Manidhan Ninaippadhundu
From Avandhan Manidhan · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Avandhan Manidhan1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Manidhan ninaippadhundu… | Man thinks... |
| Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru… | That life will last forever... |
| Iraivan ninaippadhundu… | God thinks... |
| Paavam manidhanendru… | Pity, poor human... |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ninaippadhundu | Man thinks... |
| Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru | That life will last forever |
| Manidhan ninaippadhundu | Man thinks... |
| Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru | That life will last forever |
| Iraivan ninaippadhundu | God thinks... |
| Paavam manidhanendru | Pity, poor human |
| Iraivan ninaippadhundu | God thinks... |
| Paavam manidhanendru | Pity, poor human |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ninaippadhundu | Man thinks... |
| Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru | That life will last forever |
| Male | |
| Thandhai thavaru seidhaar | The father made a mistake |
| Thaayum idam koduthaal | The mother gave space for it |
| Thandhai thavaru seidhaar | The father made a mistake |
| Thaayum idam koduthaal | The mother gave space for it |
| Vandhu pirandhu vittom | We were born into this world |
| Verum bandham valarthu vittom | We nurtured mere attachment |
| Manadhu thudikkiradhu | The heart throbs with pain |
| Mayakkam varugindradhu | Dizziness sets in |
| Azhudhu laabamenna | What is the gain in crying? |
| Avan aatchi nadakkindradhu | His divine rule alone takes place |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ninaippadhundu | Man thinks... |
| Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru | That life will last forever |
| Male | |
| Kaattu manamirundhaal | If one possesses an untamed mind |
| Kavalai valardhu vidum | Worries will only grow |
| Kaattu manamirundhaal | If one possesses an untamed mind |
| Kavalai valardhu vidum | Worries will only grow |
| Koottai thirandhu vittaal | If the cage is opened |
| Andha kuruvi parandhu vidum | That bird will fly away |
| Kaalil vilangum ittom | We placed fetters on our legs |
| Kadamai yena azhaithom | And called them duty |
| Naalu vilangugalil dhinam | Bound by four shackles every day |
| Naattiyam aadugindrom | We keep dancing to life's tune |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ninaippadhundu | Man thinks... |
| Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru | That life will last forever |
| Male | |
| Vidhiyin radhangalilae naam | In the chariots of destiny |
| Viraindhu payanam seidhaal | As we travel swiftly |
| Madhiyum mayangudhadaa | Even the intellect gets confused |
| Siru manamum kalangudhadaa | The little heart becomes troubled |
| Kodukka edhuvumillai | There is nothing left to give |
| En kuzhappam mudindhadhadaa | My confusion has finally ended |
| Kanakkai mudithu vitten | I have settled all accounts |
| Oru kavalai mudindhadhadaa | One major worry has come to an end |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ninaippadhundu | Man thinks... |
| Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru | That life will last forever |
| Iraivan ninaippadhundu | God thinks... |
| Paavam manidhanendru | Pity, poor human |
மனிதன் நினைப்பதுண்டு...
வாழ்வு நிலைக்குமென்று...
இறைவன் நினைப்பதுண்டு...
பாவம் மனிதனென்று...
Man thinks...
That life will last forever...
God thinks...
Pity, poor human...
மனிதன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
வாழ்வு நிலைக்குமென்று
மனிதன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
வாழ்வு நிலைக்குமென்று
இறைவன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
பாவம் மனிதனென்று
இறைவன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
பாவம் மனிதனென்று
Man thinks...
That life will last forever
Man thinks...
That life will last forever
God thinks...
Pity, poor human
God thinks...
Pity, poor human
மனிதன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
வாழ்வு நிலைக்குமென்று
Man thinks...
That life will last forever
தந்தை தவறு செய்தார்
தாயும் இடம் கொடுத்தாள்
தந்தை தவறு செய்தார்
தாயும் இடம் கொடுத்தாள்
வந்து பிறந்து விட்டோம் வெறும்
வெறும் பந்தம் வளர்த்து விட்டோம்
மனது துடிக்கிறது
மயக்கம் வருகின்றது
அழுது லாபமென்ன
அவன் ஆட்சி நடக்கின்றது
The father made a mistake
The mother gave space for it
The father made a mistake
The mother gave space for it
We were born into this world
We nurtured mere attachment
The heart throbs with pain
Dizziness sets in
What is the gain in crying?
His divine rule alone takes place
மனிதன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
வாழ்வு நிலைக்குமென்று
Man thinks...
That life will last forever
காட்டு மனமிருந்தால்
கவலை வளர்ந்து விடும்
காட்டு மனமிருந்தால்
கவலை வளர்ந்துவிடும்
கூட்டை திறந்து விட்டால்
அந்த குருவி பறந்து விடும்
காலில் விலங்கும் இட்டோம்
கடமை என அழைத்தோம்
நாலு விலங்குகளில் தினம்
நாட்டியம் ஆடுகின்றோம்
If one possesses an untamed mind
Worries will only grow
If one possesses an untamed mind
Worries will only grow
If the cage is opened
That bird will fly away
We placed fetters on our legs
And called them duty
Bound by four shackles every day
We keep dancing to life's tune
மனிதன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
வாழ்வு நிலைக்குமென்று
Man thinks...
That life will last forever
விதியின் ரதங்களிலே நாம்
விரைந்து பயணம் செய்தால்
மதியும் மயங்குதடா
சிறு மனமும் கலங்குதடா
கொடுக்க எதுவுமில்லை
என் குழப்பம் முடிந்ததடா
கணக்கை முடித்து விட்டேன்
ஒரு கவலை முடிந்ததடா
In the chariots of destiny
As we travel swiftly
Even the intellect gets confused
The little heart becomes troubled
There is nothing left to give
My confusion has finally ended
I have settled all accounts
One major worry has come to an end
மனிதன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
வாழ்வு நிலைக்குமென்று
இறைவன் நினைப்பதுண்டு
பாவம் மனிதனென்று
Man thinks...
That life will last forever
God thinks...
Pity, poor human
Manidhan ninaippadhundu…
Man thinks...
Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru…
That life will last forever...
Iraivan ninaippadhundu…
God thinks...
Paavam manidhanendru…
Pity, poor human...
Manidhan ninaippadhundu
Man thinks...
Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru
That life will last forever
Manidhan ninaippadhundu
Man thinks...
Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru
That life will last forever
Iraivan ninaippadhundu
God thinks...
Paavam manidhanendru
Pity, poor human
Iraivan ninaippadhundu
God thinks...
Paavam manidhanendru
Pity, poor human
Manidhan ninaippadhundu
Man thinks...
Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru
That life will last forever
Thandhai thavaru seidhaar
The father made a mistake
Thaayum idam koduthaal
The mother gave space for it
Thandhai thavaru seidhaar
The father made a mistake
Thaayum idam koduthaal
The mother gave space for it
Vandhu pirandhu vittom
We were born into this world
Verum bandham valarthu vittom
We nurtured mere attachment
Manadhu thudikkiradhu
The heart throbs with pain
Mayakkam varugindradhu
Dizziness sets in
Azhudhu laabamenna
What is the gain in crying?
Avan aatchi nadakkindradhu
His divine rule alone takes place
Manidhan ninaippadhundu
Man thinks...
Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru
That life will last forever
Kaattu manamirundhaal
If one possesses an untamed mind
Kavalai valardhu vidum
Worries will only grow
Kaattu manamirundhaal
If one possesses an untamed mind
Kavalai valardhu vidum
Worries will only grow
Koottai thirandhu vittaal
If the cage is opened
Andha kuruvi parandhu vidum
That bird will fly away
Kaalil vilangum ittom
We placed fetters on our legs
Kadamai yena azhaithom
And called them duty
Naalu vilangugalil dhinam
Bound by four shackles every day
Naattiyam aadugindrom
We keep dancing to life's tune
Manidhan ninaippadhundu
Man thinks...
Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru
That life will last forever
Vidhiyin radhangalilae naam
In the chariots of destiny
Viraindhu payanam seidhaal
As we travel swiftly
Madhiyum mayangudhadaa
Even the intellect gets confused
Siru manamum kalangudhadaa
The little heart becomes troubled
Kodukka edhuvumillai
There is nothing left to give
En kuzhappam mudindhadhadaa
My confusion has finally ended
Kanakkai mudithu vitten
I have settled all accounts
Oru kavalai mudindhadhadaa
One major worry has come to an end
Manidhan ninaippadhundu
Man thinks...
Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru
That life will last forever
Iraivan ninaippadhundu
God thinks...
Paavam manidhanendru
Pity, poor human
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic philosophical song from Avanthan Manithan meditates on human impermanence, destiny, and detachment. Kannadasan contrasts human foolishness—assuming life and attachments are permanent—with God's perspective, who looks upon humans with pity knowing the soul's fleeting stay in the mortal body. The lyrics explore how human desire, family bonds, and worldly obligations act as self-imposed shackles. In the end, death and acceptance of destiny bring ultimate release, settling all earthly accounts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)
“Manidhan ninaippadhundu... / Iraivan ninaippadhundu...”
Contrasts human earthly assumptions ('Manidhan ninaippadhundu') with divine reality ('Iraivan ninaippadhundu').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Koottai thirandhu vittaal / Andha kuruvi parandhu vidum”
The human body is metaphorically compared to a cage ('Koottai') and the soul to a bird ('Kuruvi') that flies away at death.
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Kaattu manamirundhaal / Koottai thirandhu vittaal”
The second letter 't/tt' rhymes across 'Kaattu' and 'Koottai', creating rhythmic cohesion.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Manidhan ninaippadhundu / Vaazhvu nilaikkumendru”
The refrain repeats throughout the song to emphasize the core philosophical thematic contrast.
Did you know?
Trivia
Avanthan Manithan (1975) was Sivaji Ganesan's 175th landmark film, directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar. The music for this iconic song was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan.
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