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60 Vayathu Maaniram album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Iraivanai Thedum

From 60 Vayathu Maaniram · 2018

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
60 Vayathu Maaniram
Movie release year
2018
Lyrics added on
20 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Iraivanai thedum ulagathil
Ivaroo manithanai thedugiraar
Iraivanai thedum ulagathil
Ivaroo manithanai thedugiraar
Manadhu iruppavan thaanae
Manidhan avanae thedugiraan
Intha ulagathil avan kedaipaano
Entha ulagathilae irupaano
Intha ulagathil avan kedaipaano
Entha ulagathilae irupaano
Avanai theduthal polae
Ivanae thannaiyae thedugiraan
Thannaiyae thedi thedi ivargal
Avanai maranthuvitaar
Iraivanai thedum ulagathil
Ivaroo manithanai thedugiraar
Manadhu iruppavan thaanae
Manidhan avanae thedugiraan
Ponnum maniyum pooti veithavan
Innum kodi theda
Kodi kodi kuvithu veithavan
Kottai kodiyai theda
Aasai theera aadi paarthavan
Adutha uyaram theda
Utcham thannai thottu nirpavan
Utcha pugalai theda
Thedalae intha vaazhkaiyin
Thevaiyaai aanathae
Aayulin moththa kaalamum
Thediyae ponathae
Andha iraivan iraivan
Boomikku vandhaan
Idhayam ondru thedi
Athu kedaikka villai podi
Iraivanai thedum ulagathil
Ivaroo manithanai thedugiraar
Manadhu iruppavan thaanae
Manidhan avanae thedugiraan
Vaattam indri kaatrai polavae
Vaazhum manidham engae
Aattam pottu kootam kootiyae
Aazhum manidhan ingae
Konjam manidham nenjil vaithu
Thaan minjum manidhan engae
Nenjam engum vanjam serthu thaan
Enjum manidhan ingae
Yaarumae illai endruthaan
Yaarumae illaiyae
Karuvilae thondrum uyirellaam
Kadavulin pillaiyae
Ada manidha manidha
Alaichalai olithu
Amaidhi ondru thedu
Adhu kadavul varaintha kodu
Iraivanai thedum ulagathil
Ivaroo manithanai thedugiraar
Manadhu iruppavan thaanae
Manidhan avanae thedugiraan
Intha ulagathil avan kedaipaano
Entha ulagathilae irupaano
Intha ulagathil avan kedaipaano
Entha ulagathilae irupaano
Avanai theduthal polae
Ivanae thannaiyae thedugiraan
Thannaiyae thedi thedi ivargal
Avanai maranthuvitaar
Iraivanai thedum ulagathil
Ivaroo manithanai thedugiraar
Manithanai thedugiraar
Manithanai thedugiraar
In a world searching for God,
he searches for a human being.
In a world searching for God,
he searches for a human being.
Only one who has a heart
is truly human, and he is the one searching.
Will he be found in this world?
Which world could he be in?
Will he be found in this world?
Which world could he be in?
As if searching for him,
he ends up searching for himself.
Constantly searching for themselves,
they have forgotten him completely.
In a world searching for God,
he searches for a human being.
Only one who has a heart
is truly human, and he is the one searching.
The one who locked away gold and gems
searches for millions more.
The one who hoarded millions upon millions
searches for forts and power.
The one who enjoyed every pleasure
searches for the next great height.
The one standing at the very top
searches for the peak of fame.
Searching itself
has become life's only need.
The entire span of a lifetime
was lost in searching.
Even that God, that God,
came down to this earth
searching for a heart,
but could not find one, alas!
In a world searching for God,
he searches for a human being.
Only one who has a heart
is truly human, and he is the one searching.
Without any sorrow, like the gentle breeze,
where is humanity living?
Making a fuss and gathering crowds,
the ruling man is right here.
Keeping a little kindness in his heart,
where is the human who stands apart?
Filling his entire heart with malice,
the surviving man is right here.
Thinking that there is no one left,
truly no one remains.
Every life born from the womb
is a child of God.
O human, O human,
put an end to your restless wandering
and search for peace.
That is the path drawn by God.
In a world searching for God,
he searches for a human being.
Only one who has a heart
is truly human, and he is the one searching.
Will he be found in this world?
Which world could he be in?
Will he be found in this world?
Which world could he be in?
As if searching for him,
he ends up searching for himself.
Constantly searching for themselves,
they have forgotten him completely.
In a world searching for God,
he searches for a human being.
He searches for a human being.
He searches for a human being.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful track from '60 Vayathu Maaniram' explores philosophical themes of identity, humanity, and spiritual irony. While society spends life seeking God, God Himself searches for true humanity within people. The song highlights how human life gets consumed by material greed—seeking wealth, power, fame, and status—leaving no room for empathy or genuine peace. In the context of the film, which centers around an elderly father suffering from Alzheimer's who goes missing, the lyrics poignantly contrast his son's search for his father with a broader existential quest for what it truly means to be human.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyming)

“Ponnum maniyum pooti veithavan / Innum kodi theda”

Matching second consonants across lines: 'Ponnum' and 'Innum', 'Kodi' and 'Kottai'.

Monaai (Alliteration / First-letter matching)

“Iraivanai thedum ulagathil / Ivaroo manithanai thedugiraar”

Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in words within the line or adjacent lines: 'Iraivanai' and 'Ivaroo'.

Irony and Contrast

“Andha iraivan iraivan / Boomikku vandhaan / Idhayam ondru thedi”

Contrasting the human tendency of seeking God with God descending to earth to search for a humane heart.

Simile (Upamai)

“Vaattam indri kaatrai polavae / Vaazhum manidham engae”

Comparing living unburdened with humanity to the free movement of the wind ('kaatrai polavae').

Did you know?

Trivia

'60 Vayathu Maaniram' (2018) is the official Tamil remake of the acclaimed Kannada film 'Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu'. The soundtrack for the movie was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with poignant lyricism provided by Pa. Vijay, echoing themes of memory loss, filial bond, and human connection.

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