Manithan Manithan
From Manithan · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Manithan1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Manithan manithan | Human, human, |
| Evanthan manithan | Who indeed is a true human? |
| Vazhumbothu sethu sethu | Is he a human who lives dying every day |
| Pilaippavan manithana | Just to survive? |
| Vazhanthapinnum perai naati | Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living, |
| Nilaippavan manithana | And endures forever? |
| Male | |
| Pirarukkaaga kanneerum | One who sheds tears for others, |
| Pirarukkaaga senneerum | One who sheds red blood for others, |
| Sindhum manithan evano | Whoever that man is who sheds these, |
| Avanae manithan manithan manithan | He alone is a true human, human, human. |
| Male | |
| Adutha veetil thee pudikka | Is he a human who thinks of setting fire |
| Ninaippavan manithana | To the neighbor's house? |
| Andha neram odi vandhu | Or is he a human who rushes over at that time |
| Anaippavan manithana | To douse the flames? |
| Male | |
| Kodumaikandum kannai moodi | Is he a human who stays lying down with eyes closed |
| Kidappavan manithana | Even upon witnessing cruelty? |
| Kovam kondu nyaayam kettu | Or is he a human who gets angry, demands justice, |
| Kothippavan manithana | And seethes with rage? |
| Male | |
| Keduppavan manithana | Is he a human who ruins others? |
| Eduppavan manithana | Is he a human who takes from others? |
| Koduppavan evanadaa | Who is the one who gives generously? |
| Avanae manithan | He alone is a true human! |
| Manithan manithan | Human, human, |
| Male | |
| Evanthan manithan | Who indeed is a true human? |
| Vazhumbothu sethu sethu | Is he a human who lives dying every day |
| Pilaippavan manithana | Just to survive? |
| Vazhanthapinnum perai naati | Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living, |
| Nilaippavan manithana | And endures forever? |
| Male | |
| Pirarukkaaga kanneerum | One who sheds tears for others, |
| Pirarukkaaga senneerum | One who sheds red blood for others, |
| Sindhum manithan evano | Whoever that man is who sheds these, |
| Avanae manithan manithan manithan | He alone is a true human, human, human. |
| Male | |
| Ezhai pennin selai thottu | Is he a human who touches and pulls |
| Izhuppavan manithana | The saree of a poor woman? |
| Iravil mattum thaali katta | Is he a human who thinks of tying the sacred thread |
| Ninaippavan manithana | Only in the dark of night? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal endra perai solli | Is he a human who puts on an act |
| Nadippavan manithana | In the name of love? |
| Natppai mattum currency note-il | Is he a human who exploits friendship |
| Karappavan manithana | Only for currency notes? |
| Male | |
| Thanmaanam kaakkavum | To protect self-respect, |
| Penmaanam kaakkavum | And to protect women's honor, |
| Thudippavan evanadaa | Who is the one who strives restlessly? |
| Avanae manithan | He alone is a true human! |
| Manithan manithan | Human, human, |
| Male | |
| Evanthan manithan | Who indeed is a true human? |
| Vazhumbothu sethu sethu | Is he a human who lives dying every day |
| Pilaippavan manithana | Just to survive? |
| Vazhanthapinnum perai naati | Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living, |
| Nilaippavan manithana | And endures forever? |
| Male | |
| Pirarukkaaga kanneerum | One who sheds tears for others, |
| Pirarukkaaga senneerum | One who sheds red blood for others, |
| Sindhum manithan evano | Whoever that man is who sheds these, |
| Avanae manithan manithan manithan | He alone is a true human, human, human. |
மனிதன் மனிதன்
எவன்தான் மனிதன்
வாழும்போது செத்து
செத்து பிழைப்பவன்
மனிதனா வாழ்ந்தபின்னும்
பேரை நாட்டி நிலைப்பவன்
மனிதனா
Human, human,
Who indeed is a true human?
Is he a human who lives dying every day
Just to survive?
Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living,
And endures forever?
பிறருக்காக
கண்ணீரும் பிறருக்காக
செந்நீரும் சிந்தும் மனிதன்
எவனோ அவனே மனிதன்
மனிதன் மனிதன்
One who sheds tears for others,
One who sheds red blood for others,
Whoever that man is who sheds these,
He alone is a true human, human, human.
அடுத்தவீட்டில்
தீப்பிடிக்க நினைப்பவன்
மனிதனா அந்தநேரம் ஓடி
வந்து அணைப்பவன் மனிதனா
Is he a human who thinks of setting fire
To the neighbor's house?
Or is he a human who rushes over at that time
To douse the flames?
கொடுமைகண்டும்
கண்ணைமூடி கிடப்பவன்
மனிதனா கோபம்கொண்டு
நியாயம்கேட்டு கொதிப்பவன்
மனிதனா
Is he a human who stays lying down with eyes closed
Even upon witnessing cruelty?
Or is he a human who gets angry, demands justice,
And seethes with rage?
கெடுப்பவன்
மனிதனா எடுப்பவன்
மனிதனா கொடுப்பவன்
எவனடா அவனே மனிதன்
மனிதன் மனிதன்
Is he a human who ruins others?
Is he a human who takes from others?
Who is the one who gives generously?
He alone is a true human!
Human, human,
எவன்தான் மனிதன்
வாழும்போது செத்து
செத்து பிழைப்பவன்
மனிதனா வாழ்ந்தபின்னும்
பேரை நாட்டி நிலைப்பவன்
மனிதனா
Who indeed is a true human?
Is he a human who lives dying every day
Just to survive?
Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living,
And endures forever?
பிறருக்காக
கண்ணீரும் பிறருக்காக
செந்நீரும் சிந்தும் மனிதன்
எவனோ அவனே மனிதன்
மனிதன் மனிதன்
One who sheds tears for others,
One who sheds red blood for others,
Whoever that man is who sheds these,
He alone is a true human, human, human.
ஏழைப்பெண்ணின்
சேலைத்தொட்டு இழுப்பவன்
மனிதனா இரவில்மட்டும்
தாலிகட்ட நினைப்பவன்
மனிதனா
Is he a human who touches and pulls
The saree of a poor woman?
Is he a human who thinks of tying the sacred thread
Only in the dark of night?
காதல் என்ற
பேரைச்சொல்லி
நடிப்பவன் மனிதனா
நட்பைமட்டும் கரண்சி
நோட்டில் கறப்பவன்
மனிதனா
Is he a human who puts on an act
In the name of love?
Is he a human who exploits friendship
Only for currency notes?
தன்மானம்
காக்கவும் பெண்மானம்
காக்கவும் துடிப்பவன்
எவனடா அவனே மனிதன்
மனிதன் மனிதன்
To protect self-respect,
And to protect women's honor,
Who is the one who strives restlessly?
He alone is a true human!
Human, human,
எவன்தான் மனிதன்
வாழும்போது செத்து
செத்து பிழைப்பவன்
மனிதனா வாழ்ந்தபின்னும்
பேரை நாட்டி நிலைப்பவன்
மனிதனா
Who indeed is a true human?
Is he a human who lives dying every day
Just to survive?
Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living,
And endures forever?
பிறருக்காக
கண்ணீரும் பிறருக்காக
செந்நீரும் சிந்தும் மனிதன்
எவனோ அவனே மனிதன்
மனிதன் மனிதன்
One who sheds tears for others,
One who sheds red blood for others,
Whoever that man is who sheds these,
He alone is a true human, human, human.
Manithan manithan
Human, human,
Evanthan manithan
Who indeed is a true human?
Vazhumbothu sethu sethu
Is he a human who lives dying every day
Pilaippavan manithana
Just to survive?
Vazhanthapinnum perai naati
Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living,
Nilaippavan manithana
And endures forever?
Pirarukkaaga kanneerum
One who sheds tears for others,
Pirarukkaaga senneerum
One who sheds red blood for others,
Sindhum manithan evano
Whoever that man is who sheds these,
Avanae manithan manithan manithan
He alone is a true human, human, human.
Adutha veetil thee pudikka
Is he a human who thinks of setting fire
Ninaippavan manithana
To the neighbor's house?
Andha neram odi vandhu
Or is he a human who rushes over at that time
Anaippavan manithana
To douse the flames?
Kodumaikandum kannai moodi
Is he a human who stays lying down with eyes closed
Kidappavan manithana
Even upon witnessing cruelty?
Kovam kondu nyaayam kettu
Or is he a human who gets angry, demands justice,
Kothippavan manithana
And seethes with rage?
Keduppavan manithana
Is he a human who ruins others?
Eduppavan manithana
Is he a human who takes from others?
Koduppavan evanadaa
Who is the one who gives generously?
Avanae manithan
He alone is a true human!
Manithan manithan
Human, human,
Evanthan manithan
Who indeed is a true human?
Vazhumbothu sethu sethu
Is he a human who lives dying every day
Pilaippavan manithana
Just to survive?
Vazhanthapinnum perai naati
Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living,
Nilaippavan manithana
And endures forever?
Pirarukkaaga kanneerum
One who sheds tears for others,
Pirarukkaaga senneerum
One who sheds red blood for others,
Sindhum manithan evano
Whoever that man is who sheds these,
Avanae manithan manithan manithan
He alone is a true human, human, human.
Ezhai pennin selai thottu
Is he a human who touches and pulls
Izhuppavan manithana
The saree of a poor woman?
Iravil mattum thaali katta
Is he a human who thinks of tying the sacred thread
Ninaippavan manithana
Only in the dark of night?
Kaadhal endra perai solli
Is he a human who puts on an act
Nadippavan manithana
In the name of love?
Natppai mattum currency note-il
Is he a human who exploits friendship
Karappavan manithana
Only for currency notes?
Thanmaanam kaakkavum
To protect self-respect,
Penmaanam kaakkavum
And to protect women's honor,
Thudippavan evanadaa
Who is the one who strives restlessly?
Avanae manithan
He alone is a true human!
Manithan manithan
Human, human,
Evanthan manithan
Who indeed is a true human?
Vazhumbothu sethu sethu
Is he a human who lives dying every day
Pilaippavan manithana
Just to survive?
Vazhanthapinnum perai naati
Or is he a human who establishes a legacy after living,
Nilaippavan manithana
And endures forever?
Pirarukkaaga kanneerum
One who sheds tears for others,
Pirarukkaaga senneerum
One who sheds red blood for others,
Sindhum manithan evano
Whoever that man is who sheds these,
Avanae manithan manithan manithan
He alone is a true human, human, human.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Did you know?
Trivia
Though listed as unknown in the prompt, this iconic track from the 1987 blockbuster 'Manithan' (starring Rajinikanth and Rubini) was composed by Chandrabose and sung energetically by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The song served as a key mass-introduction philosophy track highlighting the hero's righteous character.
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