Akkam Pakkam Parada
From Unnal Mudiyum Thambi · 1988
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Unnal Mudiyum Thambi1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Akkam pakkam paaradaa | Look around you |
| Chinna raasaa | Little king |
| Aagaasa paarvai enna | Why look up at the sky? |
| Sollu raasa | Tell me, king |
| Male | |
| Akkam pakkam paaradaa | Look around you |
| Chinna raasaa | Little king |
| Aagaasa paarvai enna | Why look up at the sky? |
| Sollu raasa | Tell me, king |
| Male | |
| Vaayil enna mandhiramaa | Are there mantras in your mouth? |
| Manasu enna endhiramaa | Is your mind a machine? |
| Saamiyidam pesudhu pullai | The child speaks to God |
| Thaai azhuga kekkavum illa | But does not hear its mother crying |
| Saamiyidam pesudhu pullai | The child speaks to God |
| Thaai azhuga kekkavum illa | But does not hear its mother crying |
| Male | |
| Akkam pakkam paaradaa | Look around you |
| Chinna raasaa | Little king |
| Aagaasa paarvai enna | Why look up at the sky? |
| Sollu raasa | Tell me, king |
| Male | |
| Amma pasi endroru kookkural | A cry saying 'Mother, I am hungry' |
| Adhuthaan ini desiya bhaashai | That alone is now the national language |
| Katchi kodigal yerudhu angae | Political party flags are rising over there |
| Kanji paanai theruvil ingae | Porridge pots lie broken in the streets over here |
| Male | |
| {Sudhandhira naadu | {A free independent country |
| Soththukku kedu | Is harmful to our basic sustenance |
| Sollaadhae saami | Do not say so, sir |
| Namma bhoomiyo eppodhum | Our land has always been |
| Dharmam senja bhoomi} (2) | A land that performed righteous deeds} (2) |
| Male | |
| Akkam pakkam paaradaa | Look around you |
| Chinna raasaa | Little king |
| Aagaasa paarvai enna | Why look up at the sky? |
| Sollu raasa | Tell me, king |
| Male | |
| Desam idhu senjadhu unakku | What this nation has done for you |
| Yeraalam ingae undu | Is available in abundance here |
| Neeyenna senja adhukku | What have you done in return for it? |
| Unna kettu nee badhil sollu | Ask yourself and give an answer |
| Male | |
| {Namakkenna podaa ponnu | {Selfishly asking 'What is it to us?' |
| Nazhuvura neram paathu | Looking for a time to slip away |
| Naadum muzhudhum theeyaa ponaa | If the whole country catches fire and burns down |
| Veedu mattum yedhu} (2) | Where will your home remain?} (2) |
| Male | |
| Akkam pakkam paaradaa | Look around you |
| Chinna raasaa | Little king |
| Aagaasa paarvai enna | Why look up at the sky? |
| Sollu raasa | Tell me, king |
| Male | |
| Vaayil enna mandhiramaa | Are there mantras in your mouth? |
| Manasu enna endhiramaa | Is your mind a machine? |
| Saamiyidam pesudhu pullai | The child speaks to God |
| Thaai azhuga kekkavum illa | But does not hear its mother crying |
| Male | |
| Akkam pakkam paaradaa | Look around you |
| Chinna raasaa | Little king |
| Aagaasa paarvai enna | Why look up at the sky? |
| Sollu raasa | Tell me, king |
அக்கம் பக்கம் பாரடா
சின்ன ராசா
ஆகாசப் பார்வை என்ன
சொல்லு ராசா
Look around you
Little king
Why look up at the sky?
Tell me, king
அக்கம் பக்கம் பாரடா
சின்ன ராசா
ஆகாசப் பார்வை என்ன
சொல்லு ராசா
Look around you
Little king
Why look up at the sky?
Tell me, king
வாயில் என்ன மந்திரமா
மனசு என்ன எந்திரமா
சாமியிடம் பேசுது புள்ள
தாயழுகை கேட்கவுமில்லை
சாமியிடம் பேசுது புள்ள
தாயழுகை கேட்கவுமில்லை
Are there mantras in your mouth?
Is your mind a machine?
The child speaks to God
But does not hear its mother crying
The child speaks to God
But does not hear its mother crying
அக்கம் பக்கம் பாரடா
சின்ன ராசா
ஆகாசப் பார்வை என்ன
சொல்லு ராசா
Look around you
Little king
Why look up at the sky?
Tell me, king
அம்மா பசி என்றொரு கூக்குரல்
அதுதான் இனி தேசிய பாஷை
கட்சிக் கொடிகள் ஏறுது அங்கே
கஞ்சிப் பானை தெருவில் இங்கே
A cry saying 'Mother, I am hungry'
That alone is now the national language
Political party flags are rising over there
Porridge pots lie broken in the streets over here
{சுதந்திர நாடு
சோத்துக்குக் கேடு
சொல்லாதே சாமி
நம்ம பூமியோ எப்போதும்
தர்மம் செஞ்ச பூமி ..} (2)
{A free independent country
Is harmful to our basic sustenance
Do not say so, sir
Our land has always been
A land that performed righteous deeds} (2)
அக்கம் பக்கம் பாரடா
சின்ன ராசா
ஆகாசப் பார்வை என்ன
சொல்லு ராசா
Look around you
Little king
Why look up at the sky?
Tell me, king
தேசமிது செஞ்சது உனக்கு
ஏராளம் இங்கே உண்டு
நீ என்ன செஞ்ச அதுக்கு
ஒன்னக் கேட்டு நீ பதில் சொல்லு
What this nation has done for you
Is available in abundance here
What have you done in return for it?
Ask yourself and give an answer
{நமக்கென்ன போடா போன்னு
நழுவுற நேரம் பார்த்து
நாடு முழுதும் தீயாப் போனா
வீடு மட்டும் ஏது} (2)
{Selfishly asking 'What is it to us?'
Looking for a time to slip away
If the whole country catches fire and burns down
Where will your home remain?} (2)
அக்கம் பக்கம் பாரடா
சின்ன ராசா
ஆகாசப் பார்வை என்ன
சொல்லு ராசா
Look around you
Little king
Why look up at the sky?
Tell me, king
வாயில் என்ன மந்திரமா
மனசு என்ன எந்திரமா
சாமியிடம் பேசுது புள்ள
தாயழுகை கேட்கவுமில்லை
Are there mantras in your mouth?
Is your mind a machine?
The child speaks to God
But does not hear its mother crying
அக்கம் பக்கம் பாரடா
சின்ன ராசா
ஆகாசப் பார்வை என்ன
சொல்லு ராசா
Look around you
Little king
Why look up at the sky?
Tell me, king
Akkam pakkam paaradaa
Look around you
Chinna raasaa
Little king
Aagaasa paarvai enna
Why look up at the sky?
Sollu raasa
Tell me, king
Akkam pakkam paaradaa
Look around you
Chinna raasaa
Little king
Aagaasa paarvai enna
Why look up at the sky?
Sollu raasa
Tell me, king
Vaayil enna mandhiramaa
Are there mantras in your mouth?
Manasu enna endhiramaa
Is your mind a machine?
Saamiyidam pesudhu pullai
The child speaks to God
Thaai azhuga kekkavum illa
But does not hear its mother crying
Saamiyidam pesudhu pullai
The child speaks to God
Thaai azhuga kekkavum illa
But does not hear its mother crying
Akkam pakkam paaradaa
Look around you
Chinna raasaa
Little king
Aagaasa paarvai enna
Why look up at the sky?
Sollu raasa
Tell me, king
Amma pasi endroru kookkural
A cry saying 'Mother, I am hungry'
Adhuthaan ini desiya bhaashai
That alone is now the national language
Katchi kodigal yerudhu angae
Political party flags are rising over there
Kanji paanai theruvil ingae
Porridge pots lie broken in the streets over here
{Sudhandhira naadu
{A free independent country
Soththukku kedu
Is harmful to our basic sustenance
Sollaadhae saami
Do not say so, sir
Namma bhoomiyo eppodhum
Our land has always been
Dharmam senja bhoomi} (2)
A land that performed righteous deeds} (2)
Akkam pakkam paaradaa
Look around you
Chinna raasaa
Little king
Aagaasa paarvai enna
Why look up at the sky?
Sollu raasa
Tell me, king
Desam idhu senjadhu unakku
What this nation has done for you
Yeraalam ingae undu
Is available in abundance here
Neeyenna senja adhukku
What have you done in return for it?
Unna kettu nee badhil sollu
Ask yourself and give an answer
{Namakkenna podaa ponnu
{Selfishly asking 'What is it to us?'
Nazhuvura neram paathu
Looking for a time to slip away
Naadum muzhudhum theeyaa ponaa
If the whole country catches fire and burns down
Veedu mattum yedhu} (2)
Where will your home remain?} (2)
Akkam pakkam paaradaa
Look around you
Chinna raasaa
Little king
Aagaasa paarvai enna
Why look up at the sky?
Sollu raasa
Tell me, king
Vaayil enna mandhiramaa
Are there mantras in your mouth?
Manasu enna endhiramaa
Is your mind a machine?
Saamiyidam pesudhu pullai
The child speaks to God
Thaai azhuga kekkavum illa
But does not hear its mother crying
Akkam pakkam paaradaa
Look around you
Chinna raasaa
Little king
Aagaasa paarvai enna
Why look up at the sky?
Sollu raasa
Tell me, king
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a socially conscious anthem urging individuals to look beyond religious rituals and selfish apathy to address real-world suffering and poverty. It calls upon people to pay attention to the immediate social reality around them rather than gazing aimlessly at the heavens or engaging in empty worship while neglecting the cries of suffering humanity around them. The lyricist highlights the stark contrast between political grandeur and ground reality, reminding citizens of their civic duty towards the nation that nurtures them.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Alliteration)
“Akkam pakkam paaradaa / Aagaasa paarvai enna”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'A' in 'Akkam' and 'Aagaasa'.
Edhukai (Rhyming)
“Akkam pakkam paaradaa”
Matching second letters 'k' in 'Akkam' and 'p' in 'pakkam' creating rhythmic flow.
Rhetorical Question
“Neeyenna senja adhukku / Unna kettu nee badhil sollu”
Asking 'What have you done for the country?' to induce introspection in the listener.
Metaphor
“Amma pasi endroru kookkural / Adhuthaan ini desiya bhaashai”
Comparing the cry of hunger to a 'national language' to emphasize widespread poverty.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Unnal Mudiyum Thambi' (1988) was directed by K. Balachander, starring Kamal Haasan and Gemini Ganesan. The film's soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, and the lyrics were penned by Pulamaipithan. The song famously borrows social ideals inspiring youth towards social responsibility.
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