This song by Kannadasan describe how a man, by acting unselfishly, can rise above ordinary life and become 'Divine'. By 'Divine' is meant a higher human being and not something with supernatural powers. With over 5000 lyrics, 6,000 poems, and 232 books, Kannadasan is considered one of the great modern Tamil poets.
'Manithan Enbavan Deivam Âgalam' (மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வம் ஆகலாம் - Man Can Become Divine) is from the movie Sumai Thângi ( சுமை தாங்கி - Bearer of burdens, Tamil, 1962). It was sung by P.B. Sreenivas to the music composed by M.S. Viswanathan, both legends of Tamil cinema.
Filmed 62 years ago without the advanced technologies of today, the song continues to be remembered and loved and has been performed by professional singers and musicians in light music programs over the past decades. There are also re-mixed versions on YouTube that have received a high number of views, and among them, Madhu Iyer’s rendition is a class apart, being a captivating combination of sweet voice and melodious music. Piano, which was the mainstay in the original song, rules in the remix as well, but sarangi and tabla have been replaced with guitar and drums adding newness and a powerful rhythm. The singer's sublime expressions, artistic visuals, well directed video recording, and smooth editing contribute to a wonderful viewing experience.
Madhu Iyer is a playback singer for movies and performs in musical concerts around the world, and I am grateful to her for kindly permitting the posting of the video on this channel.
The lyrics have been translated from Tamil into English and displayed as subtitles so that the wider audience to understand and appreciate the song better. The source video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzok__1_PKI
For non-commercial cultural and educational purposes. Copyrights belong to the rightful owners.
Click on the link below to view:
'Manithan Enbavan' by Madhu Iyer with English lyrics (2 min : 49 sec)
