother as God, |
| Ivan thaai madi kovil yena valarndhaan | He grew up considering his mother's lap as a sacred temple. |
| Kovilai pirindhae varum podhum | Even when parted from that physical temple, |
| Mana kovilil thaai thaan vaazhugindraal | Mother still lives inside the temple of his heart. |
| Mana kovilil thaai thaan vaazhugindraal | Mother still lives inside the temple of his heart. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae | How many people are there in this world! |
| Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae | Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart! |
| Male | |
| Pakkatthil thirudan vizhithiruppaan | The thief nearby remains wide awake, |
| Nalla kattatthil avan thaan agappaduvaan | Yet he is caught only when his time comes. |
| Male | |
| Thookkamum thunbamum thodarvadhundu | Sleep and sorrow continue to follow life, |
| Indha thodar kadhai oru naal mudivadhundu | This continuous story will surely come to an end one day. |
| Indha thodar kadhai oru naal mudivadhundu | This continuous story will surely come to an end one day. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae | How many people are there in this world! |
| Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae | Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart! |
| Ezhaiyin urakkangal paadhaiyilae | The sleep of the poor is out on the open streets, |
| Andha maaligai mayakkangal bodhaiyilae | While the illusions of mansions are drowned in intoxication. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae | How many people are there in this world! |
| Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae | Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart! |
எத்தனை மனிதர்கள் உலகத்திலே
அம்மா எத்தனை உலகங்கள் இதயத்திலே
எத்தனை மனிதர்கள் உலகத்திலே
அம்மா எத்தனை உலகங்கள் இதயத்திலே
ஏழையின் உறக்கங்கள் பாதையிலே
அந்த மாளிகை மயக்கங்கள் போதையிலே.....
How many people are there in this world!
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
How many people are there in this world!
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
The sleep of the poor is out on the open streets,
While the illusions of mansions are drowned in intoxication.
எத்தனை மனிதர்கள் உலகத்திலே
அம்மா எத்தனை உலகங்கள் இதயத்திலே
How many people are there in this world!
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
எட்டடி மண்ணுக்குப் போகும்வரை
இந்தக் கற்பனை ஊர்வல வாழ்க்கையிலே
யாரோ ஒருவன் தோட்டமிட்டான்
அதில் யாரோ பலனை அனுபவித்தார்
அதில் யாரோ பலனை அனுபவித்தார்....
Until reaching the final plot of earth,
In this life that moves like an imaginary procession,
Someone planted the garden,
And someone else reaped its fruits!
And someone else reaped its fruits!
எத்தனை மனிதர்கள் உலகத்திலே
அம்மா எத்தனை உலகங்கள் இதயத்திலே
How many people are there in this world!
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
தாயினைக் கடவுள் என நினைத்தான்
இவன் தாய் மடி கோவில் என வளர்ந்தான்
கோவிலைப் பிரிந்தே வரும்போதும்
மனக் கோவிலில் தாய்தான் வாழுகின்றாள்
மனக் கோவிலில் தாய் தான் வாழுகின்றாள்.......
He considered his mother as God,
He grew up considering his mother's lap as a sacred temple.
Even when parted from that physical temple,
Mother still lives inside the temple of his heart.
Mother still lives inside the temple of his heart.
எத்தனை மனிதர்கள் உலகத்திலே
அம்மா எத்தனை உலகங்கள் இதயத்திலே
How many people are there in this world!
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
பக்கத்தில் திருடன் விழித்திருப்பான்
நல்ல கட்டத்தில் அவன்தான் அகப்படுவான்
The thief nearby remains wide awake,
Yet he is caught only when his time comes.
தூக்கமும் துன்பமும் தொடர்வதுண்டு
இந்தத் தொடர்கதை ஒரு நாள் முடிவதுண்டு
இந்தத் தொடர்கதை ஒரு நாள் முடிவதுண்டு....
Sleep and sorrow continue to follow life,
This continuous story will surely come to an end one day.
This continuous story will surely come to an end one day.
எத்தனை மனிதர்கள் உலகத்திலே
அம்மா எத்தனை உலகங்கள் இதயத்திலே
ஏழையின் உறக்கங்கள் பாதையிலே
அந்த மாளிகை மயக்கங்கள் போதையிலே.....
How many people are there in this world!
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
The sleep of the poor is out on the open streets,
While the illusions of mansions are drowned in intoxication.
எத்தனை மனிதர்கள் உலகத்திலே
அம்மா எத்தனை உலகங்கள் இதயத்திலே
How many people are there in this world!
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae
How many people are there in this world!
Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae
How many people are there in this world!
Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
Ezhaiyin urakkangal paadhaiyilae
The sleep of the poor is out on the open streets,
Andha maaligai mayakkangal bodhaiyilae
While the illusions of mansions are drowned in intoxication.
Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae
How many people are there in this world!
Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
Ettadi mannukku pogum varai
Until reaching the final plot of earth,
Indha karpanai oorvala vaazhkkaiyilae
In this life that moves like an imaginary procession,
Yaaro oruvan thottamittaan
Someone planted the garden,
Adhil yaaro palanai anubavithaar
And someone else reaped its fruits!
Adhil yaaro palanai anubavithaar
And someone else reaped its fruits!
Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae
How many people are there in this world!
Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
Thaayinai kadavul yena ninaithaan
He considered his mother as God,
Ivan thaai madi kovil yena valarndhaan
He grew up considering his mother's lap as a sacred temple.
Kovilai pirindhae varum podhum
Even when parted from that physical temple,
Mana kovilil thaai thaan vaazhugindraal
Mother still lives inside the temple of his heart.
Mana kovilil thaai thaan vaazhugindraal
Mother still lives inside the temple of his heart.
Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae
How many people are there in this world!
Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
Pakkatthil thirudan vizhithiruppaan
The thief nearby remains wide awake,
Nalla kattatthil avan thaan agappaduvaan
Yet he is caught only when his time comes.
Thookkamum thunbamum thodarvadhundu
Sleep and sorrow continue to follow life,
Indha thodar kadhai oru naal mudivadhundu
This continuous story will surely come to an end one day.
Indha thodar kadhai oru naal mudivadhundu
This continuous story will surely come to an end one day.
Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae
How many people are there in this world!
Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
Ezhaiyin urakkangal paadhaiyilae
The sleep of the poor is out on the open streets,
Andha maaligai mayakkangal bodhaiyilae
While the illusions of mansions are drowned in intoxication.
Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae
How many people are there in this world!
Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae
Oh Mother, how many worlds exist within a human heart!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song reflects on the social disparities, internal complexities, and transient nature of human life. It contrasts the harsh realities of the poor sleeping on streets with the intoxicated luxury of the wealthy residing in mansions. The song emphasizes how human desires, devotion to one's mother, injustice, and destiny intertw, reminding us that life is ultimately an impermanent journey that concludes in the earth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Edhir-sol)
“Ezhaiyin urakkangal paadhaiyilae / Andha maaligai mayakkangal bodhaiyilae”
Contrasts the sleeping place of the poor on the streets with the intoxicated luxury in mansions.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ivan thaai madi kovil yena valarndhaan”
Compares the mother's lap to a divine temple ('thaai madi kovil') and life to an imaginary procession ('karpanai oorvala vaazhkkai').
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Ethanai manidhargal ulagathilae / Ammaa ethanai ulagangal idhayathilae”
Rhyming of the second consonant in consecutive lines (Ethanai / Ammaa, Pakkatthil / Nalla).
Did you know?
Trivia
This song belongs to the 1976 Tamil movie 'Needhikku Thalaivanangu' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan. Poet Na. Kamarasan wrote the lyrics, embedding deep philosophical thoughts suited for MGR's iconic screen persona.
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