Oru Pakkam Oru Nyaayam
From Adharmam · 1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oru pakkam oru nyaayam | There is justice on one side, |
| Innoru pakkam innoru nyaayam | And another justice on the other side. |
| Iru pakkathilum nyaayangal ullathu | There is validity on both sides; |
| Adhai kuttram endru | Calling that a crime, |
| Yaar ingae solluvathu | Who here can say that? |
| Male | |
| Irandum ingae | Both are here, |
| Oru thaayin makkalae | Children of the same mother. |
| Adhu selvadhum engae | Where are they heading? |
| Azhivennum thikkilae | In the direction of destruction. |
| Chorus | |
| Idhu dharmamaa dharmamaa | Is this righteousness? Righteousness? |
| Adharmamaa | Or unrighteousness? |
| Idhu dharmamaa dharmamaa | Is this righteousness? Righteousness? |
| Adharmamaa | Or unrighteousness? |
| Male | |
| Oru pakkam oru nyaayam | There is justice on one side. |
| Male | |
| Vanmurai seyalin kodumaigalai | The cruelties of violent acts, |
| Ingae naan kandaal | If I witness them here, |
| En idhayam thaangadhu | My heart cannot bear it, |
| Thaane padharudhada | It quivers uncontrollably, my friend. |
| Munnoor vaazhndha perumai ellam | All the glory of how our ancestors lived, |
| Ovvondraai ninaithaal | If I think about them one by one, |
| En manamae erimalaiyaai | My mind, like a volcano, |
| Vedichae sidharuthada | Explodes and shatters, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai kaalam ethanai kaalam | How long, how long, |
| Vaazhkaiyai theduvathu | Shall we search for a livelihood? |
| Echil ilaikku kaathu kidakkum | Waiting for a leaf of leftover food, |
| Kaakaiyai thurathuvadhu | And chasing away the crow? |
| Male | |
| Sagodhara ingae | Oh brother, here, |
| Azhivadhu yaarada | Who is getting destroyed? |
| Sagodhara idhu nadapadhu | Oh brother, tell me, |
| Yaaraal koorada | Who is causing all this to happen? |
| Male | |
| Oru pakkam oru nyaayam | There is justice on one side, |
| Innoru pakkam innoru nyaayam | And another justice on the other side. |
ஒரு பக்கம் ஒரு நியாயம்
இன்னொரு பக்கம் இன்னொரு நியாயம்
இரு பக்கத்திலும் நியாங்கள் உள்ளது
அதை குற்றம் என்று
யார் இங்கே சொல்வது
There is justice on one side,
And another justice on the other side.
There is validity on both sides;
Calling that a crime,
Who here can say that?
இரண்டும் இங்கே
ஒரு தாயின் மக்களே
அது செல்வதும் எங்கே
அழிவென்னும் திக்கிலே
Both are here,
Children of the same mother.
Where are they heading?
In the direction of destruction.
இது தர்மம்மா தர்மம்மா
அதர்மம்மா
இது தர்மம்மா தர்மம்மா
அதர்மம்மா
Is this righteousness? Righteousness?
Or unrighteousness?
Is this righteousness? Righteousness?
Or unrighteousness?
ஒரு பக்கம் ஒரு நியாயம்
There is justice on one side.
வன்முறை செயலின் கொடுமைகளை
இங்கே நான் கண்டால்
என் இதயம் தாங்காது
தானே பதறுதடா
முன்னோர் வாழ்ந்த பெருமை எல்லாம்
ஒவ்வொன்றாய் நினைத்தால்
என் மனமே எரிமலையாய்
வெடிச்சே சிதறுதடா
The cruelties of violent acts,
If I witness them here,
My heart cannot bear it,
It quivers uncontrollably, my friend.
All the glory of how our ancestors lived,
If I think about them one by one,
My mind, like a volcano,
Explodes and shatters, my friend.
எத்தனை காலம் எத்தனை காலம்
வாழ்க்கையை தேடுவது
எச்சில் இலைக்கு காத்து கிடக்கும்
காக்கையை துரத்துவது
How long, how long,
Shall we search for a livelihood?
Waiting for a leaf of leftover food,
And chasing away the crow?
சகோதரா இங்கே
அழிவது யாரடா.........
சகோதரா இது நடப்பது
யாரால் கூறடா.......
Oh brother, here,
Who is getting destroyed?
Oh brother, tell me,
Who is causing all this to happen?
ஒரு பக்கம் ஒரு நியாயம்
இன்னொரு பக்கம் இன்னொரு நியாயம்
There is justice on one side,
And another justice on the other side.
Oru pakkam oru nyaayam
There is justice on one side,
Innoru pakkam innoru nyaayam
And another justice on the other side.
Iru pakkathilum nyaayangal ullathu
There is validity on both sides;
Adhai kuttram endru
Calling that a crime,
Yaar ingae solluvathu
Who here can say that?
Irandum ingae
Both are here,
Oru thaayin makkalae
Children of the same mother.
Adhu selvadhum engae
Where are they heading?
Azhivennum thikkilae
In the direction of destruction.
Idhu dharmamaa dharmamaa
Is this righteousness? Righteousness?
Adharmamaa
Or unrighteousness?
Idhu dharmamaa dharmamaa
Is this righteousness? Righteousness?
Adharmamaa
Or unrighteousness?
Oru pakkam oru nyaayam
There is justice on one side.
Vanmurai seyalin kodumaigalai
The cruelties of violent acts,
Ingae naan kandaal
If I witness them here,
En idhayam thaangadhu
My heart cannot bear it,
Thaane padharudhada
It quivers uncontrollably, my friend.
Munnoor vaazhndha perumai ellam
All the glory of how our ancestors lived,
Ovvondraai ninaithaal
If I think about them one by one,
En manamae erimalaiyaai
My mind, like a volcano,
Vedichae sidharuthada
Explodes and shatters, my friend.
Ethanai kaalam ethanai kaalam
How long, how long,
Vaazhkaiyai theduvathu
Shall we search for a livelihood?
Echil ilaikku kaathu kidakkum
Waiting for a leaf of leftover food,
Kaakaiyai thurathuvadhu
And chasing away the crow?
Sagodhara ingae
Oh brother, here,
Azhivadhu yaarada
Who is getting destroyed?
Sagodhara idhu nadapadhu
Oh brother, tell me,
Yaaraal koorada
Who is causing all this to happen?
Oru pakkam oru nyaayam
There is justice on one side,
Innoru pakkam innoru nyaayam
And another justice on the other side.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song delves into the deep moral dilemma and sorrow surrounding conflict where both opposing sides have their own justified reasons ('nyaayam'). It laments how people who are essentially brothers—children of the same motherland—end up fighting each other and walking down a path of mutual destruction. The lyricist expresses intense pain and distress, comparing the inner turmoil to a bursting volcano when observing unnecessary violence and lost ancestral pride. The emotional arc transitions from questioning the definitions of righteousness ('Dharma') and unrighteousness ('Adharma') to exposing the grim reality of poverty, struggle, and pointless loss of life. Ultimately, it serves as a philosophical plea to stop self-destructive hostility, asking who truly benefits when brothers destroy one another.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)
“Idhu dharmamaa dharmamaa / Adharmamaa”
Contrasts 'Dharma' (righteousness) with 'Adharma' (unrighteousness) to highlight moral ambiguity.
Simile (Upamai Ani)
“En manamae erimalaiyaai / Vedichae sidharuthada”
Compares the speaker's exploding emotional turmoil directly to a volcano ('erimalai') bursting open.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Ethanai kaalam ethanai kaalam”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'E' ('Ethanai') for rhythmic emphasis.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Idhu dharmamaa dharmamaa”
Repeating the word 'dharmamaa' sequentially to underscore the deep doubt and existential questioning.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Echil ilaikku kaathu kidakkum / Kaakaiyai thurathuvadhu”
Uses the image of waiting for leftover food scraps and fighting off crows as a metaphor for desperate poverty and socio-economic struggle.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the song context lists the music director as unknown, the score for *Adharmam* (1994) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The film starred Murali, Ranjitha, and Nassar, and was directed by Ramesh Krishnan. Vaali's lyrics in this track deeply reflect the central premise of the movie, which deals with conflict, law, justice, and moral shades of grey.
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