Oruvan Manadhu
From Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum · 1963
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Oruvan | { One person's |
| Manadhu onbadhada | mind has nine facets, O friend, |
| Adhil olindhu kidapadhu | and what lies hidden within it |
| Enbadhada } (2) | is eighty things! } (2) |
| Male | |
| { Uruvathai | { The one who looks at |
| Paarpavan manithanadaa | the physical form is a mere human, |
| Adhil ullathai kaanbavan iraivanada } (2) | but the one who sees the inner heart is God! } (2) |
| Male | |
| Oruvan | One person's |
| Manadhu onbadhada | mind has nine facets, O friend, |
| Adhil olindhu kidapadhu | and what lies hidden within it |
| Enbadhada | is eighty things! |
| Male | |
| { Yerum | { While rising up (in power/wealth), |
| Bodhu erigindran | he burns with arrogance, |
| Irangumbodhu sirikindran } (2) | and while falling down, he smiles (falsely). } (2) |
| Male | |
| Vaazhum | In prosperous |
| Nerathil varugindran | times, he comes to you, |
| Varumai vandhal pirigindran | but when poverty strikes, he departs. |
| Male | |
| Oruvan | One person's |
| Manadhu onbadhada | mind has nine facets, O friend, |
| Adhil olindhu kidapadhu | and what lies hidden within it |
| Enbadhada | is eighty things! |
| Male | |
| { Thaayin | { He forgets |
| Perumai marakindran | a mother's greatness, |
| Thannala setril vizhugindran } (2) | and falls into the mud of selfishness. } (2) |
| Male | |
| Peipol | Like a ghost, |
| Panathai kaakindran | he guards his money, |
| Periyavar thammai pazhikindran | and insults elders. |
| Male | |
| Oruvan | One person's |
| Manadhu onbadhada | mind has nine facets, O friend, |
| Adhil olindhu kidapadhu | and what lies hidden within it |
| Enbadhada | is eighty things! |
| Male | |
| Uruvathai | The one who looks at |
| Paarpavan manithanadaa | the physical form is a mere human, |
| Adhil ullathai kaanbavan iraivanada | and the one who sees the inner heart is God! |
| Male | |
| Oruvan | One person's |
| Manadhu onbadhada | mind has nine facets, O friend, |
| Adhil olindhu kidapadhu | and what lies hidden within it |
| Enbadhada | is eighty things! |
{ ஒருவன் மனது
ஒன்பதடா அதில் ஒளிந்து
கிடப்பது எண்பதடா } (2)
{ One person's
mind has nine facets, O friend,
and what lies hidden within it
is eighty things! } (2)
{ உருவத்தை
பார்ப்பவன் மனிதனடா
அதில் உள்ளத்தை
காண்பவன் இறைவனடா } (2)
{ The one who looks at
the physical form is a mere human,
but the one who sees the inner heart is God! } (2)
ஒருவன் மனது
ஒன்பதடா அதில் ஒளிந்து
கிடப்பது எண்பதடா
One person's
mind has nine facets, O friend,
and what lies hidden within it
is eighty things!
{ ஏறும் போது
எரிகின்றான்
இறங்கும்போது
சிரிக்கின்றான் } (2)
{ While rising up (in power/wealth),
he burns with arrogance,
and while falling down, he smiles (falsely). } (2)
வாழும் நேரத்தில்
வருகின்றான் வறுமை
வந்தால் பிரிகின்றான்
In prosperous
times, he comes to you,
but when poverty strikes, he departs.
ஒருவன் மனது
ஒன்பதடா அதில் ஒளிந்து
கிடப்பது எண்பதடா
One person's
mind has nine facets, O friend,
and what lies hidden within it
is eighty things!
{ தாயின் பெருமை
மறக்கின்றான் தன்னல
சேற்றில் விழுகின்றான் } (2)
{ He forgets
a mother's greatness,
and falls into the mud of selfishness. } (2)
பேய்போல்
பணத்தை காக்கின்றான்
பெரியவர் தம்மை
பழிக்கின்றான்
Like a ghost,
he guards his money,
and insults elders.
ஒருவன் மனது
ஒன்பதடா அதில் ஒளிந்து
கிடப்பது எண்பதடா
One person's
mind has nine facets, O friend,
and what lies hidden within it
is eighty things!
உருவத்தை
பார்ப்பவன் மனிதனடா
அதில் உள்ளத்தை
காண்பவன் இறைவனடா
The one who looks at
the physical form is a mere human,
and the one who sees the inner heart is God!
ஒருவன் மனது
ஒன்பதடா அதில் ஒளிந்து
கிடப்பது எண்பதடா
One person's
mind has nine facets, O friend,
and what lies hidden within it
is eighty things!
{ Oruvan
{ One person's
Manadhu onbadhada
mind has nine facets, O friend,
Adhil olindhu kidapadhu
and what lies hidden within it
Enbadhada } (2)
is eighty things! } (2)
{ Uruvathai
{ The one who looks at
Paarpavan manithanadaa
the physical form is a mere human,
Adhil ullathai kaanbavan iraivanada } (2)
but the one who sees the inner heart is God! } (2)
Oruvan
One person's
Manadhu onbadhada
mind has nine facets, O friend,
Adhil olindhu kidapadhu
and what lies hidden within it
Enbadhada
is eighty things!
{ Yerum
{ While rising up (in power/wealth),
Bodhu erigindran
he burns with arrogance,
Irangumbodhu sirikindran } (2)
and while falling down, he smiles (falsely). } (2)
Vaazhum
In prosperous
Nerathil varugindran
times, he comes to you,
Varumai vandhal pirigindran
but when poverty strikes, he departs.
Oruvan
One person's
Manadhu onbadhada
mind has nine facets, O friend,
Adhil olindhu kidapadhu
and what lies hidden within it
Enbadhada
is eighty things!
{ Thaayin
{ He forgets
Perumai marakindran
a mother's greatness,
Thannala setril vizhugindran } (2)
and falls into the mud of selfishness. } (2)
Peipol
Like a ghost,
Panathai kaakindran
he guards his money,
Periyavar thammai pazhikindran
and insults elders.
Oruvan
One person's
Manadhu onbadhada
mind has nine facets, O friend,
Adhil olindhu kidapadhu
and what lies hidden within it
Enbadhada
is eighty things!
Uruvathai
The one who looks at
Paarpavan manithanadaa
the physical form is a mere human,
Adhil ullathai kaanbavan iraivanada
and the one who sees the inner heart is God!
Oruvan
One person's
Manadhu onbadhada
mind has nine facets, O friend,
Adhil olindhu kidapadhu
and what lies hidden within it
Enbadhada
is eighty things!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
"Oruvan Manadhu Onbadhada" is a deeply philosophical song from the 1963 Tamil film 'Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum'. It critiques human pretense, greed, and superficiality. The song highlights how complex human nature is, possessing multiple hidden motives and masks. It notes that while ordinary people judge others by their outer appearance, only the Divine truly understands human hearts and intentions. The lyrics expose fair-weather relationships—how people gather during prosperous times and abandon others during hardship. It condemns those who forget maternal love, fall into selfishness, hoard wealth greedily like a ghost guarding a treasure, and disrespect elders. Ultimately, it serves as a moral lesson encouraging sincerity, selflessness, and spiritual awareness over superficiality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai Ani)
“Peipol Panathai kaakindran”
Compares a miser guarding money to a ghost ('peipol') obsessively guarding hidden treasure.
Antithesis (Muran Ani)
“Yerum Bodhu erigindran / Irangumbodhu sirikindran”
Contrasts two opposing states: 'yerum bodhu' (while ascending/prospering) and 'irangumbodhu' (while descending/failing).
Contrast (Muran Ani)
“Paarpavan manithanadaa / Adhil ullathai kaanbavan iraivanada”
Juxtaposes human perception (seeing outer form) with divine omniscience (seeing the inner heart/soul).
Metaphor (Uruvaga Ani)
“Thannala setril vizhugindran”
Metaphorically compares selfishness to a muddy swamp ('setril') in which a person gets trapped.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum' (1963) is a hit Tamil film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. Though listed as unknown in some song credits, the music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by Kaviarasu Kannadasan, and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan (TMS). The title phrase 'Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum' translates to 'Charity/Righteousness will protect one's life'.
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