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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paavam Oru Pakkam

From Sirai Paravai · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sirai Paravai1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paavam oru pakkam pazhi oru pakkamSin on one side, blame on the other
Ponadhu pon mayilaeGone is the golden peacock
Sattam oru pakkam kutham oru pakkamLaw on one side, crime on the other
Aanadhu unmaiyilaeThat has become the truth in reality
Male
Paavam oru pakkam pazhi oru pakkamSin on one side, blame on the other
Ponadhu pon mayilaeGone is the golden peacock
Sattam oru pakkam kutham oru pakkamLaw on one side, crime on the other
Aanadhu unmaiyilaeThat has become the truth in reality
Andha kadha neeyum kaettaaIf you hear that story as well
Um manasu thaangaadhuYour heart won't be able to bear it
Naanum adha chollaa vittaaAnd if I do not tell it
Em manasu thoongaadhuMy heart won't be able to sleep
Male
Paavam oru pakkamSin on one side
Paavam oru pakkam pazhi oru pakkamSin on one side, blame on the other
Ponadhu pon mayilaeGone is the golden peacock
Sattam oru pakkam kutham oru pakkamLaw on one side, crime on the other
Aanadhu unmaiyilaeThat has become the truth in reality
Male
Puliyambatti graamathulaIn the village of Puliyampatti
Pozhudhu pona naerathulaAt the time when night fell
Vella vaetti koottam onnuA group wearing white dhotis
Virundhu kaettadhammaaAsked for a feast, my dear
Puliyambatti graamathulaIn the village of Puliyampatti
Pozhudhu pona naerathulaAt the time when night fell
Vella vaetti koottam onnuA group wearing white dhotis
Virundhu kaettadhammaaAsked for a feast, my dear
Male
Virundhu vechavalaThe woman who served them the feast
Adhu virundhu vechadhammaaWas turned into a prey herself
Adha paatha maga manasuSeeing that, the daughter's heart
Pathi erinjadhammaaCaught fire and burned
Annaikku vazhakka paathu puttaaThat day she witnessed the injustice
Innaikku kanakka theetthu puttaaToday she settled the score
Kannukku kan ennum pallukku pal ennumDemanding an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
Kannagi gunatha kaatti puttaaShe revealed the fiery nature of Kannagi
Kannukku kan ennum pallukku pal ennumDemanding an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
Kannagi gunatha kaatti puttaaShe revealed the fiery nature of Kannagi
Male
Paavam oru pakkamSin on one side
Paavam oru pakkam pazhi oru pakkamSin on one side, blame on the other
Ponadhu pon mayilaeGone is the golden peacock
Sattam oru pakkam kutham oru pakkamLaw on one side, crime on the other
Aanadhu unmaiyilaeThat has become the truth in reality
Male
Vaasalukku kootti vandhaenI brought her up at my doorstep
Vattiyila soru vachaenI served her rice in a bowl
Pazhi vara koodaadhunnuSo that no bad name would come to her
Paadam pazhakki vachaenI taught her righteous lessons
Vaasalukku kootti vandhaenI brought her up at my doorstep
Vattiyila soru vachaenI served her rice in a bowl
Pazhi vara koodaadhunnuSo that no bad name would come to her
Paadam pazhakki vachaenI taught her righteous lessons
Male
Vaembukku thanni vittaaIf you pour water for a neem tree
Adhu veyilukku nalladhammaaIt gives good shade in the intense heat
Paambukku paalu vechaaIf you feed milk to a snake
Konjam paathu nadandhukkammaaWalk carefully and watch your steps
Avalukku senjadhu niyaayam illaeWhat was done to her was not justice
Ava senja thappukkum paavam illaeNor is there sin in the revenge she took
Sattangal seiyaadha dharmatha senjaalaeShe delivered a justice that formal laws failed to do
Thatti kudutthaa thappu illaeThere is no wrong in praising her for it
Sattangal seiyaadha dharmatha senjaalaeShe delivered a justice that formal laws failed to do
Thatti kudutthaa thappu illaeThere is no wrong in praising her for it
Male
Paavam oru pakkamSin on one side
Paavam oru pakkam pazhi oru pakkamSin on one side, blame on the other
Ponadhu pon mayilaeGone is the golden peacock
Sattam oru pakkam kutham oru pakkamLaw on one side, crime on the other
Aanadhu unmaiyilaeThat has become the truth in reality
Andha kadha neeyum kaettaaIf you hear that story as well
Um manasu thaangaadhuYour heart won't be able to bear it
Naanum adha chollaa vittaaAnd if I do not tell it
Em manasu thoongaadhuMy heart won't be able to sleep
Male
Paavam oru pakkamSin on one side
Paavam oru pakkam pazhi oru pakkamSin on one side, blame on the other
Ponadhu pon mayilaeGone is the golden peacock
Sattam oru pakkam kutham oru pakkamLaw on one side, crime on the other
Aanadhu unmaiyilaeThat has become the truth in reality

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song depicts a tale of severe injustice, betrayal, and righteous retribution. The narrative recounts an incident in Puliyampatti village where influential men clad in white dhotis abused hospitality and committed a horrific crime against a host mother. Driven by grief and rage upon witnessing her mother's plight, the daughter takes the law into her own hands, embodying the vengeance of the epic heroine Kannagi.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Ponadhu pon mayilae

Refers to the victim as 'Pon Mayil' (Golden Peacock), highlighting her innocence and value before the tragedy.

Allusion (Aalumaai / Ilakkia Kurippu)

Kannagi gunatha kaatti puttaa

Compares the daughter's wrath to 'Kannagi', the legendary Tamil heroine who burned Madurai to avenge injustice.

Idiom / Biblical Allusion

Kannukku kan ennum pallukku pal ennum

Uses 'Kannukku kan' and 'pallukku pal' which mirrors the ancient law of retaliation ('an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth').

Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi Uruvagamm)

Paambukku paalu vechaa

Uses the analogy of feeding milk to a snake ('Paambukku paalu vechaa') to express the dangerous nature of trusting treacherous people.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sirai Paravai (1987) is a Tamil action drama starring Vijayakanth and Radhika. The film's music was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, making it one of their rare Tamil film soundtracks. The lyrics by Vairamuthu deal with social justice, crime, and vigilante retribution.

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