Sirippavar Silapaer Azhubavar Palapaer
From Sabaash Mapillai · 1961
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Sabaash Mapillai1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper | Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep |
| Irukkum nilai endru maarumo | When will this existing condition ever change? |
| Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper | Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep |
| Irukkum nilai endru maarumo | When will this existing condition ever change? |
| Male | |
| Uzhaippavan vaazhvae veedhiyilae | The laborer's life is spent on the streets |
| Uranguvadho nadai paadhaiyilae | And their sleep is on the pavement |
| Uzhaippavan vaazhvae veedhiyilae | The laborer's life is spent on the streets |
| Uranguvadho nadai paadhaiyilae | And their sleep is on the pavement |
| Irakkam kaatta thaan naadhiyillae | There is no one around to show them compassion |
| Irakkam kaatta thaan naadhiyillae | There is no one around to show them compassion |
| Male | |
| Dhinam sirippavar silaper | Everyday, those who laugh are a few |
| Azhubavar palaper | Those who weep are many |
| Irukkum nilai endru maarumo | When will this existing condition ever change? |
| Male | |
| Iruppavar ullam thirandhidumaa | Will the hearts of the wealthy ever open up? |
| Ezhmaiyum varumaiyum parandhidumaa | Will poverty and destitution fly away? |
| Iruppavar ullam thirandhidumaa | Will the hearts of the wealthy ever open up? |
| Ezhmaiyum varumaiyum parandhidumaa | Will poverty and destitution fly away? |
| Azhubavar sirikkum naal varumaa | Will the day come when those who cry can laugh? |
| Azhubavar sirikkum naal varumaa… | Will the day come when those who cry can laugh? |
| Aa…aa…aa….aa….aa….aa….aa… | Ah... (Vocalizing) |
| Male | |
| Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper | Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep |
| Irukkum nilai endru maarumo | When will this existing condition ever change? |
| Male | |
| Uyarndhavar thaazhndhida thaevaiyillai | The rich do not need to be brought down low |
| Ulladhai izhandhida sollavillai | No one is asking them to lose what they have |
| Uyarndhavar thaazhndhida thaevaiyillai | The rich do not need to be brought down low |
| Ulladhai izhandhida sollavillai | No one is asking them to lose what they have |
| Uzhaippavar uyarndhaal podhumaiyaa | It is enough if the hardworking laborers are uplifted |
| Uzhaippavar uyarndhaal podhumaiyaa | It is enough if the hardworking laborers are uplifted |
| Male | |
| Dhinam sirippavar silaper | Everyday, those who laugh are a few |
| Azhubavar palaper | Those who weep are many |
| Irukkum nilai endru maarumo | When will this existing condition ever change? |
| Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper | Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep |
| Irukkum nilai endru maarumo | When will this existing condition ever change? |
சிரிப்பவர் சிலபேர் அழுபவர் பலபேர்
இருக்கும் நிலை என்று மாறுமோ
சிரிப்பவர் சிலபேர் அழுபவர் பலபேர்
இருக்கும் நிலை என்று மாறுமோ
Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep
When will this existing condition ever change?
Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep
When will this existing condition ever change?
உழைப்பவன் வாழ்வே வீதியிலே
உறங்குவதோ நடை பாதையிலே
உழைப்பவன் வாழ்வே வீதியிலே
உறங்குவதோ நடை பாதையிலே
இரக்கம் காட்டத்தான் நாதியில்லே
இரக்கம் காட்டத்தான் நாதியில்லே
The laborer's life is spent on the streets
And their sleep is on the pavement
The laborer's life is spent on the streets
And their sleep is on the pavement
There is no one around to show them compassion
There is no one around to show them compassion
தினம் சிரிப்பவர் சிலபேர்
அழுபவர் பலபேர்
இருக்கும் நிலை என்று மாறுமோ
Everyday, those who laugh are a few
Those who weep are many
When will this existing condition ever change?
இருப்பவர் உள்ளம் திறந்திடுமா
ஏழ்மையும் வறுமையும் பறந்திடுமா
இருப்பவர் உள்ளம் திறந்திடுமா
ஏழ்மையும் வறுமையும் பறந்திடுமா
அழுபவர் சிரிக்கும் நாள் வருமா
அழுபவர் சிரிக்கும் நாள் வருமா
ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ....ஆ.....
Will the hearts of the wealthy ever open up?
Will poverty and destitution fly away?
Will the hearts of the wealthy ever open up?
Will poverty and destitution fly away?
Will the day come when those who cry can laugh?
Will the day come when those who cry can laugh?
Ah... (Vocalizing)
சிரிப்பவர் சிலபேர் அழுபவர் பலபேர்
இருக்கும் நிலை என்று மாறுமோ
Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep
When will this existing condition ever change?
உயர்ந்தவர் தாழ்ந்திட தேவையில்லை
உள்ளதை இழந்திட சொல்லவில்லை
உயர்ந்தவர் தாழ்ந்திட தேவையில்லை
உள்ளதை இழந்திட சொல்லவில்லை
உழைப்பவர் உயர்ந்தால் போதுமையா
உழைப்பவர் உயர்ந்தால் போதுமையா
The rich do not need to be brought down low
No one is asking them to lose what they have
The rich do not need to be brought down low
No one is asking them to lose what they have
It is enough if the hardworking laborers are uplifted
It is enough if the hardworking laborers are uplifted
தினம் சிரிப்பவர் சிலபேர்
அழுபவர் பலபேர்
இருக்கும் நிலை என்று மாறுமோ
சிரிப்பவர் சிலபேர் அழுபவர் பலபேர்
இருக்கும் நிலை என்று மாறுமோ
Everyday, those who laugh are a few
Those who weep are many
When will this existing condition ever change?
Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep
When will this existing condition ever change?
Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper
Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep
Irukkum nilai endru maarumo
When will this existing condition ever change?
Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper
Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep
Irukkum nilai endru maarumo
When will this existing condition ever change?
Uzhaippavan vaazhvae veedhiyilae
The laborer's life is spent on the streets
Uranguvadho nadai paadhaiyilae
And their sleep is on the pavement
Uzhaippavan vaazhvae veedhiyilae
The laborer's life is spent on the streets
Uranguvadho nadai paadhaiyilae
And their sleep is on the pavement
Irakkam kaatta thaan naadhiyillae
There is no one around to show them compassion
Irakkam kaatta thaan naadhiyillae
There is no one around to show them compassion
Dhinam sirippavar silaper
Everyday, those who laugh are a few
Azhubavar palaper
Those who weep are many
Irukkum nilai endru maarumo
When will this existing condition ever change?
Iruppavar ullam thirandhidumaa
Will the hearts of the wealthy ever open up?
Ezhmaiyum varumaiyum parandhidumaa
Will poverty and destitution fly away?
Iruppavar ullam thirandhidumaa
Will the hearts of the wealthy ever open up?
Ezhmaiyum varumaiyum parandhidumaa
Will poverty and destitution fly away?
Azhubavar sirikkum naal varumaa
Will the day come when those who cry can laugh?
Azhubavar sirikkum naal varumaa…
Will the day come when those who cry can laugh?
Aa…aa…aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…
Ah... (Vocalizing)
Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper
Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep
Irukkum nilai endru maarumo
When will this existing condition ever change?
Uyarndhavar thaazhndhida thaevaiyillai
The rich do not need to be brought down low
Ulladhai izhandhida sollavillai
No one is asking them to lose what they have
Uyarndhavar thaazhndhida thaevaiyillai
The rich do not need to be brought down low
Ulladhai izhandhida sollavillai
No one is asking them to lose what they have
Uzhaippavar uyarndhaal podhumaiyaa
It is enough if the hardworking laborers are uplifted
Uzhaippavar uyarndhaal podhumaiyaa
It is enough if the hardworking laborers are uplifted
Dhinam sirippavar silaper
Everyday, those who laugh are a few
Azhubavar palaper
Those who weep are many
Irukkum nilai endru maarumo
When will this existing condition ever change?
Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper
Few are those who laugh, many are those who weep
Irukkum nilai endru maarumo
When will this existing condition ever change?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Sirippavar Silaper Azhubavar Palaper is a socio-philosophical song from the 1961 Tamil film Sabaash Mapillai, written by lyricist A. Maruthakasi. The song highlights the stark social inequality prevalent in society, contrasting the comfortable lives of a privileged few with the suffering of the impoverished majority who work tirelessly yet sleep on footpaths.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Ethirsol)
“Sirippavar silaper azhubavar palaper”
Contrasting 'Sirippavar' (those who laugh) with 'Azhubavar' (those who weep), and 'silaper' (a few) with 'palaper' (many) to highlight socio-economic disparity.
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Uyarndhavar thaazhndhida thaevaiyillai / Ulladhai izhandhida sollavillai”
Repetition of the initial letter 'U' in consecutive lines ('Uyarndhavar', 'Ulladhai', 'Uzhaippavar').
Rhetorical Question
“Irukkum nilai endru maarumo”
Asking existential questions about social reform to provoke thought rather than seek direct answers.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and was famously rendered by Sirkazhi Govindarajan. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi was well known for embedding rationalist and socio-economic equality themes into mainstream Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
More from Sabaash Mapillai
Sabaash Mapillai
Sabaash Mapillai
Sabaash Mapillai
Sabaash Mapillai
Sabaash Mapillai
Sabaash Mapillai