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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sevakkaattu Seemaiellaam

From Nenjuku Needhi · 2022

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Guru Ayyadurai
Music director
Dhibu Ninan Thomas
Movie name
Nenjuku Needhi
Movie release year
2022
Lyrics added on
26 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haa…aaa..
Harichandra maamannan atchiyil nadanthennavo
Sathiyame sothanayai sarinthu kizhe vilanthathennavo
Sagathore unarnthiduvir
Sagalarum vandhu serum idukaattu mathiyile irunkindratho
Aiyyo.. enge theduven
Yeratha malai yeri irangatha kadal irangi
Vadikkatha kanneer vittu odinen thedinen odinen
Kanne maniye endru unnai naduven
Sevakkaattu seemai ellaam
Aandaare harichandra rasa
Arasaanda natta vittae
Nagarntharae sella kaasa…
Pottakkattu puzhuthi pola
Poga pogaya ponarae
Ellathaiyum elazhantha poravu
Eema kaatta serntharae
Sevakkaattu seemai ellaam
Aandaare harichandra rasa
Pattada kuppaiyilae
Pallakkumae veedhiyilae
Ettooru suththi vanthom
Pattinikku soruyillae
…………………….
Kan poga katchiyillae
Kaal poga oorumillae
Mannagi pona pinnae
Manidarukku sathiyillae
Panjanga noolu thaan
Pallam thonduthe
Annadan katchiyae
Kuththi saikkuthae…
Kottura deivam kooraiya pichi
Kottunnu thaanae sonnanga
Kooraiyumilla veetula vaazhum
Engalai ethukku konnanga
Sevakkaattu seemai ellaam
Aandaare harichandra rasa
Mummari peyyuthunga
Moonu pogum vilaiyuthunga
Oppari vaikkkum sanam osara
Vazhi theriyalainga
Mullodu poovirukku
Muththathula nelavirukku
Kallana kadavulukke
Karunai adhu engirukku
Karpooram ethiyum
Kannai kaatalae
Nei sora pottumae
Mannai kakkala…
Poyyila unmai posungi poga
Ethanai sattam ammadi
Needhiya kasukku vangura manushan
Nikkuran paru munnadi
Sevakkaattu seemai ellaam
Chorus :Seemai ellaam
Male :Aandaare harichandra rasa
Chorus :Harichandra rasa
Male :Arasanda natta vittae
Chorus :Natta vittae
Male :Nagarntharae sella kaasa
Pottakkattu puzhuthi pola
Poga pogaya ponarae
Ellathaiyum ezhantha poravu
Eema kaatta serntharae
Harichandra rasa….
Ah... aaah...
What really happened during the reign of the great King Harishchandra?
Why did truth itself collapse under trials and fall to the ground?
People of this world, open your eyes and understand!
Does the truth lie in the middle of the cremation ground where all must gather?
Alas! Where shall I search?
Climbing mountains never climbed, diving into seas never braved,
Shedding tears never shed before, I ran, I searched, I ran!
Calling out to you, my precious child, I will seek you!
Over all the lands of the cremation ground,
Ruled King Harishchandra!
Leaving behind the kingdom he once ruled,
He walked away like a worthless coin...
Like dust rising from a barren wasteland,
He vanished into fading smoke.
After losing everything he had,
He ended up in the cremation ground.
Over all the lands of the cremation ground,
Ruled King Harishchandra!
Silk clothes lie in the garbage,
The palanquin sits abandoned on the street,
We wandered through eight villages,
Yet found no food for our starving bellies.
...
As far as the eye can see, there is no comforting sight,
As far as the feet can walk, there is no welcoming town,
Once turned to dust in the earth,
Humans have no caste.
The sacred astrological almanac
Only digs a pit for our graves!
The very people who preach charity
Stab us and strike us down...
"When God gives, He tears the roof off and showers His blessings,"
Isn't that what they always said?
Living in a hut without even a roof,
Why did they murder us?
Over all the lands of the cremation ground,
Ruled King Harishchandra!
The seasonal rains pour three times a year,
Three rich harvests flourish in the fields,
Yet for these mourning people to rise,
We can see no way ahead.
There is a flower among the thorns,
There is moonlight in the courtyard,
Yet in a God carved of stone,
Where is mercy ever found?
Even when we lit the camphor,
He never opened His eyes to us.
Even when we offered ghee rice,
The earth gave nothing back...
For truth to be scorched and burned by lies,
Oh dear, how many laws are written!
The man who buys justice with money,
Look, he stands tall right before us!
Over all the lands of the cremation ground,
Chorus: All across the land,
Male: Ruled King Harishchandra!
Chorus: King Harishchandra!
Male: Leaving the kingdom he once ruled,
Chorus: Leaving the kingdom,
Male: He walked away like a worthless coin...
Like dust rising from a barren wasteland,
He vanished into fading smoke.
After losing everything he had,
He ended up in the cremation ground.
King Harishchandra...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deeply moving Tamil folk lament (Oppari) rooted in the mythological story of King Harishchandra, who lost his kingdom and was reduced to working in a cremation ground due to his unwavering commitment to truth. The lyricist draws a powerful parallel between Harishchandra's tragic suffering and the systemic oppression, poverty, and social injustice faced by marginalized communities in contemporary society. Through poignant imagery, the track questions religious hypocrisy, institutional apathy, and a corrupt legal system where wealth buys justice while the innocent suffer. Despite abundant natural yields and social promises, the oppressed remain destitute and vulnerable, questioning where divine compassion and real justice truly lie.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Pottakkattu puzhuthi pola”

Compares the vanishing or displacement of a ruler/people to dry dust floating in a barren field.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

“Kallana kadavulukke / Karunai adhu engirukku”

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound in consecutive words creates a rhythmic oral tradition style.

Mythological Allegory

“Harichandra maamannan atchiyil nadanthennavo”

Uses the mythological tale of King Harishchandra's tragic turn of fate as an allegory for socio-political oppression.

Irony / Contrast

“Kottura deivam kooraiya pichi... Kooraiyumilla veetula vaazhum”

Highlights the cruelty of proverb vs reality—promising divine riches to people who lack even basic shelter.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nenjuku Needhi' (2022) is the official Tamil remake of the critically acclaimed Hindi socio-political drama 'Article 15'. The song leverages authentic Tamil folk mourning song (Oppari) style sung by traditional folk artist Guru Ayya Durai to underscore caste discrimination and systemic injustice.

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