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Lyrics & meaning

Irandu Manam Vendum

From Vasantha Maligai · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Vasantha Maligai1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kudippatharkku oru manam irunthaalIf I had one heart/mind just for drinking
Avalai marandhu vidalaamI could forget her
Avalai marappatharkku oru manam irunthaalIf I had one heart/mind just to forget her
Kudithu vidalaamI could drink away
Aanal iruppatho oru manathuBut there is only one heart/mind
Naan enna seiven…enna seivenWhat can I do... what can I do
Hehehehhh….Hehehehhh....
Male
{Irandu manam vendumI need two hearts/minds
Iraivanidam ketpenI will ask God
Ninaithu vaada ondruOne to wither in memory
Marandhu vaazha ondru…} (2)One to forget and live...
Irandu manam vendumI need two hearts/minds
Male
{Siriya kaayam periya thunbamA small wound, but a huge sorrow
Aarum munbae adutha kaayam} (2)Before one heals, comes the next wound
Udalil endraal marunthu pothumIf it is on the body, medicine is enough
Udalil endraal marunthu pothumIf it is on the body, medicine is enough
Ullam paavam enna seiyumWhat can the poor heart do?
Male
Irandu manam vendumI need two hearts/minds
Iraivanidam ketpenI will ask God
Irandu manam vendumI need two hearts/minds
Male
{Iravum pagalum irandanaalSince night and day are two
Inbam thunbam irandanaal} (2)Since pleasure and pain are two
Uravum pirivum irandanaalSince union and separation are two
Ullam ondru pothathaeA single heart is not enough
Male
Irandu manam vendumI need two hearts/minds
Male
{Kangalin thandanai kaatchi vazhiThe punishment for eyes is through vision
Kaatchiyin thandanai kaadhal vazhi} (2)The punishment for vision is through love
Kaadhalin thandanai kadavul vazhiThe punishment for love is through God
Kaadhalin thandanai kadavul vazhiThe punishment for love is through God
Kadavulai thandikka enna vazhi…What is the way to punish God...
Male
Irandu manam vendumI need two hearts/minds
Iraivanidam ketpenI will ask God
Ninaithu vaada ondruOne to wither in memory
Marandhu vaazha ondru…One to forget and live...
Irandu manam vendumI need two hearts/minds

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic heartbreak song from 'Vasantha Maligai' features a tormented lover expressing his deep sorrow through alcohol and introspection. He reflects on the impossibility of moving on with just a single mind, as it is torn simultaneously between holding onto painful memories of love and trying to drown them out. He wishes to ask God for two minds—one to languish in past love and another to forget everything and continue living. Lyricist Kannadasan deepens the philosophical tone by contrasting physical pain with emotional distress, noting that physical wounds have medication while the soul has none. He points out how dualities exist everywhere in nature—day and night, joy and pain, union and separation—making a single heart insufficient to handle such contrasts. Finally, he traces a chain of cause and effect leading from sight to love, and love to God, tragically asking how one can punish God for inflicting such heartbreak.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Maranu)

Ninaithu vaada ondru / Marandhu vaazha ondru…

Contrasts the dual desires of remembering to cherish and forgetting to survive.

Anaphora / Repetition (Eretchi)

Irandu manam vendum

Repetition of 'Irandu manam vendum' serves as a tragic refrain emphasizing despair.

Moonaal / Initial Sound Alliteration (Moonaai)

Kangalin thandanai kaatchi vazhi / Kaatchiyin thandanai kaadhal vazhi / Kaadhalin thandanai kadavul vazhi

The initial 'K' sound creates rhythm across progressive lines ('Kangalin', 'Kaatchiyin', 'Kaadhalin', 'Kadavulai').

Iyebu / End Rhyme

Kaadhalin thandanai kadavul vazhi / Kadavulai thandikka enna vazhi…

Repetition of the ending word 'vazhi' across multiple consecutive lines.

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Trivia

This iconic song from 'Vasantha Maligai' (1972) features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. Sivaji Ganesan's intense performance as an aristocratic alcoholic dealing with heartbreak made this song a benchmark in Tamil cinema for tragic love songs.

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