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Lyrics & meaning

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 ketkiraanMan asks.
Avan irundhaal ulagathilaeIf He exists in this world,
Engae vaazhgiraanWhere does He live?
Engae vaazhgiraanWhere does He live?
Male
Naan aathiganaanenI became a believer,
Avan agappadavillaiHe was not caught.
Naan naathiganaanenI became an atheist,
Avan bayappadavillaiHe was not afraid.
Female
Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa…Does man exist? Ah...
Manidhan irukkindraanaa…Does man exist?
Iraivan ketkiraanGod asks.
Avan irundhaal ulagathilaeIf he exists in this world,
Engae vaazhgiraanWhere does he live?
Engae vaazhgiraanWhere does he live?
Female
Naan anbu kaattinenI showed love,
Avan aatkollavaillaiHe did not embrace me.
Indha thunbam theerkkavumTo cure this suffering,
Avan thunai varavillaiHe did not come as support.
Chorus
……………………....
Female
Kannilae urudhi illaiThere is no resolve in the eyes,
Kaadhalukkor needhiyillaiThere is no justice for love.
Oru naal irundha manamThe mind that existed one day,
Maru naal irukkavillaiIs not there the next day.
Kudisaiyil or manadhuOne mind in the hut,
Gopuratthil or manadhuOne mind in the temple tower.
Koodaadha serkkai ellaamAll improper unions,
Koodinaal pala manadhuWhen joined, form many minds.
Female
Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa…Does man exist? Ah...
Male
Paarppavan kurudanadiThe one who sees is blind, my dear;
Padippavan moodanadiThe one who learns is a fool, my dear;
Ulladhai solbavanaeThe one who speaks the truth,
Ulagathil pithanadiIs considered a madman in this world, my dear.
Neero kodhikkudhadiWater is boiling, my dear;
Neruppo kulirudhadiFire is cold, my dear;
Venmaiyai karumai endruShowing black as white,
Kannaadi kaattudhadiThe mirror reflects, my dear.
Male
Iraivan irukkindraanaa… aa..Does God exist? Ah...
Chorus
…………………………....
Female
Ondraiyae ninaithirundhumThough thinking of the same thing,
Ondraaga vaazhndhirundhumThough living as one,
Pennaaga pirandhavaraiThose born as women,
Kannaaga yaar ninaithaarWho cherished them as their eyes?
Irundhaal irundha idamIf present, it stays where it is;
Illaiyael marandhu vidumIf not, it is forgotten.
Ivar thaan manidharendraalIf these are what men are,
Iyarkaiyum nindru vidumEven Nature would come to a standstill.
Female
Manidhan irukkindraanaa… aa…Does man exist? Ah...
Male
Sandhaegam pirandhu vittaalOnce suspicion is born,
Sathiyamum palippadhillaiEven truth does not fruition.
Sathiyathai kaappavarumEven those who protect the truth,
Saatchi solla varuvadhillaiDo not step forward to testify.
Vazhakkum mudiyavillaiThe dispute never ends,
Manidharin theerppum illaiThere is no verdict from men.
Manidhanai marandhu vittuForgetting humanity,
Vaazhbavan iraivan illaiOne 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 ketkiraanMan asks.
Female
Avan irundhaal ulagathilaeIf He exists in this world,
Engae vaazhgiraanWhere 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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