Naan Yaar
From Pariyerum Perumal · 2018
- Lyricist
- Mari Selvaraj
- Singers
- Vijay Narain, Ananthu
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Details
- Pariyerum Perumal2018
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
| Male | |
| Adaipadum kadhavukkul | Behind doors that are shut |
| Udaipadum uyir | A life that gets shattered |
| Vidigindra pozhuthilum | Even as the day dawns |
| Posungidum uyir | A life that gets scorched |
| Paranthidum paravaiyum | Even a bird in flight |
| Thurathidum uyir | Chases this life away |
| Poothidum nilathilum | Even on fertile blooming land |
| Nasangidum uyir | A life that gets crushed |
| Male | |
| Peigindra mazhaiyilum | Even in the pouring rain |
| Erinthidum uyir | A life that continues to burn |
| Sirikkindra manitharum | Even laughing human beings |
| Veruthidum uyir | A life that they despise |
| Paarkindra kadavulum | Even the watching God |
| Maranthidum uyir | A life that He forgets |
| Varukindra saavaiyum | A life that endures even |
| Poruthidum uyir | The death that approaches |
| Male | |
| Naan yaar.. | Who am I.. |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Male | |
| Nee ozhi… | You are light… |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Nee mazhai… | You are rain… |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Male | |
| Naan yaar.. | Who am I.. |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
| Male | |
| Rayil thedi vanthu kollum | Seeking a train to end its life, who am I? |
| Naan yaar…. | Who am I…. |
| Pookkum maramengum | Hanging from trees filled with blossoms, |
| Thookkil thongum | Hanging in execution, |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Male | |
| Nadhiyil seththa | Like a dead fish floating |
| Meenaai mithakkum | In the river, |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Kudusaikkul kathari erintha | Screaming and burning inside a hut, |
| Naan yaar…. | Who am I…. |
| Male | |
| Thee eratha saamyingu | A deity here untouched by fire, |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Un kai padamal thanneer parugum | Drinking water without touching your hands, |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Oor suvarkatti thooram vaikka | Isolated by walls built around the village, |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Malakkuzhikkul moochaiyadakkum | Suffocating inside a septic pit, |
| Naan yaar.. | Who am I.. |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
| Male | |
| Naan yaaarrrr….. | Who am I….. |
| Naaaaan yaaaarrrr…… | Who am I…… |
| Male | |
| Arasan endru solvorumundu | There are those who call me king |
| Adimai endru ninaipporumundu | There are those who view me as a slave |
| Yer piditha vazhvum undu | There is a history of holding the plough |
| Por seitha kadhaiyum undu | There is a history of waging war |
| Male | |
| {Marithapin udal engum | {After death, across the entire body |
| Neelam paravum | A blue hue spreads |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Puthaithapin neela | After burial, in the vast blue |
| Kadalil neenthum | Ocean swimming |
| Naan yaar…} (2) | Who am I…} (2) |
| Male | |
| Naaaannnn…yaaarrrrr | Who am I |
| Male :{Marithapin udal engum | Male :{After death, across the entire body |
| Neelam paravum | A blue hue spreads |
| Naan yaar… | Who am I… |
| Puthaithapin neela | After burial, in the vast blue |
| Kadalil neenthum | Ocean swimming |
| Naan yaar.. } (2) | Who am I.. } (2) |
| Chorus | |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
| Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo |
............................................
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
அடைபடும் கதவுக்குள்
உடைபடும் உயிர்
விடுகின்ற பொழுதிலும்
பொசுங்கிடும் உயிர்
பறந்திடும் பறவையும்
துரத்திடும் உயிர்
பூத்திடும் நிலத்திலும்
நசுங்கிடும் உயிர்
Behind doors that are shut
A life that gets shattered
Even as the day dawns
A life that gets scorched
Even a bird in flight
Chases this life away
Even on fertile blooming land
A life that gets crushed
பெய்கின்ற மழையிலும்
எரிந்திடும் உயிர்
சிரிக்கின்ற மனிதரும்
வெறுத்திடும் உயிர்
பார்க்கின்ற கடவுளும்
மறந்திடும் உயிர்
வருகின்ற சாவையும்
பொறுத்திடும் உயிர்
Even in the pouring rain
A life that continues to burn
Even laughing human beings
A life that they despise
Even the watching God
A life that He forgets
A life that endures even
The death that approaches
நான் யார்..
நான் யார்…
Who am I..
Who am I…
நீ ஒழி…
நான் யார்…
நீ மழை…
நான் யார்…
நான் யார்…
You are light…
Who am I…
You are rain…
Who am I…
Who am I…
நான் யார்..
நான் யார்…
நான் யார்…
Who am I..
Who am I…
Who am I…
................................
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
ரயில் தேடி
வந்து கொள்ளும்
நான் யார்...
பூக்கும் மரமெங்கும்
தூக்கில் தொங்கும்
நான் யார்…
Seeking a train to end its life, who am I?
Who am I….
Hanging from trees filled with blossoms,
Hanging in execution,
Who am I…
நதியில் செத்த
மீனாய் மிதக்கும்
நான் யார்…
குடுசைக்குள் கதறி எரிந்த
நான் யார்...
Like a dead fish floating
In the river,
Who am I…
Screaming and burning inside a hut,
Who am I….
தேர் ஏறாத சாமியிங்கு
நான் யார்…
உன் கை படாமல்
தண்ணீர் பருகும்
நான் யார்…
ஊர் சுவர்க்கட்டி தூரம் வைக்க
நான் யார்…
மலக்குழிக்குள் மூச்சையடக்கும்
நான் யார்..
A deity here untouched by fire,
Who am I…
Drinking water without touching your hands,
Who am I…
Isolated by walls built around the village,
Who am I…
Suffocating inside a septic pit,
Who am I..
................................
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
நான் யார்....
நான் யார்.....
Who am I…..
Who am I……
அரசன் என்று
சொல்வோருமுண்டு
அடிமை என்று
நினைப்போருமுண்டு
ஏர் பிடித்த வாழ்வும் உண்டு
போர் செய்த கதையும் உண்டு
There are those who call me king
There are those who view me as a slave
There is a history of holding the plough
There is a history of waging war
{மரித்தபின் உடல் எங்கும்
நீலம் பரவும்
நான் யார்…
புதைத்தபின் நீல
கடலில் நீந்தும்
நான் யார்...} (2)
{After death, across the entire body
A blue hue spreads
Who am I…
After burial, in the vast blue
Ocean swimming
Who am I…} (2)
நான்…யார்.....
{மரித்தபின் உடல் எங்கும்
நீலம் பரவும்
நான் யார்…
புதைத்தபின் நீல கடலில் நீந்தும்
நான் யார்..} (2)
Who am I
Male :{After death, across the entire body
A blue hue spreads
Who am I…
After burial, in the vast blue
Ocean swimming
Who am I.. } (2)
...............................
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Adaipadum kadhavukkul
Behind doors that are shut
Udaipadum uyir
A life that gets shattered
Vidigindra pozhuthilum
Even as the day dawns
Posungidum uyir
A life that gets scorched
Paranthidum paravaiyum
Even a bird in flight
Thurathidum uyir
Chases this life away
Poothidum nilathilum
Even on fertile blooming land
Nasangidum uyir
A life that gets crushed
Peigindra mazhaiyilum
Even in the pouring rain
Erinthidum uyir
A life that continues to burn
Sirikkindra manitharum
Even laughing human beings
Veruthidum uyir
A life that they despise
Paarkindra kadavulum
Even the watching God
Maranthidum uyir
A life that He forgets
Varukindra saavaiyum
A life that endures even
Poruthidum uyir
The death that approaches
Naan yaar..
Who am I..
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Nee ozhi…
You are light…
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Nee mazhai…
You are rain…
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Naan yaar..
Who am I..
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Rayil thedi vanthu kollum
Seeking a train to end its life, who am I?
Naan yaar….
Who am I….
Pookkum maramengum
Hanging from trees filled with blossoms,
Thookkil thongum
Hanging in execution,
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Nadhiyil seththa
Like a dead fish floating
Meenaai mithakkum
In the river,
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Kudusaikkul kathari erintha
Screaming and burning inside a hut,
Naan yaar….
Who am I….
Thee eratha saamyingu
A deity here untouched by fire,
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Un kai padamal thanneer parugum
Drinking water without touching your hands,
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Oor suvarkatti thooram vaikka
Isolated by walls built around the village,
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Malakkuzhikkul moochaiyadakkum
Suffocating inside a septic pit,
Naan yaar..
Who am I..
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Naan yaaarrrr…..
Who am I…..
Naaaaan yaaaarrrr……
Who am I……
Arasan endru solvorumundu
There are those who call me king
Adimai endru ninaipporumundu
There are those who view me as a slave
Yer piditha vazhvum undu
There is a history of holding the plough
Por seitha kadhaiyum undu
There is a history of waging war
{Marithapin udal engum
{After death, across the entire body
Neelam paravum
A blue hue spreads
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Puthaithapin neela
After burial, in the vast blue
Kadalil neenthum
Ocean swimming
Naan yaar…} (2)
Who am I…} (2)
Naaaannnn…yaaarrrrr
Who am I
Male :{Marithapin udal engum
Male :{After death, across the entire body
Neelam paravum
A blue hue spreads
Naan yaar…
Who am I…
Puthaithapin neela
After burial, in the vast blue
Kadalil neenthum
Ocean swimming
Naan yaar.. } (2)
Who am I.. } (2)
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Naan Yaar' from Pariyerum Perumal is a powerful existential and anti-caste anthem. Written by director Mari Selvaraj and composed by Santhosh Narayanan, the song questions the identity and forced marginalization of oppressed communities throughout history and in contemporary society. Through haunting imagery of arson, manual scavenging, untouchability, and honor killings, the protagonist repeatedly asks 'Who am I?'—demanding recognition, dignity, and basic human rights.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Questioning (Anaphora)
“Naan yaar..”
The persistent repetition of 'Naan Yaar' (Who am I?) serves as an existential rhetorical device highlighting structural oppression.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Peigindra mazhaiyilum / Erinthidum uyir”
Contrasting rain with fire to emphasize relentless suffering even in conditions that should provide relief.
Emona (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Adaipadum kadhavukkul / Udaipadum uyir”
The second consonant 'da' matches across lines ('Adaipadum' and 'Udaipadum'), a traditional Tamil poetic device.
Metaphor
“Neelam paravum / Puthaithapin neela kadalil neenthum”
The spreading blue color post-death symbolizes liberation and connection to the vast blue ocean and sky, referencing Dalit symbolism.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Naan Yaar' features blue imagery which is deeply symbolic of Ambedkarite ideology and Dalit liberation. Director Mari Selvaraj penned these visceral lyrics himself to reflect real-life caste atrocities documented in Tamil Nadu.
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