- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Nyayam Ketkirom
- Movie release year
- 1973
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Jan 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
In this iconic philosophical song penned by Kannadasan, the lyricist redefines the concept of prison, elevating it from a venue of mere punishment to a place of wisdom, reflection, and transformation. By invoking spiritual and historical figures like Lord Krishna and Mahatma Gandhi—both of whom spent pivotal times in prison—the lyricist highlights that prison has historically nurtured great revolutions, monumental literature, and visionary leadership. The speaker reflects on his personal experience of incarceration as a peaceful period devoid of the grueling rat race for daily sustenance. He sharply criticizes the hypocrisy of society, noting that those in positions of power and wealth can commit wrongdoings without facing judgment, while the poor are inherently deemed wrong regardless of their actions. Through these contrast-rich lines, Kannadasan delivers a timeless critique of social inequality and moral double standards.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Siraisaalai oru kalloori”
The line directly equates a prison cell to a college, indicating that imprisonment serves as a profound institution for life lessons and character building.
Epistrophe / Repetition
“Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai / Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai”
The word 'siraisaalai' (prison) is repeated at the end of consecutive lines to strongly emphasize the central imagery of the poem.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Iruttilirunthu velichaththirkku vara”
Uses contrasting imagery of 'Iruttu' (darkness) and 'Velicham' (light) to describe the moral and spiritual enlightenment brought about by adversity.
Irony / Social Satire
“Irukkum uyaraththil irunthuvittaal / Nee enna seithaalum thavarillai”
Critiques societal double standards where morality is judged by social class rather than actual deeds.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song showcases lyricist Kannadasan's signature ability to blend Hindu mythology (Krishna's birth in Kamsa's jail) with modern political history (Gandhi's imprisonment during the Indian independence movement). Delivered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan under K. V. Mahadevan's composition, the track remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous philosophical reflections on justice, imprisonment, and social class disparity.
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