Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Manipayal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Ulleyirunthu

From Manipayal · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Manipayal
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
7 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan ullaeyirunthu veliyae vanthathum
Ulagam therinjuthadaa
Ada nallathu kettathu naalum enakku
Nallaa purinjathadaa
Naan ullaeyirunthu veliyae vanthathum
Ulagam therinjuthadaa
Ada nallathu kettathu naalum enakku
Nallaa purinjathadaa
Ammaa vayaththula summaa kedanthaen
Aabaththu illaiyadaa
Ava paththaam maasam peththu pottaa
Aayiram thollaiyadaa
Ammaa vayaththula summaa kedanthaen
Aabaththu illaiyadaa
Ava paththaam maasam peththu pottaa
Aayiram thollaiyadaa
Naan ullaeyirunthu veliyae vanthathum
Ulagam therinjuthadaa
Naan vaayulla pillai pozhachchukkuvaen
Oru vambu varaama muzhichchukkuvaen
Naan vaayulla pillai pozhachchukkuvaen
Oru vambu varaama muzhichchukkuvaen
Naan anjula valainjavandaa
Ivan pinjila pazhuthavandaa
Naan anjula valainjavandaa
Ivan pinjila pazhuthavandaa
Naan kaaththulla pothae thooththikkuvaen
Ennai kaalaththai pola maaththikkuvaen
Kazhuviya thanniyilae
Naan nazhuviya meenthandaa
Naan ullaeyirunthu veliyae vanthathum
Ulagam therinjuthadaa
Kaakkai pola onnaa
Nalla vaazhkkai vaazha sonnaal
Kaakkai pola onnaa
Nalla vaazhkkai vaazha sonnaal
Kaakkaa pudichaethaan manushan
Kaalam kazhipaandaa
Kaakkaa pudichaethaan manushan
Kaalam kazhipaandaa
Naayai pola pinnaal vanthu
Nandri kaatta sonnaal
Naayaai irunthaethaan sila paer
Vaayaal kadipaandaa
Naan annaa polae
Aringar annaa pola
Panpudaiyorkku seruppaai
Iruppaendaa ingu
Aduththavar kudiyai keduththidum
Perkku nerupaai irupendaa
Kaiyum kaalum ullavaraikkum
Kavalai illaiyadaa
Ada kazhutha kettaa kuttusuvaru
Irukkavae irukkuthadaa
Naan ullaeyirunthu veliyae vanthathum
Ulagam therinjuthadaa
Ada nallathu kettathu naalum enakku
Nallaa purinjathadaa
Ammaa vayaththula summaa kedanthaen
Aabaththu illaiyadaa
Ava paththaam maasam peththu pottaa
Aayiram thollaiyadaa
Naan ullaeyirunthu veliyae vanthathum
Ulagam therinjuthadaa
The moment I came out from inside,
I figured out the world, man!
Ah, day after day, what is good and bad,
I understood it all so well, man!
The moment I came out from inside,
I figured out the world, man!
Ah, day after day, what is good and bad,
I understood it all so well, man!
I was lying peacefully in my mother's belly,
there was no danger at all, man!
In the tenth month she gave birth to me,
and started a thousand troubles, man!
I was lying peacefully in my mother's belly,
there was no danger at all, man!
In the tenth month she gave birth to me,
and started a thousand troubles, man!
The moment I came out from inside,
I figured out the world, man!
I'm a kid with a quick tongue, I will survive,
I'll stay alert so no trouble comes my way!
I'm a kid with a quick tongue, I will survive,
I'll stay alert so no trouble comes my way!
I learned to bend while I was still young, man,
this fellow grew street-smart before his time, man!
I learned to bend while I was still young, man,
this fellow grew street-smart before his time, man!
I will winnow while the wind is blowing,
and adapt myself to the changing times!
Even while being washed in water,
I'm the fish that slips away, man!
The moment I came out from inside,
I figured out the world, man!
If you tell people to unite like crows
and live a good life together,
If you tell people to unite like crows
and live a good life together,
people will only butter up others
just to get through their days, man!
people will only butter up others
just to get through their days, man!
If you tell them to follow like a dog
and show some gratitude,
some people act like dogs
and bite you with their words, man!
Just like Anna,
like the wise leader Arignar Anna,
to those with good character,
I will serve as humble footwear, man,
but to those who ruin others' homes,
I will be a raging fire, man!
As long as I have my hands and legs,
I don't have a single worry, man!
Ah, even when a donkey goes astray,
there is always a broken wall to lean on, man!
The moment I came out from inside,
I figured out the world, man!
Ah, day after day, what is good and bad,
I understood it all so well, man!
I was lying peacefully in my mother's belly,
there was no danger at all, man!
In the tenth month she gave birth to me,
and started a thousand troubles, man!
The moment I came out from inside,
I figured out the world, man!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic track from 'Manipayal' (1973) serves as a philosophical commentary on life, human nature, and societal survival. Metaphorically linking coming out of the mother's womb (or stepping out into the real world) with facing life's harsh realities, the protagonist speaks on the dualities of good and bad, survival strategies, and moral integrity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Idiom (Pazhamozhi)

Naan anjula valainjavandaa

Vaali incorporates traditional Tamil proverbs like 'Anjil valaiyathathu aimbathil valaiyathu' (bending at five) and 'Kaaththulla pothae thooththikko' (make hay while the wind blows).

Simile (Uwamai)

Kaakkai pola onnaa

Compares human behavior to animals like crows ('Kaakkai pola') and dogs ('Naayai pola') to highlight social themes of unity, sycophancy, and loyalty vs. betrayal.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Naan anjula valainjavandaa / Ivan pinjila pazhuthavandaa

Rhyming scheme with matching internal letters across lines like 'Anjula' / 'Pinjila' and 'Valainjavandaa' / 'Pazhuthavandaa'.

Pun / Wordplay (Sleidai)

Kaakkaa pudichaethaan manushan

Uses 'Kaakkaa pudichae' which plays on crow habits and the colloquial Tamil phrase for sycophancy/flattery.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manipayal' stars Master Sekhar in a central role along with Jayachitra and A. V. M. Rajan. Lyricist Vaali cleverly woven political references into the song, including a homage to former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai ('Aringar Anna'). Singer L. R. Eswari delivered this folk-style energetic philosophy song with characteristic playfulness.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Manipayal

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.