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Kudiyirundha Koyil album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Yaar Ne Yaar

From Kudiyirundha Koyil · 1968

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Kudiyirundha Koyil
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
21 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Naan yaar naan
Yaar nee yaar } (2)
Naalum therindhavar
Yaar yaar
{ Thaai yaar
Magan yaar theriyaar
Thandhai yenbaar
Avar yaar yaar } (2)
Naan yaar naan
Yaar nee yaar
{ Ohho hohoho } (2)
Ahhahahahaa
{ Uravaar pagaiyaar
Unmaiyai unaraar
Unakae nee yaaro } (2)
Varuvaar irupaar
Povaar nilaiyaai
Vaazhvaar yaar yaaro
Naan yaar naan
Yaar nee yaar naalum
Therindhavar yaar yaar
Naan yaar naan
Yaar nee yaar
{ Ullaar pusipaar
Illaar pasipaar
Udhaviku yaar yaaro } (2)
Nallaar theeyaar
Uyarndhaar thaazhndhaar
Namakul yaar yaaro
Adipaar valiyaar
Thudipaar meliyaar
Thadupaar yaar yaaro
Edupaar siripaar
Izhapaar azhuvaar
{ Edhirpaar yaar yaaro } (2)
Oooooo…………..
Naan yaar naan
Yaar nee yaar naalum
Therindhavar yaar yaar
Naan yaar naan
Yaar nee yaar
{ Piniyaar varuvaar
Marundhaar tharuvaar
Pizhaipaar yaar yaaro } (2)
Uyiraar parapaar
Udalaar kidapaar
Thunai yaar varuvaaro
Nariyaar naayaar
Kadipaar mulipaar
Naalaiku yaar yaaro
Pirandhaar irundhaar
Nadandhaar kidandhaar
{ Mudindhaar yaar yaaro } (2)
Naan yaar naan
Yaar nee yaar naalum
Therindhavar yaar yaar
Thaai yaar
Magan yaar theriyaar
Thandhai yenbaar
Avar yaar yaar
Naan yaar naan
Yaar nee yaar
Who am I? Who
am I, and who are you?
Who is there that
truly knows each day?
Who is a mother?
Who is a son? No one knows.
They speak of a father,
but who is he really?
Who am I? Who
am I, and who are you?
Oho hohoho
Ahhahahaha
Who is kin, and who is foe?
People do not realize the truth.
Who are you even to yourself?
People arrive, people stay,
and people depart; permanently,
who among them can ever live?
Who am I? Who
am I, and who are you? Every day,
who is there that truly knows?
Who am I? Who
am I, and who are you?
Those who have will feast,
those who have not will go hungry,
and who will come to their aid?
The good and the wicked,
the high and the low,
who are they all among us?
The strong will strike,
the weak will tremble,
and who is there to stop it?
Those who gain will laugh,
those who lose will weep,
and who knows what to expect?
Oooooo...
Who am I? Who
am I, and who are you? Every day,
who is there that truly knows?
Who am I? Who
am I, and who are you?
Sickness arrives,
who will give medicine?
And who among them will survive?
The soul flies away,
the body lies still,
and who will come along as companion?
The foxes and the dogs
will bite and watch,
and who knows what tomorrow brings?
People were born, they lived,
they walked, they lay down,
and who knows how many have ended?
Who am I? Who
am I, and who are you? Every day,
who is there that truly knows?
Who is a mother?
Who is a son? No one knows.
They speak of a father,
but who is he really?
Who am I? Who
am I, and who are you?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deeply philosophical inquiry into the nature of human existence, relationships, and mortal reality. Written in a questioning tone, the lyrics challenge superficial human identity and social constructs, repeatedly asking 'Who am I? Who are you?' and contemplating how worldly ties like parents, relatives, and enemies are fleeting illusions in the grand scheme of time.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Questioning (Vinah)

“Naan yaar naan / Yaar nee yaar”

The entire lyric relies on relentless existential questions asking 'Yaar' (Who) to evoke introspection on life, death, and human bonds.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Ullaar pusipaar / Illaar pasipaar”

Classical Tamil rhyme scheme where the second letter of consecutive words/lines match, such as 'Ullaar' and 'Illaar'.

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

“Nallaar theeyaar / Uyarndhaar thaazhndhaar”

Contrasting pairs are juxtaposed to highlight social and human disparities (e.g., feasting vs starving, good vs evil, winners vs losers).

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by poet Pulamaipithan for the 1968 film 'Kudiyirundha Koyil' starring M.G. Ramachandran, this song served as a breakthrough hit for the lyricist. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan with music composed by the legendary duo M.S. Viswanathan - Ramamoorthy (MSV), the track remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous philosophical songs.

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