Panjamum Noyum Illaa
From Sarvadhikari · 1951
- Lyricist
- Ka. Mu. Sheriff
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- V. Dakshinamurthy
- Details
- Sarvadhikari1951
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Panjamum noiyum illaa naade | A country free from famine and disease |
| Indha ulagile nalla naadunnu | Is the best country in this world, |
| Paadinaane valluvan paatile paatile | So sang Valluvar in his immortal poetry. |
| Male | |
| Naama pathu varusham patta kastam theerala | The suffering we endured for ten years hasn't ended, |
| Naama pathu varusham patta kastam theerala | The suffering we endured for ten years hasn't ended, |
| Adharkkul paavi magan sandai poda solluraan | Before that, this sinful wretched tyrant orders us to wage war, |
| Adharkkul paavi magan sandai poda solluraan | Before that, this sinful wretched tyrant orders us to wage war. |
| Male | |
| Pachai kulandhaigalai pattaalathil izhukkiraan | He forcefully drags young innocent children into the army, |
| Pachai kulandhaigalai pattaalathil izhukkiraan | He forcefully drags young innocent children into the army. |
| Maruthaal paara vilanghu pootti siraiyil adaikkiraan | If they refuse, he locks them in heavy shackles and throws them in prison, |
| Pottu vadhaikkiraan | He torments and tortures them. |
| Male | |
| Vaaiyai thirakkaadhae maruvaarthai pesadhaennu | Saying, 'Do not open your mouth, do not utter another word,' |
| Vaaipoottu poduraane | He puts a gag on our speech. |
| Yeninnu kettaaloo siraiyile thalli | If anyone dares to ask why, he pushes them into jail, |
| Ahimsaiyum pannuraane | While hypocritically claiming to practice non-violence. |
| Male | |
| Ulagil makkalukkae aatchiyinnu solvaanga | In this world, people say rule is meant for the public, |
| Ulagil makkalukkae aatchiyinnu solvaanga | In this world, people say rule is meant for the public, |
| Ingae mandhirikke makkallunnu aachudhe | But here, it has become that the public exists only for the minister, |
| Ingae mandhirikke makkallunnu aachudhe | Here, it has become that the public exists only for the minister. |
| Male | |
| Indha paaviyoda attagaasam sagikkala | The relentless oppression of this tyrant is unbearable, |
| Indha paaviyoda attagaasam sagikkala | The relentless oppression of this tyrant is unbearable. |
| Paavi mannai kavvum kaalam yedho theriyalla | One does not know when this sinner will bite the dust, |
| Yedho theriyalla | Don't know when. |
பஞ்சமும் நோயும் இல்லா நாடே
இந்த உலகிலே நல்ல நாடுன்னு
பாடினானே வள்ளுவன் பாட்டிலே பாட்டிலே...
A country free from famine and disease
Is the best country in this world,
So sang Valluvar in his immortal poetry.
நாம பத்து வருஷம் பட்ட கஷ்டம் தீரல
நாம பத்து வருஷம் பட்ட கஷ்டம் தீரல
அதற்குள் பாவி மகன் சண்டை போட சொல்லுறான்
அதற்குள் பாவி மகன் சண்டை போட சொல்லுறான்
The suffering we endured for ten years hasn't ended,
The suffering we endured for ten years hasn't ended,
Before that, this sinful wretched tyrant orders us to wage war,
Before that, this sinful wretched tyrant orders us to wage war.
பச்சைக் குழந்தைகளை பட்டாளத்தில் இழுக்கிறான்
பச்சைக் குழந்தைகளை பட்டாளத்தில் இழுக்கிறான்
மறுத்தால் பார விலங்கு பூட்டி சிறையில் அடைக்கிறான்
போட்டு வதைக்கிறான்
He forcefully drags young innocent children into the army,
He forcefully drags young innocent children into the army.
If they refuse, he locks them in heavy shackles and throws them in prison,
He torments and tortures them.
வாயை திறக்காதே மறுவார்த்தை பேசாதேன்னு
வாய்ப்பூட்டு போடுறானே
ஏனின்னு கேட்டாலோ சிறையிலே தள்ளி
ஹிம்சையும் பண்ணுறானே...
Saying, 'Do not open your mouth, do not utter another word,'
He puts a gag on our speech.
If anyone dares to ask why, he pushes them into jail,
While hypocritically claiming to practice non-violence.
உலகில் மக்களுக்கே ஆட்சியின்னு சொல்வாங்க
உலகில் மக்களுக்கே ஆட்சியின்னு சொல்வாங்க
இங்கே மந்திரிக்கே மக்களுன்னு ஆச்சுதே
இங்கே மந்திரிக்கே மக்களுன்னு ஆச்சுதே
In this world, people say rule is meant for the public,
In this world, people say rule is meant for the public,
But here, it has become that the public exists only for the minister,
Here, it has become that the public exists only for the minister.
இந்த பாவியோட அட்டகாசம் சகிக்கல
இந்த பாவியோட அட்டகாசம் சகிக்கல
பாவி மண்ணைக் கவ்வும் காலம் ஏதோ தெரியல்ல
ஏதோ தெரியல்ல......
The relentless oppression of this tyrant is unbearable,
The relentless oppression of this tyrant is unbearable.
One does not know when this sinner will bite the dust,
Don't know when.
Panjamum noiyum illaa naade
A country free from famine and disease
Indha ulagile nalla naadunnu
Is the best country in this world,
Paadinaane valluvan paatile paatile
So sang Valluvar in his immortal poetry.
Naama pathu varusham patta kastam theerala
The suffering we endured for ten years hasn't ended,
Naama pathu varusham patta kastam theerala
The suffering we endured for ten years hasn't ended,
Adharkkul paavi magan sandai poda solluraan
Before that, this sinful wretched tyrant orders us to wage war,
Adharkkul paavi magan sandai poda solluraan
Before that, this sinful wretched tyrant orders us to wage war.
Pachai kulandhaigalai pattaalathil izhukkiraan
He forcefully drags young innocent children into the army,
Pachai kulandhaigalai pattaalathil izhukkiraan
He forcefully drags young innocent children into the army.
Maruthaal paara vilanghu pootti siraiyil adaikkiraan
If they refuse, he locks them in heavy shackles and throws them in prison,
Pottu vadhaikkiraan
He torments and tortures them.
Vaaiyai thirakkaadhae maruvaarthai pesadhaennu
Saying, 'Do not open your mouth, do not utter another word,'
Vaaipoottu poduraane
He puts a gag on our speech.
Yeninnu kettaaloo siraiyile thalli
If anyone dares to ask why, he pushes them into jail,
Ahimsaiyum pannuraane
While hypocritically claiming to practice non-violence.
Ulagil makkalukkae aatchiyinnu solvaanga
In this world, people say rule is meant for the public,
Ulagil makkalukkae aatchiyinnu solvaanga
In this world, people say rule is meant for the public,
Ingae mandhirikke makkallunnu aachudhe
But here, it has become that the public exists only for the minister,
Ingae mandhirikke makkallunnu aachudhe
Here, it has become that the public exists only for the minister.
Indha paaviyoda attagaasam sagikkala
The relentless oppression of this tyrant is unbearable,
Indha paaviyoda attagaasam sagikkala
The relentless oppression of this tyrant is unbearable.
Paavi mannai kavvum kaalam yedho theriyalla
One does not know when this sinner will bite the dust,
Yedho theriyalla
Don't know when.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Sarvadhikari' (1951) serves as a powerful sociopolitical commentary against totalitarianism and tyranny. It opens with a reference to Thiruvalluvar's ideal vision of a prosperous nation—one devoid of disease and hunger. The singer contrasts this ideal with their harsh reality: an authoritarian ruler who forces young boys into war, violently suppresses free speech through gag orders and imprisonment, and subverts democratic principles by making citizens serve the ruler rather than vice versa.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Literary Allusion
“Panjamum noiyum illaa naade ... Paadinaane valluvan paatile paatile”
Refers directly to Thirukkural (Valluvar) where the ideal state is described as free from hunger, disease, and destruction.
Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Pachai kulandhaigalai pattaalathil izhukkiraan”
Repetition of the 'Pa' consonant sound at the start of words within the line.
Irony / Satire
“Yeninnu kettaaloo siraiyile thalli Ahimsaiyum pannuraane”
Highlights the hypocrisy of a dictatorial government claiming non-violence while imprisoning citizens for speaking up.
Idiom / Metaphor
“Paavi mannai kavvum kaalam yedho theriyalla”
'Mannai kavvum' is a Tamil idiom meaning 'to bite the dust' or face total ruin and death.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Sarvadhikari' (1951), starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), was a political action film that carried strong anti-dictatorial themes, echoing contemporary political rhetoric in Tamil Nadu. The lyrics written by Ka. Mu. Sheriff emphasized social justice, democracy, and freedom of expression, aligning with the popular political themes of the early 1950s.
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