Manidhi
From Iraivi · 2016
- Lyricist
- Vivek
- Singers
- Brinda, Ananthu, Santhosh Narayanan
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Details
- Iraivi2016
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Ulagam unadhaai | Draw the world as yours |
| Varaivaai manidhi | Draw it, oh woman |
| Manidhi veliyae vaa | Oh woman, step out |
| Manidhan endra sollukkullae | Within the word 'human' |
| Adangathae pennae | Do not be constrained, oh woman |
| Chorus | |
| Uyaram unadhae dhaan | The height is indeed yours |
| Amarndhaal uyaram theriyadhu nee | If you sit down, your height won't be seen |
| Nimirndhae vaa pennae | Stand tall and step out, oh woman |
| Chorus | |
| Manidhi veliyae vaa | Oh woman, step out |
| Manidhiii….. manidhiii… | Oh woman... oh woman... |
| Veliyae vaa..veliyae vaaa…ooo.. | Step out... step out... ooo... |
| Chorus | |
| {Koondai koththi paar | Peck at your cage and see |
| Athu thirakkum | It will open |
| Siragai neeti paar | Spread your wings and see |
| Seetedukathae evanukkum} (2) | Do not draw lots or bow to anyone |
| Chorus | |
| {Koondai koththi paarMale :{Manidhi veliyae vaa…} (4) | Peck at your cage and see (Male: Oh woman, step out...) |
| Athu thirakkum | It will open |
| Siragai neeti paar | Spread your wings and see |
| Seetedukathae evanukkum} (2) | Do not draw lots or bow to anyone |
| Chorus | |
| {Manidhi veliye vaa….} (4) | Oh woman, step out... |
| Female | |
| Yaaro vandhu suthanthiram kodukka | For someone else to come and grant you freedom |
| Neeyo adimai illaiyadi | You are not a slave, my girl |
| Male | |
| Un manadhil un suthandhiram undu | Your freedom exists within your own mind |
| Neeyae unarndhu kandupudi | Realize it and find it yourself |
| Manidhi veliye vaa…. | Oh woman, step out... |
| Manidhiii….. manidhiii… | Oh woman... oh woman... |
| Female | |
| Neeyae un sirai | You yourself are your prison |
| Unnidam irundhae | Right from within yourself |
| Valadhu kaal vaithae veliyae vaa…aaa | Step out with your right foot forward... |
| Manidhi veliyae vaa | Oh woman, step out |
| Chorus | |
| Manidhi veliyae vaa…. | Oh woman, step out... |
| Manidhan endra sollukkullae | Within the word 'human' |
| Adangathae pennae | Do not be constrained, oh woman |
| Chorus | |
| Manidhi veliyae vaa | Oh woman, step out |
| Uyaram unadhae dhaan…. | The height is indeed yours... |
| Amarndhaal uyaram theriyadhu nee | If you sit down, your height won't be seen |
| Nimirndhae vaa pennae | Stand tall and step out, oh woman |
| Chorus | |
| {Koondai koththi paar Male : Aaaaaa….aaaaa…aaaa.. | Peck at your cage and see (Male vocalizing) |
| Athu thirakkum | It will open |
| Siragai neeti paar | Spread your wings and see |
| Seetedukathae evanukkum} (2) | Do not draw lots or bow to anyone |
| Male | |
| Aindhu vayadhu pinju pennai | A tender five-year-old girl child |
| Nasukkum kaamugan ingundu | Perverted abusers exist here who crush her |
| Araikurai aadai kaaranama… | Is wearing skimpy clothing really the cause? |
| Andha sisuvaiyum selaiyil moodanum… | Should even that infant child be covered in a saree? |
| Male | |
| Than mana thavarai unnidam thinikkum | Imposing its own mental sickness onto you |
| Thandhira ulagam idhu gavani | Pay attention, this is a cunning world |
| Aanukku thaai paal surandhidum kaambil | From the breast that secretes mother's milk for a male child |
| Unakku kalli paal kasindhidum kanmani | Poisonous cactus milk drips for you, my dear child |
| Male | |
| Kanmani.. eeeee..eeeeeeee..eee | My dear child... |
| Kanmani..eeeeeee..eeeeeee | My dear child... |
| Kanmani…eeeeeee……. | My dear child... |
உலகம் உனதாய்
வரைவாய் மனிதி மனிதி
வெளியே வா மனிதன்
என்ற சொல்லுக்குள்ளே
அடங்காதே பெண்ணே
Draw the world as yours
Draw it, oh woman
Oh woman, step out
Within the word 'human'
Do not be constrained, oh woman
உயரம் உனதேதான்
அமா்ந்தால் உயரம் தொியாது
நீ நிமிா்ந்தே வா பெண்ணே
The height is indeed yours
If you sit down, your height won't be seen
Stand tall and step out, oh woman
மனிதி வெளியே வா
மனிதி ......... மனிதி ........
வெளியே வா..........
வெளியே வா............ஓஓஓ
Oh woman, step out
Oh woman... oh woman...
Step out... step out... ooo...
{ கூண்டை கொத்திப் பாா்
அது திறக்கும் சிறகை நீட்டிப்பாா்
சீட்டெடுக்காதே எவனுக்கும் } (2)
Peck at your cage and see
It will open
Spread your wings and see
Do not draw lots or bow to anyone
{ கூண்டை கொத்திப் பாா்
{ மனிதி வெளியே வா } (4)
அது திறக்கும் சிறகை நீட்டிப்பாா்
சீட்டெடுக்காதே எவனுக்கும் } (2)
Peck at your cage and see (Male: Oh woman, step out...)
It will open
Spread your wings and see
Do not draw lots or bow to anyone
{ மனிதி வெளியே வா } (4)
Oh woman, step out...
யாரோ வந்து
சுதந்திரம் கொடுக்க
நீயோ அடிமை இல்லையடி
For someone else to come and grant you freedom
You are not a slave, my girl
உன் மனதில்
உன் சுதந்திரம் உண்டு
நீயே உணா்ந்து கண்டுபிடி
மனிதி வெளியே வா
மனிதி மனிதி
Your freedom exists within your own mind
Realize it and find it yourself
Oh woman, step out...
Oh woman... oh woman...
நீயே உன் சிறை
உன்னிடம் இருந்தே
வலது கால் வைத்தே
வெளியே வா மனிதி
வெளியே வா
You yourself are your prison
Right from within yourself
Step out with your right foot forward...
Oh woman, step out
மனிதி வெளியே வா
மனிதன் என்ற சொல்லுக்குள்ளே
அடங்காதே பெண்ணே
Oh woman, step out...
Within the word 'human'
Do not be constrained, oh woman
மனிதி வெளியே வா
உயரம் உனதேதான்
அமா்ந்தால் உயரம் தொியாது
நீ நிமிா்ந்தே வா பெண்ணே
Oh woman, step out
The height is indeed yours...
If you sit down, your height won't be seen
Stand tall and step out, oh woman
{ கூண்டை கொத்திப் பாா்
............................................
அது திறக்கும் சிறகை நீட்டிப்பாா்
சீட்டெடுக்காதே எவனுக்கும் } (2)
Peck at your cage and see (Male vocalizing)
It will open
Spread your wings and see
Do not draw lots or bow to anyone
ஐந்து வயதுப் பிஞ்சுப்
பெண்ணை நசுக்கும் காமுகன்
இங்குண்டு அரைகுறை ஆடை
காரணமா அந்த சிசுவையும்
சேலையில் மூடனும்
A tender five-year-old girl child
Perverted abusers exist here who crush her
Is wearing skimpy clothing really the cause?
Should even that infant child be covered in a saree?
தன்மன தவறை
உன்னிடம் திணிக்கும்
தந்திர உலகம் இது கவனி
ஆணுக்குத் தாய்ப்பால்
சுரந்திடும் காம்பில் உனக்குக்
கள்ளிப்பால் கசிந்திடும்
கண்மணி
Imposing its own mental sickness onto you
Pay attention, this is a cunning world
From the breast that secretes mother's milk for a male child
Poisonous cactus milk drips for you, my dear child
கண்மணி...........
கண்மணி ......... கண்மணி........
My dear child...
My dear child...
My dear child...
Ulagam unadhaai
Draw the world as yours
Varaivaai manidhi
Draw it, oh woman
Manidhi veliyae vaa
Oh woman, step out
Manidhan endra sollukkullae
Within the word 'human'
Adangathae pennae
Do not be constrained, oh woman
Uyaram unadhae dhaan
The height is indeed yours
Amarndhaal uyaram theriyadhu nee
If you sit down, your height won't be seen
Nimirndhae vaa pennae
Stand tall and step out, oh woman
Manidhi veliyae vaa
Oh woman, step out
Manidhiii….. manidhiii…
Oh woman... oh woman...
Veliyae vaa..veliyae vaaa…ooo..
Step out... step out... ooo...
{Koondai koththi paar
Peck at your cage and see
Athu thirakkum
It will open
Siragai neeti paar
Spread your wings and see
Seetedukathae evanukkum} (2)
Do not draw lots or bow to anyone
{Koondai koththi paarMale :{Manidhi veliyae vaa…} (4)
Peck at your cage and see (Male: Oh woman, step out...)
Athu thirakkum
It will open
Siragai neeti paar
Spread your wings and see
Seetedukathae evanukkum} (2)
Do not draw lots or bow to anyone
{Manidhi veliye vaa….} (4)
Oh woman, step out...
Yaaro vandhu suthanthiram kodukka
For someone else to come and grant you freedom
Neeyo adimai illaiyadi
You are not a slave, my girl
Un manadhil un suthandhiram undu
Your freedom exists within your own mind
Neeyae unarndhu kandupudi
Realize it and find it yourself
Manidhi veliye vaa….
Oh woman, step out...
Manidhiii….. manidhiii…
Oh woman... oh woman...
Neeyae un sirai
You yourself are your prison
Unnidam irundhae
Right from within yourself
Valadhu kaal vaithae veliyae vaa…aaa
Step out with your right foot forward...
Manidhi veliyae vaa
Oh woman, step out
Manidhi veliyae vaa….
Oh woman, step out...
Manidhan endra sollukkullae
Within the word 'human'
Adangathae pennae
Do not be constrained, oh woman
Manidhi veliyae vaa
Oh woman, step out
Uyaram unadhae dhaan….
The height is indeed yours...
Amarndhaal uyaram theriyadhu nee
If you sit down, your height won't be seen
Nimirndhae vaa pennae
Stand tall and step out, oh woman
{Koondai koththi paar Male : Aaaaaa….aaaaa…aaaa..
Peck at your cage and see (Male vocalizing)
Athu thirakkum
It will open
Siragai neeti paar
Spread your wings and see
Seetedukathae evanukkum} (2)
Do not draw lots or bow to anyone
Aindhu vayadhu pinju pennai
A tender five-year-old girl child
Nasukkum kaamugan ingundu
Perverted abusers exist here who crush her
Araikurai aadai kaaranama…
Is wearing skimpy clothing really the cause?
Andha sisuvaiyum selaiyil moodanum…
Should even that infant child be covered in a saree?
Than mana thavarai unnidam thinikkum
Imposing its own mental sickness onto you
Thandhira ulagam idhu gavani
Pay attention, this is a cunning world
Aanukku thaai paal surandhidum kaambil
From the breast that secretes mother's milk for a male child
Unakku kalli paal kasindhidum kanmani
Poisonous cactus milk drips for you, my dear child
Kanmani.. eeeee..eeeeeeee..eee
My dear child...
Kanmani..eeeeeee..eeeeeee
My dear child...
Kanmani…eeeeeee…….
My dear child...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Manidhi from the movie Iraivi is a fierce feminist anthem that calls upon women to break free from patriarchal constraints, social conditioning, and self-imposed limitations. The song asserts that freedom is not a gift bestowed by men or society, but a fundamental right that women must claim through self-realization and courage. By addressing systemic gender bias and victim-blaming culture, the song urges women to stand tall and step into the world as equal human beings.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Coining / Linguistic Innovation
“Manidhan endra sollukkullae / Adangathae pennae”
The lyricist uses 'Manidhi' as a distinct female counterpart to 'Manidhan' (human/man), challenging the linguistic bias where humanity is default-gendered male.
Metaphor
“Koondai koththi paar... Siragai neeti paar”
Comparing societal constraints and fear to a cage ('Koondai') and a prison ('Sirai'), while urging women to spread their wings ('Siragai neeti').
Contrast / Rhetorical Irony
“Aanukku thaai paal surandhidum kaambil / Unakku kalli paal kasindhidum kanmani”
Contrasting nourishing mother's milk given to a male child with poisonous cactus milk ('kalli paal', historically linked to female infanticide) symbolic of societal male bias.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Santhosh Narayanan with lyrics by Vivek for the 2016 film Iraivi directed by Karthik Subbaraj, the term 'Manidhi' was coined specifically to emphasize a feminine identity within humanity. The song features vocals by Santhosh Narayanan and Ananthu, serving as a central thematic motif for the film's narrative on women's liberation.
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