Manavarkalae
From Sanga Natham · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- K. J. Jesudass, Chorus
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Sanga Natham1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Maanavarkalae | Students! |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Enna vendum umakku | Male: What do you need? |
| Chorus :Hae haei | Chorus: Hae haei |
| Male :Ennidaththilum | Male: In my hands too, |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Kayulundu sarakku | Male: There is good material/substance! |
| Male | |
| Maanavarkalae | Students! |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Enna vendum umakku | Male: What do you need? |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Ennidaththilum | Male: In my hands too, |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Kayulundu sarakku | Male: There is good material/substance! |
| Male | |
| Kindal enna keli enna | Why mock and why ridicule? |
| Naanum oru maanavanthaan | I too am a student! |
| Kalloori vaazhkkaiyilae | In college life, |
| Ungalai pola aanavanthaan | I became just like you. |
| Vaguppil vediyai koluththi pottu | Lighting crackers inside the classroom, |
| Vambu valaththavanthaan | I was one who picked trouble. |
| Kadaisi bench-yil olinju | Hiding behind the last bench, |
| Kaagitha ambu thoduththavanthaan | I was one who launched paper arrows. |
| Male | |
| Maanavarkalae | Students! |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Enna vendum umakku | Male: What do you need? |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Ennidaththilum | Male: In my hands too, |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Kayulundu sarakku | Male: There is good material/substance! |
| Male | |
| Ungalukku udhavaathu sariththiram boogolam | History and geography alone won't help you; |
| Puththi solli kelaathu vekkangetta vedhaalam | The shameless phantom will not listen to advice. |
| Ungalukku udhavaathu sariththiram boogolam | History and geography alone won't help you; |
| Puththi solli kelaathu vekkangetta vedhaalam | The shameless phantom will not listen to advice. |
| Male | |
| Ilamai ennaalum nilaiyaagaathu | Youth will never remain forever, |
| Kadamai ondraethaan azhiyaathathu | Duty alone is indestructible. |
| Chorus | |
| …………………. | [Instrumental / Music] |
| Male | |
| : Kottangal adiththu kuthikkum vaazhkkai | A life spent jumping around in playful antics, |
| Inikkum ippothu | Feels sweet right now. |
| Aanaal pattangal vaangi theruvil nindraal | But when you stand on the street holding degree certificates, |
| Theriyum appothu | You will realize it then! |
| Male | |
| Maanavarkalae | Students! |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Enna vendum umakku | Male: What do you need? |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Ennidaththilum | Male: In my hands too, |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Kayulundu sarakku | Male: There is good material/substance! |
| Male | |
| Kindal enna keli enna | Why mock and why ridicule? |
| Naanum oru maanavanthaan | I too am a student! |
| Kalloori vaazhkkaiyilae | In college life, |
| Ungalai pola aanavanthaan | I became just like you. |
| Vaguppil vediyai koluththi pottu | Lighting crackers inside the classroom, |
| Vambu valaththavanthaan | I was one who picked trouble. |
| Kadaisi bench-yil olinju | Hiding behind the last bench, |
| Kaagitha ambu thoduththavanthaan | I was one who launched paper arrows. |
| Male | |
| Maanavarkalae | Students! |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Enna vendum umakku | Male: What do you need? |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Ennidaththilum | Male: In my hands too, |
| Chorus :Aei | Chorus: Aei |
| Male :Kayulundu sarakku | Male: There is good material/substance! |
| Male | |
| Sorkkam ondru irunthaalae | If a heaven truly exists, |
| Namma vanthu thozha vendum | We must go and worship it together. |
| Varkkamattra samuthaayam ondru ingu | A classless society, |
| Ezha vendum | Must rise up here! |
| Male | |
| Sorkkam ondru irunthaalae | If a heaven truly exists, |
| Namma vanthu thozha vendum | We must go and worship it together. |
| Varkkamattra samuthaayam ondru ingu | A classless society, |
| Ezha vendum | Must rise up here! |
| Male | |
| Ellaam vidhi endraal thavaraanathu | To say everything is fate is wrong, |
| Ellaam podhuvendru mudivaanathu | To decide that everything belongs to all is right. |
| Ellaam vidhi endraal thavaraanathu | To say everything is fate is wrong, |
| Ellaam podhuvendru mudivaanathu | To decide that everything belongs to all is right. |
| Male | |
| Arivai valarththu karangal uyarththu | Develop knowledge and raise your hands, |
| Edhuvum thappaathu | Nothing will go wrong. |
| Aanaal visaiyai kizhiththu pudhiya udhayam | But tearing through force, a new dawn— |
| Kaanbathu eppothu | When will we see it? |
| Male | |
| Maanavarkalae | Students! |
| Enna vendum umakku | What do you need? |
| Ennidaththilum | In my hands too, |
| Kayulundu sarakku | There is good material/substance! |
| Male | |
| Kindal enna keli enna | Why mock and why ridicule? |
| Naanum oru maanavanthaan | I too am a student! |
| Kalloori vaazhkkaiyilae | In college life, |
| Ungalai pola aanavanthaan | I became just like you. |
| Vaguppil vediyai koluththi pottu | Lighting crackers inside the classroom, |
| Vambu valaththavanthaan | I was one who picked trouble. |
| Kadaisi bench-yil olinju | Hiding behind the last bench, |
| Kaagitha ambu thoduththavanthaan | I was one who launched paper arrows. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………….. | [Instrumental / Music] |
மாணவர்களே
குழு :
ஏய்
என்ன வேண்டும் உமக்கு
குழு :
ஹே ஹேய்
என்னிடத்திலும்
குழு :
ஏய்
கையுளுண்டு சரக்கு
Students!
Chorus: Aei
Male: What do you need?
Chorus: Hae haei
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus: Aei
Male: There is good material/substance!
மாணவர்களே
குழு :
ஏய்
என்ன வேண்டும் உமக்கு
குழு :
ஏய்
என்னிடத்திலும்
குழு :
ஏய்
கையுளுண்டு சரக்கு
Students!
Chorus: Aei
Male: What do you need?
Chorus: Aei
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus: Aei
Male: There is good material/substance!
கிண்டல் என்ன கேலி என்ன
நானும் ஒரு மாணவன்தான்
கல்லூரி வாழ்க்கையிலே
உங்களை போல ஆனவன்தான்
வகுப்பில் வெடியை கொளுத்தி போட்டு
வம்பு வளத்தவன்தான்
கடைசி பெஞ்சியில் ஒளிஞ்சு
காகித அம்பு தொடுத்தவன்தான்
Why mock and why ridicule?
I too am a student!
In college life,
I became just like you.
Lighting crackers inside the classroom,
I was one who picked trouble.
Hiding behind the last bench,
I was one who launched paper arrows.
மாணவர்களே
குழு :
ஏய்
என்ன வேண்டும் உமக்கு
குழு :
ஏய்
என்னிடத்திலும்
குழு :
ஏய்
கையுளுண்டு சரக்கு
Students!
Chorus: Aei
Male: What do you need?
Chorus: Aei
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus: Aei
Male: There is good material/substance!
உங்களுக்கு உதவாது சரித்திரம் பூகோளம்
புத்தி சொல்லி கேளாது வெக்கங்கெட்ட வேதாளம்
உங்களுக்கு உதவாது சரித்திரம் பூகோளம்
புத்தி சொல்லி கேளாது வெக்கங்கெட்ட வேதாளம்
History and geography alone won't help you;
The shameless phantom will not listen to advice.
History and geography alone won't help you;
The shameless phantom will not listen to advice.
இளமை எந்நாளும் நிலையாகாது
கடமை ஒன்றேதான் அழியாதது
Youth will never remain forever,
Duty alone is indestructible.
............................
[Instrumental / Music]
கொட்டங்கள் அடித்து குதிக்கும் வாழ்க்கை
இனிக்கும் இப்போது
ஆனால் பட்டங்கள் வாங்கி தெருவில் நின்றால்
தெரியும் அப்போது
A life spent jumping around in playful antics,
Feels sweet right now.
But when you stand on the street holding degree certificates,
You will realize it then!
மாணவர்களே
குழு :
ஏய்
என்ன வேண்டும் உமக்கு
குழு :
ஏய்
என்னிடத்திலும்
குழு :
ஏய்
கையுளுண்டு சரக்கு
Students!
Chorus: Aei
Male: What do you need?
Chorus: Aei
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus: Aei
Male: There is good material/substance!
கிண்டல் என்ன கேலி என்ன
நானும் ஒரு மாணவன்தான்
கல்லூரி வாழ்க்கையிலே
உங்களை போல ஆனவன்தான்
வகுப்பில் வெடியை கொளுத்தி போட்டு
வம்பு வளத்தவன்தான்
கடைசி பெஞ்சியில் ஒளிஞ்சு
காகித அம்பு தொடுத்தவன்தான்
Why mock and why ridicule?
I too am a student!
In college life,
I became just like you.
Lighting crackers inside the classroom,
I was one who picked trouble.
Hiding behind the last bench,
I was one who launched paper arrows.
மாணவர்களே
குழு :
ஏய்
என்ன வேண்டும் உமக்கு
குழு :
ஏய்
என்னிடத்திலும்
குழு :
ஏய்
கையுளுண்டு சரக்கு
Students!
Chorus: Aei
Male: What do you need?
Chorus: Aei
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus: Aei
Male: There is good material/substance!
சொர்க்கம் ஒன்று இருந்தாலே
நம்மை வந்து தொழ வேண்டும்
வர்க்கமற்ற சமுதாயம் ஒன்று இங்கு
எழ வேண்டும்
If a heaven truly exists,
We must go and worship it together.
A classless society,
Must rise up here!
சொர்க்கம் ஒன்று இருந்தாலே
நம்மை வந்து தொழ வேண்டும்
வர்க்கமற்ற சமுதாயம் ஒன்று இங்கு
எழ வேண்டும்
If a heaven truly exists,
We must go and worship it together.
A classless society,
Must rise up here!
எல்லாம் விதி என்றால் தவறானது
எல்லாம் பொதுவென்று முடிவானது
எல்லாம் விதி என்றால் தவறானது
எல்லாம் பொதுவென்று முடிவானது
To say everything is fate is wrong,
To decide that everything belongs to all is right.
To say everything is fate is wrong,
To decide that everything belongs to all is right.
அறிவை வளர்த்து கரங்கள் உயர்த்து
எதுவும் தப்பாது
ஆனால் விசையை கிழித்து புதிய உதயம்
காண்பது எப்போது
Develop knowledge and raise your hands,
Nothing will go wrong.
But tearing through force, a new dawn—
When will we see it?
மாணவர்களே
என்ன வேண்டும் உமக்கு
என்னிடத்திலும்
கையுளுண்டு சரக்கு
Students!
What do you need?
In my hands too,
There is good material/substance!
கிண்டல் என்ன கேலி என்ன
நானும் ஒரு மாணவன்தான்
கல்லூரி வாழ்க்கையிலே
உங்களை போல ஆனவன்தான்
வகுப்பில் வெடியை கொளுத்தி போட்டு
வம்பு வளத்தவன்தான்
கடைசி பெஞ்சியில் ஒளிஞ்சு
காகித அம்பு தொடுத்தவன்தான்
Why mock and why ridicule?
I too am a student!
In college life,
I became just like you.
Lighting crackers inside the classroom,
I was one who picked trouble.
Hiding behind the last bench,
I was one who launched paper arrows.
.................................
[Instrumental / Music]
Maanavarkalae
Students!
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Enna vendum umakku
Male: What do you need?
Chorus :Hae haei
Chorus: Hae haei
Male :Ennidaththilum
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Kayulundu sarakku
Male: There is good material/substance!
Maanavarkalae
Students!
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Enna vendum umakku
Male: What do you need?
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Ennidaththilum
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Kayulundu sarakku
Male: There is good material/substance!
Kindal enna keli enna
Why mock and why ridicule?
Naanum oru maanavanthaan
I too am a student!
Kalloori vaazhkkaiyilae
In college life,
Ungalai pola aanavanthaan
I became just like you.
Vaguppil vediyai koluththi pottu
Lighting crackers inside the classroom,
Vambu valaththavanthaan
I was one who picked trouble.
Kadaisi bench-yil olinju
Hiding behind the last bench,
Kaagitha ambu thoduththavanthaan
I was one who launched paper arrows.
Maanavarkalae
Students!
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Enna vendum umakku
Male: What do you need?
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Ennidaththilum
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Kayulundu sarakku
Male: There is good material/substance!
Ungalukku udhavaathu sariththiram boogolam
History and geography alone won't help you;
Puththi solli kelaathu vekkangetta vedhaalam
The shameless phantom will not listen to advice.
Ungalukku udhavaathu sariththiram boogolam
History and geography alone won't help you;
Puththi solli kelaathu vekkangetta vedhaalam
The shameless phantom will not listen to advice.
Ilamai ennaalum nilaiyaagaathu
Youth will never remain forever,
Kadamai ondraethaan azhiyaathathu
Duty alone is indestructible.
………………….
[Instrumental / Music]
: Kottangal adiththu kuthikkum vaazhkkai
A life spent jumping around in playful antics,
Inikkum ippothu
Feels sweet right now.
Aanaal pattangal vaangi theruvil nindraal
But when you stand on the street holding degree certificates,
Theriyum appothu
You will realize it then!
Maanavarkalae
Students!
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Enna vendum umakku
Male: What do you need?
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Ennidaththilum
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Kayulundu sarakku
Male: There is good material/substance!
Kindal enna keli enna
Why mock and why ridicule?
Naanum oru maanavanthaan
I too am a student!
Kalloori vaazhkkaiyilae
In college life,
Ungalai pola aanavanthaan
I became just like you.
Vaguppil vediyai koluththi pottu
Lighting crackers inside the classroom,
Vambu valaththavanthaan
I was one who picked trouble.
Kadaisi bench-yil olinju
Hiding behind the last bench,
Kaagitha ambu thoduththavanthaan
I was one who launched paper arrows.
Maanavarkalae
Students!
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Enna vendum umakku
Male: What do you need?
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Ennidaththilum
Male: In my hands too,
Chorus :Aei
Chorus: Aei
Male :Kayulundu sarakku
Male: There is good material/substance!
Sorkkam ondru irunthaalae
If a heaven truly exists,
Namma vanthu thozha vendum
We must go and worship it together.
Varkkamattra samuthaayam ondru ingu
A classless society,
Ezha vendum
Must rise up here!
Sorkkam ondru irunthaalae
If a heaven truly exists,
Namma vanthu thozha vendum
We must go and worship it together.
Varkkamattra samuthaayam ondru ingu
A classless society,
Ezha vendum
Must rise up here!
Ellaam vidhi endraal thavaraanathu
To say everything is fate is wrong,
Ellaam podhuvendru mudivaanathu
To decide that everything belongs to all is right.
Ellaam vidhi endraal thavaraanathu
To say everything is fate is wrong,
Ellaam podhuvendru mudivaanathu
To decide that everything belongs to all is right.
Arivai valarththu karangal uyarththu
Develop knowledge and raise your hands,
Edhuvum thappaathu
Nothing will go wrong.
Aanaal visaiyai kizhiththu pudhiya udhayam
But tearing through force, a new dawn—
Kaanbathu eppothu
When will we see it?
Maanavarkalae
Students!
Enna vendum umakku
What do you need?
Ennidaththilum
In my hands too,
Kayulundu sarakku
There is good material/substance!
Kindal enna keli enna
Why mock and why ridicule?
Naanum oru maanavanthaan
I too am a student!
Kalloori vaazhkkaiyilae
In college life,
Ungalai pola aanavanthaan
I became just like you.
Vaguppil vediyai koluththi pottu
Lighting crackers inside the classroom,
Vambu valaththavanthaan
I was one who picked trouble.
Kadaisi bench-yil olinju
Hiding behind the last bench,
Kaagitha ambu thoduththavanthaan
I was one who launched paper arrows.
………………..
[Instrumental / Music]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Maanavarkalae from the 1984 Tamil film Sanga Natham is a social awakening song directed at college students. The singer begins by connecting with the youth on their own terms, reminiscing about his own student days when he lit crackers in class and threw paper arrows from the back benches. By establishing this relatability, he gains their trust before delivering a grounded reality check about life after college.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Ilamai ennaalum nilaiyaagaathu / Kadamai ondraethaan azhiyaathathu”
Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Ilamai' and 'Kadamai' ('la' sound).
Monai (Initial Sound Alliteration)
“Kindal enna keli enna”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'K' in 'Kindal' and 'Keli'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kaagitha ambu thoduththavanthaan”
'Kaagitha ambu' (paper arrows) metaphorically captures classroom mischief and student lightheartedness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sanga Natham (1984) is a political drama film directed by N. K. Viswanathan. Lyricist Vairamuthu infused socialist themes into the song, emphasizing a classless society ('Varkkamattra samuthaayam') and calling on educated youth to reject fatalism.
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