Manathil Uruthi Vendum
From Manathil Urudhi Vendum · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Manathil Urudhi Vendum1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum | Clarity in speech is required |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum | Clarity in speech is required |
| Unarchchi enbathu vendum | Passion and depth of emotion are required |
| Olipadaiththa paarvai vendum | A radiant, luminous vision is required |
| Nyaanadheepam yaettra vendum | The lamp of wisdom must be lit |
| Male | |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum | Clarity in speech is required |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Male | |
| Iraivanum palavitha thadaigalai thagarthingu | Shattering various obstacles set even by God |
| Vaazhnthu kaatta vendum | One must live to prove one's worth |
| Ilakkiya penmaikku ilakkanam neeyena | That you are the benchmark of literary womanhood |
| Yaarum pottra vendum | Everyone should praise |
| Male | |
| Maadhar thammai keli pesum | The fools who mock womanhood |
| Moodar vaayai mooduvom | We shall shut their mouths |
| Maanam kaakkum maanthar yaarkkum | To anyone who guards honor and self-respect |
| Maalai vaangi poduvom | We shall buy and present garlands |
| Veedu kaakkum pennai vaazhththi | Praising the woman who safeguards the home |
| Naadum yaedum pesa vendum | The nation and literature must celebrate her |
| Male | |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum | Clarity in speech is required |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Male | |
| Samaikkindra karangalum sariththiram padaippathai | That hands that cook can also write history |
| Bhoomi paarkka vendum | The world must witness |
| Dhooraththu dhesaththil bharatha penmaiyum | The glory of Indian womanhood in far-off lands |
| Paada ketkka vendum | Must be heard as a song |
| Male | |
| Pengal koottam peigal endru | The sages who wrote poems comparing women to demons |
| Paadal sonna siththargalum | Are senseless fools |
| Eendra thaayum penmai endru | Who forgot that the mother who gave birth to them is also a woman |
| Ennidaatha piththarkalae | They are unthinking madmen |
| Yaesinaalum pesinaalum | No matter if people scold or gossip |
| Anjidaamal vaazha vendum | One must live fearlessly |
| Male | |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum | Clarity in speech is required |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
| Manathil uruthi vendum | Firmness in the mind is required |
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
வார்த்தையிலே தெளிவும் வேண்டும்
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
வார்த்தையிலே தெளிவும் வேண்டும்
உணர்ச்சி என்பது வேண்டும்
ஒளிப்படைத்த பார்வை வேண்டும்
ஞானதீபம் ஏற்ற வேண்டும்......
Firmness in the mind is required
Clarity in speech is required
Firmness in the mind is required
Clarity in speech is required
Passion and depth of emotion are required
A radiant, luminous vision is required
The lamp of wisdom must be lit
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
வார்த்தையிலே தெளிவும் வேண்டும்
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
Firmness in the mind is required
Clarity in speech is required
Firmness in the mind is required
Firmness in the mind is required
இறைவனும் பலவித தடைகளை தகர்த்திங்கு
வாழ்ந்துக் காட்ட வேண்டும்
இலக்கிய பெண்மைக்கு இலக்கணம் நீயென
யாரும் போற்ற வேண்டும்
Shattering various obstacles set even by God
One must live to prove one's worth
That you are the benchmark of literary womanhood
Everyone should praise
மாதர் தம்மை கேலி பேசும்
மூடர் வாயை மூடுவோம்
மானம் காக்கும் மாந்தர் யார்க்கும்
மாலை வாங்கி போடுவோம்
வீடு காக்கும் பெண்ணை வாழ்த்தி
நாடும் ஏடும் பேச வேண்டும்........
The fools who mock womanhood
We shall shut their mouths
To anyone who guards honor and self-respect
We shall buy and present garlands
Praising the woman who safeguards the home
The nation and literature must celebrate her
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
வார்த்தையிலே தெளிவும் வேண்டும்
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
Firmness in the mind is required
Clarity in speech is required
Firmness in the mind is required
Firmness in the mind is required
சமைக்கின்ற கரங்களும் சரித்திரம் படைப்பதை
பூமி பார்க்க வேண்டும்
தூரத்து தேசத்தில் பாரத பெண்மையும்
பாட கேட்க வேண்டும்
That hands that cook can also write history
The world must witness
The glory of Indian womanhood in far-off lands
Must be heard as a song
பெண்கள் கூட்டம் பேய்கள் என்று
பாடல் சொன்ன சித்தர்களும்
ஈன்ற தாயும் பெண்மை என்று
எண்ணிடாத பித்தர்களே
ஏசினாலும் பேசினாலும்
அஞ்சிடாமல் வாழ வேண்டும்
The sages who wrote poems comparing women to demons
Are senseless fools
Who forgot that the mother who gave birth to them is also a woman
They are unthinking madmen
No matter if people scold or gossip
One must live fearlessly
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
வார்த்தையிலே தெளிவும் வேண்டும்
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
மனதில் உறுதி வேண்டும்
Firmness in the mind is required
Clarity in speech is required
Firmness in the mind is required
Firmness in the mind is required
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum
Clarity in speech is required
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum
Clarity in speech is required
Unarchchi enbathu vendum
Passion and depth of emotion are required
Olipadaiththa paarvai vendum
A radiant, luminous vision is required
Nyaanadheepam yaettra vendum
The lamp of wisdom must be lit
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum
Clarity in speech is required
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Iraivanum palavitha thadaigalai thagarthingu
Shattering various obstacles set even by God
Vaazhnthu kaatta vendum
One must live to prove one's worth
Ilakkiya penmaikku ilakkanam neeyena
That you are the benchmark of literary womanhood
Yaarum pottra vendum
Everyone should praise
Maadhar thammai keli pesum
The fools who mock womanhood
Moodar vaayai mooduvom
We shall shut their mouths
Maanam kaakkum maanthar yaarkkum
To anyone who guards honor and self-respect
Maalai vaangi poduvom
We shall buy and present garlands
Veedu kaakkum pennai vaazhththi
Praising the woman who safeguards the home
Naadum yaedum pesa vendum
The nation and literature must celebrate her
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum
Clarity in speech is required
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Samaikkindra karangalum sariththiram padaippathai
That hands that cook can also write history
Bhoomi paarkka vendum
The world must witness
Dhooraththu dhesaththil bharatha penmaiyum
The glory of Indian womanhood in far-off lands
Paada ketkka vendum
Must be heard as a song
Pengal koottam peigal endru
The sages who wrote poems comparing women to demons
Paadal sonna siththargalum
Are senseless fools
Eendra thaayum penmai endru
Who forgot that the mother who gave birth to them is also a woman
Ennidaatha piththarkalae
They are unthinking madmen
Yaesinaalum pesinaalum
No matter if people scold or gossip
Anjidaamal vaazha vendum
One must live fearlessly
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum
Clarity in speech is required
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Manathil uruthi vendum
Firmness in the mind is required
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Manathil Urudhi Vendum' is a powerful feminist and motivational anthem adapted by Vaali for K. Balachander's 1987 film of the same name. Drawing core inspiration from Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's iconic poem, the lyrics call for mental fortitude, clarity of thought, vision, and wisdom. It advocates for the dignity, equality, and independence of women in society. The lyrics boldly confront misogyny and patriarchal traditions, calling out ancient commentators who disparaged women while reminding them that every person originates from a woman's womb. It urges women to break past limitations, create history through their daily labors, and live with untamed courage and self-respect regardless of societal judgment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Manathil uruthi vendum / Vaarththaiyilae thelivum vendum”
The word 'vendum' (is required/must) is repeatedly placed at the end of consecutive lines to create a rhythmic, compelling sense of necessity and urgency.
Ethirai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)
“Maadhar thammai keli pesum / Moodar vaayai mooduvom”
The second consonant sound matches across adjacent lines, maintaining classic Tamil poetic harmony (Maadhar / Moodar / Maanam / Maalai).
Metaphor
“Nyaanadheepam yaettra vendum”
'Nyaanadheepam' translates to 'lamp of wisdom', metaphorically comparing spiritual and intellectual enlightenment to lighting a flame.
Moonaikkal (Initial Consonant Alliteration)
“Samaikkindra karangalum sariththiram padaippathai”
Matching starting letters across words in a single line ('Samaikkindra' and 'Sariththiram') to enhance oral flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
The phrase 'Manathil Urudhi Vendum' comes directly from Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's famous early 20th-century poem. Lyricist Vaali adapted Bharati's philosophical tone and modern feminist ideals to fit the narrative of K. Balachander's movie, which centers on a strong nurse (played by Suhasini) managing her family's struggles independently. Set to an uplifting tune by Ilaiyaraaja and sung with vigor by K. J. Yesudas, the song remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous anthems of empowerment.
Keep listening
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