Naangu Vedham
From Kizhakku Mugam · 1996
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Adhithyan
- Details
- Kizhakku Mugam1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ……………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Naangu vedham ungal sonthamillai | The four Vedas are not your exclusive property, |
| Naangu varnam manithan seitha thollai | The four Varnas are a trouble created by human beings. |
| Entha kadavulum jaadhi sollavillai | No god ever prescribed caste. |
| Chorus :Om….om…. | Chorus: Om... om... |
| Male | |
| Entha ooril manitha neyam udo | In whichever town humaneness exists, |
| Antha ooril vedham thevai illai | Vedas are not needed in that town. |
| Manitha jaadhiyil pedham thevai illai | Disparities are not needed in humankind. |
| Chorus :Om….om…. | Chorus: Om... om... |
| Male | |
| Mannil yaarum nalla vannam vaazha | So that everyone on earth lives in a good way, |
| Vazhgal thedum manithaa | Oh human who seeks a way of life! |
| Sinthum vaarththai mannil sinthi ponaal | If spilled words get scattered on the ground, |
| Saerppathu enbathu elithaa | Is it easy to gather them back? |
| Male | |
| Manthiram kadanthu | Going beyond mantras, |
| Chorus :Om…. | Chorus: Om... |
| Male :Manithanai thedu | Male: Search for humanity! |
| Chorus :Om…. | Chorus: Om... |
| Male :Manithanai mathiththaal | Male: If humanity is respected, |
| Chorus :Om…. | Chorus: Om... |
| Male :Thirunthidum naadu | Male: The country will reform. |
| Chorus :Om…. | Chorus: Om... |
| Male | |
| Naangu vedham ungal sonthamillai | The four Vedas are not your exclusive property, |
| Naangu varnam manithan seitha thollai | The four Varnas are a trouble created by human beings. |
| Entha kadavulum jaadhi sollavillai | No god ever prescribed caste. |
| Chorus :Om….om…. | Chorus: Om... om... |
| Male | |
| Entha ooril manitha neyam udo | In whichever town humaneness exists, |
| Antha ooril vedham thevai illai | Vedas are not needed in that town. |
| Manitha jaadhiyil pedham thevai illai | Disparities are not needed in humankind. |
| Chorus :Om….om…. | Chorus: Om... om... |
| Male | |
| Mannil yaarum nalla vannam vaazha | So that everyone on earth lives in a good way, |
| Vazhgal thedum manithaa | Oh human who seeks a way of life! |
| Sinthum vaarththai mannil sinthi ponaal | If spilled words get scattered on the ground, |
| Saerppathu enbathu elithaa | Is it easy to gather them back? |
| Male | |
| Manthiram kadanthu manithanai thedu | Transcending mantras, search for humanity! |
| Chorus :Om…. | Chorus: Om... |
| Male :Manithanai mathiththaal thirunthidum naadu | Male: If humanity is respected, the country will reform. |
| Chorus: Om…. | Chorus: Om... |
.........................
...
நான்கு வேதம் உங்கள் சொந்தமில்லை
நான்கு வர்ணம் மனிதன் செய்த தொல்லை
எந்த கடவுளும் ஜாதி சொல்லவில்லை...
குழு :
ஓம்....ஓம்....
The four Vedas are not your exclusive property,
The four Varnas are a trouble created by human beings.
No god ever prescribed caste.
Chorus: Om... om...
எந்த ஊரில் மனித நேயம் உண்டோ
அந்த ஊரில் வேதம் தேவை இல்லை
மனித ஜாதியில் பேதம் தேவை இல்லை.....
குழு :
ஓம்....ஓம்.....
In whichever town humaneness exists,
Vedas are not needed in that town.
Disparities are not needed in humankind.
Chorus: Om... om...
மண்ணில் யாரும் நல்ல வண்ணம் வாழ
வழிகள் தேடும் மனிதா
சிந்தும் வார்த்தை மண்ணில் சிந்தி போனால்
சேர்ப்பது என்பது எளிதா
So that everyone on earth lives in a good way,
Oh human who seeks a way of life!
If spilled words get scattered on the ground,
Is it easy to gather them back?
மந்திரம் கடந்து
குழு :
ஓம்....
மனிதனை தேடு......
குழு :
ஓம்
மனிதனை மதித்தால்
குழு :
ஓம்
திருந்திடும் நாடு.....
குழு :
ஓம்
Going beyond mantras,
Chorus: Om...
Male: Search for humanity!
Chorus: Om...
Male: If humanity is respected,
Chorus: Om...
Male: The country will reform.
Chorus: Om...
நான்கு வேதம் உங்கள் சொந்தமில்லை
நான்கு வர்ணம் மனிதன் செய்த தொல்லை
எந்த கடவுளும் ஜாதி சொல்லவில்லை...
குழு :
ஓம்....ஓம்....
The four Vedas are not your exclusive property,
The four Varnas are a trouble created by human beings.
No god ever prescribed caste.
Chorus: Om... om...
எந்த ஊரில் மனித நேயம் உண்டோ
அந்த ஊரில் வேதம் தேவை இல்லை
மனித ஜாதியில் பேதம் தேவை இல்லை.....
குழு :
ஓம்....ஓம்.....
In whichever town humaneness exists,
Vedas are not needed in that town.
Disparities are not needed in humankind.
Chorus: Om... om...
மண்ணில் யாரும் நல்ல வண்ணம் வாழ
வழிகள் தேடும் மனிதா
சிந்தும் வார்த்தை மண்ணில் சிந்தி போனால்
சேர்ப்பது என்பது எளிதா
So that everyone on earth lives in a good way,
Oh human who seeks a way of life!
If spilled words get scattered on the ground,
Is it easy to gather them back?
மந்திரம் கடந்து மனிதனை தேடு.....
குழு :
ஓம்...
மனிதனை மதித்தால் திருந்திடும் நாடு..
குழு :
ஓம்ம்ம்.....
Transcending mantras, search for humanity!
Chorus: Om...
Male: If humanity is respected, the country will reform.
Chorus: Om...
………………
...
Naangu vedham ungal sonthamillai
The four Vedas are not your exclusive property,
Naangu varnam manithan seitha thollai
The four Varnas are a trouble created by human beings.
Entha kadavulum jaadhi sollavillai
No god ever prescribed caste.
Chorus :Om….om….
Chorus: Om... om...
Entha ooril manitha neyam udo
In whichever town humaneness exists,
Antha ooril vedham thevai illai
Vedas are not needed in that town.
Manitha jaadhiyil pedham thevai illai
Disparities are not needed in humankind.
Chorus :Om….om….
Chorus: Om... om...
Mannil yaarum nalla vannam vaazha
So that everyone on earth lives in a good way,
Vazhgal thedum manithaa
Oh human who seeks a way of life!
Sinthum vaarththai mannil sinthi ponaal
If spilled words get scattered on the ground,
Saerppathu enbathu elithaa
Is it easy to gather them back?
Manthiram kadanthu
Going beyond mantras,
Chorus :Om….
Chorus: Om...
Male :Manithanai thedu
Male: Search for humanity!
Chorus :Om….
Chorus: Om...
Male :Manithanai mathiththaal
Male: If humanity is respected,
Chorus :Om….
Chorus: Om...
Male :Thirunthidum naadu
Male: The country will reform.
Chorus :Om….
Chorus: Om...
Naangu vedham ungal sonthamillai
The four Vedas are not your exclusive property,
Naangu varnam manithan seitha thollai
The four Varnas are a trouble created by human beings.
Entha kadavulum jaadhi sollavillai
No god ever prescribed caste.
Chorus :Om….om….
Chorus: Om... om...
Entha ooril manitha neyam udo
In whichever town humaneness exists,
Antha ooril vedham thevai illai
Vedas are not needed in that town.
Manitha jaadhiyil pedham thevai illai
Disparities are not needed in humankind.
Chorus :Om….om….
Chorus: Om... om...
Mannil yaarum nalla vannam vaazha
So that everyone on earth lives in a good way,
Vazhgal thedum manithaa
Oh human who seeks a way of life!
Sinthum vaarththai mannil sinthi ponaal
If spilled words get scattered on the ground,
Saerppathu enbathu elithaa
Is it easy to gather them back?
Manthiram kadanthu manithanai thedu
Transcending mantras, search for humanity!
Chorus :Om….
Chorus: Om...
Male :Manithanai mathiththaal thirunthidum naadu
Male: If humanity is respected, the country will reform.
Chorus: Om….
Chorus: Om...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This reformative song strongly critiques rigid caste divisions and ritualistic religious dogmas. Lyricist Vairamuthu argues that concepts like the four Vedas and four Varnas are artificial human creations rather than divine mandates. The song asserts that true spirituality and societal harmony are built on empathy, love, and humaneness rather than scripture or mantras. By juxtaposing the sacred chant 'Om' with powerful secular and anti-caste lyrics, the track urges individuals to value human life above dogmatic beliefs. It stresses that a nation can truly progress and reform only when social equality and mutual respect prevail.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ezhuthu Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Naangu vedham ungal sonthamillai / Naangu varnam manithan seitha thollai”
The second consonant 'ngu' rhymes in consecutive opening lines, creating melodic symmetry.
Anaphora (Initial word repetition)
“Naangu vedham... / Naangu varnam...”
Repetition of 'Naangu' at the beginning of adjacent lines emphasizes the specific religious structures being questioned.
Metaphor / Rhetorical Question
“Sinthum vaarththai mannil sinthi ponaal saerppathu enbathu elithaa”
Comparing spoken words to spilled liquids/objects on soil that cannot be easily gathered back, highlighting the irreversible impact of harsh or discriminatory speech.
Juxtaposition
“Manthiram kadanthu manithanai thedu / Chorus :Om…”
Using traditional religious chants ('Om') in contrast with lyrics calling to move past 'mantras' to focus on human dignity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kizhakku Mugam (1996) starred Reshma and Karthik with music composed by Adithyan. The song stands out in Tamil film music as a direct, rationalist anthem echoing Periyar's social reform principles.
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