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Isaimozhi
Kaaval Nilayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Niyaayama Namma Police

From Kaaval Nilayam · 1991

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singer
Janagaraj
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Kaaval Nilayam
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
8 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Niyaayamaa namma police-u seivathu niyaayamaa
Aiyaa kaakki sattaikaarangalae
Dharmamaa namma police-u sevathu dharamamaa
Unmai edhu poi edhunnu theera visarikkaama
Yaezhainga engalaththaan istam pola
Seiyaatha kuttrangala seithomendru
Solli jaylilae thalluvathu
Dosthaaga nenaichanega polisa
Joraaga madhichchenga
Thappethum pannaama ennaththaan
Daaraga kizhichcheenga
Kaaval kaakka irukkanum police
Kadamai adhuthaanae
Case-u onnu enna kizhichchiduchchu
Piece piece-ah nenju aagidichchi
Uyir maaanam kaakka thunai aagum police
Avamaanam thanthaa yaaringu kaaval
Niyaayamaa namma police-u seivathu niyaayamaa
Dharmamaa namma police-u sevathu dharamamaa
Unmai edhu poi edhunnu theera visarikkaama
Yaezhainga engalaththaan istam pola
Seiyaatha kuttrangala seithomendru
Solli jaylilae thalluvathu
Chummaaththaan kedanthaenga
Ennaththaan court-kku izhuththeenga
Nanbanaa nenaichaenga
Ammammaa naayaaga adichcheenga
Veliyaaga irukkanum police
Uyirai kaappaaththa
Nambi vantha enna kambi enna
Vachchuputtaa unga niyaayam enna
Uyir thantha annai uravaana thanthai
Enai vittu poga edharkintha police
Niyaayamaa namma police-u seivathu niyaayamaa
Dharmamaa namma police-u sevathu dharamamaa
Unmai edhu poi edhunnu theera visarikkaama
Yaezhainga engalaththaan istam pola
Seiyaatha kuttrangala seithomendru
Solli jaililae thalluvathu
Niyaayamaa namma police-u seivathu niyaayamaa
Dharmamaa namma police-u sevathu dharamamaa
Is it fair? Is what our police are doing fair?
Oh, officers in khaki shirts...
Is it right? Is what our police are doing just?
Without thoroughly finding out what is true and what is false,
framing us poor folks just as you please,
claiming we committed crimes we never did,
and throwing us into jail...
I thought of the police as my friend,
and respected them with all my heart.
Even though I did nothing wrong,
you tore my life to shreds.
The police are meant to protect us,
isn't that their duty?
A false case has ruined me,
and my heart has shattered into pieces.
When the police should protect life and dignity,
if they bring us humiliation, who is left to protect us?
Is it fair? Is what our police are doing fair?
Is it right? Is what our police are doing just?
Without thoroughly finding out what is true and what is false,
framing us poor folks just as you please,
claiming we committed crimes we never did,
and throwing us into jail...
I was just minding my own business,
yet you dragged me to court.
I looked at you as a friend,
oh my, but you beat me like a dog.
The police should be like a protective fence,
to save people's lives.
When I trusted you, if you make me count prison bars,
what kind of justice is yours?
The mother who gave me life and the father who loved me,
have both left me—so why must this police torment me?
Is it fair? Is what our police are doing fair?
Is it right? Is what our police are doing just?
Without thoroughly finding out what is true and what is false,
framing us poor folks just as you please,
claiming we committed crimes we never did,
and throwing us into jail...
Is it fair? Is what our police are doing fair?
Is it right? Is what our police are doing just?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses deep distress and frustration over police corruption and injustice toward underprivileged citizens. The speaker questions the ethics of police officers who frame innocent poor people for crimes they never committed without investigating the truth. Instead of offering protection and maintaining law and order, the force brings trauma, humiliation, and destruction to vulnerable families.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Ammammaa naayaaga adichcheenga

Compares the cruel physical abuse by the police to beating a stray dog using the word 'naayaaga'.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Veliyaaga irukkanum police

Compares the ideal police force to a protective boundary fence ('veli') that protects life.

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Case-u onnu enna kizhichchiduchchu / Piece piece-ah nenju aagidichchi

Both lines end with rhyming phonetic structures ('kizhichchiduchchu' / 'aagidichchi') to emphasize emotional pain.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were penned by renowned lyricist Piraisoodan for the 1991 Tamil action drama film 'Kaaval Nilayam'.

Keep listening

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