Niyaayam Kelu
From Aasaipadugiren · 2011
- Lyricist
- Balu Manivannan
- Singer
- Aadhish Uthiriyan
- Music director
- Aadhish Uthiriyan
- Details
- Aasaipadugiren2011
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae | Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae | Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae | What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae | What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Male | |
| Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae | Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae | Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae | What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae | What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Male | |
| Yaezhai koodi niyaayam kettaa paavamaa | Is it a sin if the poor gather together and demand justice? |
| Enga usuru enna kettuputtaa kovamaa | Did you get angry because our lives got ruined? |
| Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae | Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae | What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Male | |
| Mayilaaduthu kuyil koovuthu malaiyilae | The peacock dances and the cuckoo calls in the mountains, |
| Yaezhai vayiru kaayuthu | Yet the poor man's stomach is starving, |
| Uyir veguthu oolaiyilae | And life boils away in a cauldron of agony. |
| Mayilaaduthu kuyil koovuthu malaiyilae | The peacock dances and the cuckoo calls in the mountains, |
| Yaezhai vayiru kaayuthu | Yet the poor man's stomach is starving, |
| Uyir veguthu oolaiyilae | And life boils away in a cauldron of agony. |
| Male | |
| Suththi suththi pachchai pasael marangalaa | All around us are lush, verdant trees, |
| Engal vaazhkkai mattum | Is it only our life |
| Kaanji karugum ilaigalaa | That is like dried and withered leaves? |
| Engal vaazhkkai mattum | Is it only our life |
| Kaanji karugum ilaigalaa | That is like dried and withered leaves? |
| Male | |
| Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae | Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae | What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Male | |
| Valuththavanga vachchathuthaan sattamaa | Is law only whatever the powerful dictate? |
| Naangal yazhaiyaaga | Just because we are poor, |
| Iruppathanaal mattamaa | Are we considered inferior? |
| Valuththavanga vachchathuthaan sattamaa | Is law only whatever the powerful dictate? |
| Naangal yazhaiyaaga | Just because we are poor, |
| Iruppathanaal mattamaa | Are we considered inferior? |
| Male | |
| Edhuththu ketkka maattaayaa saamiyae | Won't you stand up and question them, oh Lord? |
| Illa nampikkai aththu pogum saamiyae | Otherwise, all our faith will snap and be lost, oh Lord! |
| Illa nampikkai aththu pogum saamiyae | Otherwise, all our faith will snap and be lost, oh Lord! |
| Male | |
| Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae | Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord! |
| Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae | What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord! |
நியாயம் கேளு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
நியாயம் கேளு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
இது எந்த ஊரு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
இது எந்த நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
நியாயம் கேளு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
நியாயம் கேளு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
இது எந்த ஊரு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
இது எந்த நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
ஏழை கூடி நியாயம் கேட்டா பாவமா
எங்க உசுரு என்ன.....கேட்டுப்புட்டா கோவமா
நியாயம் கேளு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
இது எந்த ஊரு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
Is it a sin if the poor gather together and demand justice?
Did you get angry because our lives got ruined?
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
மயிலாடுது குயில் கூவுது மலையிலே
ஏழை வயிறு காயுது
உயிர் வேகுது ஒலையிலே
மயிலாடுது குயில் கூவுது மலையிலே
ஏழை வயிறு காயுது
உயிர் வேகுது ஒலையிலே
The peacock dances and the cuckoo calls in the mountains,
Yet the poor man's stomach is starving,
And life boils away in a cauldron of agony.
The peacock dances and the cuckoo calls in the mountains,
Yet the poor man's stomach is starving,
And life boils away in a cauldron of agony.
சுத்தித் சுத்தி பச்சை பசேல் மரங்களா
எங்கள் வாழ்க்கை மட்டும்
காஞ்சி கருகும் இலைகளா
எங்கள் வாழ்க்கை மட்டும்
காஞ்சி கருகும் இலைகளா
All around us are lush, verdant trees,
Is it only our life
That is like dried and withered leaves?
Is it only our life
That is like dried and withered leaves?
நியாயம் கேளு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
இது எந்த ஊரு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
வலுத்தவங்க வச்சதுதான் சட்டமா
நாங்கள் ஏழையாக
இருப்பதனால் மட்டமா
வலுத்தவங்க வச்சதுதான் சட்டமா
நாங்கள் ஏழையாக
இருப்பதனால் மட்டமா
Is law only whatever the powerful dictate?
Just because we are poor,
Are we considered inferior?
Is law only whatever the powerful dictate?
Just because we are poor,
Are we considered inferior?
எதுத்து கேக்க மாட்டாயா சாமியே
இல்ல நம்பிக்கை அத்து போகும் சாமியே
இல்ல நம்பிக்கை அத்து போகும் சாமியே
Won't you stand up and question them, oh Lord?
Otherwise, all our faith will snap and be lost, oh Lord!
Otherwise, all our faith will snap and be lost, oh Lord!
நியாயம் கேளு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
இது எந்த ஊரு நியாயம் கேளு சாமியே
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
Yaezhai koodi niyaayam kettaa paavamaa
Is it a sin if the poor gather together and demand justice?
Enga usuru enna kettuputtaa kovamaa
Did you get angry because our lives got ruined?
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
Mayilaaduthu kuyil koovuthu malaiyilae
The peacock dances and the cuckoo calls in the mountains,
Yaezhai vayiru kaayuthu
Yet the poor man's stomach is starving,
Uyir veguthu oolaiyilae
And life boils away in a cauldron of agony.
Mayilaaduthu kuyil koovuthu malaiyilae
The peacock dances and the cuckoo calls in the mountains,
Yaezhai vayiru kaayuthu
Yet the poor man's stomach is starving,
Uyir veguthu oolaiyilae
And life boils away in a cauldron of agony.
Suththi suththi pachchai pasael marangalaa
All around us are lush, verdant trees,
Engal vaazhkkai mattum
Is it only our life
Kaanji karugum ilaigalaa
That is like dried and withered leaves?
Engal vaazhkkai mattum
Is it only our life
Kaanji karugum ilaigalaa
That is like dried and withered leaves?
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
Valuththavanga vachchathuthaan sattamaa
Is law only whatever the powerful dictate?
Naangal yazhaiyaaga
Just because we are poor,
Iruppathanaal mattamaa
Are we considered inferior?
Valuththavanga vachchathuthaan sattamaa
Is law only whatever the powerful dictate?
Naangal yazhaiyaaga
Just because we are poor,
Iruppathanaal mattamaa
Are we considered inferior?
Edhuththu ketkka maattaayaa saamiyae
Won't you stand up and question them, oh Lord?
Illa nampikkai aththu pogum saamiyae
Otherwise, all our faith will snap and be lost, oh Lord!
Illa nampikkai aththu pogum saamiyae
Otherwise, all our faith will snap and be lost, oh Lord!
Niyaayam kelu niyaayam kelu saamiyae
Ask for justice, ask for justice, oh Lord!
Idhu entha ooru niyaayam kelu saamiyae
What kind of town's justice is this? Ask for justice, oh Lord!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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