Melum Keezhum
From Yaarukkum Vetkamillai · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. J. Jesudas
- Music director
- G. K. Venkatesh
- Details
- Yaarukkum Vetkamillai1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oorukku vetkam illai | The town has no shame |
| Indha ulagukkum vetkam illai | This world has no shame either |
| Yaarukkum vetkam illai | Nobody has any shame |
| Idhilae avalukku vetkamenna | In this scenario, why should she feel shame? |
| Hae samudhayamae | Oh society! |
| Male | |
| Melum keelum kodugal podu | Just draw lines up and down |
| Adhu thaan oviym | That itself becomes a painting |
| Nee sonnaal kaaviyam | If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem |
| Oviyam endraal ennvendru | What a painting actually means |
| Therindhavar illaiyada | There is nobody who truly knows |
| Kurudargal ulagil kangal irundhaal | In a world of blind people, if you have eyes |
| Adhuthaan tholliyadaa | That itself is considered a trouble |
| Male | |
| Melum keelum kodugal podu | Just draw lines up and down |
| Adhu thaan oviym | That itself becomes a painting |
| Nee sonnaal kaaviyam | If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem |
| Male | |
| Athanai pazhamum sothaigalai thaanae | All fruits turn out to have defects inside |
| Aandavan padaipinilae | In the creation of God |
| Athi pazhathai kuttram koora | To blame the fig fruit for its hidden flaws |
| Yaarukkum vetkam illai | Nobody has any shame |
| Male | |
| Moodargal yettriya kuttrathai marandhu | Forgetting the accusations made by fools |
| Mudhugai paarungal | Look at your own back |
| Mudhuginil irukku aayiram azhukku | On your back there are a thousand dirty marks |
| Adhanai kazhuvungal | Go wash those clean first |
| Male | |
| Melum keelum kodugal podu | Just draw lines up and down |
| Adhu thaan oviym | That itself becomes a painting |
| Nee sonnaal kaaviyam | If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem |
| Male | |
| Suttum viralaal edhiriyai katti | When pointing your index finger at an enemy |
| Kuttram koorugaiyil | And accusing them of wrongdoings |
| Mattrum mondru viralgal ungal | Three other fingers point back |
| Maarbinai kaatudhadaa | Directly at your own chest |
| Male | |
| Engaeyavadhu manidhan oruvan | If anywhere there exists a real human being |
| Irundhaal solungal | Please tell me |
| Irukkum avanum punidhan endraal | And if that existing person is pure and saintly |
| Ennidam kattungal | Show them to me |
| Male | |
| Melum keelum kodugal podu | Just draw lines up and down |
| Adhu thaan oviym | That itself becomes a painting |
| Nee sonnaal kaaviyam | If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem |
| Male | |
| Appan thavaru pillaikku therindhaal | If a son discovers his father's mistake |
| Avanukku vetkam illai | He feels no shame |
| Athanai peraiyum padaithaanae andha | The one who created all these people |
| Sivanukku vetkam illai | That Lord Shiva himself has no shame |
| Male | |
| Ippodhu indha ulagam muzhuvadhum | Now in this entire world |
| Evanukkum vetkam illai | No man has any shame |
| Ellaar kadhaiyum ondraai mudikkum | The one who ends everyone's story alike |
| Emanukkum vetkam illai | Even Yama has no shame |
ஊருக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை
இந்த உலகுக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை
யாருக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை
இதிலே அவளுக்கு வெட்கமென்ன
ஹே சமுதாயமே
The town has no shame
This world has no shame either
Nobody has any shame
In this scenario, why should she feel shame?
Oh society!
மேலும் கீழும் கோடுகள் போடு
அதுதான் ஒவியம்
நீ சொன்னால் காவியம்
ஓவியம் என்றால் என்னவென்று
தெரிந்தவர் இல்லையடா
குருடர்கள் உலகில் கண்கள் இருந்தால்
அதுதான் தொல்லையடா
Just draw lines up and down
That itself becomes a painting
If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem
What a painting actually means
There is nobody who truly knows
In a world of blind people, if you have eyes
That itself is considered a trouble
மேலும் கீழும் கோடுகள் போடு
அதுதான் ஒவியம்
நீ சொன்னால் காவியம்
Just draw lines up and down
That itself becomes a painting
If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem
அத்தனை பழமும் சொத்தைகள் தானே
ஆண்டவன் படைப்பினிலே
அத்திப் பழத்தை குற்றம் கூற
யாருக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை
All fruits turn out to have defects inside
In the creation of God
To blame the fig fruit for its hidden flaws
Nobody has any shame
மூடர்கள் ஏற்றிய குற்றத்தை மறந்து
முதுகை பாருங்கள்
முதுகினில் இருக்கு ஆயிரம் அழுக்கு
அதனை கழுவுங்கள்
Forgetting the accusations made by fools
Look at your own back
On your back there are a thousand dirty marks
Go wash those clean first
மேலும் கீழும் கோடுகள் போடு
அதுதான் ஒவியம்
நீ சொன்னால் காவியம்
Just draw lines up and down
That itself becomes a painting
If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem
சுட்டும் விரலால் எதிரியை காட்டி
குற்றம் கூறுகையில்
மற்றும் மூன்று விரல்கள் உங்கள்
மார்பினை காட்டுதடா
When pointing your index finger at an enemy
And accusing them of wrongdoings
Three other fingers point back
Directly at your own chest
எங்கேயாவது மனிதன் ஒருவன்
இருந்தால் சொல்லுங்கள்
இருக்கும் அவனும் புனிதன் என்றால்
என்னிடம் காட்டுங்கள்
If anywhere there exists a real human being
Please tell me
And if that existing person is pure and saintly
Show them to me
மேலும் கீழும் கோடுகள் போடு
அதுதான் ஒவியம்
நீ சொன்னால் காவியம்
Just draw lines up and down
That itself becomes a painting
If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem
அப்பன் தவறு பிள்ளைக்கு தெரிந்தால்
அவனுக்கு வெட்கமில்லை
அத்தனை பேரையும் படைத்தானே அந்த
சிவனுக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை
If a son discovers his father's mistake
He feels no shame
The one who created all these people
That Lord Shiva himself has no shame
இப்போது இந்த உலகம் முழுவதும்
எவனுக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை
எல்லார் கதையும் ஒன்றாய் முடிக்கும்
எமனுக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை
Now in this entire world
No man has any shame
The one who ends everyone's story alike
Even Yama has no shame
Oorukku vetkam illai
The town has no shame
Indha ulagukkum vetkam illai
This world has no shame either
Yaarukkum vetkam illai
Nobody has any shame
Idhilae avalukku vetkamenna
In this scenario, why should she feel shame?
Hae samudhayamae
Oh society!
Melum keelum kodugal podu
Just draw lines up and down
Adhu thaan oviym
That itself becomes a painting
Nee sonnaal kaaviyam
If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem
Oviyam endraal ennvendru
What a painting actually means
Therindhavar illaiyada
There is nobody who truly knows
Kurudargal ulagil kangal irundhaal
In a world of blind people, if you have eyes
Adhuthaan tholliyadaa
That itself is considered a trouble
Melum keelum kodugal podu
Just draw lines up and down
Adhu thaan oviym
That itself becomes a painting
Nee sonnaal kaaviyam
If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem
Athanai pazhamum sothaigalai thaanae
All fruits turn out to have defects inside
Aandavan padaipinilae
In the creation of God
Athi pazhathai kuttram koora
To blame the fig fruit for its hidden flaws
Yaarukkum vetkam illai
Nobody has any shame
Moodargal yettriya kuttrathai marandhu
Forgetting the accusations made by fools
Mudhugai paarungal
Look at your own back
Mudhuginil irukku aayiram azhukku
On your back there are a thousand dirty marks
Adhanai kazhuvungal
Go wash those clean first
Melum keelum kodugal podu
Just draw lines up and down
Adhu thaan oviym
That itself becomes a painting
Nee sonnaal kaaviyam
If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem
Suttum viralaal edhiriyai katti
When pointing your index finger at an enemy
Kuttram koorugaiyil
And accusing them of wrongdoings
Mattrum mondru viralgal ungal
Three other fingers point back
Maarbinai kaatudhadaa
Directly at your own chest
Engaeyavadhu manidhan oruvan
If anywhere there exists a real human being
Irundhaal solungal
Please tell me
Irukkum avanum punidhan endraal
And if that existing person is pure and saintly
Ennidam kattungal
Show them to me
Melum keelum kodugal podu
Just draw lines up and down
Adhu thaan oviym
That itself becomes a painting
Nee sonnaal kaaviyam
If you pronounce it, it becomes an epic poem
Appan thavaru pillaikku therindhaal
If a son discovers his father's mistake
Avanukku vetkam illai
He feels no shame
Athanai peraiyum padaithaanae andha
The one who created all these people
Sivanukku vetkam illai
That Lord Shiva himself has no shame
Ippodhu indha ulagam muzhuvadhum
Now in this entire world
Evanukkum vetkam illai
No man has any shame
Ellaar kadhaiyum ondraai mudikkum
The one who ends everyone's story alike
Emanukkum vetkam illai
Even Yama has no shame
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Yaarukkum Vetkamillai' is a powerful philosophical critique of societal hypocrisy composed by G. K. Venkatesh with lyrics by Kannadasan. The narrator challenges a judgmental society that single-mindedly shames an individual while ignoring its own deep-seated corruptions, double standards, and moral flaws. Kannadasan uses poignant analogies to emphasize that no one in society is without fault.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Oorukku vetkam illai / Indha ulagukkum vetkam illai / Yaarukkum vetkam illai”
The repetition of the phrase 'vetkam illai' at the end of multiple lines creates a rhythmic emphasis on the core theme of shamelessness.
Visual Imagery & Metaphor
“Suttum viralaal edhiriyai katti... Mattrum mondru viralgal ungal Maarbinai kaatudhadaa”
Kannadasan utilizes the physical gesture of pointing a finger to illustrate how accusing others naturally turns three fingers of self-judgment back onto oneself.
Paradox
“Kurudargal ulagil kangal irundhaal Adhuthaan tholliyadaa”
The line highlights the irony that possessing vision in a blind society is treated as a flaw rather than a strength.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Yaarukkum Vetkamillai' (1975) was directed by Cho Ramaswamy, based on his popular stage play of the same title, known for its sharp political and social satire. K. J. Yesudas delivered the powerful vocal rendition for this timeless Kannadasan track.
Keep listening
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