Kannan Piranthathum
From Nyayam Ketkirom · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Nyayam Ketkirom1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai | Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell. |
| Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai | Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell. |
| Siraisaalai oru kalloori | A prison cell is a college of learning. |
| Sendru thirumbiyavan oru gurunaadhan | One who goes there and returns comes back as a master. |
| Male | |
| Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai | Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell. |
| Male | |
| Puratchiyai thanthathum siraisaalai | Prison is what birthed great revolutions. |
| Pala puththagam piranthathum siraisaalai | Prison is where many great books were written. |
| Iruttilirunthu velichaththirkku vara | To help humanity step from darkness into light, |
| Iraivan padaithathum siraisaalai | God created the prison cell. |
| Male | |
| Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai | Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell. |
| Male | |
| Naanum irunthaen thaniyulagam | I too lived in that isolated world. |
| Angu naalaiya thevaigal ezhavillai | There, worries about tomorrow's needs never arose. |
| Yaen vanthaen inttha veliyulagam | Why did I come out to this outside world? |
| Ingu indraiya thevaikke vazhiyillai | Here, there is no way to meet even today's needs. |
| Male | |
| Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai | Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell. |
| Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai | Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell. |
| Male | |
| Irukkum uyaraththil irunthuvittaal | If you reside in a high social status, |
| Nee enna seithaalum thavarillai | Whatever wrong you do is overlooked as fine. |
| Yaezhai endrae nee piranthu vitaal | But if you are born poor in this world, |
| Nee edhu seithaalum sariyillai | Whatever you do is deemed wrong. |
| Male | |
| Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai | Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell. |
| Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai | Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell. |
| Siraisaalai oru kalloori | A prison cell is a college of learning. |
| Sendru thirumbiyavan oru gurunaadhan | One who goes there and returns comes back as a master. |
| Male | |
| Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai | Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell. |
| Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai | Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell. |
கண்ணன் பிறந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
அந்த காந்தி இருந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
சிறைச்சாலை ஒரு கல்லூரி
சென்று திரும்பியவன் ஒரு குருநாதன்.....
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell.
A prison cell is a college of learning.
One who goes there and returns comes back as a master.
கண்ணன் பிறந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
புரட்சியைத் தந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
பல புத்தகம் பிறந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
இருட்டிலிருந்து வெளிச்சத்திற்கு வர
இறைவன் படைத்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை...
Prison is what birthed great revolutions.
Prison is where many great books were written.
To help humanity step from darkness into light,
God created the prison cell.
கண்ணன் பிறந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
நானும் இருந்தேன் தனியுலகம்
அங்கு நாளையத் தேவைகள் எழவில்லை
ஏன் வந்தேன் இந்த வெளியுலகம்
இங்கு இன்றையத் தேவைக்கே வழியில்லை....
I too lived in that isolated world.
There, worries about tomorrow's needs never arose.
Why did I come out to this outside world?
Here, there is no way to meet even today's needs.
கண்ணன் பிறந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
அந்த காந்தி இருந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell.
இருக்கும் உயரத்தில் இருந்துவிட்டால்
நீ என்ன செய்தாலும் தவறில்லை
ஏழை என்றே நீ பிறந்து விட்டால்
நீ எது செய்தாலும் சரியில்லை......
If you reside in a high social status,
Whatever wrong you do is overlooked as fine.
But if you are born poor in this world,
Whatever you do is deemed wrong.
கண்ணன் பிறந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
அந்த காந்தி இருந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
சிறைச்சாலை ஒரு கல்லூரி
சென்று திரும்பியவன் ஒரு குருநாதன்....
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell.
A prison cell is a college of learning.
One who goes there and returns comes back as a master.
கண்ணன் பிறந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
அந்த காந்தி இருந்ததும் சிறைச்சாலை
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell.
Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai
Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell.
Siraisaalai oru kalloori
A prison cell is a college of learning.
Sendru thirumbiyavan oru gurunaadhan
One who goes there and returns comes back as a master.
Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Puratchiyai thanthathum siraisaalai
Prison is what birthed great revolutions.
Pala puththagam piranthathum siraisaalai
Prison is where many great books were written.
Iruttilirunthu velichaththirkku vara
To help humanity step from darkness into light,
Iraivan padaithathum siraisaalai
God created the prison cell.
Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Naanum irunthaen thaniyulagam
I too lived in that isolated world.
Angu naalaiya thevaigal ezhavillai
There, worries about tomorrow's needs never arose.
Yaen vanthaen inttha veliyulagam
Why did I come out to this outside world?
Ingu indraiya thevaikke vazhiyillai
Here, there is no way to meet even today's needs.
Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai
Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell.
Irukkum uyaraththil irunthuvittaal
If you reside in a high social status,
Nee enna seithaalum thavarillai
Whatever wrong you do is overlooked as fine.
Yaezhai endrae nee piranthu vitaal
But if you are born poor in this world,
Nee edhu seithaalum sariyillai
Whatever you do is deemed wrong.
Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai
Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell.
Siraisaalai oru kalloori
A prison cell is a college of learning.
Sendru thirumbiyavan oru gurunaadhan
One who goes there and returns comes back as a master.
Kannan piranthathum siraisaalai
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell.
Antha gandhi irunthathum siraisaalai
Mahatma Gandhi also spent his time in a prison cell.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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