Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaada Mannaru

From Vadagai Veedu · 1981

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Vadagai Veedu1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeruCome on, Mannaru, soda and rose water!
Saeththukkittaa ice -ah lakkadi joruIf you add ice, it's fantastic fun!
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeruCome on, Mannaru, soda and rose water!
Saeththukkittaa ice -ah lakkadi joruIf you add ice, it's fantastic fun!
Male
Saayangaalam neram jambajaar oramDuring the evening time around Zam Bazaar,
Saayangaalam neram jambajaar oramDuring the evening time around Zam Bazaar,
Side vaangi ponaa paiyanThe young man who was stepping aside,
Size ah paaththu pudichenI judged his size and caught him!
Male
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeruCome on, Mannaru, soda and rose water!
Saeththukkittaa ice -ah lakkadi joruIf you add ice, it's fantastic fun!
Male
Thookkaththukku marunthu thara aalirukkaangaThere are people to give medicine for sleep,
Inga thukkathukku marunthu thara yaarumilladaaBut there is no one here to give medicine for grief, my friend!
Velli panamthaandaa dheivamSilver money is the ultimate deity,
Adhu velaiyaadum varaithaanda dheivamIt remains God only as long as it can be spent and used!
Velli panamthaandaa dheivamSilver money is the ultimate deity,
Adhu velaiyaadum varaithaanda dheivamIt remains God only as long as it can be spent and used!
Male
Manushanukku thaagam vanthaaWhen a man gets thirsty,
Thanni kudikkiraanHe drinks water.
Antha thannirukkae thaagam vanthaaWhen that water itself gets thirsty,
Kudiya kodukkiraanHe sacrifices his whole home and livelihood!
Male
Kulukulunguthu silusilunguthuJingling and shivering coolly,
Kuththaalaththula manam kulikkuthuThe mind bathes as if under the Courtallam waterfalls,
Kuththaalaththula manam kulikkuthuThe mind bathes as if under the Courtallam waterfalls,
Kukulunguthu silusilunguthuJingling and shivering coolly,
Male
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeruCome on, Mannaru, soda and rose water!
Saeththukkittaa ice-ah lakkadi joruIf you add ice, it's fantastic fun!
Male
…………….....
Male
Aadhiyilae manusanellaam koranguthanadaaIn the beginning, all humans were just monkeys, my friend!
Unga anavaththa vuttu konjam erangi vaangadaaSo cast aside your ego and come down a notch, everyone!
Male
Aasai vellottamthaandaaDesire is like a trial run,
Adhil aalae thallaaduraandaaYet in it, a person stumbles around blindly!
Aahn aasai ellottamthaandaaAh, desire is like a trial run,
Adhil aalae thallaaduraandaaYet in it, a person stumbles around blindly!
Male
Chinnavanum periyavanum onnuthaanadaaThe humble person and the powerful person are both the same, my friend!
Moochchu ninnavudan inthavudal mannuthanadaaOnce breath stops, this body turns into mere dust, my friend!
Male
Kulukulunguthu silusilunguthuJingling and shivering coolly,
Kuththaalaththula manam kulikkuthuThe mind bathes as if under the Courtallam waterfalls,
Kuththaalaththula manam kulikkuthuThe mind bathes as if under the Courtallam waterfalls,
Silusilunguthu kulukulunguthuShivering and jingling coolly,
Male
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeruCome on, Mannaru, soda and rose water!
Saeththukkittaa ice-ah lakkadi joruIf you add ice, it's fantastic fun!
Male
Saayankgakaalam neram jambajaar oramDuring the evening time around Zam Bazaar,
Saayankgakaalam neram jambajaar oramDuring the evening time around Zam Bazaar,
Side vaangi ponaa paiyanThe young man who was stepping aside,
Size ah paththu pudichenI judged his size and caught him!
Male
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeruCome on, Mannaru, soda and rose water!
Saeththukkittaa ice-ah lakkadi joruIf you add ice, it's fantastic fun!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from Vadagai Veedu (1981) uses local Madras slang (Gaana style) combined with philosophical reflections on human existence, materialism, and alcohol addiction. Wrapped in a catchy, upbeat tune, the protagonist addresses 'Mannaru' over drinks, offering lighthearted banter while delivering profound observations about human nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Velli panamthaandaa dheivam

Comparing money to a deity ('Velli panamthaandaa dheivam') and body to dust after death ('inthavudal mannuthanadaa').

Onomatopoeia

Kulukulunguthu silusilunguthu

Use of rhythmic sensory words 'Kulukulunguthu silusilunguthu' to evoke the sensation of chilling drinks and refreshing water.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thookkaththukku marunthu thara aalirukkaanga

Tamil rhyme scheme where the second letter matches across lines, seen in 'Thookkaththukku' and 'thukkathukku'.

Wordplay / Pun

Inga thukkathukku marunthu thara yaarumilladaa

Contrasting 'thookkam' (sleep) with 'thukkam' (grief/sorrow) to show societal indifference to emotional suffering.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Alangudi Somu and composed by Shankar-Ganesh, this song highlights early Madras Gaana influence in Tamil mainstream film music, showcasing S.P. Balasubrahmanyam's versatility in rendering local folk dialect and slang effortlessly.

Keep listening

More from Vadagai Veedu