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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manamullavan Evano

From Manidharil Manikkam · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Manidharil Manikkam
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
22 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manamullavan evano
Avanthaan manitharil maanikkam
Nalla gunamullavan evano
Avanthaan unmaiyilae manithan
Manamullavan evano
Avanthaan manitharil maanikkam
Nalla gunamullavan evano
Avanthaan unmaiyilae manithan
Moovaasaigal aa…aa…aa….
Moovaasaigal peraasaigal
Manithanai vida vendum
Muttrum thurantha munivarai polae
Pakkuvam varavendum
Ambigai janani agilaandaeshwari
Arulmozhi tharavendum
Adiyaar koottam avalarulaalae
Aanantham peravendum
Manamullavan evano
Avanthaan manitharil maanikkam
Nalla gunamullavan evano
Avanthaan unmaiyilae manithan
Manamullavan evano
Avanthaan manitharil maanikkam
Nalla gunamullavan evano
Avanthaan unmaiyilae manithan
……………….
Thaayaar thantha paalaal vantha
Mayakkam oru mayakkam
Male :……………….
Pugazhaal pinbu porulaal vantha
Mayakkam oru mayakkam
Male :……………..
Thaayaar thantha paalaal vantha
Mayakkam oru mayakkam
Pugazhaal pinbu porulaal vantha
Mayakkam oru mayakkam
Madhuvaal pengal idhalaal vantha
Mayakkam oru mayakkam idhil
Mayangaathavan evano avan
Peyarthaan nilaiththirukkum
Thaayaar thantha paalaal vantha
Mayakkam oru mayakkam
Pugazhaal pinbu porulaal vantha
Mayakkam oru mayakkam
Yaezhai maelae kuthirai yaeri
Pazhagi pochu ulagam idhai
Eppo yaezhai edhirkkiraano
Appo varum kalagam
Yaezhai maelae kuthirai yaeri
Pazhagi pochu ulagam idhai
Eppo yaezhai edhirkkiraano
Appo varum kalagam
Appo varum kalagam
Vaayum vayirum ellaarkkum
Onnaaththaanae vachaan idhil
Oruththan soththai oruthathan thinnaa
Oor uruppudumo machchaan
Yaezhai maelae kuthirai yaeri
Pazhagi pochu ulagam idhai
Eppo yaezhai edhirkkiraano
Appo varum kalagam
Appo varum kalagam
Whoever has a good heart,
He is a gem among men.
Whoever has a good character,
He is truly a human being.
Whoever has a good heart,
He is a gem among men.
Whoever has a good character,
He is truly a human being.
The three worldly desires, ah...
The three worldly desires and greed,
A person must leave them behind.
Like a sage who renounces everything,
Inner maturity must come.
Goddess Ambika, Mother of the universe,
Must bestow her words of grace.
By her blessing, the gathering of devotees
Must find true joy.
Whoever has a good heart,
He is a gem among men.
Whoever has a good character,
He is truly a human being.
Whoever has a good heart,
He is a gem among men.
Whoever has a good character,
He is truly a human being.
...
The haze that comes from a mother's milk
Is one kind of intoxication.
...
The intoxication born of fame and wealth
Is another kind of spell.
...
The haze that comes from a mother's milk
Is one kind of intoxication.
The intoxication born of fame and wealth
Is another kind of spell.
The intoxication from wine and women's lips
Is yet another spell; through all these,
Whoever does not lose his senses,
His name alone will live on forever.
The haze that comes from a mother's milk
Is one kind of intoxication.
The intoxication born of fame and wealth
Is another kind of spell.
Riding on the back of the poor
Has become second nature to this world.
Whenever the poor man fights back,
That is when revolt will rise!
Riding on the back of the poor
Has become second nature to this world.
Whenever the poor man fights back,
That is when revolt will rise!
That is when revolt will rise!
A mouth and a stomach for everyone,
He created them all the same.
If one man devours another's wealth,
Can our society ever prosper, my friend?
Riding on the back of the poor
Has become second nature to this world.
Whenever the poor man fights back,
That is when revolt will rise!
That is when revolt will rise!
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
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Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Manamullavan Evano is a profound philosophical song from the 1973 film Manidharil Manikkam, written by Kannadasan and sung/composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song reflects on what truly elevates a human being to the status of a gem among humanity: virtue, compassion, selflessness, and freedom from greedy attachments. Kannadasan categorizes the various illusions (mayakkam) that captivate human minds—ranging from innate maternal bond to fame, wealth, wine, and bodily desires—declaring that only the one who masters these temptations achieves immortal glory.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Avanthaan manitharil maanikkam”

Comparing a virtuous and compassionate person directly to a precious gem ('Maanikkam') among humans.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Mayakkam oru mayakkam”

The repeated phrase 'Mayakkam oru mayakkam' emphasizes the various forms of earthly illusions that cloud human intellect.

Alliteration (Moni)

“Moovaasaigal peraasaigal / Manithanai vida vendum / Muttrum thurantha munivarai polae”

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound in 'Moovaasaigal', 'Manithanai', and 'Muttrum' creates a strong poetic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed and rendered by M. S. Viswanathan, this song remains one of the iconic philosophical anthems in Tamil cinema. Kannadasan deftly integrates Vedantic philosophy (renouncing the three desire types: land, wealth, and lust) with sharp socialist social commentary on economic inequality and class revolt.

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