Iraivan Irukkindrana
From Avan Pithana · 1966
- Lyricist
- M. K. Aathmanathan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Parthasarathy
- Details
- Avan Pithana1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Iraivan irukkindraanaa… aa… | Does God exist? Ah... |
| Iraivan irukkindraanaa… | Does God exist? |
| Manidhan ketkiraan | Man asks. |
| Avan irundhaal ulagathilae | If He exists in this world, |
| Engae vaazhgiraan | Where does He live? |
| Engae vaazhgiraan | Where does He live? |
| Male | |
| Naan aathiganaanen | I became a believer, |
| Avan agappadavillai | He was not caught. |
| Naan naathiganaanen | I became an atheist, |
| Avan bayappadavillai | He was not afraid. |
| Female | |
| Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa… | Does man exist? Ah... |
| Manidhan irukkindraanaa… | Does man exist? |
| Iraivan ketkiraan | God asks. |
| Avan irundhaal ulagathilae | If he exists in this world, |
| Engae vaazhgiraan | Where does he live? |
| Engae vaazhgiraan | Where does he live? |
| Female | |
| Naan anbu kaattinen | I showed love, |
| Avan aatkollavaillai | He did not embrace me. |
| Indha thunbam theerkkavum | To cure this suffering, |
| Avan thunai varavillai | He did not come as support. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Kannilae urudhi illai | There is no resolve in the eyes, |
| Kaadhalukkor needhiyillai | There is no justice for love. |
| Oru naal irundha manam | The mind that existed one day, |
| Maru naal irukkavillai | Is not there the next day. |
| Kudisaiyil or manadhu | One mind in the hut, |
| Gopuratthil or manadhu | One mind in the temple tower. |
| Koodaadha serkkai ellaam | All improper unions, |
| Koodinaal pala manadhu | When joined, form many minds. |
| Female | |
| Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa… | Does man exist? Ah... |
| Male | |
| Paarppavan kurudanadi | The one who sees is blind, my dear; |
| Padippavan moodanadi | The one who learns is a fool, my dear; |
| Ulladhai solbavanae | The one who speaks the truth, |
| Ulagathil pithanadi | Is considered a madman in this world, my dear. |
| Neero kodhikkudhadi | Water is boiling, my dear; |
| Neruppo kulirudhadi | Fire is cold, my dear; |
| Venmaiyai karumai endru | Showing black as white, |
| Kannaadi kaattudhadi | The mirror reflects, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Iraivan irukkindraanaa… aa.. | Does God exist? Ah... |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Ondraiyae ninaithirundhum | Though thinking of the same thing, |
| Ondraaga vaazhndhirundhum | Though living as one, |
| Pennaaga pirandhavarai | Those born as women, |
| Kannaaga yaar ninaithaar | Who cherished them as their eyes? |
| Irundhaal irundha idam | If present, it stays where it is; |
| Illaiyael marandhu vidum | If not, it is forgotten. |
| Ivar thaan manidharendraal | If these are what men are, |
| Iyarkaiyum nindru vidum | Even Nature would come to a standstill. |
| Female | |
| Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa… | Does man exist? Ah... |
| Male | |
| Sandhaegam pirandhu vittaal | Once suspicion is born, |
| Sathiyamum palippadhillai | Even truth does not fruition. |
| Sathiyathai kaappavarum | Even those who protect the truth, |
| Saatchi solla varuvadhillai | Do not step forward to testify. |
| Vazhakkum mudiyavillai | The dispute never ends, |
| Manidharin theerppum illai | There is no verdict from men. |
| Manidhanai marandhu vittu | Forgetting humanity, |
| Vaazhbavan iraivan illai | One who lives is not God. |
| Male | |
| Iraivan irukkindraanaa… aa… | Does God exist? Ah... |
| Female | |
| Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa.. | Does man exist? Ah... |
| Male | |
| Iraivan irukkindraanaa… | Does God exist? |
| Manidhan ketkiraan | Man asks. |
| Female | |
| Avan irundhaal ulagathilae | If He exists in this world, |
| Engae vaazhgiraan | Where does He live? |
| Engae… vaazhgiraan… | Where... does He live? |
இறைவன் இருக்கின்றானா... ஆ...
இறைவன் இருக்கின்றானா...
மனிதன் கேட்கிறான்
அவன் இருந்தால் உலகத்திலே
எங்கே வாழ்கிறான்
எங்கே வாழ்கிறான்
Does God exist? Ah...
Does God exist?
Man asks.
If He exists in this world,
Where does He live?
Where does He live?
நான் ஆத்திகனானேன்
அவன் அகப்படவில்லை
நான் நாத்திகனானேன்
அவன் பயப்படவில்லை
I became a believer,
He was not caught.
I became an atheist,
He was not afraid.
மனிதன் இருக்கிறானா... ஆ....ஆ.....
மனிதன் இருக்கிறானா.....ஆ....
இறைவன் கேட்கிறான்
அவன் இருந்தால் உலகத்திலே
எங்கே வாழ்கிறான்
எங்கே வாழ்கிறான்
Does man exist? Ah...
Does man exist?
God asks.
If he exists in this world,
Where does he live?
Where does he live?
நான் அன்பு காட்டினேன்
அவன் ஆட்கொள்ளவில்லை
இந்தத் துன்பம் தீர்க்கவும்
அவன் துணை வரவில்லை
I showed love,
He did not embrace me.
To cure this suffering,
He did not come as support.
..................................
...
கண்ணிலே உறுதி இல்லை
காதலுக்கோர் நீதியில்லை
ஒரு நாள் இருந்த
மறு நாள் இருக்கவில்லை
குடிசையில் ஓர் மனது
கோபுரத்தில் ஓர் மனது
கூடாத சேர்க்கை எல்லாம்
கூடினால் பல மனது
There is no resolve in the eyes,
There is no justice for love.
The mind that existed one day,
Is not there the next day.
One mind in the hut,
One mind in the temple tower.
All improper unions,
When joined, form many minds.
மனிதன் இருக்கிறானா... ஆ...
Does man exist? Ah...
பார்ப்பவன் குருடனடி
படிப்பவன் மூடனடி
உள்ளதை சொல்பவனே
உலகத்தில் பித்தனடி
நீரோ கொதிக்குதடி
நெருப்போ குளிருதடி
வெண்மையைக் கருமை என்று
கண்ணாடி காட்டுதடி
The one who sees is blind, my dear;
The one who learns is a fool, my dear;
The one who speaks the truth,
Is considered a madman in this world, my dear.
Water is boiling, my dear;
Fire is cold, my dear;
Showing black as white,
The mirror reflects, my dear.
இறைவன் இருக்கின்றானா... ஆ...
Does God exist? Ah...
ஒன்றையே நினைத்திருந்தும்
ஒன்றாக வாழ்ந்திருந்தும்
பெண்ணாகப் பிறந்தவரை
கண்ணாக யார் நினைத்தார்
இருந்தால் இருந்த இடம்
இல்லையேல் மறந்து விடும்
இவர்தான் மனிதரென்றால்
இயற்கையும் நின்று விடும்
...
மனிதன் இருக்கிறானா... ஆ...
Though thinking of the same thing,
Though living as one,
Those born as women,
Who cherished them as their eyes?
If present, it stays where it is;
If not, it is forgotten.
If these are what men are,
Even Nature would come to a standstill.
சந்தேகம் பிறந்து விட்டால்
சத்தியமும் பலிப்பதில்லை
சத்தியத்தைக் காப்பவரும்
சாட்சி சொல்ல வருவதில்லை
வழக்கும் முடியவில்லை
மனிதரின் தீர்ப்பும் இல்லை
மனிதனை மறந்து விட்டு
வாழ்பவன் இறைவன் இல்லை
Does man exist? Ah...
இறைவன் இருக்கின்றானா......ஆ....
Once suspicion is born,
Even truth does not fruition.
Even those who protect the truth,
Do not step forward to testify.
The dispute never ends,
There is no verdict from men.
Forgetting humanity,
One who lives is not God.
மனிதன் இருக்கிறானா......ஆ....
Does God exist? Ah...
இறைவன் இருக்கின்றானா...
மனிதன் கேட்கிறான்
Does man exist? Ah...
அவன் இருந்தால் உலகத்திலே
எங்கே வாழ்கிறான்
எங்கே... வாழ்கிறான்...
Does God exist?
Man asks.
If He exists in this world,
Where does He live?
Where... does He live?
Iraivan irukkindraanaa… aa…
Does God exist? Ah...
Iraivan irukkindraanaa…
Does God exist?
Manidhan ketkiraan
Man asks.
Avan irundhaal ulagathilae
If He exists in this world,
Engae vaazhgiraan
Where does He live?
Engae vaazhgiraan
Where does He live?
Naan aathiganaanen
I became a believer,
Avan agappadavillai
He was not caught.
Naan naathiganaanen
I became an atheist,
Avan bayappadavillai
He was not afraid.
Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa…
Does man exist? Ah...
Manidhan irukkindraanaa…
Does man exist?
Iraivan ketkiraan
God asks.
Avan irundhaal ulagathilae
If he exists in this world,
Engae vaazhgiraan
Where does he live?
Engae vaazhgiraan
Where does he live?
Naan anbu kaattinen
I showed love,
Avan aatkollavaillai
He did not embrace me.
Indha thunbam theerkkavum
To cure this suffering,
Avan thunai varavillai
He did not come as support.
…………………….
...
Kannilae urudhi illai
There is no resolve in the eyes,
Kaadhalukkor needhiyillai
There is no justice for love.
Oru naal irundha manam
The mind that existed one day,
Maru naal irukkavillai
Is not there the next day.
Kudisaiyil or manadhu
One mind in the hut,
Gopuratthil or manadhu
One mind in the temple tower.
Koodaadha serkkai ellaam
All improper unions,
Koodinaal pala manadhu
When joined, form many minds.
Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa…
Does man exist? Ah...
Paarppavan kurudanadi
The one who sees is blind, my dear;
Padippavan moodanadi
The one who learns is a fool, my dear;
Ulladhai solbavanae
The one who speaks the truth,
Ulagathil pithanadi
Is considered a madman in this world, my dear.
Neero kodhikkudhadi
Water is boiling, my dear;
Neruppo kulirudhadi
Fire is cold, my dear;
Venmaiyai karumai endru
Showing black as white,
Kannaadi kaattudhadi
The mirror reflects, my dear.
Iraivan irukkindraanaa… aa..
Does God exist? Ah...
………………………….
...
Ondraiyae ninaithirundhum
Though thinking of the same thing,
Ondraaga vaazhndhirundhum
Though living as one,
Pennaaga pirandhavarai
Those born as women,
Kannaaga yaar ninaithaar
Who cherished them as their eyes?
Irundhaal irundha idam
If present, it stays where it is;
Illaiyael marandhu vidum
If not, it is forgotten.
Ivar thaan manidharendraal
If these are what men are,
Iyarkaiyum nindru vidum
Even Nature would come to a standstill.
Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa…
Does man exist? Ah...
Sandhaegam pirandhu vittaal
Once suspicion is born,
Sathiyamum palippadhillai
Even truth does not fruition.
Sathiyathai kaappavarum
Even those who protect the truth,
Saatchi solla varuvadhillai
Do not step forward to testify.
Vazhakkum mudiyavillai
The dispute never ends,
Manidharin theerppum illai
There is no verdict from men.
Manidhanai marandhu vittu
Forgetting humanity,
Vaazhbavan iraivan illai
One who lives is not God.
Iraivan irukkindraanaa… aa…
Does God exist? Ah...
Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa..
Does man exist? Ah...
Iraivan irukkindraanaa…
Does God exist?
Manidhan ketkiraan
Man asks.
Avan irundhaal ulagathilae
If He exists in this world,
Engae vaazhgiraan
Where does He live?
Engae… vaazhgiraan…
Where... does He live?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song presents a dialogue questioning the existence and nature of both God and humanity. Man questions where God resides, reflecting on how neither faith nor atheism reveals Him, nor does God intervene in human suffering. Conversely, God questions whether true humanity exists, highlighting human fickleness, societal inequality, injustice towards women, and moral hypocrisy where truth-tellers are branded as madmen. The song concludes that living in neglect of humanity strips one of divinity, emphasizing that true spiritual existence depends on human integrity and justice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Muran)
“Naan aathiganaanen / Naan naathiganaanen”
Contrasting believer (aathigan) with atheist (naathigan) to highlight human spiritual confusion.
Paradox (Muranoi)
“Neero kodhikkudhadi / Neruppo kulirudhadi”
Uses paradoxical imagery (boiling water, cold fire, mirror showing black as white) to portray a morally inverted world.
Second Letter Rhyme (Etukai)
“Paarppavan kurudanadi / Padippavan moodanadi”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'r' across lines ('Paarppavan', 'Padippavan').
Did you know?
Trivia
Avan Pithana (1966) features lyrics by the renowned Tamil songwriter M. K. Aathmanathan. The song uses a dramatic call-and-response format between humanity's doubt of God and God's doubt of human virtue.
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