Manithanagave
From Sumangali – 1959 · 1959
- Lyricist
- Nadarajan
- Singers
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. C. Krishnan
- Music director
- M. Ranga Rao
- Details
- Sumangali – 19591959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| O o o o o…..o o o o o o o | Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o |
| O o o o o…..o o o o o o o | Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o |
| Male | |
| Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu | Do you know why a person is born as a human |
| Mann melae edhukku theriyuma | Upon this earth? Do you know? |
| Male | |
| Maraimugamaagavae pirarkkena | Indirectly, for the sake of others, |
| Uzhaikka pirandhaan theriyuma | He was born to labor, do you know? |
| Male | |
| Sadhi padhiyagavae | A family living together |
| Vaazhnthidum kudumbam | As husband and wife happily, |
| Sidhaivadhen theriyuma | Why does it shatter, do you know? |
| Male | |
| Sila sandaala payalgal | Some wretched scoundrels |
| Pendaala nianipadhen | Thinking of dominating women, |
| Vilaivae theriyuma | Do you know the consequences? |
| Male | |
| Adhu samayathilavargal | At that very time, the pit |
| Thanakkae vettum | That they dig for themselves, |
| Pallam theriyuma | Do you know that ditch? |
| Male | |
| Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu | Do you know why a person is born as a human |
| Mann melae edhukku theriyuma | Upon this earth? Do you know? |
| Male | |
| Maraimugamaagavae pirarkkena | Indirectly, for the sake of others, |
| Uzhaikka pirandhaan theriyuma | He was born to labor, do you know? |
| Male | |
| Paadupattu thedi porul | Struggling hard to earn wealth, |
| Padhukku vachuputtu | And hoarding it away safely, |
| Koodu vittu povaan theriyuma | He will leave his physical body (die), do you know? |
| Male | |
| Adhai kedu kettu pona oruthan | A ruined, corrupt person, seeing that wealth, |
| Paathupputtu pannikittu | Will grab it for himself and enjoy it, |
| Neduvaada povaan theriyuma | Walking away tall, do you know? |
| Male | |
| Idhu naadu ketta unmai anbu | This is a world-weary truth: true love |
| Yaarum illai naatil ingu | Exists in no one here in this land, |
| Nandraai theriyuma | Do you know this well? |
| Male | |
| Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu | Do you know why a person is born as a human |
| Mann melae edhukku theriyuma | Upon this earth? Do you know? |
| Maraimugamaagavae pirarkkena | Indirectly, for the sake of others, |
| Uzhaikka pirandhaan theriyuma | He was born to labor, do you know? |
| Male | |
| Podu podu endru indru | Today, pretending to applaud and cheer, |
| Poiyyavae thaan solliputtu | Speaking utter lies, |
| Puraikkeri pona koottam theriyuma | The crowd that stabs in the back, do you know them? |
| Male | |
| Erumai maadugalin jaadhi adhu | They are like a thick-skinned breed of buffaloes, |
| Ennathaan nee solli paaru | No matter what advice you try to give them, |
| Ingae thaan vaazhum theriyuma | They will continue to live right here, do you know? |
| Male | |
| Illai soodu patta naai pola | Otherwise, like a scalded dog, |
| Vaal vaal endru kathi | Yelping continuously, |
| Saagum oru naal theriyuma | They will die one day, do you know? |
| Male | |
| Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu | Do you know why a person is born as a human |
| Mann melae edhukku theriyuma | Upon this earth? Do you know? |
| Maraimugamaagavae pirarkkena | Indirectly, for the sake of others, |
| Uzhaikka pirandhaan theriyuma | He was born to labor, do you know? |
| Male | |
| Elaelangadi elaelangadi | Elaelangadi elaelangadi (Folk rhythmic refrain) |
| O o o o o…..o o o o o o o | Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o |
ஓஓஓஓஓ.....ஓஓஓஓஓஒ.
ஓஓஓஓஓ.....ஓஓஓஓஓஒ.....
Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o
Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o
மனிதனாகவே பிறந்தது
மண் மேல் எதுக்கு தெரியுமா
Do you know why a person is born as a human
Upon this earth? Do you know?
மறைமுகமாகவே பிறர்க்கென
உழைக்க பிறந்தான் தெரியுமா
Indirectly, for the sake of others,
He was born to labor, do you know?
சதி பதியாகவே
வாழ்ந்திடும் குடும்பம்
சிதைவதேன் தெரியுமா
A family living together
As husband and wife happily,
Why does it shatter, do you know?
சில சண்டாள பயல்கள்
பெண்டாள நினைப்பதன்
விளைவே தெரியுமா
Some wretched scoundrels
Thinking of dominating women,
Do you know the consequences?
அது சமயத்தில் அவர்கள்
தனக்கே வெட்டும்
பள்ளம் தெரியுமா
At that very time, the pit
That they dig for themselves,
Do you know that ditch?
மனிதனாகவே பிறந்தது
மண் மேல் எதுக்கு தெரியுமா
Do you know why a person is born as a human
Upon this earth? Do you know?
மறைமுகமாகவே பிறர்க்கென
உழைக்க பிறந்தான் தெரியுமா
Indirectly, for the sake of others,
He was born to labor, do you know?
பாடுபட்டு தேடிப் பொருள்
பதுக்கி வச்சுப்புட்டு
கூடு விட்டுப் போவான் தெரியுமா
Struggling hard to earn wealth,
And hoarding it away safely,
He will leave his physical body (die), do you know?
அதை கேடு கெட்டு போன ஒருத்தன்
பாத்துப்புட்டு பண்ணிக்கிட்டு
நேடுவாடா போவான் தெரியுமா
A ruined, corrupt person, seeing that wealth,
Will grab it for himself and enjoy it,
Walking away tall, do you know?
இது நாடு கெட்ட உண்மை அன்பு
யாருமில்லை நாட்டிலிங்கு
நன்றாய் தெரியுமா
This is a world-weary truth: true love
Exists in no one here in this land,
Do you know this well?
மனிதனாகவே பிறந்தது
மண் மேல் எதுக்கு தெரியுமா
மறைமுகமாகவே பிறர்க்கென
உழைக்க பிறந்தான் தெரியுமா
Do you know why a person is born as a human
Upon this earth? Do you know?
Indirectly, for the sake of others,
He was born to labor, do you know?
போடு போடு என்று இன்று
பொய்யாவே தான் சொல்லிப்புட்டு
புரைக்கேறிப் போன கூட்டம் தெரியுமா
Today, pretending to applaud and cheer,
Speaking utter lies,
The crowd that stabs in the back, do you know them?
எருமை மாடுகளின் ஜாதி அது
என்னதான் நீ சொல்லிப் பாரு
இங்கேதான் வாழும் தெரியுமா
They are like a thick-skinned breed of buffaloes,
No matter what advice you try to give them,
They will continue to live right here, do you know?
இல்லை சூடு பட்ட நாய் போல
வாள் வாள் என்று கத்தி
சாகும் ஒரு நாள் தெரியுமா
Otherwise, like a scalded dog,
Yelping continuously,
They will die one day, do you know?
மனிதனாகவே பிறந்தது
மண் மேல் எதுக்கு தெரியுமா
மறைமுகமாகவே பிறர்க்கென
உழைக்க பிறந்தான் தெரியுமா
Do you know why a person is born as a human
Upon this earth? Do you know?
Indirectly, for the sake of others,
He was born to labor, do you know?
ஏலேலங்கடி ஏலேலங்கடி
ஓஓஓஓ.....ஓஓஓஓஒ.......
Elaelangadi elaelangadi (Folk rhythmic refrain)
Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o
O o o o o…..o o o o o o o
Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o
O o o o o…..o o o o o o o
Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o
Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu
Do you know why a person is born as a human
Mann melae edhukku theriyuma
Upon this earth? Do you know?
Maraimugamaagavae pirarkkena
Indirectly, for the sake of others,
Uzhaikka pirandhaan theriyuma
He was born to labor, do you know?
Sadhi padhiyagavae
A family living together
Vaazhnthidum kudumbam
As husband and wife happily,
Sidhaivadhen theriyuma
Why does it shatter, do you know?
Sila sandaala payalgal
Some wretched scoundrels
Pendaala nianipadhen
Thinking of dominating women,
Vilaivae theriyuma
Do you know the consequences?
Adhu samayathilavargal
At that very time, the pit
Thanakkae vettum
That they dig for themselves,
Pallam theriyuma
Do you know that ditch?
Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu
Do you know why a person is born as a human
Mann melae edhukku theriyuma
Upon this earth? Do you know?
Maraimugamaagavae pirarkkena
Indirectly, for the sake of others,
Uzhaikka pirandhaan theriyuma
He was born to labor, do you know?
Paadupattu thedi porul
Struggling hard to earn wealth,
Padhukku vachuputtu
And hoarding it away safely,
Koodu vittu povaan theriyuma
He will leave his physical body (die), do you know?
Adhai kedu kettu pona oruthan
A ruined, corrupt person, seeing that wealth,
Paathupputtu pannikittu
Will grab it for himself and enjoy it,
Neduvaada povaan theriyuma
Walking away tall, do you know?
Idhu naadu ketta unmai anbu
This is a world-weary truth: true love
Yaarum illai naatil ingu
Exists in no one here in this land,
Nandraai theriyuma
Do you know this well?
Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu
Do you know why a person is born as a human
Mann melae edhukku theriyuma
Upon this earth? Do you know?
Maraimugamaagavae pirarkkena
Indirectly, for the sake of others,
Uzhaikka pirandhaan theriyuma
He was born to labor, do you know?
Podu podu endru indru
Today, pretending to applaud and cheer,
Poiyyavae thaan solliputtu
Speaking utter lies,
Puraikkeri pona koottam theriyuma
The crowd that stabs in the back, do you know them?
Erumai maadugalin jaadhi adhu
They are like a thick-skinned breed of buffaloes,
Ennathaan nee solli paaru
No matter what advice you try to give them,
Ingae thaan vaazhum theriyuma
They will continue to live right here, do you know?
Illai soodu patta naai pola
Otherwise, like a scalded dog,
Vaal vaal endru kathi
Yelping continuously,
Saagum oru naal theriyuma
They will die one day, do you know?
Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu
Do you know why a person is born as a human
Mann melae edhukku theriyuma
Upon this earth? Do you know?
Maraimugamaagavae pirarkkena
Indirectly, for the sake of others,
Uzhaikka pirandhaan theriyuma
He was born to labor, do you know?
Elaelangadi elaelangadi
Elaelangadi elaelangadi (Folk rhythmic refrain)
O o o o o…..o o o o o o o
Oh o o o o... o o o o o o o
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Manidhanagavae pirandhadhu' from Sumangali (1959) is a sharp social commentary and philosophical reflection on human life, morality, greed, and societal hypocrisy. Delivered through rhetorical questions ending with 'theriyuma?' (Do you know?), the lyricist emphasizes that true human existence lies in working selflessly for the benefit of others rather than living selfishly.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Refrain (Madakku / Vinah)
“Mann melae edhukku theriyuma”
The frequent repetition of 'theriyuma?' (Do you know?) at the end of lines creates an engaging theatrical rhythm designed to provoke moral reflection in the listener.
Metaphor (Uruvagham)
“Koodu vittu povaan theriyuma”
Using 'Koodu' (nest) as a metaphor for the physical body which the soul leaves behind at death.
Simile (Uwamai)
“Illai soodu patta naai pola”
Comparing shameless, thick-skinned wicked people to buffaloes and a scalded dog yelping in agony.
Alliteration & Rhyme (Monaai & Edhugai)
“Paadupattu thedi porul / Padhukku vachuputtu”
Matching opening consonants across lines such as 'Manidhanagavae' and 'Mann melae' or 'Paadupattu' and 'Padhukku'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from Sumangali (1959) features music by M. Ranga Rao and lyrics by Nadarajan. Rendered as a lively duet between Seerkazhi Govindarajan and S. C. Krishnan, it combines Seerkazhi's classical resonance with S. C. Krishnan's distinct theatrical folk flair, serving as a popular social commentary track of the late 1950s Tamil cinema era.
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