Mannana Poranthavuga
From Desiya Geetham · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vasan
- Singer
- Pushpavanam Kuppusamy
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Desiya Geetham1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mannanaa poranthavuga | Those who were born as kings |
| Mannennaikku nikkuraagha | Are now standing in line for kerosene. |
| Arasanaa irunthavuga | Those who lived as rulers |
| Arisikkaaga nikkuraagha | Are now standing in line for rice. |
| Male | |
| Mannanaa poranthavuga | Those who were born as kings |
| Mannennaikku nikkuraagha | Are now standing in line for kerosene. |
| Arasanaa irunthavuga | Those who lived as rulers |
| Arisikkaaga nikkuraagha | Are now standing in line for rice. |
| Male | |
| Arisi paruppu | Rice and lentils, |
| Arakuraiyaa niruppaanae | He will weigh in deficient quantities. |
| Avan mandhiram pottu | Casting his tricks, |
| Mannennai alava korappaanae | He will reduce the measured quantity of kerosene. |
| Male | |
| Arisi paruppu | Rice and lentils, |
| Arakuraiyaa niruppaanae | He will weigh in deficient quantities. |
| Avan mandhiram pottu | Casting his tricks, |
| Mannennai alava korappaanae | He will reduce the measured quantity of kerosene. |
| Chorus | |
| Hey hey hey heyhey..(2) | Hey hey hey heyhey..(2) |
| Male | |
| Sothanaikku mandhiri vandha | If a minister arrives for an inspection, |
| Ration kadai rendu padum | The ration shop gets disciplined. |
| Mandhirikku sothanai vandhaa | If trouble falls upon the minister, |
| Enga poyi kondu vidum | Where will it lead us to? |
| Male | |
| {Sathanaiyin pattiyal | The list of government achievements |
| Mattum koraiyaadhu | Will never decrease, |
| Enga vedhanaiyai | While our agony and pain |
| Listu poda mudiyaadhu} (2) | Can never be fully listed. |
மன்னனா பொறந்தவுக
மண்ணெண்ணைக்கு நிக்குறாக
அரசனா பொறந்தவுக
அரிசிக்காக நிக்குறாக
Those who were born as kings
Are now standing in line for kerosene.
Those who lived as rulers
Are now standing in line for rice.
மன்னனா பொறந்தவுக
மண்ணெண்ணைக்கு நிக்குறாக
அரசனா இருந்தவங்க
அரிசிக்காக நிக்குறாக
Those who were born as kings
Are now standing in line for kerosene.
Those who lived as rulers
Are now standing in line for rice.
அரிசி பருப்ப
அரைகுறையா நிறுப்பானே
அவன் மந்திரம் போட்டு
மண்ணெண்ணை அளவ
கொறைப்பானே
அரிசி பருப்ப அரைகுறையா
நிறுப்பானே
அவன் மந்திரம் போட்டு
மண்ணெண்ணை அளவ
கொறைப்பானே
Rice and lentils,
He will weigh in deficient quantities.
Casting his tricks,
He will reduce the measured quantity of kerosene.
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
லிட்டருக்கு ஐநூறு
வீடு வந்து சேராது
ரேசணுல கோளாறு
கேட்பது யாரு
Rice and lentils,
He will weigh in deficient quantities.
Casting his tricks,
He will reduce the measured quantity of kerosene.
ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹெய்ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹெய்ஹே
Hey hey hey heyhey..(2)
சோதனைக்கு மந்திரி வந்தா
ரேசன் கடை ரெண்டு படும்
மந்திரிக்கு சோதனை வந்தா
எங்க போயி கொண்டு விடும்
If a minister arrives for an inspection,
The ration shop gets disciplined.
If trouble falls upon the minister,
Where will it lead us to?
{சாதனையின் பட்டியல்
மட்டும் கொறையாது
எங்க வேதனைய
லிஸ்ட்டு போட முடியாது} (2)
The list of government achievements
Will never decrease,
While our agony and pain
Can never be fully listed.
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
{ஹே சட்டம் போடும் சர்க்காரு
ஊரு வந்து சேராது
ஹே மானங்கெட்ட நம்மூரு
கேட்பது யாரு} (2)
Mannanaa poranthavuga
Those who were born as kings
Mannennaikku nikkuraagha
Are now standing in line for kerosene.
Arasanaa irunthavuga
Those who lived as rulers
Arisikkaaga nikkuraagha
Are now standing in line for rice.
Mannanaa poranthavuga
Those who were born as kings
Mannennaikku nikkuraagha
Are now standing in line for kerosene.
Arasanaa irunthavuga
Those who lived as rulers
Arisikkaaga nikkuraagha
Are now standing in line for rice.
Arisi paruppu
Rice and lentils,
Arakuraiyaa niruppaanae
He will weigh in deficient quantities.
Avan mandhiram pottu
Casting his tricks,
Mannennai alava korappaanae
He will reduce the measured quantity of kerosene.
Arisi paruppu
Rice and lentils,
Arakuraiyaa niruppaanae
He will weigh in deficient quantities.
Avan mandhiram pottu
Casting his tricks,
Mannennai alava korappaanae
He will reduce the measured quantity of kerosene.
Hey hey hey heyhey..(2)
Hey hey hey heyhey..(2)
Sothanaikku mandhiri vandha
If a minister arrives for an inspection,
Ration kadai rendu padum
The ration shop gets disciplined.
Mandhirikku sothanai vandhaa
If trouble falls upon the minister,
Enga poyi kondu vidum
Where will it lead us to?
{Sathanaiyin pattiyal
The list of government achievements
Mattum koraiyaadhu
Will never decrease,
Enga vedhanaiyai
While our agony and pain
Listu poda mudiyaadhu} (2)
Can never be fully listed.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This satirical song highlights the struggles of common people dealing with corruption and food scarcity despite grand claims made by politicians. It contrasts the ideal dignified life citizens deserve with the reality of having to queue up for basic ration items like rice and kerosene. The lyrics mock corrupt ration shop officials and politicians who maintain endless lists of false achievements while ignoring the unquantifiable suffering of the public.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second letter agreement) / Wordplay
“Mannanaa poranthavuga / Mannennaikku nikkuraagha”
Clever pairing of 'Mannan' (King) with 'Mannennai' (Kerosene), creating a stark contrast between high status and low survival needs.
Wordplay / Contrast
“Arasanaa irunthavuga / Arisikkaaga nikkuraagha”
Juxtaposes 'Arasan' (Ruler) with 'Arisi' (Rice) to mock how citizens entitled to prosperity are reduced to begging for basic staples.
Irony / Satire
“{Sathanaiyin pattiyal Mattum koraiyaadhu Enga vedhanaiyai Listu poda mudiyaadhu}”
Highlights political irony by contrasting the endless list of official government achievements ('Sathanaiyin pattiyal') with the endless, unlisted pain of the working class ('Enga vedhanaiyai listu poda mudiyaadhu').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Desiya Geetham' (1998) is a Tamil political drama film directed by Cheran, featuring Murali and Rambha. The soundtrack and background score were composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by various lyricists addressing social and political themes.
Keep listening
More from Desiya Geetham
Desiya Geetham
Desiya Geetham
Desiya Geetham
Desiya Geetham
Desiya Geetham
Desiya Geetham