Manithan Ellam
From Azhagu Nila · 1962
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Azhagu Nila1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan | Man has learned everything |
| Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan | He understood the way to live |
| Irundha podhum manidhanukku | Even so, for man |
| Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo | There is only one thing he does not know, hoo |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan | Man has learned everything |
| Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan | He understood the way to live |
| Irundha podhum manidhanukku | Even so, for man |
| Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo | There is only one thing he does not know, hoo |
| Male | |
| Iniya kuralil kuyil polae | Like a cuckoo with a sweet voice |
| Isaiyum azhagaai paadugindraan | He sings music beautifully |
| Erudhugal polae vandigalai | Like oxen pulling carts |
| Izhuthu kondu oodugindraan | He runs pulling his burdens |
| Male | |
| Vanathil vaazhum paravaigal pol | Like birds living in the forest |
| Vaanil parandhu thirigindraan | He flies and wanders in the sky |
| Vanathil vaazhum paravaigal pol | Like birds living in the forest |
| Vaanil parandhu thirigindraan | He flies and wanders in the sky |
| Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum | Only how to live as a human being |
| Manidhanukku theriyavillai hooo | Man does not know, hooo |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan | Man has learned everything |
| Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan | He understood the way to live |
| Irundha podhum manidhanukku | Even so, for man |
| Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo | There is only one thing he does not know, hoo |
| Male | |
| Saramilla vaazhkkaiyilae | In this essence-less life |
| Sakkaram polae suzhalugindraan | He spins around like a wheel |
| Eera mannal pala uruvai | Out of wet clay, into many shapes |
| Iraivan polae padaigkindraan | He creates like God |
| Male | |
| Melum vilaivu nelivugalai | Furthermore, the flaws and bends |
| Neekki olungu paduthugindraan | He removes and sets in order |
| Melum vilaivu nelivugalai | Furthermore, the flaws and bends |
| Neekki olungu paduthugindraan | He removes and sets in order |
| Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum | Only how to live as a human being |
| Manidhanukku theriyavillai hoo | Man does not know, hoo |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan | Man has learned everything |
| Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan | He understood the way to live |
| Irundha podhum manidhanukku | Even so, for man |
| Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo | There is only one thing he does not know, hoo |
| Male | |
| Kollum paambin kodum vishathai | The deadly venom of a killing snake |
| Sollil kodukka therindhu kondaan | He has learned to give through his words |
| Kullanari pol thandhirathaal | With cunning like a sly fox |
| Kudiyai kedukka purindhu kondaan | He understood how to ruin families |
| Male | |
| Velli panathal mattravarai | With silver money, others |
| Vilaikku vaanga therindhu kondaan | He learned to purchase |
| Velli panathal mattravarai | With silver money, others |
| Vilaikku vaanga therindhu kondaan | He learned to purchase |
| Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum | Only how to live as a human being |
| Manidhanukku theriyavillai hoo | Man does not know, hoo |
| Male | |
| Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan | Man has learned everything |
| Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan | He understood the way to live |
| Irundha podhum manidhanukku | Even so, for man |
| Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo | There is only one thing he does not know, hoo |
மனிதன் எல்லாம் தெரிந்து கொண்டான்
வாழும் வகை புரிந்து கொண்டான்
இருந்த போதும் மனிதனுக்கு
ஒன்று மட்டும் தெரியவில்லை ஹோ
Man has learned everything
He understood the way to live
Even so, for man
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
மனிதன் எல்லாம் தெரிந்து கொண்டான்
வாழும் வகை புரிந்து கொண்டான்
இருந்த போதும் மனிதனுக்கு
ஒன்று மட்டும் தெரியவில்லை ஹோ
Man has learned everything
He understood the way to live
Even so, for man
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
இனிய குரலில் குயில் போலே
இசையும் அழகாய்ப் பாடுகின்றான்
எருதுகள் போலே வண்டிகளை
இழுத்துக் கொண்டு ஓடுகின்றான்
Like a cuckoo with a sweet voice
He sings music beautifully
Like oxen pulling carts
He runs pulling his burdens
வனத்தில் வாழும் பறவைகள் போல்
வானில் பறந்து திரிகின்றான்
வனத்தில் வாழும் பறவைகள் போல்
வானில் பறந்து திரிகின்றான்
மனிதனாக வாழ மட்டும்
மனிதனுக்குத் தெரியவில்லை
Like birds living in the forest
He flies and wanders in the sky
Like birds living in the forest
He flies and wanders in the sky
Only how to live as a human being
Man does not know, hooo
மனிதன் எல்லாம் தெரிந்து கொண்டான்
வாழும் வகை புரிந்து கொண்டான்
இருந்த போதும் மனிதனுக்கு
ஒன்று மட்டும் தெரியவில்லை ஹோ
Man has learned everything
He understood the way to live
Even so, for man
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
சாரமில்லா வாழ்க்கையிலே
சக்கரம் போலே சுழலுகின்றான்
ஈர மண்ணால் பல உருவை
இறைவன் போலே படைக்கின்றான்
In this essence-less life
He spins around like a wheel
Out of wet clay, into many shapes
He creates like God
நேரும் வளைவு நெளிவுகளை
நீக்கி ஒழுங்கு படுத்துகின்றான்
நேரும் வளைவு நெளிவுகளை
நீக்கி ஒழுங்கு படுத்துகின்றான்
மனிதனாக வாழ மட்டும்
மனிதனுக்கு தெரியவில்லை
Furthermore, the flaws and bends
He removes and sets in order
Furthermore, the flaws and bends
He removes and sets in order
Only how to live as a human being
Man does not know, hoo
மனிதன் எல்லாம் தெரிந்து கொண்டான்
வாழும் வகை புரிந்து கொண்டான்
இருந்த போதும் மனிதனுக்கு
ஒன்று மட்டும் தெரியவில்லை ஹோ
Man has learned everything
He understood the way to live
Even so, for man
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
கொல்லும் பாம்பின் கொடும் விஷத்தை
சொல்லில் கொடுக்கத் தெரிந்து கொண்டான்
குள்ளநரி போல் தந்திரத்தால்
குடியைக் கெடுக்கப் புரிந்து கொண்டான்
The deadly venom of a killing snake
He has learned to give through his words
With cunning like a sly fox
He understood how to ruin families
வெள்ளிப் பணத்தால் மற்றவரை
விலைக்கு வாங்கத் தெரிந்து கொண்டான்
வெள்ளிப் பணத்தால் மற்றவரை
விலைக்கு வாங்கத் தெரிந்து கொண்டான்
மனிதனாக வாழ மட்டும்
மனிதனுக்குத் தெரியவில்லை ஹோ
With silver money, others
He learned to purchase
With silver money, others
He learned to purchase
Only how to live as a human being
Man does not know, hoo
மனிதன் எல்லாம் தெரிந்து கொண்டான்
வாழும் வகை புரிந்து கொண்டான்
இருந்த போதும் மனிதனுக்கு
ஒன்று மட்டும் தெரியவில்லை ஹோ
Man has learned everything
He understood the way to live
Even so, for man
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Man has learned everything
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
He understood the way to live
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Even so, for man
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Man has learned everything
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
He understood the way to live
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Even so, for man
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
Iniya kuralil kuyil polae
Like a cuckoo with a sweet voice
Isaiyum azhagaai paadugindraan
He sings music beautifully
Erudhugal polae vandigalai
Like oxen pulling carts
Izhuthu kondu oodugindraan
He runs pulling his burdens
Vanathil vaazhum paravaigal pol
Like birds living in the forest
Vaanil parandhu thirigindraan
He flies and wanders in the sky
Vanathil vaazhum paravaigal pol
Like birds living in the forest
Vaanil parandhu thirigindraan
He flies and wanders in the sky
Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum
Only how to live as a human being
Manidhanukku theriyavillai hooo
Man does not know, hooo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Man has learned everything
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
He understood the way to live
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Even so, for man
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
Saramilla vaazhkkaiyilae
In this essence-less life
Sakkaram polae suzhalugindraan
He spins around like a wheel
Eera mannal pala uruvai
Out of wet clay, into many shapes
Iraivan polae padaigkindraan
He creates like God
Melum vilaivu nelivugalai
Furthermore, the flaws and bends
Neekki olungu paduthugindraan
He removes and sets in order
Melum vilaivu nelivugalai
Furthermore, the flaws and bends
Neekki olungu paduthugindraan
He removes and sets in order
Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum
Only how to live as a human being
Manidhanukku theriyavillai hoo
Man does not know, hoo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Man has learned everything
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
He understood the way to live
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Even so, for man
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
Kollum paambin kodum vishathai
The deadly venom of a killing snake
Sollil kodukka therindhu kondaan
He has learned to give through his words
Kullanari pol thandhirathaal
With cunning like a sly fox
Kudiyai kedukka purindhu kondaan
He understood how to ruin families
Velli panathal mattravarai
With silver money, others
Vilaikku vaanga therindhu kondaan
He learned to purchase
Velli panathal mattravarai
With silver money, others
Vilaikku vaanga therindhu kondaan
He learned to purchase
Manidhanaaga vaazha mattum
Only how to live as a human being
Manidhanukku theriyavillai hoo
Man does not know, hoo
Manidhan ellam therindhu kondaan
Man has learned everything
Vaazhum vagai purindhu kondaan
He understood the way to live
Irundha podhum manidhanukku
Even so, for man
Ondru mattum theriyavillaiyae hoo
There is only one thing he does not know, hoo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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