- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Rudra Thaandavam – 1978
- Movie release year
- 1978
- Lyrics added on
- 2 Apr 2024
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee seththatharkku azhupavargal
Eththanai per kanakku
Nee seththatharkku azhupavargal
Eththanai per kanakku
Athai poruththeythaan pogumidam
Sorkkam naragam unakku
Ada sorkkam naragam unakku
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Arasiyalvaathi ellaam
Oottai ennugiraar
Aranmanai vaasiyellaam
Nottai ennugiraar
Arasiyalvaathi ellaam
Oottai ennugiraar
Aranmanai vaasiyellaam
Nottai ennugiraar
Aayiraththil oruvanthaan
Aandavanai ennugiraan
Aayiraththil oruvanthaan
Aandavanai ennugiraan
Aayiraththil oruvanthaan
Aandavanai ennugiraan
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Ooraarkku uzhaiththavargal
Oorai vittu pogaiyilae
Oorae thirandu vanthu
Vaaikkarasi pottu vidum
Ooraarkku uzhaiththavargal
Oorai vittu pogaiyilae
Oorae thirandu vanthu
Vaaikkarasi pottu vidum
Naal muzhukka poi uraiththu
Naalum ketta manithan seththaal
Thol koduththu thookka
Oru naathiyindri aagividum
Thol koduththu thookka
Oru naathiyindri aagividum
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Maaligaiyil iruntha puththan
Mara nizhal kudi pugunthaan
Yaezhaigalai gaandhi kandu
Aadaigalai kuraiththu kondaan
Maaligaiyil iruntha puththan
Mara nizhal kudi pugunthaan
Yaezhaigalai gaandhi kandu
Aadaigalai kuraiththu kondaan
Anbu kodi ondrirunthaal
Thunbangalai tholaiththu vidum
Aalukkoru kodi pidiththaal
Oorukkoru kaatchiyendraal
Naalukkoru sandai varum
Naagareegam engu varum
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Nee mannavanaa chinnavanaa
Solli vidum pirappu
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
Are you a good person or bad?
Your death will tell.
Are you a good person or bad?
Your death will tell.
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
The people who weep when you die—
count how many there are!
The people who weep when you die—
count how many there are!
Depending only on that count,
heaven or hell is decided for you!
Ah, heaven or hell is decided for you!
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
Are you a good person or bad?
Your death will tell.
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
All the politicians
are counting their votes.
All the palace dwellers
are counting their currency notes.
All the politicians
are counting their votes.
All the palace dwellers
are counting their currency notes.
Only one in a thousand
spares a thought for God.
Only one in a thousand
spares a thought for God.
Only one in a thousand
spares a thought for God.
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
Are you a good person or bad?
Your death will tell.
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
For those who toiled for the people,
when they depart from this world,
the whole town will gather together
to offer the final funeral rice.
For those who toiled for the people,
when they depart from this world,
the whole town will gather together
to offer the final funeral rice.
Telling lies all day long,
if a thoroughly wicked man dies,
to lend a shoulder and carry his body,
there will not be a single soul left.
To lend a shoulder and carry his body,
there will not be a single soul left.
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
The Buddha, who once lived in a palace,
made his home beneath the shade of a tree.
Seeing the plight of the poor, Gandhi
gave up his clothes to dress simply.
The Buddha, who once lived in a palace,
made his home beneath the shade of a tree.
Seeing the plight of the poor, Gandhi
gave up his clothes to dress simply.
If the single banner of love is raised,
it will wipe away every sorrow.
If every person holds a different flag,
and every town has a different party,
a fight will break out every single day!
Where will civilization come from then?
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
Are you a good person or bad?
Your death will tell.
Are you a king or a humble man?
Your birth will tell.
Male
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This philosophical song composed by M. S. Viswanathan and penned by Kannadasan reflects on the true measure of a human life. It asserts that whether one is born as a king or a commoner, status at birth is irrelevant; what truly defines a person is how many people mourn their passing based on the virtues of their life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhyme / Edhukai
“Oottai ennugiraar / Nottai ennugiraar”
Rhyming of second letters in words across lines, such as 'Oottai' (votes) and 'Nottai' (currency notes).
Alliteration / Monai
“Maaligaiyil iruntha puththan / Mara nizhal kudi pugunthaan”
Repetition of initial letters in words, such as 'Maaligaiyil' and 'Mara'.
Historical & Mythological Allusions
“Maaligaiyil iruntha puththan ... Yaezhaigalai gaandhi kandu”
References to historical figures Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi to exemplify selflessness and moral greatness.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from the 1978 film 'Rudra Thaandavam' features iconic philosophical lyrics by Kannadasan, sung powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan, emphasizing social harmony, unity, and morality over material wealth and political factionalism.
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