Parai
From Parai · 2022
- Lyricist
- Sean Roldan
- Singers
- Sean Roldan, Roja Adithya
- Music director
- Sean Roldan
- Details
- Parai2022
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pappara para para..para para | (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum) |
| Pappara para para..para para | (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum) |
| Male :Pappara para para | Male: (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum) |
| Thathara thaaa…. | Thathara thaaa…. |
| Male | |
| Aadhikkam irukkudha nadakkudha | Does oppression still exist and walk around freely? |
| Boomiyae paadura paatula thaan | Even in the song that the Earth sings, |
| Empara sathamum kekkudha | Is the voice/sound of our Parai drum being heard? |
| Vekkira enna thallithaan | They keep pushing me aside, |
| Poi kadha onnu solli thaan | By spinning a false narrative. |
| Female | |
| Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala | The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet, |
| Mannula manushanum maarala…. | And humans on this earth haven't changed at all... |
| Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala | The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet, |
| Mannula manushanum maarala…. | And humans on this earth haven't changed at all... |
| Female | |
| Pappara para para..para para | (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum) |
| Pappara para para..para para | (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum) |
| Male :Ho o oo oo …. | Male: Ho o oo oo …. |
| Male | |
| Theemaiyo ongudhu | Evil is rising high, |
| Needhiyum thoongudhu | And justice is fast asleep, |
| Saadhiyam onnu dhaan vaazhudhu | Only caste dominance continues to survive, |
| Female | |
| Saamiyum mounam dhaan kakkudhu… | Even God maintains a silent silence... |
| Saagura kootam dhaan.. | It is only the dying crowd, |
| Kelvigal kekkudhu | That keeps raising questions. |
| Male | |
| Ethana kaalam odiyu… | No matter how much time rolls on... |
| Enkadha soga kaaviyam | My life story remains a tragic epic. |
| Ini pogura paadhai porkalam | The path ahead is now a battlefield, |
| En kookural kekkum naal varum… | A day will come when my cry for justice will be heard... |
| Female | |
| Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala | The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet, |
| Mannula manushanum maarala…. | And humans on this earth haven't changed at all... |
| Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala | The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet, |
| Mannula manushanum maarala…. | And humans on this earth haven't changed at all... |
| Female | |
| Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala | The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet, |
| Mannula manushanum maarala…. | And humans on this earth haven't changed at all... |
| Male :Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala | Male: The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet, |
| Mannula manushanum maarala…. | And humans on this earth haven't changed at all... |
| Female | |
| Pappara para para..para para | (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum) |
| Pappara para para..para para | (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum) |
| Male :Pappara para para | Male: (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum) |
| Thathara thaaa…. | Thathara thaaa…. |
| Male | |
| Aadhikkam irukkudha nadakkudha | Does oppression still exist and walk around freely? |
| Boomiyae paadura paatula thaan | Even in the song that the Earth sings, |
| Empara sathamum kekkudha | Is the voice/sound of our Parai drum being heard? |
| Vekkira enna thallithaan… | They keep pushing me aside... |
| Poi kadha onnu solli thaan | By spinning a false narrative. |
| Male | |
| Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala | The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet, |
| Mannula manushanum maarala…. | And humans on this earth haven't changed at all... |
வசனம் :
...........................
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Male: (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Thathara thaaa….
பப்பர பர பர
பப்பர பர பர
பப்பர பர பர
தத்தர தா
Does oppression still exist and walk around freely?
Even in the song that the Earth sings,
Is the voice/sound of our Parai drum being heard?
They keep pushing me aside,
By spinning a false narrative.
ஆதிக்கம் இருக்குதா நடக்குதா
பூமியே பாடுற பாட்டுல தான்
என் பறை சத்தமும் கேட்குதா
வெக்கிற என்ன தள்ளி தான்
பொய் கதை ஒண்ண சொல்லி தான்
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
கண்ணுல ஈரமும் காயல காயல
மண்ணுல மனிஷனும் மாறல
கண்ணுல ஈரமும் காயல காயல
மண்ணுல மனிஷனும் மாறல
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Male: Ho o oo oo ….
பப்பர பர பர
பப்பர பர பர
ஹோ..ஓ.ஓ....
Evil is rising high,
And justice is fast asleep,
Only caste dominance continues to survive,
தீமையும் ஓங்குது
நீதியும் தூங்குது
சாதியும் ஒண்ணு தான்
வாழுது
Even God maintains a silent silence...
It is only the dying crowd,
That keeps raising questions.
சாமியும் மௌனம் தான் காக்குது
சாகுற கூட்டம் தான்
கேள்விகள் கேட்குது
No matter how much time rolls on...
My life story remains a tragic epic.
The path ahead is now a battlefield,
A day will come when my cry for justice will be heard...
எத்தன காலம் ஓடியும்
என் கதை சோக காவியம்
இனி போகுற பாத போர்க்களம்
என் கூக்குரல் கேட்கும் நாள் வரும்
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
கண்ணுல ஈரமும் காயல காயல
மண்ணுல மனிஷனும் மாறல
கண்ணுல ஈரமும் காயல காயல
மண்ணுல மனிஷனும் மாறல
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
Male: The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
கண்ணுல ஈரமும் காயல காயல
மண்ணுல மனிஷனும் மாறல
கண்ணுல ஈரமும் காயல காயல
மண்ணுல மனிஷனும் மாறல
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Male: (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Thathara thaaa….
பப்பர பர பர
பப்பர பர பர
பப்பர பர பர
தத்தர தா
Does oppression still exist and walk around freely?
Even in the song that the Earth sings,
Is the voice/sound of our Parai drum being heard?
They keep pushing me aside...
By spinning a false narrative.
ஆதிக்கம் இருக்குதா நடக்குதா
பூமியே பாடுற பாட்டுல தான்
என் பறை சத்தமும் கேட்குதா
வெக்குற என்னை தள்ளி தான்
பொய் கதை ஒண்ணு சொல்லி தான்
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
கண்ணுல ஈரமும் காயல காயல
மண்ணுல மனிஷனும் மாறல
Pappara para para..para para
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Pappara para para..para para
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Male :Pappara para para
Male: (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Thathara thaaa….
Thathara thaaa….
Aadhikkam irukkudha nadakkudha
Does oppression still exist and walk around freely?
Boomiyae paadura paatula thaan
Even in the song that the Earth sings,
Empara sathamum kekkudha
Is the voice/sound of our Parai drum being heard?
Vekkira enna thallithaan
They keep pushing me aside,
Poi kadha onnu solli thaan
By spinning a false narrative.
Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
Mannula manushanum maarala….
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
Mannula manushanum maarala….
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
Pappara para para..para para
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Pappara para para..para para
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Male :Ho o oo oo ….
Male: Ho o oo oo ….
Theemaiyo ongudhu
Evil is rising high,
Needhiyum thoongudhu
And justice is fast asleep,
Saadhiyam onnu dhaan vaazhudhu
Only caste dominance continues to survive,
Saamiyum mounam dhaan kakkudhu…
Even God maintains a silent silence...
Saagura kootam dhaan..
It is only the dying crowd,
Kelvigal kekkudhu
That keeps raising questions.
Ethana kaalam odiyu…
No matter how much time rolls on...
Enkadha soga kaaviyam
My life story remains a tragic epic.
Ini pogura paadhai porkalam
The path ahead is now a battlefield,
En kookural kekkum naal varum…
A day will come when my cry for justice will be heard...
Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
Mannula manushanum maarala….
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
Mannula manushanum maarala….
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
Mannula manushanum maarala….
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
Male :Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala
Male: The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
Mannula manushanum maarala….
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
Pappara para para..para para
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Pappara para para..para para
(Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Male :Pappara para para
Male: (Rhythmic vocalization imitating the sound of the Parai drum)
Thathara thaaa….
Thathara thaaa….
Aadhikkam irukkudha nadakkudha
Does oppression still exist and walk around freely?
Boomiyae paadura paatula thaan
Even in the song that the Earth sings,
Empara sathamum kekkudha
Is the voice/sound of our Parai drum being heard?
Vekkira enna thallithaan…
They keep pushing me aside...
Poi kadha onnu solli thaan
By spinning a false narrative.
Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala
The tears in our eyes haven't dried up yet,
Mannula manushanum maarala….
And humans on this earth haven't changed at all...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Parai' is a powerful socio-political anthem composed, written, and sung by Sean Roldan along with Roja Adithya. The song centers around the ancient Tamil percussion instrument 'Parai', historically associated with marginalized communities and used as a tool of communication, resistance, and expression. Through poignant lyrics, the track highlights deep-rooted caste oppression, systemic injustice, and the eternal wait for true social equality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Theemaiyo ongudhu / Needhiyum thoongudhu”
The second letter ' ' matches across adjacent lines, creating rhythmic harmony.
Monaia (Initial letter rhyming)
“Kannula eeramo kaayala kaayala”
Matching starting consonant sounds 'Kannula' and 'Kaayala'.
Personification
“Needhiyum thoongudhu / Saamiyum mounam dhaan kakkudhu”
Justice is personified as sleeping and God as spewing silence.
Metaphor
“Enkadha soga kaaviyam / Ini pogura paadhai porkalam”
Comparing future struggles to a battlefield ('porkalam') and life journey to a sorrowful epic ('soga kaaviyam').
Onomatopoeia
“Pappara para para..para para”
Vocal imitations of the beat and resonance of the traditional Parai drum.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Parai' is an independent single released as part of awareness projects advocating Dalit rights and social liberation in Tamil Nadu. The Parai drum, one of the oldest instruments in Indian history, is central to the song's thematic resonance, shifting its perception from a funeral instrument to a symbol of pride, protest, and cultural identity.
Keep listening
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