Maanthar Enbar
From Anni -1951 · 1951
- Lyricist
- M. S. Subramaniyam
- Singer
- Master Venkatakrishnan
- Music director
- Pendyala Nageswara Rao
- Details
- Anni -19511951
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa | Are these the ones called human beings? |
| Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa | Is this what is known as the great earth? |
| Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa | Are these the ones called human beings? |
| Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa | Is this what is known as the great earth? |
| Female | |
| Varumaiyil vaadugiraar pala kodi | Millions of people suffer and wither in poverty, |
| Vaazhgiraar seemaan sugamathum thedi | While the rich live seeking only pleasure and comfort. |
| Varumaiyil vaadugiraar pala kodi | Millions of people suffer and wither in poverty, |
| Vaazhgiraar seemaan sugamathum thedi | While the rich live seeking only pleasure and comfort. |
| Female | |
| Kallarai kanavaan engira naadu | A country where a gentleman is praised even in the grave, |
| Kallarai kanavaan engira naadu | A country where a gentleman is praised even in the grave, |
| Kaliyugam idhuvena pesuraar koodi | People gather and talk, saying this is the corrupt Age of Kali. |
| Female | |
| Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa | Are these the ones called human beings? |
| Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa | Is this what is known as the great earth? |
| Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa | Are these the ones called human beings? |
| Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa | Is this what is known as the great earth? |
| Female | |
| Desaththukae thalai vanangudugiraar | They bow their heads in devotion to the nation, |
| Mosaththukae manam inakkidukiraar | Yet they incline their minds towards deceit and fraud. |
| Desaththukae thalai vanangudugiraar | They bow their heads in devotion to the nation, |
| Mosaththukae manam inakkidukiraar | Yet they incline their minds towards deceit and fraud. |
| Seerpadaathu idhu seivathum yaenena | Without reforming this situation, why do they act so, |
| Aaruthal kondae pogindraarae | And simply move on with superficial consolation? |
| Female | |
| Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa | Are these the ones called human beings? |
| Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa | Is this what is known as the great earth? |
| Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa | Are these the ones called human beings? |
| Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa | Is this what is known as the great earth? |
| Female | |
| Mahaangalum maga thiyaagigalum | Great saints and supreme martyrs gave wise counsel, |
| Sonnavaaraathai seipavar evaro | But who among us actually practices the words they spoke? |
| Mahaangalum maga thiyaagigalum | Great saints and supreme martyrs gave wise counsel, |
| Sonnavaaraathai seipavar evaro | But who among us actually practices the words they spoke? |
| Female | |
| Nalam pera vazhi yaethum ilaiyo | Is there no way forward for society to attain well-being? |
| Nalam pera vazhi yaethum ilaiyo | Is there no way forward for society to attain well-being? |
| Varunthuvathil payano illaiyo | Or is there truly no point in merely grieving over it? |
| Female | |
| Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa | Are these the ones called human beings? |
| Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa | Is this what is known as the great earth? |
| Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa | Are these the ones called human beings? |
| Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa | Is this what is known as the great earth? |
மாந்தர் என்பார் இவர்தானா
மாநிலம் என்பதும் இதுதானா
மாந்தர் என்பார் இவர்தானா
மாநிலம் என்பதும் இதுதானா
Are these the ones called human beings?
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Are these the ones called human beings?
Is this what is known as the great earth?
வறுமையில் வாடுகிறார் பல கோடி
வாழ்கிறார் சீமான் சுகமதும் தேடி
வறுமையில் வாடுகிறார் பல கோடி
வாழ்கிறார் சீமான் சுகமதும் தேடி
Millions of people suffer and wither in poverty,
While the rich live seeking only pleasure and comfort.
Millions of people suffer and wither in poverty,
While the rich live seeking only pleasure and comfort.
கள்ளரைக் கனவான் என்கிற நாடு
கள்ளரைக் கனவான் என்கிற நாடு
கலியுகம் இதுவெனப் பேசுறார் கூடி
A country where a gentleman is praised even in the grave,
A country where a gentleman is praised even in the grave,
People gather and talk, saying this is the corrupt Age of Kali.
மாந்தர் என்பார் இவர்தானா
மாநிலம் என்பதும் இதுதானா
மாந்தர் என்பார் இவர்தானா
மாநிலம் என்பதும் இதுதானா
Are these the ones called human beings?
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Are these the ones called human beings?
Is this what is known as the great earth?
தேசத்துக்கே தலை வணங்கிடுறார்
மோசத்துக்கே மனம் இணங்கிடுறார்
தேசத்துக்கே தலை வணங்கிடுறார்
மோசத்துக்கே மனம் இணங்கிடுறார்
சீர்படாது இது செய்வதும் ஏனென
ஆறுதல் கொண்டே போகின்றாரே
They bow their heads in devotion to the nation,
Yet they incline their minds towards deceit and fraud.
They bow their heads in devotion to the nation,
Yet they incline their minds towards deceit and fraud.
Without reforming this situation, why do they act so,
And simply move on with superficial consolation?
மாந்தர் என்பார் இவர்தானா
மாநிலம் என்பதும் இதுதானா
மாந்தர் என்பார் இவர்தானா
மாநிலம் என்பதும் இதுதானா
Are these the ones called human beings?
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Are these the ones called human beings?
Is this what is known as the great earth?
மகான்களும் மகா தியாகிகளும்
சொன்னவாரதை செய்பவர் எவரோ
மகான்களும் மகா தியாகிகளும்
சொன்னவாரதை செய்பவர் எவரோ
Great saints and supreme martyrs gave wise counsel,
But who among us actually practices the words they spoke?
Great saints and supreme martyrs gave wise counsel,
But who among us actually practices the words they spoke?
நலம் பெற வழி ஏதும் இலையோ
நலம் பெற வழி ஏதும் இலையோ
வருந்துவதில் பயனோ இல்லையோ
Is there no way forward for society to attain well-being?
Is there no way forward for society to attain well-being?
Or is there truly no point in merely grieving over it?
மாந்தர் என்பார் இவர்தானா
மாநிலம் என்பதும் இதுதானா
மாந்தர் என்பார் இவர்தானா
மாநிலம் என்பதும் இதுதானா
Are these the ones called human beings?
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Are these the ones called human beings?
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa
Are these the ones called human beings?
Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa
Are these the ones called human beings?
Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Varumaiyil vaadugiraar pala kodi
Millions of people suffer and wither in poverty,
Vaazhgiraar seemaan sugamathum thedi
While the rich live seeking only pleasure and comfort.
Varumaiyil vaadugiraar pala kodi
Millions of people suffer and wither in poverty,
Vaazhgiraar seemaan sugamathum thedi
While the rich live seeking only pleasure and comfort.
Kallarai kanavaan engira naadu
A country where a gentleman is praised even in the grave,
Kallarai kanavaan engira naadu
A country where a gentleman is praised even in the grave,
Kaliyugam idhuvena pesuraar koodi
People gather and talk, saying this is the corrupt Age of Kali.
Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa
Are these the ones called human beings?
Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa
Are these the ones called human beings?
Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Desaththukae thalai vanangudugiraar
They bow their heads in devotion to the nation,
Mosaththukae manam inakkidukiraar
Yet they incline their minds towards deceit and fraud.
Desaththukae thalai vanangudugiraar
They bow their heads in devotion to the nation,
Mosaththukae manam inakkidukiraar
Yet they incline their minds towards deceit and fraud.
Seerpadaathu idhu seivathum yaenena
Without reforming this situation, why do they act so,
Aaruthal kondae pogindraarae
And simply move on with superficial consolation?
Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa
Are these the ones called human beings?
Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa
Are these the ones called human beings?
Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Mahaangalum maga thiyaagigalum
Great saints and supreme martyrs gave wise counsel,
Sonnavaaraathai seipavar evaro
But who among us actually practices the words they spoke?
Mahaangalum maga thiyaagigalum
Great saints and supreme martyrs gave wise counsel,
Sonnavaaraathai seipavar evaro
But who among us actually practices the words they spoke?
Nalam pera vazhi yaethum ilaiyo
Is there no way forward for society to attain well-being?
Nalam pera vazhi yaethum ilaiyo
Is there no way forward for society to attain well-being?
Varunthuvathil payano illaiyo
Or is there truly no point in merely grieving over it?
Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa
Are these the ones called human beings?
Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa
Are these the ones called human beings?
Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa
Is this what is known as the great earth?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from the 1951 film 'Anni' questions the true nature of humanity and society. The speaker observes severe socio-economic disparities where millions languish in poverty while the wealthy pursue self-serving luxuries. People hypocritically profess patriotism and revere historical saints and martyrs, yet fail to follow their noble teachings or address societal corruption. Ultimately, the song serves as a poignant social critique, questioning whether mere lamentation can bring about reform or if society is condemned to passive acceptance in the era of Kali Yuga.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaivodai (Initial Alliteration)
“Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa / Maanilam enbathum idhuthaanaa”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Maa' in consecutive lines to create a rhythmic motif.
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Desaththukae thalai vanangudugiraar / Mosaththukae manam inakkidukiraar”
Matching of the second consonant sound 'sa' in consecutive lines ('Desaththukae' / 'Mosaththukae').
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Maanthar enbaar ivarthaanaa”
Use of interrogative refrains to provoke deep introspective reflection rather than seeking a direct answer.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Anni' (1951) was a socio-drama film produced by Jupiter Pictures and directed by K. S. Mani. The musical score was composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao, and this philosophical song was rendered by Master Venkatakrishnan with lyrics written by M. S. Subramaniyam.
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