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Lyrics & meaning

Niyaayam Kelu

From Aasaipadugiren · 2011

Lyricist
Balu Manivannan
Singer
Aadhish Uthiriyan
Music director
Aadhish Uthiriyan
Movie name
Aasaipadugiren
Movie release year
2011
Lyrics added on
18 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Yaezhai koodi niyaayam kettaa paavamaa
Enga usuru enna kettuputtaa kovamaa
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Mayilaaduthu kuyil koovuthu malaiyilae
Yaezhai vayiru kaayuthu
Uyir veguthu oolaiyilae
Mayilaaduthu kuyil koovuthu malaiyilae
Yaezhai vayiru kaayuthu
Uyir veguthu oolaiyilae
Suththi suththi pachchai pasael marangalaa
Engal vaazhkkai mattum
Kaanji karugum ilaigalaa
Engal vaazhkkai mattum
Kaanji karugum ilaigalaa
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Valuththavanga vachchathuthaan sattamaa
Naangal yazhaiyaaga
Iruppathanaal mattamaa
Valuththavanga vachchathuthaan sattamaa
Naangal yazhaiyaaga
Iruppathanaal mattamaa
Edhuththu ketkka maattaayaa saamiyae
Illa nampikkai aththu pogum saamiyae
Illa nampikkai aththu pogum saamiyae
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Demand justice, demand justice, oh Lord!
Demand justice, demand justice, oh Lord!
Ask what strange justice this is, oh Lord!
Ask what kind of justice this is, oh Lord!
Demand justice, demand justice, oh Lord!
Demand justice, demand justice, oh Lord!
Ask what strange justice this is, oh Lord!
Ask what kind of justice this is, oh Lord!
Is it a sin if the poor gather and ask for justice?
Does it make them angry if we ask what our lives are worth?
Demand justice, demand justice, oh Lord!
Ask what strange justice this is, oh Lord!
Peacocks dance and cuckoos sing in the hills,
while the poor man's belly starves,
and his life boils in the cooking pot.
Peacocks dance and cuckoos sing in the hills,
while the poor man's belly starves,
and his life boils in the cooking pot.
All around us are lush green trees,
is our life alone destined
to be dry and scorched leaves?
Is our life alone destined
to be dry and scorched leaves?
Demand justice, demand justice, oh Lord!
Ask what strange justice this is, oh Lord!
Is the law only whatever the strong decide?
Just because we are poor,
are we so worthless?
Is the law only whatever the strong decide?
Just because we are poor,
are we so worthless?
Won't you stand up and question them, oh Lord?
Otherwise, all our faith will shatter, oh Lord!
Otherwise, all our faith will shatter, oh Lord!
Demand justice, demand justice, oh Lord!
Ask what strange justice this is, oh Lord!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Niyaayam Kelu' from the 2011 film Aasaipadugiren is an emotive socio-political lament and prayer demanding justice for the marginalized and impoverished. The narrator addresses the Almighty or a higher divine authority ('Saami') to confront the oppressive social hierarchy where the laws made by the powerful rule supreme, leaving the poor suffering in hunger and neglect.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae

The frantic repetition of 'Niyaayam kelu' (Ask for justice) reinforces the urgency and anguish of the poor calling out against oppression.

Contrast (Muran)

Mayilaaduthu kuyil koovuthu malaiyilae / Yaezhai vayiru kaayuthu

The lyrics juxtapose the flourishing beauty of nature on the mountain with the stark, grim reality of the poor man's starving stomach.

Metaphor

Kaanji karugum ilaigalaa

Comparing the dry, scorched leaves to the barren, suffering lives of the impoverished working class.

Monai (Alliteration)

Suththi suththi pachchai pasael marangalaa

Repetition of the initial consonants/phonemes in 'pachchai pasael' heightens the rhythmic quality of describing vibrant green trees.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Niyaayam Kelu' features music composed and sung by Aadhish Uthiriyan, with lyrics penned by Balu Manivannan for the 2011 Tamil film Aasaipadugiren. The song serves as a folk-style social critique highlighting rural hardship and systemic inequality.

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