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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manithan Ellam

From Azhagu Nila · 1962

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Azhagu Nila
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
22 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
Iniya kuralil kuyil polae
Isaiyum azhagaai paadugindraan
Erudhugal polae vandigalai
Izhuthu kondu oodugindraan
Vanathil vaazhum paravaigal pol
Vaanil parandhu thirigindraan
Vanathil vaazhum paravaigal pol
Vaanil parandhu thirigindraan
Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum
Manidhanukku theriyavillai hooo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
Saramilla vaazhkkaiyilae
Sakkaram polae suzhalugindraan
Eera mannal pala uruvai
Iraivan polae padaigkindraan
Melum vilaivu nelivugalai
Neekki olungu paduthugindraan
Melum vilaivu nelivugalai
Neekki olungu paduthugindraan
Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum
Manidhanukku theriyavillai hoo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
Kollum paambin kodum vishathai
Sollil kodukka therindhu kondaan
Kullanari pol thandhirathaal
Kudiyai kedukka purindhu kondaan
Velli panathal mattravarai
Vilaikku vaanga therindhu kondaan
Velli panathal mattravarai
Vilaikku vaanga therindhu kondaan
Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum
Manidhanukku theriyavillai hoo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
Man has learned everything,
He has understood the way to live.
Even then, for man,
There is just one thing he does not know, oh!
Man has learned everything,
He has understood the way to live.
Even then, for man,
There is just one thing he does not know, oh!
With a sweet voice like a cuckoo,
He sings music so beautifully.
Like an ox pulling carts,
He drags loads and runs.
Like the birds living in the forest,
He flies and wanders across the sky.
Like the birds living in the forest,
He flies and wanders across the sky.
Yet how to live as a true human,
Man does not know.
Man has learned everything,
He has understood the way to live.
Even then, for man,
There is just one thing he does not know, oh!
In this shallow, empty life,
He spins around like a wheel.
From wet clay, so many forms,
He creates just like God.
Every bend and crooked curve that arises,
He straightens out and puts in order.
Every bend and crooked curve that arises,
He straightens out and puts in order.
Yet how to live as a true human,
Man does not know.
Man has learned everything,
He has understood the way to live.
Even then, for man,
There is just one thing he does not know, oh!
The deadly venom of a killer snake,
He has learned to pour into his words.
With the cunning tricks of a jackal,
He has learned to ruin homes.
With silver coins, other people,
He has learned to buy them out.
With silver coins, other people,
He has learned to buy them out.
Yet how to live as a true human,
Man does not know, oh!
Man has learned everything,
He has understood the way to live.
Even then, for man,
There is just one thing he does not know, oh!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Manidhan Ellam Therindhu Kondaan from the 1962 film Azhagu Nila is a satirical and philosophical commentary on human advancement versus moral decay. Written by A. Maruthakasi, composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and rendered by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, the song emphasizes that despite mankind's scientific, creative, and artistic triumphs—such as flying like birds, sculpting like God, and singing like cuckoos—mankind still fails at the most basic duty: living with true humanity. The lyrics critique how human intelligence is often used for deceit, greed, and destruction. Humans spew venom with their words like snakes, scheme cunningly like foxes to ruin lives, and buy people off with silver money. Ultimately, the song delivers a powerful moral message that all technological and material achievements are useless if a person does not know how to live as a virtuous human being.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Iniya kuralil kuyil polae”

Compares human singing capabilities to the sweet voice of a cuckoo bird (kuyil polae).

Upamai (Simile)

“Vanathil vaazhum paravaigal pol”

Compares human aviation technology to birds flying freely in the forest sky.

Upamai (Simile)

“Eera mannal pala uruvai Iraivan polae padaigkindraan”

Compares human creative ability in pottery/sculpting wet clay to the divine creation of God (Iraivan polae).

Upamai (Simile)

“Kullanari pol thandhirathaal”

Compares human cunningness and deceitful scheming to a fox/jackal (kullanari pol).

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Kollum paambin kodum vishathai Sollil kodukka therindhu kondaan”

Metaphorically compares toxic human speech to the deadly venom of a snake.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from Azhagu Nila (1962) features the legendary vocalist Seerkazhi Govindarajan, whose deep, resonant voice perfectly suited the moral grandiosity of lyricist A. Maruthakasi's lines. Maruthakasi was revered in Tamil cinema for writing socially evocative, highly philosophical lyrics that served as ethical lessons for society.

Keep listening

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