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Manithan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vanaththai Parthen (Sad)

From Manithan · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vanitha, Kovai Murali
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Manithan
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
21 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaanathai paarthen
Bhoomiyai paarthen
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
Vaanathai paarthen
Bhoomiyai paarthen
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
Naan pirandhadhu azhudhida thaana
Ei vidhiyae seri thaana
Thangai ennum thangam ingae
Theeyil vegum ippodhu
Kangal sindhum kaneeralae
Endha theeyum anaiyadhu
Vaanathai paarthen
Bhoomiyai paarthen
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
Vaanathai paarthen
Bhoomiyai paarthen
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
Naan pirandhadhu azhudhida thaana
Ei vidhiyae seri thaana
Nilamaiyai solla mudiyadhu
Nilavukku tharkolai kidaiyadhu
Poovai vaitha paaviyae
Theeyai veikkiraan…
Neruppukku unmai theriyadhu
Therindhaal neruppu yeriyadhu
Unmai vandhu pesumaa
Oomai naan amma
Mananaal paarthavan naanae
Pina naal paarpadhum naanae
Mananaal paarthavan naanae
Pina naal paarpadhum naanae
Vaanathai paarthen
Bhoomiyai paarthen
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
Naan pirandhadhu azhudhida thaana
Ei vidhiyae seri thaana
Yerkanavae avan yerithu vittaan
Yerithathai marupadi yerithu vittaan
Dharmam kaakkum dhevanoo
Toonghi poi vittaan
Vaazhkai edhu vendru puriyavillai
Vaai vittu azhavum vasadhiyillai
Vendha punnil allavoo
Velum paindhadhu
Vidhiyaal vandhadha illai
Sadhiyaal vandhadhae thollai
Vidhiyaal vandhadha illai
Sadhiyaal vandhadhae thollai
Vaanathai paarthen
Bhoomiyai paarthen
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
Naan pirandhadhu azhudhida thaana
Ei vidhiyae seri thaana
Thangai ennum thangam ingae
Theeyil vegum ippodhu
Kangal sindhum kaneeralae
Endha theeyum anaiyadhu
Vaanathai paarthen
Bhoomiyai paarthen
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
Naan pirandhadhu azhudhida thaana
Ei vidhiyae seri thaana…
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
Yet I haven't seen a true human being
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
Yet I haven't seen a true human being
Was I born only to weep?
Hey fate, is this fair?
My sister, pure as gold,
is burning in the fire right now
With the tears shed from our eyes,
no fire can ever be put out
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
Yet I haven't seen a true human being
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
Yet I haven't seen a true human being
Was I born only to weep?
Hey fate, is this fair?
I cannot describe this plight
The moon cannot take its own life
The sinner who placed flowers in her hair
is the one setting her on fire...
The fire does not know the truth
If it knew, the fire would not burn
Will the truth ever speak up?
I have been struck speechless, mother
I was the one who saw her wedding day,
and I am the one seeing her funeral day too
I was the one who saw her wedding day,
and I am the one seeing her funeral day too
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
Yet I haven't seen a true human being
Was I born only to weep?
Hey fate, is this fair?
He had already burned her inside,
and now he has burned what was already burnt
The God who protects justice
has fallen fast asleep
I cannot understand what life is
I don't even have the freedom to weep aloud
Isn't it upon an already burning wound
that a spear has been driven?
Did this trouble come from fate? No,
this misery came from treachery
Did this trouble come from fate? No,
this misery came from treachery
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
Yet I haven't seen a true human being
Was I born only to weep?
Hey fate, is this fair?
My sister, pure as gold,
is burning in the fire right now
With the tears shed from our eyes,
no fire can ever be put out
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
Yet I haven't seen a true human being
Was I born only to weep?
Hey fate, is this fair?…
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses profound grief and existential anguish over human cruelty and betrayal. The protagonist laments that despite searching across the heavens and the earth, he has yet to find a real human being with humanity. He questions fate after witnessing his beloved sister suffer a tragic, cruel burning, expressing helplessness as his tears cannot put out the flames consuming her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Thangai ennum thangam ingae

Compares the protagonist's sister directly to gold ('thangai ennum thangam') to emphasize her pure and precious nature.

Antithesis / Irony (Muran)

Mananaal paarthavan naanae / Pina naal paarpadhum naanae

Contrasts 'Mananaal' (wedding day) with 'Pina naal' (day of becoming a corpse), highlighting the stark, heartbreaking tragedy of life.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Vidhiyaal vandhadha illai / Sadhiyaal vandhadhae thollai

The second letter consonant 'dhi' matches across consecutive lines ('Vidhiyaal' / 'Sadhiyaal').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is from the 1987 action-drama film 'Manithan' starring Rajinikanth and Rubini. The music was composed by Chandrabose, with lyrics written by Vairamuthu and sung emotionally by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

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