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Ponnu Vilaiyum Boomi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mannir Piranthan Mannuzhuthu

From Ponnu Vilaiyum Boomi · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
C. S. Jayaraman
Music director
K. H. Reddy
Movie name
Ponnu Vilaiyum Boomi
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
12 Oct 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mannir pirandhan
Mannuzhudhu pon padaithaan
Than idathai izhandhavanaai
Thaniyidathae thalai saaithaan
Thanporulai thaan thirudi
Thalai pizhaikka thaavugindraan
Vaazhugindra kaalam ellaam
Maganukkae vaazhndhirundhaan
Vazhi payanam mudindha pinnum
Magan vaazha thunai purindhaan
Panbu izhandhaan ven jiraiyil
Pachai mayil vaadugindraal
Pennedutha perunthalaivan
Pirindhu vitta nilai ariyaal
Theeyutta selgindra peran kanduvittaan
Neeyutti valarpadharkku naanundu
Unaiyutti valargindra oruvar pirindhu vittaan
Paarendraan thandhai paarthaan
Manam padhaithaan
Yaar sadalam pettravana
Ammammaa innilaiyaa
Seer koduthaan mugam paarka thirumbinaan
Paarvaiyilum thalai paarkka mudiyavillai
Kaal paarthaan kan pudhaithu neer vadithaan
Kalanginaan mudividathil
Mannai valarthavanae mannukkae uramanaan
Mannukkae uramanaan
He was born of the earth,
he ploughed the soil and created gold.
Having lost the land that belonged to him,
he laid his head down in a lonely place...
Forced to steal what was once his own,
he runs desperately to save his life.
Through all the days he lived,
he lived only for his son...
Even after his life's journey came to an end,
he helped his son live on.
He lost his wealth, and in the harsh prison,
the innocent young woman withers in sorrow.
The proud man who took her hand in marriage
learned of the tragic parting.
The grandson going to light the funeral pyre saw,
"I am here to feed and raise you...
but the one who nourished you has passed away."
"Look," he said; the father looked,
and his heart trembled in grief.
Whose body is this? Is it the father who gave him life?
Alas, has it come to such a tragic state?
She brought the customary shroud; he turned to look at the face,
but through his tears, he could not bear to look at the head.
He looked at the feet, covered his eyes, and wept.
He broke down in grief at the final resting place.
The very man who nurtured the earth became nourishment for the earth itself...
He became nourishment for the earth itself...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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