Yedho Manidhan
From Panithirai · 1961
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Panithirai1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Haa…aa..haa…aaa…haa… | Haa... aa... haa... aaa... haa... |
| Hooo ooo hoo ooo hoo hoo | Hooo ooo hoo ooo hoo hoo |
| Male | |
| Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan | Some human has been born, |
| Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan | Yet why has he grown like a useless tree? |
| Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan | Some human has been born, |
| Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan | Yet why has he grown like a useless tree? |
| Male | |
| Edhilum achcham edhilum aiyam | Fear in everything, doubt in everything, |
| Eduththatherkkellaam vaadugiraan | He wilts and despairs at every single thing. |
| Edhilum achcham edhilum aiyam | Fear in everything, doubt in everything, |
| Eduththatherkkellaam vaadugiraan | He wilts and despairs at every single thing. |
| Than iyarkkai arivai madamaiyenum | His natural intellect, |
| Paniththiraiyaalae moodugiraan | He covers up with a mist of ignorance. |
| Male | |
| Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan | Some human has been born, |
| Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan | Yet why has he grown like a useless tree? |
| Male | |
| Pennae deivam annai kadavul | 'Woman is a goddess, mother is God,' |
| Perumai endru pesugiraan | He speaks with great pride; |
| Pennae deivam annai kadavul | 'Woman is a goddess, mother is God,' |
| Perumai endru pesugiraan | He speaks with great pride; |
| Pen paedhaigal endrum peedigal endrum | Yet calling women foolish and a curse, |
| Marunaal avanae yesugindraan | The very next day, he scorns them. |
| Male | |
| Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan | Some human has been born, |
| Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan | Yet why has he grown like a useless tree? |
| Male | |
| Naayaai manidhan pirandhirundhaalum | Even if a human had been born as a dog, |
| Nandri ennum gunam niraindhirukkum | He would at least be filled with the virtue of gratitude. |
| Nariyaai avanae uruveduththaalum | Even if he had taken the form of a fox, |
| Thandiramaavadhu therindhirukkum | He would at least possess cunning and resourcefulness. |
| Male | |
| Kaakkai kulamaai avathariththaalum | Even if he were reincarnated in the crow family, |
| Ottrumaiyaavadhu valarndhirukkum | At least unity would have flourished within him. |
| Kaatraai neruppaai neeraai irundhaal | If he were wind, fire, or water, |
| Kadugalavaavadhu payanirukkum | He would serve at least a mustard-seed's worth of purpose. |
| Male | |
| Aararivudanae pechum paattum | Endowed with six senses, capable of speech and song, |
| Arindhae manidhan pirandhu vittaan | Man was born fully conscious and blessed. |
| Andha aaraam arivai thaeraa arivaai | Yet that precious sixth sense, as a wasted intellect, |
| Avanae veliyil vittu vittaan | He himself threw away to the winds. |
| Male | |
| Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan | Some human has been born, |
| Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan | Yet why has he grown like a useless tree? |
| Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan | Some human has been born, |
| Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan | Yet why has he grown like a useless tree? |
ஏதோ மனிதன் பிறந்துவிட்டான்
அவன் ஏனோ மரம் போல் வளர்ந்து விட்டான்
ஏதோ மனிதன் பிறந்துவிட்டான்
அவன் ஏனோ மரம் போல் வளர்ந்து விட்டான்
Haa... aa... haa... aaa... haa...
Hooo ooo hoo ooo hoo hoo
எதிலும் அச்சம் எதிலும் ஐயம்
எடுத்ததெற்கெல்லாம் வாடுகிறான்
எதிலும் அச்சம் எதிலும் ஐயம்
எடுத்ததெற்கெல்லாம் வாடுகிறான்
தன் இயற்கை அறிவை மடமை என்னும்
பனித்திரையாலே மூடுகிறான்
Some human has been born,
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Some human has been born,
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
ஏதோ மனிதன் பிறந்துவிட்டான்
அவன் ஏனோ மரம் போல் வளர்ந்து விட்டான்
Fear in everything, doubt in everything,
He wilts and despairs at every single thing.
Fear in everything, doubt in everything,
He wilts and despairs at every single thing.
His natural intellect,
He covers up with a mist of ignorance.
பெண்ணே தெய்வம் அன்னை கடவுள்
பெருமை என்று பேசுகிறான்
பெண்ணே தெய்வம் அன்னை கடவுள்
பெருமை என்று பேசுகிறான்
பெண் பேதைகள் என்றும் பேடிகள் என்றும்
மறுநாள் அவனே ஏசுகிறான்
Some human has been born,
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
ஏதோ மனிதன் பிறந்துவிட்டான்
அவன் ஏனோ மரம் போல் வளர்ந்து விட்டான்
'Woman is a goddess, mother is God,'
He speaks with great pride;
'Woman is a goddess, mother is God,'
He speaks with great pride;
Yet calling women foolish and a curse,
The very next day, he scorns them.
நாயாய் மனிதன் பிறந்திருந்தாலும்
நன்றி என்னும் குணம் நிறைந்திருக்கும்
நரியாய் அவனே உருவெடுத்தாலும்
தந்திரமாவது தெரிந்திருக்கும்
Some human has been born,
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
காக்கை குலமாய் அவதரித்தாலும்
ஒற்றுமையாவது வளர்ந்திருக்கும்
காற்றாய் நெருப்பாய் நீராய் இருந்தால்
கடுகளவாவது பயனிருக்கும்
Even if a human had been born as a dog,
He would at least be filled with the virtue of gratitude.
Even if he had taken the form of a fox,
He would at least possess cunning and resourcefulness.
ஆறறிவுடனே பேச்சும் பாட்டும்
அறிந்தே மனிதன் பிறந்து விட்டான்
அந்த ஆறாம் அறிவை தேறா அறிவாய்
அவனே வெளியில் விட்டு விட்டான்
Even if he were reincarnated in the crow family,
At least unity would have flourished within him.
If he were wind, fire, or water,
He would serve at least a mustard-seed's worth of purpose.
ஏதோ மனிதன் பிறந்துவிட்டான்
அவன் ஏனோ மரம் போல் வளர்ந்து விட்டான்
ஏதோ மனிதன் பிறந்துவிட்டான்
அவன் ஏனோ மரம் போல் வளர்ந்து விட்டான்
Endowed with six senses, capable of speech and song,
Man was born fully conscious and blessed.
Yet that precious sixth sense, as a wasted intellect,
He himself threw away to the winds.
Some human has been born,
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Some human has been born,
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Haa…aa..haa…aaa…haa…
Haa... aa... haa... aaa... haa...
Hooo ooo hoo ooo hoo hoo
Hooo ooo hoo ooo hoo hoo
Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan
Some human has been born,
Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan
Some human has been born,
Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Edhilum achcham edhilum aiyam
Fear in everything, doubt in everything,
Eduththatherkkellaam vaadugiraan
He wilts and despairs at every single thing.
Edhilum achcham edhilum aiyam
Fear in everything, doubt in everything,
Eduththatherkkellaam vaadugiraan
He wilts and despairs at every single thing.
Than iyarkkai arivai madamaiyenum
His natural intellect,
Paniththiraiyaalae moodugiraan
He covers up with a mist of ignorance.
Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan
Some human has been born,
Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Pennae deivam annai kadavul
'Woman is a goddess, mother is God,'
Perumai endru pesugiraan
He speaks with great pride;
Pennae deivam annai kadavul
'Woman is a goddess, mother is God,'
Perumai endru pesugiraan
He speaks with great pride;
Pen paedhaigal endrum peedigal endrum
Yet calling women foolish and a curse,
Marunaal avanae yesugindraan
The very next day, he scorns them.
Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan
Some human has been born,
Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Naayaai manidhan pirandhirundhaalum
Even if a human had been born as a dog,
Nandri ennum gunam niraindhirukkum
He would at least be filled with the virtue of gratitude.
Nariyaai avanae uruveduththaalum
Even if he had taken the form of a fox,
Thandiramaavadhu therindhirukkum
He would at least possess cunning and resourcefulness.
Kaakkai kulamaai avathariththaalum
Even if he were reincarnated in the crow family,
Ottrumaiyaavadhu valarndhirukkum
At least unity would have flourished within him.
Kaatraai neruppaai neeraai irundhaal
If he were wind, fire, or water,
Kadugalavaavadhu payanirukkum
He would serve at least a mustard-seed's worth of purpose.
Aararivudanae pechum paattum
Endowed with six senses, capable of speech and song,
Arindhae manidhan pirandhu vittaan
Man was born fully conscious and blessed.
Andha aaraam arivai thaeraa arivaai
Yet that precious sixth sense, as a wasted intellect,
Avanae veliyil vittu vittaan
He himself threw away to the winds.
Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan
Some human has been born,
Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Etho manidhan pirandhu vittaan
Some human has been born,
Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan
Yet why has he grown like a useless tree?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the 1961 film 'Panithirai', this philosophical song serves as a scathing critique of human ignorance, hypocrisy, and wasted potential. The narrator wonders why a human being, endowed with the supreme gift of six senses, speech, and reason, lives mindlessly—growing tall in body like a tree but remaining devoid of true wisdom and character. The lyrics highlight the contradictions in human behavior, particularly how men glorify women as goddesses one day only to demean and vilify them the next. By drawing comparisons to animals and nature—noting that dogs possess gratitude, foxes possess intellect, crows demonstrate unity, and natural elements serve a purpose—Kannadasan emphasizes how humans often fail to meet even basic standards of virtue, casting away their moral compass into a fog of ignorance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai Ani)
“Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan”
Compares a foolish person who grows physically without wisdom to a mindless tree ('maram pol').
Metaphor (Uruvagak Ani)
“Than iyarkkai arivai madamaiyenum / Paniththiraiyaalae moodugiraan”
Ignorance is metaphorically described as a 'paniththirai' (a screen/curtain of mist) that veils a person's natural intellect.
Monai (Initial Rhyme)
“Edhilum achcham edhilum aiyam / Eduththatherkkellaam vaadugiraan”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'E' ('Edhilum', 'Eduththatherkkellaam') creates rhythmic resonance.
Contrast / Antithesis (Muran Ani)
“Pennae deivam annai kadavul ... Marunaal avanae yesugindraan”
Juxtaposes praising women as divine goddesses with scorning them as curses the next day to highlight human hypocrisy.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan's lyric 'Avan yeno maram pol valarndhu vittaan' directly echoes classical Tamil literature, particularly Thirukkural (Kural 600 and 1002), where individuals lacking discernment and empathy are famously compared to useless timber or trees ('maram'). The title of the movie 'Panithirai' translates to 'Screen of Mist', which is explicitly referenced in the song's verse ('Paniththiraiyaalae moodugiraan') as a metaphor for ignorance blinding human reason.
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