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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manithaneyam

From Yennanga Sir Unga Sattam · 2021

Lyricist
Karthik Netha
Singer
Padmapriya Raghavan
Music director
Guna Balasubramanian
Details
Yennanga Sir Unga Sattam2021

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Manithaneyam manithaneyamHumanity, humanity,
Mayangi ponathengaeWhere has it swooned away?
Mirugam koodi izhukkum therilOn the chariot pulled together by beasts,
Iraivan povathengaeWhere is God going?
Madalgal yaavum eriyum bothuWhen all the petals/letters burn down,
Thean eduppathu engaeWhere do you gather honey?
Arangal yaavum kadharum bothuWhen all virtues cry out in agony,
Yaar sirippathu angaeWho is laughing over there?
Female
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaaraeOh supreme administrators of justice,
Vidiyatho nyaayamaaraeWill justice never dawn?
Female
Manithaneyam manithaneyamHumanity, humanity,
Mayangi ponathengaeWhere has it swooned away?
Mirugam koodi izhukkum therilOn the chariot pulled together by beasts,
Iraivan povathengaeWhere is God going?
Female
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaaraeOh supreme administrators of justice,
Vidiyatho nyaayamaaraeWill justice never dawn?
Female
Ezhaiyai pirandhu vittaalIf one is born poor,
Ezhavu paadu thaanLife becomes mere lamentation.
Oomaiyaai azhugirathaeCrying silently like a mute,
Oruma paadu thaanIs the struggle for solidarity.
Female
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaaraeOh supreme administrators of justice,
Vidiyatho nyaayamaaraeWill justice never dawn?
Female
Yaarai kelvi ketkaWhom should one question?
Ada yaara thedi paarkaAh, whom should one search for?
Saadhi bodhai yeriIntoxicated with caste bias,
Ada needhi dhevan thoongaAh, while the deity of justice sleeps.
Female
Eenam thaandi pogaCrossed beyond basic decency,
Avamaana meeri pogaExceeding all humiliation,
Ezhai engu pogaWhere can the poor man go,
Avan kaalil kallum nogaWhen even stones hurt his bare feet?
Female
Aramellaam theruvilaeAll virtues on the street,
Agathiyaai thiriyudhaeWander around like helpless refugees.
Murangalae arangalaaiVices and aggression,
Manamellaam niraiyudhaeFill up every heart in place of virtue.
Yaar saadhi uyarnthathendraeDebating whose caste is superior,
Maanadu nadukkuthingaeConferences are conducted here.
Thani manidhanin azhukuraloWhile the painful cry of a solitary man,
Kaatril theerndhu vidudhaeFades into the empty wind.
Female
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaaraeOh supreme administrators of justice,
Vidiyatho nyaayaamaraeWill justice never dawn?
Female
Aasi vazhangum saamiOh God who bestows blessings,
Munnetha vazhiya kaamiShow us a path to move forward.
Saadhikulla saadhiCastes within sub-castes,
Verum vaaiyil thaanae needhiJustice remains merely on lips.
Female
Varga baedham paadhiHalf is class discrimination,
Ada varuna baedham paadhiAh, half is caste hierarchy.
Akkaporai meeriBeyond all this endless strife,
Ini ketpathendha saedhiWhat good news are we to hear now?
Female
Uyirellaam irandhu thaanOnly after all lives perish,
Oru vazhi kidaikkumaWill a solution be found?
Ezhaiyai maruthu thaanBy denying the poor,
Samuthuvam irukkumaCan true equality ever exist?
Pooradi sazhikkiradhaeTired out from struggling,
Oor koodi azhugiradhaeThe whole town gathers and weeps.
Ganam porunthiya jananayagamWill this solemn democracy,
Urakkam neengi ezhumaAwake from its deep slumber?
Female
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaaraeOh supreme administrators of justice,
Vidiyatho nyaayamaaraeWill justice never dawn?
Female
Nyaayaathi nyaayamaaraeOh supreme administrators of justice,
Vidiyatho nyaayamaaraeWill justice never dawn?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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