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Lyrics & meaning

Maanida Sevai

From Unnal Mudiyum Thambi · 1988

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
11 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaaa….aaaa….aaa…
Aaaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
{Panjana dhesa paahima
Bhava neesa kal vedha……} (2)
Aaaa….aaaa….aaa…
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa
Kalaivaani neeyae sol…
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa
Kalaivaani neeyae sol…
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa
Kalaivaani neeyae sol…
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa
Kalaivaani neeyae sol…
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa
Aaaa….aaaaa……
Veedhiyil nindru thavikkum
Paraariyai paarppadhum paavamaa
Veedhiyil nindru thavikkum
Paraariyai paarppadhum paavamaa
Veedhiyil nindru thavikkum
Paraariyai paarppadhum paa va maa
Veedhiyil nindru thavikkum
Paraariyai paarppadhum paa va maa
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa
Kalaivaani neeyae sol…
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa
Aaaa….aaa aaaa……
Veedhi veenaigalin thandhi
Sindhum isai manamurugum….
Veedhi veenaigalin thandhi
Sindhum isai manamurugum….
Naadha veenai idhilum
Kettu kettu naanazhudhaen
{Megam theeyaagi
Nilaavum eriya
Manamum eriyum
Idho endhan uyirum
Sarugaagi vendhu
Thanal maevum} (2)
Pa ma ga ma
Thaka tharidha jam
Sa sa paa ma pa ga ri sa
Dheem thaka dhimi
Thathi kidathom tha
Thaka dhim tha thaka dhina
Reejam thariga
Sa ni pa ri sa ree
Ga ma thana ku pa ma ga ma ri sa
Saa nii paa ma ri sa janu
Dheem thathi kitathom
Thakadhina thaththeem
Thathi kitathom
Thaththeem kinathom
Thaamtha thaamtha thaka dhimi
Paa tha pa sa nii pa sa ga rii
Ga ma ri sa sa ni thagida jamtha
Thaam thaka thakita
Tharigidathom
Tharigidathom tharigidathom
Tharigidathom thaa..
Rii ga ma ga dhimi pa pa ri cha ri cha
Pa pa ri cha ri dhimitha ga ma dhi cha ri cha
Thaka dhicha thaka thari pa ri cha ri
Thath theengidathom sa saa ni pa ma
Thath theengidathom
Thath dhimi thakida
Thakida thakida dhimi
Thakida thakida
Thakida tharigidathom
Thaka tharigidathom
Thakajunu tharigidathom thaangu
Thath dheem tharigidathom
Thath dheem tharigidathom
Thath dheem tharigidathom
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa
Kalaivaani neeyae sol…
Maanida sevai dhrogamaa…
Aaaa aaa aaa…..
Aa...
Aa...
O Lord of the five sacred rivers, protect me!
O lover of devotion, master of wisdom!
Aa...
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Kalaivani (Goddess of arts), you tell me...
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Kalaivani, you tell me...
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Kalaivani, you tell me...
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Kalaivani, you tell me...
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Aa...
Suffering and stranded on the streets,
is looking upon the destitute a sin?
Suffering and stranded on the streets,
is looking upon the destitute a sin?
Suffering and stranded on the streets,
is looking upon the destitute a sin?
Suffering and stranded on the streets,
is looking upon the destitute a sin?
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Kalaivani, you tell me...
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Aa...
From the strings of veenas on the streets,
the music that pours out melts the heart...
From the strings of veenas on the streets,
the music that pours out melts the heart...
Through this veena of musical sound,
hearing it over and over, I wept.
As clouds turn into fire,
and the moon itself burns,
my heart burns too.
Here, my very life,
withering like a dry leaf,
burns on glowing embers.
Pa ma ga ma
Tha-ka dha-ri-tha jam
Sa sa paa ma pa ga ri sa
Dheem thak-ka dhi-mi
That-thi ki-da-thom thaa
Thak-ka dheem thaa thak-ka dhi-na
Ree-jam tha-ri-ga
Sa ni pa ri sa ri
Ga ma dhaa-na-gu pa ma ga ma ri sa
Saa ni paa ma ri sa ja-nu
Dheem that-thi ki-da-thom
Thak-kath-thinai thath-dheem
That-thi ki-da-thom
Dha-dheem ki-na-thom
Thaam thaam tha-ga dhi-mi
Paa dhaa pa sa ni pa sa ga ri
Ga ma ri sa sa ni tha-ki-da jam-tha
Thaam thak-ka tha-ki-da
Tha-ri-ki-da-thom
Tha-ri-ki-da-thom tha-ri-ki-da-thom
Tha-ri-ki-da-thom thaa...
Ri ga ma ga dhi-mi pa pa ri saa ri saa
Pa pa ri saa ri dhi-mi-raa ga ma dhi saa ri saa
Thak-ka dhi-saa thak-ka dha pa ri saa ri
Thath theen-gi-da-thom sa saa ni pa ma
Thath theen-gi-da-thom
Thath dhi-mi tha-ki-da
Tha-ki-da tha-ki-da dhi-mi
Tha-ki-da tha-ki-da
Tha-ki-da tha-ri-ki-da-thom
Thak-ka tha-ri-ki-da-thom
Tha-ga-jun-nu tha-ri-ki-da-thom thaan-gu
Thath dheem tha-ri-ki-da-thom
Thath dheem tha-ri-ki-da-thom
Thath dheem tha-ri-ki-da-thom
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Kalaivani, you tell me...
Is serving humanity a betrayal?
Aa...
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic Carnatic-based song from Unnal Mudiyum Thambi (1988) serves as a dramatic climax in the film, expressing the central character's agony over rigid orthodoxy vs. human compassion. The singer addresses Kalaivani (Goddess Saraswati, deity of arts and knowledge), passionately questioning whether showing love and empathy toward the poor and destitute can ever be considered a sin or a betrayal of tradition. The musical piece seamlessly blends classical Carnatic swaras, konnakol rhythm patterns, and deeply evocative Tamil poetry to challenge social hypocrisy and caste purity rituals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

Maanida sevai dhrogamaa

The refrain 'Maanida sevai dhrogamaa' repeatedly questions whether human service is a sin, driving the ideological premise of the song.

Hyperbole / Imagery

Megam theeyaagi Nilaavum eriya

The lyricist uses dramatic natural imagery of burning clouds and moon to convey intense inner angst and burning grief.

Metaphor

Sarugaagi vendhu Thanal maevum

Comparing human soul/life to a withered leaf scorching on embers conveys helplessness and pain.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas with lyrics by Pulamaipithan. The movie was directed by K. Balachander, starring Kamal Haasan and Gemini Ganesan, adapted from the Telugu movie 'Rudraveena'.

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