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Yennanga Sir Unga Sattam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manithaneyam

From Yennanga Sir Unga Sattam · 2021

Lyricist
Karthik Netha
Singer
Padmapriya Raghavan
Music director
Guna Balasubramanian
Movie name
Yennanga Sir Unga Sattam
Movie release year
2021
Lyrics added on
11 Sept 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manithaneyam manithaneyam
Mayangi ponathengae
Mirugam koodi izhukkum theril
Iraivan povathengae
Madalgal yaavum eriyum bothu
Thean eduppathu engae
Arangal yaavum kadharum bothu
Yaar sirippathu angae
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaarae
Vidiyatho nyaayamaarae
Manithaneyam manithaneyam
Mayangi ponathengae
Mirugam koodi izhukkum theril
Iraivan povathengae
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaarae
Vidiyatho nyaayamaarae
Ezhaiyai pirandhu vittaal
Ezhavu paadu thaan
Oomaiyaai azhugirathae
Oruma paadu thaan
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaarae
Vidiyatho nyaayamaarae
Yaarai kelvi ketka
Ada yaara thedi paarka
Saadhi bodhai yeri
Ada needhi dhevan thoonga
Eenam thaandi poga
Avamaana meeri poga
Ezhai engu poga
Avan kaalil kallum noga
Aramellaam theruvilae
Agathiyaai thiriyudhae
Murangalae arangalaai
Manamellaam niraiyudhae
Yaar saadhi uyarnthathendrae
Maanadu nadukkuthingae
Thani manidhanin azhukuralo
Kaatril theerndhu vidudhae
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaarae
Vidiyatho nyaayaamarae
Aasi vazhangum saami
Munnetha vazhiya kaami
Saadhikulla saadhi
Verum vaaiyil thaanae needhi
Varga baedham paadhi
Ada varuna baedham paadhi
Akkaporai meeri
Ini ketpathendha saedhi
Uyirellaam irandhu thaan
Oru vazhi kidaikkuma
Ezhaiyai maruthu thaan
Samuthuvam irukkuma
Pooradi sazhikkiradhae
Oor koodi azhugiradhae
Ganam porunthiya jananayagam
Urakkam neengi ezhuma
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaarae
Vidiyatho nyaayamaarae
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaarae
Vidiyatho nyaayamaarae
Humanity, oh humanity,
where has it faded away?
In a chariot pulled by a pack of beasts,
where is God riding off to?
When all the petals are burning,
where can one gather honey?
When all righteousness cries out in agony,
who is laughing over there?
Oh justice, oh righteous one,
will a new dawn never break, oh righteous one?
Humanity, oh humanity,
where has it faded away?
In a chariot pulled by a pack of beasts,
where is God riding off to?
Oh justice, oh righteous one,
will a new dawn never break, oh righteous one?
If you are born poor,
life is nothing but endless mourning.
Crying in silence like a mute,
it is a life of constant hardship.
Oh justice, oh righteous one,
will a new dawn never break, oh righteous one?
Whom can we question?
Whom do we go searching for?
Drunk on the poison of caste,
the god of justice lies asleep.
To move past humiliation,
to rise above every insult,
where can the poor man go,
when even the stones hurt his feet?
All virtue and goodness
wander the streets like refugees.
Contradictions pretending to be morals
fill everyone's minds.
To boast whose caste is superior,
rallies and meetings take place here.
Yet the weeping cry of a lone human
just fades away into the wind.
Oh justice, oh righteous one,
will a new dawn never break, oh righteous one?
Oh God who grants blessings,
show us a way to move forward.
Caste within caste,
justice is found only in empty words!
One half is class division,
and the other half is caste prejudice.
Above all this bitter fighting,
what good news will we ever hear?
Must all our lives be destroyed
for a way forward to open up?
By rejecting the poor,
can equality ever exist?
We are tired of constantly struggling,
the whole village weeps together.
Will this noble democracy
ever wake from its deep sleep?
Oh justice, oh righteous one,
will a new dawn never break, oh righteous one?
Oh justice, oh righteous one,
will a new dawn never break, oh righteous one?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Manithaneyam' from the movie 'Yennanga Sir Unga Sattam' is a hard-hitting socio-political anthem addressing systemic oppression, caste politics, and class inequality in modern society. The lyrics express deep anguish over the loss of basic human empathy, painting a grim picture where justice is asleep and virtue wanders like a refugee while powerful factions hold conferences over caste superiority.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)

“Mirugam koodi izhukkum theril Iraivan povathengae”

The lyricist poses continuous rhetorical questions to challenge societal silence and institutional failure.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Aramellaam theruvilae Agathiyaai thiriyudhae”

Virtue ('Aram') is personified as a refugee ('Agathi') wandering aimlessly on the streets.

Emona / Rhyme (Edugai & Mounai)

“Varga baedham paadhi / Ada varuna baedham paadhi”

Tamil poetic rhyming of initial and second syllables (e.g., Aramellaam / Agathiyaai, Varga / Varuna).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Yennanga Sir Unga Sattam' (2021) is a socio-political drama directed by Prabhu Jeyaram that explores social reservation and equality. Composer Guna Balasubramanian incorporated strong folk and classical elements into the soundtrack to complement Karthik Netha's sharp social commentary.

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