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Paava Mannippu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Silar Siripar Silar Azhuvar

From Paava Mannippu · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Paava Mannippu
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
6 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaalam pala kadanthu
Annai mugam kandenae
Kaneerum punnagaiyum
Kalanthu vara nindrenae…ae…
Ondru pada vazhiyilayae
Unmaikku mozhi illaiyae…aaee…
Ullam thiranthu oru sol
Solvatharkkum mudiyalayae..ae…ae…
Silar sirippaar silar azhuvaar
Naan sirithukkondae azhukindren
Silar sirippaar silar azhuvaar
Naan sirithukkondae azhukindren
Silar azhuvaar silar sirippaar
Naan azhuthukondae sirikkindren
Silar sirippaar silar azhuvaar
Naan sirithukkondae azhukindren
Paasam nenjil mothum
Antha paathaiyai baethangal moodum
Paasam nenjil mothum
Antha paathaiyai baethangal moodum
Uravai enni sirikkindren
Urimaiyillaamal azhukindren
: Silar azhuvaar silar sirippaar
Naan azhuthukondae sirikkindren
Silar sirippaar silar azhuvaar
Naan sirithukkondae azhukindren
Karunai pongum ullam
Athu kadavul vaazhum illam
Karunai maranthae vaazhgindraar
Kadavulaithaedi alaigindraar
Silar azhuvaar silar sirippaar
Naan azhuthukondae sirikkindren
Kaalam orunaal maarum
Nam kavalaigal yaavum theerum
Kaalam orunaal maarum
Nam kavalaigal yaavum theerum
Varuvathai enni sirikkindren
Vanthathai enni azhukindren
Silar azhuvaar silar sirippaar
Naan azhuthukondae sirikkindren
Silar sirippaar silar azhuvaar
Naan sirithukkondae azhukindren
After so many years have passed,
I have finally seen my mother's face.
With tears and a smile
mixing together, I stand here...
There is no way for us to unite,
the truth has no voice to speak...
To open my heart and say
even a single word is beyond me...
Some will laugh, some will cry,
but I cry even while laughing.
Some will laugh, some will cry,
but I cry even while laughing.
Some will cry, some will laugh,
but I laugh even while crying.
Some will laugh, some will cry,
but I cry even while laughing.
Love surges in my heart,
yet human divisions block the way.
Love surges in my heart,
yet human divisions block the way.
Thinking of our bond, I smile,
having no right to claim it, I weep.
Some will cry, some will laugh,
but I laugh even while crying.
Some will laugh, some will cry,
but I cry even while laughing.
A heart overflowing with kindness
is the home where God resides.
Yet people live forgetting compassion,
and wander searching for God.
Some will cry, some will laugh,
but I laugh even while crying.
One day, time will change,
and all our sorrows will come to an end.
One day, time will change,
and all our sorrows will come to an end.
Thinking of what is to come, I smile,
thinking of all that has happened, I weep.
Some will cry, some will laugh,
but I laugh even while crying.
Some will laugh, some will cry,
but I cry even while laughing.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Silar Sirippaar Silar Azhuvaar from Paava Mannippu (1961) is a classic Tamil philosophical song penned by Kaviarasar Kannadasan. The lyrics depict the deep psychological dilemma of a person who is reunited with loved ones yet constrained by circumstances from revealing his true identity. It expresses the complex duality of human emotion, where joy and sorrow coexist simultaneously, driving one to laugh through tears and cry through laughter. The song offers deep commentary on human nature and spiritual ignorance, noting how people wander in search of God while overlooking the compassion within human hearts. Ultimately, it ends on an optimistic note, assuring that time is a great healer and that all worldly worries will eventually fade away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron (Muran)

“Naan sirithukkondae azhukindren”

Juxtaposition of opposing actions 'crying' and 'laughing' simultaneously to describe complex emotional distress.

Antithesis

“Silar sirippaar silar azhuvaar”

Contrasting two opposing reactions of different groups of people in society.

Etukai (Second letter rhyming)

“Karunai pongum ullam / Kadavul vaazhum illam”

The second consonant sound 'ru' matches across adjacent lines.

Parallelism / Morphological Contrast

“Varuvathai enni sirikkindren / Vanthathai enni azhukindren”

Parallel sentence structures contrasting the future ('Varuvathai') with the past ('Vanthathai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Paava Mannippu (1961) features legendary music by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. Kannadasan's lyrics for this film are widely regarded as a high point in Tamil cinema, blending philosophical wisdom with intense dramatic emotion.

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