Soorarai Pottru’s album features Mannurunda, composed by Prakash Kumar with lyrics by Ekadasi. Senthil Ganesh and G. V. Prakash deliver a raw folk vocal. The song carries a stark commentary on life’s fleeting nature.
Released: November 11, 2020
Mannurunda
G. V. Prakash | Senthil Ganesh • From “Soorarai Pottru”
Soorarai Pottru’s Mannurunda Tamil Lyrics English Translation
Ekadasi asks if blood in a lower-caste body runs like sewage. The lyrics note that even with a multi-storied house, death requires only six feet of earth. Senthil Ganesh questions the caste system’s validity.
Mannu Urunda MelaOn this ball of mud,
Mannu Urunda MelaOn this ball of mud,
Manusapaya Atam ParuWatch the dance of man.
Aah Aah Atam ParuAh, ah, watch the dance,
Yeh Yeh Atam Paru Atam ParuYeah, yeah, watch the dance, watch the dance.
Aatam Atam Atam AtamDance, dance, dance, dance,
Aatam Atam AtamDance, dance, dance.
Mannu Urunda MelaOn this ball of mud,
Inga Manusapaya Atam ParuWatch the dance of man right here.
Kannu Renda Moodi PuttaOnce you’ve closed both your eyes,
Veedhiyila Pogum TheruA chariot will ride down the street.
Andavula Kondu VandhuBring the ceremonial pot,
Sarayatha OothuPour the liquor,
Ayavoda OorvalathulaAnd in the master’s procession,
Aadungada KoothuLet’s all dance the ‘koothu’ folk dance.
Ezhai Panakkaran IngaThe poor and the rich man here,
Ellam Onnu PanguAre all one and the same, partner.
Kadaisiyila ManushanukkuIn the end, for every human,
Oodhuvainga SanguThey’ll blow the funeral ‘sangu’ conch.
Ezhai Panakkaran IngaThe poor and the rich man here,
Ellam Onnu PanguAre all one and the same, partner.
Kadaisiyila ManushanukkuIn the end, for every human,
Oodhuvainga SanguThey’ll blow the funeral ‘sangu’ conch.
Danakku Dakkaan Dakka DakkaDanakku dakkaan dakka dakka,
Danakku Dakkan Dakkan TaDanakku dakkan dakkan ta.
Dinn Dinn Dakk DakkDinn dinn dakk dakk,
Dinn Dinn Dakk DakkDinn dinn dakk dakk,
Dinn Dinn Dakk DakkDinn dinn dakk dakk,
Dinndakk Dinndakk Dinndakk DinndakkDinndakk dinndakk dinndakk dinndakk.
Nethi Kasu Ottha RoovaThe coin on your forehead, a single rupee,
Kooda Varum SothuIs the only wealth that will come with you.
Ey Ottha Roova Ah Ah AhHey, that single rupee, ah, ah, ah,
Ottha Roova Ey EyThat single rupee, hey, hey,
Ottha Roova Ottha RoovaA single rupee, a single rupee.
Ottha Ottha Ottha OtthaSingle, single, single, single,
Ottha Ottha OtthaSingle, single, single.
Nethi Kasu Ottha RoovaThe coin on your forehead, a single rupee,
Kooda Varum Sothu ThaneIs the only wealth that will come with you, right?
Sethavarum Serndhu AdaEven the dead will join in the dance,
Vangi Pottu KuthuvomeWe’ll buy it, pour it, and go wild.
Sarayam KudichavangaThose who’ve drunk the liquor,
Vesti Avulnthu VizhlumeTheir ‘vesti’ dhotis will surely fall.
Kudam Udaikkum Idam VaraikkumAnd until we reach the place where the pot is broken,
Pombalainga AzhumeThe women will continue to weep.
Aayiram Peru IrundhalumEven if you have a thousand people,
Kooda Yarum Varala DaNo one will come with you, man.
Adukki Madi Veedu IrundhumEven with a multi-storied house,
Aaradi Than MeiyadaSix feet of earth is the only truth.
Aayiram Peru IrundhalumEven if you have a thousand people,
Kooda Yarum Varala DaNo one will come with you, man.
Adukki Madi Veedu IrundhumEven with a multi-storied house,
Aaradi Than MeiyadaSix feet of earth is the only truth.
Damukku Dappan Dappan DappanDamukku dappan dappan dappan,
Damukku Dappan Dappan DaDamukku dappan dappan da.
Keezh Sadhi Udambukula EehInside a lower-caste body, eeh,
Keezh Sadhi UdambukullaInside a lower-caste body,
Oduradhu SakkadaiyaDoes sewage even flow?
Aya Oduradhu SakkadaiyaSir, does sewage even flow?
Andha Mel Sadhi Karanukku UuFor that upper-caste man, uu,
Andha Mel Sadhi KaranukkuFor that upper-caste man,
Rendu Kombu Irundha Ah AhIf he has two horns, ah ah,
Kombu Irundha Ey EyIf he has horns, ey ey,
Kombu Irundha Kombu IrundhaIf he has horns, if he has horns.
Kombu Kombu Kombu KombuHorns, horns, horns, horns,
Kombu Kombu KombeHorns, horns, horns.
Keezh Sadhi UdambukullaInside a ‘lower-caste’ body,
Oduradhu SakkadaiyaDoes sewage really flow?
Andha Mel Sadhi KaranukkuAnd for that ‘upper-caste’ man,
Kombu Irundha KattungaiyaIf he has horns, please show them to me.
Uzhaikura Koottam EllamThe entire working class,
Keezh Sadhi ManushangalamAre all called ‘lower-caste’ people.
Ukkandhu ThinguravenellamAnd all those who just sit and eat,
Mel Sadhi VamsangalamAre all from ‘upper-caste’ lineages.
Ennangada NaduWhat kind of country is this?
Ada Sadhiya Thooki PoduHey, just throw this caste system away.
Ada Ennangada NaduHey, what kind of country is this?
Ada Sadhiya Podhachi MooduHey, just bury this caste system for good.
Ennangada NaduWhat kind of country is this?
Ada Sadhiya Thooki PoduHey, just throw this caste system away.
Ada Ennangada NaduHey, what kind of country is this?
Ada Sadhiya Podhachi MooduHey, just bury this caste system for good.
Danakku Dakkaan Dakka DakkaDanakku dakkaan dakka dakka,
Danakku Dakkan Dakkan TaDanakku dakkan dakkan ta.
Dinndakk Dinndakk Dinndakk DinndakkDinndakk dinndakk dinndakk dinndakk,
Dinndakk Dinndakk Darr NakkaDinndakk dinndakk darr nakka.
Mannurunda Music Video
The album uses this track to argue that death equalizes all people. Mannurunda lyrics in English reveal a call to abandon social divisions. Its message focuses on shared mortality over wealth or status.