Vantha Naal Muthal
From Paava Mannippu · 1961
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Paava Mannippu1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo | Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo |
| Vantha naal muthal | From the day it all began |
| Intha naal varai.. | Till this present day.. |
| Vantha naal muthal | From the day it all began |
| Intha naal varai.. | Till this present day.. |
| Vaanam maaravillai | The sky has not changed |
| Male | |
| Vaan mathiyum meenum | The celestial moon and stars |
| Kadal kaattrum | The sea breeze |
| Malarum mannum | The blossoms and the earth |
| Kodiyum solaiyum | The creepers and the groves |
| Nathiyum maaravillai | And the river haven't changed |
| Manithan maarivittaan.. | Only man has changed.. |
| Male | |
| Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. | Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. |
| Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. | Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. |
| Male | |
| Nilai maarinaal | If his circumstances change |
| Gunam maaruvaan | His character will change |
| Poi neethiyum | He preaches fake justice |
| Nermaiyum pesuvaan | And preaches honesty |
| Thinam jaathiyum | Daily he preaches casteism |
| Baethamum kooruvaan | And discriminates with differences |
| Athu vethan vithi endrothuvaan.. | Reciting that it is Brahma's destiny.. |
| Manithan maarivittaan.. | Only man has changed.. |
| Mathaththil yerivittaan.. | He got drunk on arrogance and religion.. |
| Male | |
| Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. | Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. |
| Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. | Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. |
| Male | |
| Paravaiyai kandaan.. | He saw the bird.. |
| Vimaanam padaiththaan.. | And created the airplane.. |
| Paravaiyai kandaan | He saw the bird |
| Vimaanam padaiththaan.. | And created the airplane.. |
| Male | |
| Paayum meengalil | In the darting fish |
| Padaginai kandaan | He envisioned the boat |
| Ethiroli kettaan | He heard the echo |
| Vaanoli padaiththaan | And created the radio |
| Male | |
| Ethanai kandaan.. | How much he discovered.. |
| Panamthanai padaiththaan.. | Yet he created money above all.. |
| Ethanai kandaan | How much he discovered |
| Panamthanai padaiththaan.. | Yet he created money above all.. |
| Manithan maarivittaan.. | Only man has changed.. |
| Mathaththil yerivittaan.. | He got drunk on arrogance and religion.. |
| Male | |
| Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. | Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. |
| Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. | Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. |
| Male | |
| Inbamum kaathalum | Joy and love |
| Iyarkaiyin needhi | Are nature's law |
| Yetra thaazhvugal | Inequalities and divisions |
| Manithanin jaathi | Are man-made caste rules |
| Male | |
| Paaril Iyarkkai | Everything that nature |
| Padaiththathai ellam | Created on this earth |
| Paavi manithan | Sinful man |
| Pirithuvaithaanae.. | Divided and hoarded.. |
| Manithan maarivittaan.. | Only man has changed.. |
| Mathaththil yerivittaan.. | He got drunk on arrogance and religion.. |
| Male | |
| Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo | Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo |
| Vantha naal muthal | From the day it all began |
| Intha naal varai.. | Till this present day.. |
| Vaanam maaravillai | The sky has not changed |
| Male | |
| Vaan mathiyum meenum | The celestial moon and stars |
| Kadal kaattrum | The sea breeze |
| Malarum mannum | The blossoms and the earth |
| Kodiyum solaiyum | The creepers and the groves |
| Nathiyum maaravillai | And the river haven't changed |
| Manithan maarivittaan.. | Only man has changed.. |
| Male | |
| Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. | Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. |
| Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. | Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae.. |
| Oh oh hoah.. oyae.. ohoo..oo | Oh oh hoah.. oyae.. ohoo..oo |
விஷ்லிங் :
........................
Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo
From the day it all began
Till this present day..
From the day it all began
Till this present day..
The sky has not changed
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ஓஹோ
ஓஓ வந்த நாள் முதல்
இந்த நாள் வரை வந்த
நாள் முதல் இந்த நாள்
வரை வானம் மாறவில்லை
The celestial moon and stars
The sea breeze
The blossoms and the earth
The creepers and the groves
And the river haven't changed
Only man has changed..
வான் மதியும் மீனும்
கடல் காற்றும் மலரும்
மண்ணும் கொடியும்
சோலையும் நதியும்
மாறவில்லை மனிதன்
மாறிவிட்டான்
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே
If his circumstances change
His character will change
He preaches fake justice
And preaches honesty
Daily he preaches casteism
And discriminates with differences
Reciting that it is Brahma's destiny..
Only man has changed..
He got drunk on arrogance and religion..
விஷ்லிங் :
...................................
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
நிலை மாறினால்
குணம் மாறுவான் பொய்
நீதியும் நேர்மையும் பேசுவான்
தினம் ஜாதியும் பேதமும்
கூறுவான் அது வேதன்
விதி என்றோதுவான்
மனிதன் மாறிவிட்டான்
மதத்தில் ஏறிவிட்டான்
He saw the bird..
And created the airplane..
He saw the bird
And created the airplane..
ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே
In the darting fish
He envisioned the boat
He heard the echo
And created the radio
பறவையை கண்டான்
விமானம் படைத்தான்
பறவையை கண்டான்
விமானம் படைத்தான்
How much he discovered..
Yet he created money above all..
How much he discovered
Yet he created money above all..
Only man has changed..
He got drunk on arrogance and religion..
பாயும் மீன்களில்
படகினை கண்டான்
எதிரொலி கேட்டான்
வானொலி படைத்தான்
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
எதனை கண்டான்
பணம்தனை படைத்தான்
எதனை கண்டான் பணம்
தனை படைத்தான் மனிதன்
மாறிவிட்டான் மதத்தில்
ஏறிவிட்டான்
Joy and love
Are nature's law
Inequalities and divisions
Are man-made caste rules
ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே
Everything that nature
Created on this earth
Sinful man
Divided and hoarded..
Only man has changed..
He got drunk on arrogance and religion..
விஷ்லிங் :
...................................
Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo
From the day it all began
Till this present day..
The sky has not changed
இன்பமும் காதலும்
இயற்கையின் நீதி ஏற்ற
தாழ்வுகள் மனிதனின் ஜாதி
The celestial moon and stars
The sea breeze
The blossoms and the earth
The creepers and the groves
And the river haven't changed
Only man has changed..
பாரில் இயற்கை
படைத்ததையெல்லாம்
பாவி மனிதன் பிரித்து
வைத்தானே மனிதன்
மாறிவிட்டான் மதத்தில்
ஏறிவிட்டான்
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh hoah.. oyae.. ohoo..oo
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ஓஹோ
ஓஓ வந்த நாள் முதல்
இந்த நாள் வரை வானம்
மாறவில்லை
வான் மதியும் மீனும்
கடல் காற்றும் மலரும்
மண்ணும் கொடியும்
சோலையும் நதியும்
மாறவில்லை மனிதன்
மாறிவிட்டான்
ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே ஓ ஓ ஹோ
ஆ ஓயே ஓஹோ ஓ
விஷ்லிங் :
...........................
Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo
Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo
Vantha naal muthal
From the day it all began
Intha naal varai..
Till this present day..
Vantha naal muthal
From the day it all began
Intha naal varai..
Till this present day..
Vaanam maaravillai
The sky has not changed
Vaan mathiyum meenum
The celestial moon and stars
Kadal kaattrum
The sea breeze
Malarum mannum
The blossoms and the earth
Kodiyum solaiyum
The creepers and the groves
Nathiyum maaravillai
And the river haven't changed
Manithan maarivittaan..
Only man has changed..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Nilai maarinaal
If his circumstances change
Gunam maaruvaan
His character will change
Poi neethiyum
He preaches fake justice
Nermaiyum pesuvaan
And preaches honesty
Thinam jaathiyum
Daily he preaches casteism
Baethamum kooruvaan
And discriminates with differences
Athu vethan vithi endrothuvaan..
Reciting that it is Brahma's destiny..
Manithan maarivittaan..
Only man has changed..
Mathaththil yerivittaan..
He got drunk on arrogance and religion..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Paravaiyai kandaan..
He saw the bird..
Vimaanam padaiththaan..
And created the airplane..
Paravaiyai kandaan
He saw the bird
Vimaanam padaiththaan..
And created the airplane..
Paayum meengalil
In the darting fish
Padaginai kandaan
He envisioned the boat
Ethiroli kettaan
He heard the echo
Vaanoli padaiththaan
And created the radio
Ethanai kandaan..
How much he discovered..
Panamthanai padaiththaan..
Yet he created money above all..
Ethanai kandaan
How much he discovered
Panamthanai padaiththaan..
Yet he created money above all..
Manithan maarivittaan..
Only man has changed..
Mathaththil yerivittaan..
He got drunk on arrogance and religion..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Inbamum kaathalum
Joy and love
Iyarkaiyin needhi
Are nature's law
Yetra thaazhvugal
Inequalities and divisions
Manithanin jaathi
Are man-made caste rules
Paaril Iyarkkai
Everything that nature
Padaiththathai ellam
Created on this earth
Paavi manithan
Sinful man
Pirithuvaithaanae..
Divided and hoarded..
Manithan maarivittaan..
Only man has changed..
Mathaththil yerivittaan..
He got drunk on arrogance and religion..
Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo
Mmm…mmm..ohoo..oo
Vantha naal muthal
From the day it all began
Intha naal varai..
Till this present day..
Vaanam maaravillai
The sky has not changed
Vaan mathiyum meenum
The celestial moon and stars
Kadal kaattrum
The sea breeze
Malarum mannum
The blossoms and the earth
Kodiyum solaiyum
The creepers and the groves
Nathiyum maaravillai
And the river haven't changed
Manithan maarivittaan..
Only man has changed..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh oh hoah.. oyae..
Oh oh hoah.. oyae.. ohoo..oo
Oh oh hoah.. oyae.. ohoo..oo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Vantha Naal Muthal from Paava Mannippu is a profound philosophical masterpiece written by Kannadasan. The song contrasts the timeless, uncorrupted purity of nature with the moral decline of mankind. While the sky, stars, rivers, and breezes remain faithful to their intrinsic qualities since creation, human beings continuously alter their ethics based on convenience, wealth, religion, and social hierarchies. Kannadasan highlights human genius in inventing airplanes from birds and radios from echoes, but laments how man turned intellect toward greed by inventing money, artificial divisions, and social inequality. Ultimately, the song serves as a social commentary on how man has strayed from nature's law of love and harmony into bigotry and avarice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Contrast (Iyarkkai vs Manithan)
“Vaanam maaravillai... Manithan maarivittaan..”
Contrasts the eternal, constant nature of natural elements with the unstable, corruptible nature of human beings.
Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)
“Paravaiyai kandaan / Padaginai kandaan”
Tamil poetic tradition of matching the initial consonant/vowel sound across corresponding words in consecutive lines.
Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Vantha / Intha”
Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic symmetry.
Anaphora (Rhetorical Repetition)
“Ethanai kandaan.. Panamthanai padaiththaan..”
Repetition of phrase structures for musicality and thematic emphasis on human technological ambition vs greed.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, this song features Sivaji Ganesan on screen. It is widely regarded as one of Kannadasan's greatest philosophical lyrics in Tamil cinema history, illustrating his ability to break down complex socio-philosophical truths into simple, memorable lyricism.
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