Vanaththai Parthen
From Manithan · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Manithan1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaanathai paarthen | I looked at the sky |
| Bhoomiyai paarthen | I looked at the earth |
| Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae | But I have not yet seen a true human being |
| Male | |
| Vaanathai paarthen | I looked at the sky |
| Bhoomiyai paarthen | I looked at the earth |
| Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae | But I have not yet seen a true human being |
| Ada pala naal irundhen ullae | Oh, I spent many days inside (prison) |
| Andha nimmadhi ingillae… | That peace is not found here outside... |
| Male | |
| Ulla pona aththanai perum | Everyone who went inside |
| Kuthavaali illeenga | Is not a criminal, my friends |
| Veliyae ulla aththanai perum | Everyone who is outside |
| Buddhan gandhi illeenga | Is not a Buddha or a Gandhi, my friends |
| Male | |
| Vaanathai paarthen | I looked at the sky |
| Bhoomiyai paarthen | I looked at the earth |
| Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae | But I have not yet seen a true human being |
| Male | |
| Kurangilirundhu pirandhaana | Did man evolve from the ape? |
| Kurangai manidhan petraanaa | Or did man give birth to the ape? |
| Yaarai kelvi ketpadhu | Whom should I ask this question? |
| Darwin illayae… | Darwin is not here... |
| Male | |
| Kadavul manidhanai padaithaana | Did God create man? |
| Kadavulai manidhan padaithaana | Or did man create God? |
| Rendu perum illayae | Neither of them is present |
| Romba thollaiyae | It is a great dilemma |
| Male | |
| Ada naan solvadhu unmai | Hey, what I say is the truth |
| Idhai nee nambinaal nanmai… | It will do you good if you believe this... |
| Ada naan solvadhu unmai | Hey, what I say is the truth |
| Idhai nee nambinaal nanmai… | It will do you good if you believe this... |
| Male | |
| Vaanathai paarthen | I looked at the sky |
| Bhoomiyai paarthen | I looked at the earth |
| Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae | But I have not yet seen a true human being |
| Ada pala naal irundhen ullae | Oh, I spent many days inside |
| Andha nimmadhi ingillae… | That peace is not found here outside... |
| Male | |
| Sila naal irundhen karuvarayil | I spent a few days in the womb |
| Pala naal kidandhen sirai araiyil | I spent many days in a prison cell |
| Amma ennai eendradhu | My mother gave birth to me |
| Amavaasaiyaam | On a new moon day |
| Male | |
| Adhanaal pirandhadhu thollaiyada | That is why trouble was born, my friend |
| Aanaal en manam vellaiyada | But my heart is pure white, my friend |
| Pattapaadu yaavumae | All the hardships I suffered |
| Paadam thaanadaa | Are only lessons, my friend |
| Male | |
| Oru poonthotama vaazhkai | Is life a flower garden? |
| Illai porattamae vaazhkai… | No, life is a struggle... |
| Oru poonthotama vaazhkai…haaa | Is life a flower garden... haaa |
| Illai porattamae vaazhkai.. | No, life is a struggle.. |
| Male | |
| Vaanathai paarthen | I looked at the sky |
| Bhoomiyai paarthen | I looked at the earth |
| Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae | But I have not yet seen a true human being |
| Ada pala naal irundhen ullae | Oh, I spent many days inside |
| Andha nimmadhi ingillae… | That peace is not found here outside... |
| Male | |
| Ulla pona aththanai perum | Everyone who went inside |
| Kuthavaali illeenga | Is not a criminal, my friends |
| Veliyae ulla aththanai perum | Everyone who is outside |
| Buddhan gandhi illeenga | Is not a Buddha or a Gandhi, my friends |
| Male | |
| Vaanathai paarthen | I looked at the sky |
| Bhoomiyai paarthen | I looked at the earth |
| Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae | But I have not yet seen a true human being |
| Ada pala naal irundhen ullae | Oh, I spent many days inside |
| Andha nimmadhi ingillae… | That peace is not found here outside... |
| Andha nimmadhi ingillae… | That peace is not found here outside... |
வானத்தை
பார்த்தேன் பூமியை
பார்த்தேன் மனுஷனை
இன்னும் பார்க்கலையே
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
But I have not yet seen a true human being
வானத்தை
பார்த்தேன் பூமியை
பார்த்தேன் மனுஷனை
இன்னும் பார்க்கலையே
அட பல நாள் இருந்தேன்
உள்ளே அந்த நிம்மதி
இங்கில்லே
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Oh, I spent many days inside (prison)
That peace is not found here outside...
உள்ள போன
அத்தனை பேரும்
குத்தவாளி இல்லீங்க
வெளியே உள்ள அத்தனை
பேரும் புத்தன் காந்தி
இல்லீங்க
Everyone who went inside
Is not a criminal, my friends
Everyone who is outside
Is not a Buddha or a Gandhi, my friends
வானத்தை
பார்த்தேன் பூமியை
பார்த்தேன் மனுஷனை
இன்னும் பார்க்கலையே
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
But I have not yet seen a true human being
குரங்கிலிருந்து
பிறந்தானா குரங்கை
மனிதன் பெற்றானா
யாரை கேள்வி கேட்பது
டார்வின் இல்லையே
Did man evolve from the ape?
Or did man give birth to the ape?
Whom should I ask this question?
Darwin is not here...
கடவுள் மனிதனை
படைத்தானா கடவுளை
மனிதன் படைத்தானா
ரெண்டு பேரும் இல்லையே
ரொம்ப தொல்லையே
Did God create man?
Or did man create God?
Neither of them is present
It is a great dilemma
அட நான்
சொல்வது உண்மை
இதை நீ நம்பினால்
நன்மை அட நான்
சொல்வது உண்மை
இதை நீ நம்பினால் நன்மை
Hey, what I say is the truth
It will do you good if you believe this...
Hey, what I say is the truth
It will do you good if you believe this...
வானத்தை
பார்த்தேன் பூமியை
பார்த்தேன் மனுஷனை
இன்னும் பார்க்கலையே
அட பல நாள் இருந்தேன்
உள்ளே அந்த நிம்மதி
இங்கில்லே
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Oh, I spent many days inside
That peace is not found here outside...
சில நாள் இருந்தேன்
கருவறையில் பல நாள்
கிடந்தேன் சிறை அறையில்
அம்மா என்னை ஈன்றது
அமாவாசையாம்
I spent a few days in the womb
I spent many days in a prison cell
My mother gave birth to me
On a new moon day
அதனால் பிறந்தது
தொல்லையடா ஆனால்
என் மனம் வெள்ளையடா
பட்டபாடு யாவுமே பாடம்
தானடா
That is why trouble was born, my friend
But my heart is pure white, my friend
All the hardships I suffered
Are only lessons, my friend
ஒரு பூந்தோட்டமா
வாழ்க்கை இல்லை
போராட்டமே வாழ்க்கை
ஒரு பூந்தோட்டமா வாழ்க்கை
ஹா இல்லை போராட்டமே
வாழ்க்கை
Is life a flower garden?
No, life is a struggle...
Is life a flower garden... haaa
No, life is a struggle..
வானத்தை
பார்த்தேன் பூமியை
பார்த்தேன் மனுஷனை
இன்னும் பார்க்கலையே
அட பல நாள் இருந்தேன்
உள்ளே அந்த நிம்மதி
இங்கில்லே
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Oh, I spent many days inside
That peace is not found here outside...
உள்ள போன
அத்தனை பேரும்
குத்தவாளி இல்லீங்க
வெளியே உள்ள அத்தனை
பேரும் புத்தன் காந்தி
இல்லீங்க
Everyone who went inside
Is not a criminal, my friends
Everyone who is outside
Is not a Buddha or a Gandhi, my friends
வானத்தை
பார்த்தேன் பூமியை
பார்த்தேன் மனுஷனை
இன்னும் பார்க்கலையே
அட பல நாள் இருந்தேன்
உள்ளே அந்த நிம்மதி
இங்கில்லே அந்த நிம்மதி
இங்கில்லே
I looked at the sky
I looked at the earth
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Oh, I spent many days inside
That peace is not found here outside...
That peace is not found here outside...
Vaanathai paarthen
I looked at the sky
Bhoomiyai paarthen
I looked at the earth
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Vaanathai paarthen
I looked at the sky
Bhoomiyai paarthen
I looked at the earth
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Ada pala naal irundhen ullae
Oh, I spent many days inside (prison)
Andha nimmadhi ingillae…
That peace is not found here outside...
Ulla pona aththanai perum
Everyone who went inside
Kuthavaali illeenga
Is not a criminal, my friends
Veliyae ulla aththanai perum
Everyone who is outside
Buddhan gandhi illeenga
Is not a Buddha or a Gandhi, my friends
Vaanathai paarthen
I looked at the sky
Bhoomiyai paarthen
I looked at the earth
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Kurangilirundhu pirandhaana
Did man evolve from the ape?
Kurangai manidhan petraanaa
Or did man give birth to the ape?
Yaarai kelvi ketpadhu
Whom should I ask this question?
Darwin illayae…
Darwin is not here...
Kadavul manidhanai padaithaana
Did God create man?
Kadavulai manidhan padaithaana
Or did man create God?
Rendu perum illayae
Neither of them is present
Romba thollaiyae
It is a great dilemma
Ada naan solvadhu unmai
Hey, what I say is the truth
Idhai nee nambinaal nanmai…
It will do you good if you believe this...
Ada naan solvadhu unmai
Hey, what I say is the truth
Idhai nee nambinaal nanmai…
It will do you good if you believe this...
Vaanathai paarthen
I looked at the sky
Bhoomiyai paarthen
I looked at the earth
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Ada pala naal irundhen ullae
Oh, I spent many days inside
Andha nimmadhi ingillae…
That peace is not found here outside...
Sila naal irundhen karuvarayil
I spent a few days in the womb
Pala naal kidandhen sirai araiyil
I spent many days in a prison cell
Amma ennai eendradhu
My mother gave birth to me
Amavaasaiyaam
On a new moon day
Adhanaal pirandhadhu thollaiyada
That is why trouble was born, my friend
Aanaal en manam vellaiyada
But my heart is pure white, my friend
Pattapaadu yaavumae
All the hardships I suffered
Paadam thaanadaa
Are only lessons, my friend
Oru poonthotama vaazhkai
Is life a flower garden?
Illai porattamae vaazhkai…
No, life is a struggle...
Oru poonthotama vaazhkai…haaa
Is life a flower garden... haaa
Illai porattamae vaazhkai..
No, life is a struggle..
Vaanathai paarthen
I looked at the sky
Bhoomiyai paarthen
I looked at the earth
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Ada pala naal irundhen ullae
Oh, I spent many days inside
Andha nimmadhi ingillae…
That peace is not found here outside...
Ulla pona aththanai perum
Everyone who went inside
Kuthavaali illeenga
Is not a criminal, my friends
Veliyae ulla aththanai perum
Everyone who is outside
Buddhan gandhi illeenga
Is not a Buddha or a Gandhi, my friends
Vaanathai paarthen
I looked at the sky
Bhoomiyai paarthen
I looked at the earth
Manushanai innum paarkalaiyae
But I have not yet seen a true human being
Ada pala naal irundhen ullae
Oh, I spent many days inside
Andha nimmadhi ingillae…
That peace is not found here outside...
Andha nimmadhi ingillae…
That peace is not found here outside...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Vaanathai Paarthen' from the film Manithan (1987) is a philosophical commentary on society, morality, and human nature. The protagonist reflects on his time in prison versus his time in society, pointing out the hypocrisy of societal judgment. He notes that not everyone imprisoned is truly guilty, nor is everyone walking free a saint like Buddha or Gandhi. The lyrics question existential theories of evolution and theology, highlighting the moral bankruptcy and lack of genuine humanity in the modern world.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhyme / Monorhyme (Iyaiputh Thodai)
“Vaanathai paarthen / Bhoomiyai paarthen”
The line endings 'paarthen' and 'paarkalaiyae' establish a rhythmic cadence across stanzas.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Ulla pona aththanai perum Kuthavaali illeenga / Veliyae ulla aththanai perum Buddhan gandhi illeenga”
Contrasts those inside prison ('Ulla pona') with those on the outside ('Veliyae ulla') to point out moral hypocrisy.
Juxtaposition / Metaphor
“Sila naal irundhen karuvarayil / Pala naal kidandhen sirai araiyil”
Compares the peaceful environment of the mother's womb ('karuvarayil') with the harsh reality of a prison cell ('sirai araiyil').
Allusion
“Yaarai kelvi ketpadhu Darwin illayae…”
References historical and philosophical figures such as Charles Darwin, Buddha, and Mahatma Gandhi to question human moral evolution.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is picturized on Rajinikanth in the 1987 blockbuster film 'Manithan', directed by S. P. Muthuraman. Music for this film was composed by Chandrabose, with vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The track serves as the protagonist's entry/philosophical theme song reflecting his wrongful imprisonment.
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