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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Manithan Manithan

From Manithan · 1987

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singer: Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director: Chandrabose
Movie name: Manithan
Movie release year: 1987
Lyrics added on: 22 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Manithan manithan

Evanthan manithan

Vazhumbothu sethu sethu

Pilaippavan manithana

Vazhanthapinnum perai naati

Nilaippavan manithana

Pirarukkaaga kanneerum

Pirarukkaaga senneerum

Sindhum manithan evano

Avanae manithan manithan manithan

Adutha veetil thee pudikka

Ninaippavan manithana

Andha neram odi vandhu

Anaippavan manithana

Kodumaikandum kannai moodi

Kidappavan manithana

Kovam kondu nyaayam kettu

Kothippavan manithana

Keduppavan manithana

Eduppavan manithana

Koduppavan evanadaa

Avanae manithan

Manithan manithan

Evanthan manithan

Vazhumbothu sethu sethu

Pilaippavan manithana

Vazhanthapinnum perai naati

Nilaippavan manithana

Pirarukkaaga kanneerum

Pirarukkaaga senneerum

Sindhum manithan evano

Avanae manithan manithan manithan

Ezhai pennin selai thottu

Izhuppavan manithana

Iravil mattum thaali katta

Ninaippavan manithana

Kaadhal endra perai solli

Nadippavan manithana

Natppai mattum currency note-il

Karappavan manithana

Thanmaanam kaakkavum

Penmaanam kaakkavum

Thudippavan evanadaa

Avanae manithan

Manithan manithan

Evanthan manithan

Vazhumbothu sethu sethu

Pilaippavan manithana

Vazhanthapinnum perai naati

Nilaippavan manithana

Pirarukkaaga kanneerum

Pirarukkaaga senneerum

Sindhum manithan evano

Avanae manithan manithan manithan

A human, a human,

who is truly a human?

Is he a human who dies a little each day

just to scrape by and survive?

Or is he a human who leaves behind an enduring name

and lives on even after he is gone?

The one who sheds tears for others,

and the one who spills his own blood for others—

whoever that man may be,

he alone is a true human, a real human!

Is he a human who wishes for a fire

to break out in his neighbor's house?

Or is he a human who rushes over at that very moment

to put out the flames?

Is he a human who closes his eyes

and stays silent in the face of cruelty?

Or is he a human who gets angry, demands justice,

and boils with righteous outrage?

Is the one who ruins others a human?

Is the one who takes from others a human?

The one who gives generously—

he is the true human!

A human, a human,

who is truly a human?

Is he a human who dies a little each day

just to scrape by and survive?

Or is he a human who leaves behind an enduring name

and lives on even after he is gone?

The one who sheds tears for others,

and the one who spills his own blood for others—

whoever that man may be,

he alone is a true human, a real human!

Is he a human who lays his hands

and pulls at the saree of a poor woman?

Is he a human who thinks of tying the thaali (sacred wedding thread)

only in the secrecy of the night?

Is he a human who puts on a deceitful act

in the name of love?

Is he a human who exploits friendship

only to milk currency notes?

To protect one's self-respect,

and to defend the honor of women,

the one whose heart burns with conviction—

he is the true human!

A human, a human,

who is truly a human?

Is he a human who dies a little each day

just to scrape by and survive?

Or is he a human who leaves behind an enduring name

and lives on even after he is gone?

The one who sheds tears for others,

and the one who spills his own blood for others—

whoever that man may be,

he alone is a true human, a real human!

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deeply philosophical and socially conscious inquiry into the essence of human character. Penned by Vairamuthu for the 1987 Rajinikanth film 'Manithan', the song sets up stark contrasts between selfish, cowardly existence and noble, courageous living. It questions whether someone who merely survives in fear, harms neighbors, ignores cruelty, or exploits women and friendship can truly be called a human being. Ultimately, the lyrics define a true human as someone who feels empathy for others, bleeds and cries for the suffering of fellow human beings, stands up against injustice, protects women's dignity and self-respect, and leaves behind an enduring legacy of goodness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Questions (Vinathal)

“Vazhumbothu sethu sethu / Pilaippavan manithana”

The lyrics rely heavily on a series of rhetorical questions ending with 'manithana' to provoke self-reflection on moral duties.

Anaphora (Monal / Repetition)

“Pirarukkaaga kanneerum / Pirarukkaaga senneerum”

The repetition of 'Pirarukkaaga' at the start of consecutive lines creates rhythmic emphasis on selflessness.

Antithesis (Muran)

“Keduppavan manithana / Eduppavan manithana / Koduppavan evanadaa”

Contrasting negative human actions (ruining, taking) with the positive act of giving.

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