Mannir Piranthan Mannuzhuthu
From Ponnu Vilaiyum Boomi · 1959
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- K. H. Reddy
- Details
- Ponnu Vilaiyum Boomi1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mannir pirandhan | He was born from the soil. |
| Mannuzhudhu pon padaithaan | He tilled the soil and created gold. |
| Than idathai izhandhavanaai | Having lost his own place, |
| Thaniyidathae thalai saaithaan | He rested his head in solitude. |
| Male | |
| Thanporulai thaan thirudi | Stealing his own hard-earned wealth, |
| Thalai pizhaikka thaavugindraan | He struggles just to save his own life. |
| Vaazhugindra kaalam ellaam | For all the time he lived, |
| Maganukkae vaazhndhirundhaan | He lived solely for his son. |
| Male | |
| Vazhi payanam mudindha pinnum | Even after his journey came to an end, |
| Magan vaazha thunai purindhaan | He helped his son live on. |
| Male | |
| Panbu izhandhaan ven jiraiyil | He lost his virtue in a cold prison cell, |
| Pachai mayil vaadugindraal | The green peacock wilts in sorrow. |
| Pennedutha perunthalaivan | The great leader who took the bride, |
| Pirindhu vitta nilai ariyaal | Is unaware of his departed state. |
| Theeyutta selgindra peran kanduvittaan | The grandson who went to light the fire saw him. |
| Neeyutti valarpadharkku naanundu | I am here to feed and nurture you, |
| Unaiyutti valargindra oruvar pirindhu vittaan | The one who fed and raised you has departed. |
| Male | |
| Paarendraan thandhai paarthaan | Look, he said; the father looked, |
| Manam padhaithaan | His heart trembled in agony. |
| Yaar sadalam pettravana | Whose corpse is this? Is it the father's? |
| Ammammaa innilaiyaa | Alas, is this his wretched state? |
| Seer koduthaan mugam paarka thirumbinaan | He gave dowry gifts and turned to look at his face, |
| Male | |
| Paarvaiyilum thalai paarkka mudiyavillai | Yet in his vision, he could not bear to look at his head. |
| Kaal paarthaan kan pudhaithu neer vadithaan | He looked at his feet, buried his face, and shed tears. |
| Kalanginaan mudividathil | He grieved at the final resting place. |
| Mannai valarthavanae mannukkae uramanaan | The one who nurtured the soil became fertilizer for the soil. |
| Mannukkae uramanaan | He became fertilizer for the soil. |
மண்ணிற் பிறந்தான்
மண்ணுழுது பொன் படைத்தான்
தன் இடத்தை இழந்தவனாய்
தனியிடத்தே தலை சாய்த்தான்......
He was born from the soil.
He tilled the soil and created gold.
Having lost his own place,
He rested his head in solitude.
தன் பொருளைத் தான் திருடித்
தலை பிழைக்கத் தாவுகின்றான்
வாழுகின்ற காலமெல்லாம்
மகனுக்கே வாழ்ந்திருந்தான்.....
Stealing his own hard-earned wealth,
He struggles just to save his own life.
For all the time he lived,
He lived solely for his son.
வழிப் பயணம் முடிந்த பின்னும்
மகன் வாழத் துணை புரிந்தான்
Even after his journey came to an end,
He helped his son live on.
பணமிழந்தான் வெஞ்சிறையில்
பச்சை மயில் வாடுகின்றாள்
பெண்ணெடுத்த பெருந்தலைவன்
பிரிந்து விட்ட நிலையறிந்தான்
தீயூட்டச் செல்கின்ற பேரன் கண்டுவிட்டான்
நீயூட்டி வளர்ப்பதற்கு நானுண்டு.....
உனையூட்டி வளர்க்கின்ற ஒருவன் பிரிந்து விட்டான்
He lost his virtue in a cold prison cell,
The green peacock wilts in sorrow.
The great leader who took the bride,
Is unaware of his departed state.
The grandson who went to light the fire saw him.
I am here to feed and nurture you,
The one who fed and raised you has departed.
பாரென்றான் தந்தை பார்த்தான்
மனம் பதைத்தான்
யார் சடலம் பெற்றவனா
அம்மம்மா இந்நிலையா
சீர் கொடுத்தாள் முகம் பார்க்கத் திரும்பினான்
Look, he said; the father looked,
His heart trembled in agony.
Whose corpse is this? Is it the father's?
Alas, is this his wretched state?
He gave dowry gifts and turned to look at his face,
பார்வையிலும் தலை பார்க்க முடியவில்லை
கால் பார்த்தான் கண் புதைத்து நீர் வடித்தான்
கலங்கினான் முடிவிடத்தில்
மண்ணை வளர்த்தவனே மண்ணுக்கே உரமானான்.....
மண்ணுக்கே உரமானான்...
Yet in his vision, he could not bear to look at his head.
He looked at his feet, buried his face, and shed tears.
He grieved at the final resting place.
The one who nurtured the soil became fertilizer for the soil.
He became fertilizer for the soil.
Mannir pirandhan
He was born from the soil.
Mannuzhudhu pon padaithaan
He tilled the soil and created gold.
Than idathai izhandhavanaai
Having lost his own place,
Thaniyidathae thalai saaithaan
He rested his head in solitude.
Thanporulai thaan thirudi
Stealing his own hard-earned wealth,
Thalai pizhaikka thaavugindraan
He struggles just to save his own life.
Vaazhugindra kaalam ellaam
For all the time he lived,
Maganukkae vaazhndhirundhaan
He lived solely for his son.
Vazhi payanam mudindha pinnum
Even after his journey came to an end,
Magan vaazha thunai purindhaan
He helped his son live on.
Panbu izhandhaan ven jiraiyil
He lost his virtue in a cold prison cell,
Pachai mayil vaadugindraal
The green peacock wilts in sorrow.
Pennedutha perunthalaivan
The great leader who took the bride,
Pirindhu vitta nilai ariyaal
Is unaware of his departed state.
Theeyutta selgindra peran kanduvittaan
The grandson who went to light the fire saw him.
Neeyutti valarpadharkku naanundu
I am here to feed and nurture you,
Unaiyutti valargindra oruvar pirindhu vittaan
The one who fed and raised you has departed.
Paarendraan thandhai paarthaan
Look, he said; the father looked,
Manam padhaithaan
His heart trembled in agony.
Yaar sadalam pettravana
Whose corpse is this? Is it the father's?
Ammammaa innilaiyaa
Alas, is this his wretched state?
Seer koduthaan mugam paarka thirumbinaan
He gave dowry gifts and turned to look at his face,
Paarvaiyilum thalai paarkka mudiyavillai
Yet in his vision, he could not bear to look at his head.
Kaal paarthaan kan pudhaithu neer vadithaan
He looked at his feet, buried his face, and shed tears.
Kalanginaan mudividathil
He grieved at the final resting place.
Mannai valarthavanae mannukkae uramanaan
The one who nurtured the soil became fertilizer for the soil.
Mannukkae uramanaan
He became fertilizer for the soil.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song depicts the painful saga and tragic demise of a selfless farmer who dedicated his life to tilling the earth and providing for his child. Despite transforming the barren earth into golden bounty, cruel destiny strips him of his land, dignity, and freedom, driving him to isolation and ultimate death in prison.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Mannir pirandhan / Mannuzhudhu pon padaithaan”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sound 'Ma' in adjacent lines.
Metaphor (Uruvagamu)
“Pachai mayil vaadugindraal”
Comparing the grieving daughter or beloved female relative to a wilting green peacock ('Pachai mayil').
Irony and Pathos
“Mannai valarthavanae mannukkae uramanaan”
The dramatic irony of the benefactor of the soil ultimately turning into manure for the same earth.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ponnu Vilaiyum Boomi' (1959) features music by K. H. Reddy and powerful, melancholic vocals by C. S. Jayaraman. Lyricist Kannadasan penned these lines to highlight the tragic plight of rural Indian farmers.
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