Yaaro Neeyum Naanum
From Pattakkathi Bhairavan · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pattakkathi Bhairavan1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro | Who are you and who am I, strangers? |
| Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro | Who is the mother, and who is the father? |
| Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro | Who are you and who am I, strangers? |
| Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro | Who is the mother, and who is the father? |
| Pala kodi maandharilae | Among the multi-millions of human beings, |
| Vilaiyaadum vaazhkaiyilae | In this playing field called life, |
| Male | |
| Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro | Who are you and who am I, strangers? |
| Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro | Who is the mother, and who is the father? |
| Male | |
| Kottai kattum raajaavukku | For the king who builds grand fortresses, |
| Pillai illaiyaam | They say there is no child, |
| Kuppai thotti mattum | While the roadside trash bin alone |
| Oru pillai eendradhaam | Is said to have birthed a child. |
| Male | |
| Kottai kattum raajaavukku | For the king who builds grand fortresses, |
| Pillai illaiyaam | They say there is no child, |
| Kuppai thotti mattum | While the roadside trash bin alone |
| Oru pillai eendradhaam | Is said to have birthed a child. |
| Male | |
| Kannirandu kaatchi ondru | There are two eyes, but the vision is single, |
| Kannirandu kaatchi ondru | There are two eyes, but the vision is single, |
| Rendu kannum rendu pakkam | What if both eyes were made |
| Parkkum vannam | To look in two opposite directions? |
| Seidhaal enna sollungalen | Tell me, what would happen? |
| Male | |
| Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro | Who are you and who am I, strangers? |
| Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro | Who is the mother, and who is the father? |
| Male | |
| Paadhai kandu neram kandu | Finding the right path and the right time, |
| Payanam seiyungal | Make your journey ahead, |
| Paasam ulla pillaikkellaam | For all the affectionate children, |
| Vaazhthu paadungal | Sing songs of blessings, |
| Male | |
| Paadhai kandu neram kandu | Finding the right path and the right time, |
| Payanam seiyungal | Make your journey ahead, |
| Paasam ulla pillaikkellaam | For all the affectionate children, |
| Vaazhthu paadungal | Sing songs of blessings, |
| Male | |
| Thaai arivaal magan gunathai | A mother understands her son's character, |
| Thaai arivaal magan gunathai | A mother understands her son's character, |
| Thaayum indri thandhai indri | Without a mother and without a father, |
| Vaazhum pillai | A child who has to live... |
| Engae sellum sollungalen | Where will he go, please tell me? |
| Male | |
| Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro | Who are you and who am I, strangers? |
| Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro | Who is the mother, and who is the father? |
| Pala kodi maandharilae | Among the multi-millions of human beings, |
| Vilaiyaadum vaazhkaiyilae | In this playing field called life, |
| Male | |
| Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro | Who are you and who am I, strangers? |
| Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro | Who is the mother, and who is the father? |
யாரோ நீயும் நானும் யாரோ
யாரோ தாயும் தந்தை யாரோ
யாரோ நீயும் நானும் யாரோ
யாரோ தாயும் தந்தை யாரோ
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Among the multi-millions of human beings,
In this playing field called life,
பல கோடி மாந்தரிலே
விளையாடும் வாழ்க்கையிலே
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
யாரோ நீயும் நானும் யாரோ
யாரோ தாயும் தந்தை யாரோ
For the king who builds grand fortresses,
They say there is no child,
While the roadside trash bin alone
Is said to have birthed a child.
{கோட்டை கட்டும் ராஜாவுக்கு
பிள்ளை இல்லையாம்
குப்பைத் தொட்டி மட்டும்
ஒரு பிள்ளை ஈன்றதாம்} (2)
For the king who builds grand fortresses,
They say there is no child,
While the roadside trash bin alone
Is said to have birthed a child.
கண் இரண்டு காட்சி ஒன்று
கண் இரண்டு காட்சி ஒன்று
ரெண்டு கண்ணும் ரெண்டு பக்கம்
பார்க்கும் வண்ணம் செய்தாலென்ன
சொல்லுங்களேன்
There are two eyes, but the vision is single,
There are two eyes, but the vision is single,
What if both eyes were made
To look in two opposite directions?
Tell me, what would happen?
யாரோ நீயும் நானும் யாரோ
யாரோ தாயும் தந்தை யாரோ
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
{பாதை கண்டு நேரம் கண்டு
பயணம் செய்யுங்கள்
பாசம் உள்ள பிள்ளைக்கெல்லாம்
வாழ்த்துப் பாடுங்கள்} (2)
Finding the right path and the right time,
Make your journey ahead,
For all the affectionate children,
Sing songs of blessings,
தாய் அறிவாள் மகன் குணத்தை
தாய் அறிவாள் மகன் குணத்தை
தாயும் இன்றி தந்தை இன்றி
வாழும் பிள்ளை எங்கே செல்லும்
சொல்லுங்களேன்
Finding the right path and the right time,
Make your journey ahead,
For all the affectionate children,
Sing songs of blessings,
யாரோ நீயும் நானும் யாரோ
யாரோ தாயும் தந்தை யாரோ
A mother understands her son's character,
A mother understands her son's character,
Without a mother and without a father,
A child who has to live...
Where will he go, please tell me?
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Among the multi-millions of human beings,
In this playing field called life,
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Pala kodi maandharilae
Among the multi-millions of human beings,
Vilaiyaadum vaazhkaiyilae
In this playing field called life,
Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Kottai kattum raajaavukku
For the king who builds grand fortresses,
Pillai illaiyaam
They say there is no child,
Kuppai thotti mattum
While the roadside trash bin alone
Oru pillai eendradhaam
Is said to have birthed a child.
Kottai kattum raajaavukku
For the king who builds grand fortresses,
Pillai illaiyaam
They say there is no child,
Kuppai thotti mattum
While the roadside trash bin alone
Oru pillai eendradhaam
Is said to have birthed a child.
Kannirandu kaatchi ondru
There are two eyes, but the vision is single,
Kannirandu kaatchi ondru
There are two eyes, but the vision is single,
Rendu kannum rendu pakkam
What if both eyes were made
Parkkum vannam
To look in two opposite directions?
Seidhaal enna sollungalen
Tell me, what would happen?
Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Paadhai kandu neram kandu
Finding the right path and the right time,
Payanam seiyungal
Make your journey ahead,
Paasam ulla pillaikkellaam
For all the affectionate children,
Vaazhthu paadungal
Sing songs of blessings,
Paadhai kandu neram kandu
Finding the right path and the right time,
Payanam seiyungal
Make your journey ahead,
Paasam ulla pillaikkellaam
For all the affectionate children,
Vaazhthu paadungal
Sing songs of blessings,
Thaai arivaal magan gunathai
A mother understands her son's character,
Thaai arivaal magan gunathai
A mother understands her son's character,
Thaayum indri thandhai indri
Without a mother and without a father,
Vaazhum pillai
A child who has to live...
Engae sellum sollungalen
Where will he go, please tell me?
Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Pala kodi maandharilae
Among the multi-millions of human beings,
Vilaiyaadum vaazhkaiyilae
In this playing field called life,
Yaaro neeyum naanum yaaro
Who are you and who am I, strangers?
Yaaro thaayum thandhai yaaro
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song delves deep into philosophical questions regarding identity, human relationships, fate, and societal ironies. The lyricist Kannadasan reflects on the transient nature of life among millions of humans, questioning who truly belongs to whom when relationships are often severed by circumstance or destiny. He highlights striking ironies—such as wealthy kings who long for an heir but have none, compared to abandoned children born near garbage bins, pointing out the unpredictable nature of birth and status. Through metaphors like eyes looking in different directions, the song illustrates disharmony and the plight of an orphan navigating the world without parental guidance or affection. Ultimately, it serves as a tender lament and a moral reflection on human compassion, urging society to bless and care for parentless children lost in life's journey.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kottai kattum raajaavukku / Kuppai thotti mattum”
The second letter 'p/t' sound aligns between 'Kottai' and 'Kuppai' across consecutive thematic lines.
Muran (Irony / Contrast)
“Kottai kattum raajaavukku Pillai illaiyaam / Kuppai thotti mattum Oru pillai eendradhaam”
Contrasts a wealthy king in a fortress having no child with a lowly garbage bin giving birth to/receiving an abandoned child.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Paadhai kandu neram kandu / Payanam seiyungal”
The initial letter 'P' is repeated across 'Paadhai' and 'Payanam'.
Metaphor
“Kannirandu kaatchi ondru”
Uses the unity of two eyes producing a single perception as a metaphor for harmony and shared purpose.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pattakkathi Bhairavan' (1979) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jaishankar. The song 'Yaaro Neeyum Naanum' was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, with lyrics penned by the legendary Kannadasan, known for infusing deep Vedantic philosophy into everyday cinema situations.
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