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Isaimozhi
Adimai Penn album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Paarthu

From Adimai Penn · 1969

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Adimai Penn
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
9 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnai paarthu
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
Unnai paarthu
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
Un seyalai paarthu
Un nizhalum verukkiradhu
Un seyalai paarthu
Un nizhalum verukkiradhu
Unnai paarthu
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
Paadum paravai
Paayum mirugam
Paadum paravai paayum mirugam
Ivaigalukkellaam paguttharivillai
Aanaal avaigalukkullae soozhchighal illai
Unnai paarthu
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
Saeval kooda thoongum ulagai
Koovi ezhuppum kuralaalae
Yeval seiyum kaaval kaakkum
Naaigalum thanghal gunathaalae
Irai kidaithaalum illai endraalum
Uravai valarkkum kaakkaigalae
Irai kidaithaalum illai endraalum
Uravai valarkkum kaakkaigalae
Inathai inamae pagaippadhellaam
Manidhan vagutha vaazhkkaiyilae…
Aaa… aaa… aaa… aaahhahaa…
Unnai paarthu
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
Vaanil neendhum megam kandaal
Vanna mayilgal aadaadho
Vaazhai polae thogai viriya
Valar pirai aayiram thondraadho
Azhagum kalaiyum vaazhum naadu
Aandavan veedaai thigazhaadho
Azhagum kalaiyum vaazhum naadu
Aandavan veedaai thigazhaadho
Avaigalai ellaam azhikka ninaithaal
Sarithiram unnai igazhaadho…
Aa… aa…aa… aaahhahaa…
Unnai paarthu
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
Nee kadavulai paarthadhu kidaiyaadhu
Avan karuppaa sigappaa theriyaadhu
Nee kadavulai paarthadhu kidaiyaadhu
Avan karuppaa sigappaa theriyaadhu
Iraivan oruvan irukkindraan
Indha ezhaighal uzhaippil sirikkindraan
Iraivan oruvan irukkindraan
Indha ezhaighal uzhaippil sirikkindraan…
Aa…aaa… aaa… aahhahaa…
Thondra thaan pogiradhu
Sama urimai samudhaayam…
Maraiya thaan pogiradhu
Thani manidhan aniyaayam…
Malara thaan pogiradhu
Engaladhu pudhu vaazhvu…
Maara thaan pogiradhu
Manidhaa un vilaiyaattu…
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
Seeing your deeds,
even your own shadow hates you.
Seeing your deeds,
even your own shadow hates you.
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
The singing bird,
the leaping beast,
the singing bird and the leaping beast—
none of them have human reason,
yet there is no scheming among them.
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
Even the rooster wakes a sleeping world
with the call of its voice.
Obeying commands and guarding faithfully,
dogs show their loyal nature.
Whether they find food or go without,
crows always share and call their kin.
Whether they find food or go without,
crows always share and call their kin.
Turning against one's own kind—
happens only in the life made by man...
Aa... aa... aa... aahahaha...
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
When they see clouds swimming in the sky,
won't the colorful peacocks dance?
As their feathers fan out like banana leaves,
won't a thousand crescent moons appear?
A land where beauty and art flourish,
won't it shine as the home of God?
A land where beauty and art flourish,
won't it shine as the home of God?
If you seek to destroy it all,
won't history look down on you with scorn?
Aa... aa... aa... aahahaha...
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
You have never seen God,
and you don't know if He is dark or fair.
You have never seen God,
and you don't know if He is dark or fair.
Yet there is one God,
who smiles in the hard work of these poor people.
Yet there is one God,
who smiles in the hard work of these poor people...
Aa... aa... aa... aahahaha...
It is bound to rise—
a society of equal rights...
It is bound to fade—
the injustice of a single man...
It is bound to blossom—
this new life of ours...
It is bound to change—
O man, this game of yours...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Unnai Paarthu Indha Ulagam Sirikkiradhu' is a powerful social critique against tyranny, greed, and human selfishness. The singer compares human wickedness to nature and animals—birds, dogs, and crows—which live in harmony, loyalty, and unity without deceit, whereas humans actively plot against their own kind. It reminds the oppressor that true godliness resides in the honest labor of the poor, not in blind power or unseen deities. The song concludes with a revolutionary call to hope, prophesying the inevitable rise of an equal, fair society and the complete end of individual tyranny and exploitation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Thondra thaan pogiradhu / Maraiya thaan pogiradhu”

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythmic flow, as in 'Thondra' and 'Maraiya' / 'Malara' and 'Maara'.

Anaphora (Repetition)

“Unnai paarthu / Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu”

Repetition of the phrase 'Unnai paarthu' and 'Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu' to emphasize mockery towards tyrant behavior.

Contrast / Antithesis

“Ivaigalukkellaam paguttharivillai / Aanaal avaigalukkullae soozhchighal illai”

Contrasting non-reasoning animals (who lack 'paguttharivu' yet show no malice) with 'intelligent' humans who commit evil.

Personification / Simile

“Vaazhai polae thogai viriya”

Comparing spreading peacock feathers to banana leaves and crescent moons ('Vaazhai polae thogai viriya / Valar pirai aayiram thondraadho').

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the iconic 1969 Tamil movie 'Adimai Penn' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by Vaali and vocals rendered by T. M. Soundararajan. The song served as a key socio-political message aligned with MGR's screen persona.

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From the same album

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