Ikkaraikku Akkarai Pachai
From Akkarai Pachchai · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Akkarai Pachchai1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | The other shore looks green to this shore |
| Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | Always, the other shore looks green to this shore |
| Illaatha porul meedhu | For things that one does not possess |
| Ellorkkum aasai varum | Everyone develops a desire |
| Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | The other shore looks green to this shore |
| Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | Always, the other shore looks green to this shore |
| En veettu kannaadi | The mirror in my home |
| En mugathai kaatavillai | Did not reflect my face |
| Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | The other shore looks green to this shore |
| Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | Always, the other shore looks green to this shore |
| Male | |
| Samsaariyin aasai sanyaasam | The family man's desire is asceticism |
| Samsaariyin aasai sanyaasam | The family man's desire is asceticism |
| Andha sanyaasiyin aasai samsaaram | And that ascetic's desire is family life |
| Kaanalukku maanalayum kankanda kaatchi | An illusion becomes a visible sight in a mirage |
| Kan munnae kaanungal oru kodi saatchi | See before your eyes, ten million witnesses |
| Male | |
| Ikkaraikku akkarai pachchai | The other shore looks green to this shore |
| Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | Always, the other shore looks green to this shore |
| Male | |
| Kadal meedhu vizhunthorgal neenthungal | Those who fall into the sea, swim |
| Kani meedhu vizhunthorgal unnungal | Those who fall upon fruit, eat |
| Vazhi saalai kandoral sellungal | Those who find the pathway, travel ahead |
| Poga vazhi indri nirpavargal nillungal | Those with nowhere to go, stay standing |
| Kal tharaiyil kai pottu neenthugindra manidha | Oh man who tries to swim on rocky ground with hands |
| Kaalam itta kattalayai maattruvathu elidha | Is it easy to alter the decree ordained by Time? |
| Male | |
| Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | The other shore looks green to this shore |
| Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | Always, the other shore looks green to this shore |
| Male | |
| Mazhai naalil un kangal veiyil thedum | On a rainy day, your eyes search for sunlight |
| Kodai veiyil naalil un meni kulir thedum | On a summer day, your body searches for coolness |
| Adhu thedi idhu thedi alaigindraai | Searching for that and searching for this, you wander |
| Vaazhvil edhu vanthu sernthaalum thavikkindraai | Whatever arrives in life, you still suffer in yearning |
| Avar avarkku vaaitha idam | The place designated for each individual |
| Avan potta pitchai | Is the alms bestowed by God |
| Ariyaadha maanidarkku akkaraiyil ichai | For ignorant human beings, desire lies on the opposite bank |
| Male | |
| Illaadha porul meedhu | For things that one does not possess |
| Ellorkkum aasai varum | Everyone develops a desire |
| Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | The other shore looks green to this shore |
| Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai | Always, the other shore looks green to this shore |
இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
என்றும் இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
இல்லாத பொருள் மீது
எல்லோர்க்கும் ஆசை வரும்
இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
என்றும் இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
என் வீட்டுக் கண்ணாடி
என் முகத்தை காட்டவில்லை
இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
என்றும் இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
The other shore looks green to this shore
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
For things that one does not possess
Everyone develops a desire
The other shore looks green to this shore
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
The mirror in my home
Did not reflect my face
The other shore looks green to this shore
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
சம்சாரியின் ஆசை சன்யாசம்
சம்சாரியின் ஆசை சன்யாசம்
அந்த சன்யாசியின் ஆசை சம்சாரம்
கானலுக்கு மான் அலையும் கண்கண்ட காட்சி
கண் முன்னே காணுங்கள் ஒரு கோடி சாட்சி
The family man's desire is asceticism
The family man's desire is asceticism
And that ascetic's desire is family life
An illusion becomes a visible sight in a mirage
See before your eyes, ten million witnesses
இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
என்றும் இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
The other shore looks green to this shore
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
கடல் மீது விழுந்தோர்கள் நீந்துங்கள்
கனி மீது விழுந்தோர்கள் உண்ணுங்கள்
வழிச்சாலை கண்டோர்கள் செல்லுங்கள்
போக வழியின்றி நிற்பவர்கள் நில்லுங்கள்
கல் தரையில் கைப்போட்டு நீந்துகின்ற மனிதா
காலம் இட்ட கட்டளையை மாற்றுவது எளிதா
Those who fall into the sea, swim
Those who fall upon fruit, eat
Those who find the pathway, travel ahead
Those with nowhere to go, stay standing
Oh man who tries to swim on rocky ground with hands
Is it easy to alter the decree ordained by Time?
இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
என்றும் இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை
The other shore looks green to this shore
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
மழை நாளில் உன் கண்கள் வெயில் தேடும்
கோடை வெயில் நாளில் உன் மேனி குளிர் தேடும்
அது தேடி இது தேடி அலைகின்றாய்
வாழ்வில் எது வந்து சேர்ந்தாலும் தவிக்கின்றாய்
அவரவர்க்கு வாய்த்த இடம்
அவன் போட்ட பிச்சை
அறியாத மானிடர்க்கு அக்கரையில் இச்சை
On a rainy day, your eyes search for sunlight
On a summer day, your body searches for coolness
Searching for that and searching for this, you wander
Whatever arrives in life, you still suffer in yearning
The place designated for each individual
Is the alms bestowed by God
For ignorant human beings, desire lies on the opposite bank
இல்லாத பொருள் மீது
எல்லோர்க்கும் ஆசை வரும்
இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப்பச்சை
என்றும் இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப்பச்சை
For things that one does not possess
Everyone develops a desire
The other shore looks green to this shore
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
The other shore looks green to this shore
Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
Illaatha porul meedhu
For things that one does not possess
Ellorkkum aasai varum
Everyone develops a desire
Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
The other shore looks green to this shore
Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
En veettu kannaadi
The mirror in my home
En mugathai kaatavillai
Did not reflect my face
Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
The other shore looks green to this shore
Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
Samsaariyin aasai sanyaasam
The family man's desire is asceticism
Samsaariyin aasai sanyaasam
The family man's desire is asceticism
Andha sanyaasiyin aasai samsaaram
And that ascetic's desire is family life
Kaanalukku maanalayum kankanda kaatchi
An illusion becomes a visible sight in a mirage
Kan munnae kaanungal oru kodi saatchi
See before your eyes, ten million witnesses
Ikkaraikku akkarai pachchai
The other shore looks green to this shore
Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
Kadal meedhu vizhunthorgal neenthungal
Those who fall into the sea, swim
Kani meedhu vizhunthorgal unnungal
Those who fall upon fruit, eat
Vazhi saalai kandoral sellungal
Those who find the pathway, travel ahead
Poga vazhi indri nirpavargal nillungal
Those with nowhere to go, stay standing
Kal tharaiyil kai pottu neenthugindra manidha
Oh man who tries to swim on rocky ground with hands
Kaalam itta kattalayai maattruvathu elidha
Is it easy to alter the decree ordained by Time?
Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
The other shore looks green to this shore
Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
Mazhai naalil un kangal veiyil thedum
On a rainy day, your eyes search for sunlight
Kodai veiyil naalil un meni kulir thedum
On a summer day, your body searches for coolness
Adhu thedi idhu thedi alaigindraai
Searching for that and searching for this, you wander
Vaazhvil edhu vanthu sernthaalum thavikkindraai
Whatever arrives in life, you still suffer in yearning
Avar avarkku vaaitha idam
The place designated for each individual
Avan potta pitchai
Is the alms bestowed by God
Ariyaadha maanidarkku akkaraiyil ichai
For ignorant human beings, desire lies on the opposite bank
Illaadha porul meedhu
For things that one does not possess
Ellorkkum aasai varum
Everyone develops a desire
Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
The other shore looks green to this shore
Endrum ikkaraikku akkarai pachai
Always, the other shore looks green to this shore
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song composed around a traditional Tamil proverb explores the universal human tendency toward discontentment. Kannadasan poetically illustrates how people are rarely satisfied with their current reality and constantly long for what they do not have—symbolized by the grass always appearing greener on the opposite bank of the river. The householder longs for the quiet freedom of an ascetic, while the ascetic yearns for the warmth of family life. Likewise, humans crave heat during rains and cold during summers, constantly wandering in search of elusive ideal conditions. The lyricist highlights that fate and one's place in life are divine decrees. Trying to alter destination through restless longing is compared to trying to swim on dry, rocky ground. Kannadasan encourages acceptance and self-awareness, warning against being driven by ignorant desires that chase mirages instead of recognizing the blessings at hand.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Proverb / Metaphor (Pazhamozhi)
“Ikkaraikku akkarai pachai”
Uses the ancient Tamil adage 'Ikkaraikku Akkarai Pachai' as a central metaphor for perpetual human desire and envy.
Antithesis / Contrast (Ethirnilai)
“Samsaariyin aasai sanyaasam ... Andha sanyaasiyin aasai samsaaram”
Contrasts the contradictory longings of the householder and the monk to illustrate ironical human dissatisfaction.
Analogy / Hyperbole (Uvamai)
“Kal tharaiyil kai pottu neenthugindra manidha”
Compares struggling against destiny to trying to swim on a hard rocky floor, highlighting its futility.
Did you know?
Trivia
The title of the film and song 'Akkarai Pachchai' (1974) stems directly from the popular Tamil proverb 'Ikkaraikku Akkarai Pachai', which is equivalent to 'The grass is always greener on the other side'. Written by Kannadasan, the song is renowned for its timeless philosophical lyricism on human nature and destiny.
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