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Aasai Mugam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Periya

From Aasai Mugam · 1965

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Aasai Mugam
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
31 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Innoruvar vedhanai
Ivargalukku vedikkai
Idhayamattra manidharukku
Idhuvellaam vaadikkai….ee….ee…
Eththanai periya manidhanukku
Eththanai siriya manam irukku
Eththanai periya manidhanukku
Eththanai siriya manam irukku
Eththanai siriya paravaikku
Eththanai siriya paravaikku
Eththanai periya arivirukku
Eththanai periya manidhanukku
Eththanai siriya manam irukku
Uyarndhavar enna
Thaazhndhavar enna
Udal mattumae karuppu
Avar udhiram endrum sivappu
Uyarndhavar enna
Thaazhndhavar enna
Udal mattumae karuppu
Avar udhiram endrum sivappu
Oru vazhi nadandhaar
Uyarndhavar aavaar
Oru vazhi nadandhaar
Uyarndhavar aavaar
Pala vazhi kadandhaar
Thaazhndhavar aavaar
Hmhmhm.. hmhmmmm….
Eththanai periya manidhanukku
Eththanai siriya manam irukku
Kozhiyai paaru
Kaalaiyil vizhikkum
Kuruviyai paaru
Sombalai pazhikkum
Kozhiyai paaru
Kaalaiyil vizhikkum
Kuruviyai paaru
Sombalai pazhikkum
Kaakkaiyai paaru
Koodi pizhaikkum
kaakkaiyai paaru
Koodi pizhaikkum
Nammaiyum paaru
Naadae sirikkum
Hmhmhm.. hmhmmmm….
Eththanai periya manidhanukku
Eththanai siriya manam irukku
Thanakkoru kolgai
Adharkkoru thalaivan
Thanakkoru paadhai
Adharkkoru payanam
Thanakkoru kolgai
Adharkkoru thalaivan
Thanakkoru paadhai
Adharkkoru payanam
Unakkena vendum
Unarndhidu thambi
Unakkena vendum
Unarndhidu thambi
Uzhaiththida vendum
Kaigalai nambi
Hmhmhm.. hmhmmmm….
Eththanai periya manidhanukku
Eththanai siriya manam irukku
Eththanai siriya paravaikku
Eththanai periya arivirukku
Eththanai periya manidhanukku
Eththanai siriya manam irukku…uu….
Another person's pain
is just entertainment to them.
For heartless people,
this is only a regular habit...
For such a big man,
how small his heart is!
For such a big man,
how small his heart is!
For such a tiny bird,
for such a tiny bird,
how great its wisdom is!
For such a big man,
how small his heart is!
Who is high,
and who is low?
Only the skin is dark,
but everyone's blood is always red.
Who is high,
and who is low?
Only the skin is dark,
but everyone's blood is always red.
The one who walks a righteous path
becomes noble.
The one who walks a righteous path
becomes noble.
The one who strays into crooked ways
falls low.
Mmhmm... Mmhmmm...
For such a big man,
how small his heart is!
Look at the rooster,
it wakes up at dawn.
Look at the sparrow,
it despises laziness.
Look at the rooster,
it wakes up at dawn.
Look at the sparrow,
it despises laziness.
Look at the crow,
it lives together sharing its food.
Look at the crow,
it lives together sharing its food.
Now look at us,
the whole world laughs at us.
Mmhmm... Mmhmmm...
For such a big man,
how small his heart is!
A principle of your own,
a leader to follow,
a clear path of your own,
and a journey along it.
A principle of your own,
a leader to follow,
a clear path of your own,
and a journey along it.
You need all these for yourself,
realize this, my brother!
You need all these for yourself,
realize this, my brother!
You must work hard,
trusting only your own hands.
Mmhmm... Mmhmmm...
For such a big man,
how small his heart is!
For such a tiny bird,
how great its wisdom is!
For such a big man,
how small his heart is!...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Eththanai Periya Manidhanukku is a deeply philosophical and reformative Tamil song from the 1965 film Aasai Mugam. Written by lyricist Vaali, the song critiques the selfishness, superficiality, and moral narrow-mindedness found among modern humans despite their elevated social standing or physical stature. It contrasts human pettiness with the innate wisdom and discipline seen in nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Ethirsol)

“Eththanai periya manidhanukku / Eththanai siriya manam irukku”

Contrasts the physical/social size of a man ('periya manidhan') with the smallness of his heart ('siriya manam').

Moral Allegory / Personification

“Kaakkaiyai paaru Koodi pizhaikkum”

Uses the natural habits of birds (rooster waking early, sparrow avoiding laziness, crows sharing food) to teach moral discipline to humans.

Emoni / Initial Rhyme (Monai)

“Kozhiyai paaru / Kaalaiyil vizhikkum / Kuruviyai paaru / Sombalai pazhikkum”

Repetition of initial phonemes and structural symmetry in consecutive lines for rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi starrer 'Aasai Mugam' (1965), this song was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and sung by T. M. Soundararajan (TMS). It served as an iconic 'idealistic propaganda' song characteristic of MGR's cinema, advocating hard work, social equality, and moral integrity.

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