Unnai Paarthu
From Adimai Penn · 1969
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Adimai Penn1969
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Unnai paarthu | Looking at you, |
| Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu | this world is laughing. |
| Unnai paarthu | Looking at you, |
| Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu | this world is laughing. |
| Un seyalai paarthu | Looking at your deeds, |
| Un nizhalum verukkiradhu | even your shadow despises you. |
| Un seyalai paarthu | Looking at your deeds, |
| Un nizhalum verukkiradhu | even your shadow despises you. |
| Male | |
| Unnai paarthu | Looking at you, |
| Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu | this world is laughing. |
| Male | |
| Paadum paravai | The singing bird, |
| Paayum mirugam | the pouncing beast, |
| Paadum paravai paayum mirugam | the singing bird and the pouncing beast, |
| Ivaigalukkellaam paguttharivillai | do not possess human intellect, |
| Aanaal avaigalukkullae soozhchighal illai | yet there are no deceptive conspiracies among them. |
| Male | |
| Unnai paarthu | Looking at you, |
| Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu | this world is laughing. |
| Male | |
| Saeval kooda thoongum ulagai | Even a rooster wakes the sleeping world |
| Koovi ezhuppum kuralaalae | with its crowing voice; |
| Male | |
| Yeval seiyum kaaval kaakkum | dogs follow commands and guard faithfully |
| Naaigalum thanghal gunathaalae | by their very loyal nature. |
| Male | |
| Irai kidaithaalum illai endraalum | Whether food is found or not, |
| Uravai valarkkum kaakkaigalae | crows call their kind to foster bonding. |
| Male | |
| Irai kidaithaalum illai endraalum | Whether food is found or not, |
| Uravai valarkkum kaakkaigalae | crows call their kind to foster bonding. |
| Inathai inamae pagaippadhellaam | It is only in human-made life |
| Manidhan vagutha vaazhkkaiyilae… | that one's own kind hates its own kind... |
| Aaa… aaa… aaa… aaahhahaa… | Aaa... aaa... aaa... aaahhahaa... |
| Male | |
| Unnai paarthu | Looking at you, |
| Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu | this world is laughing. |
| Male | |
| Vaanil neendhum megam kandaal | Upon seeing clouds swimming in the sky, |
| Vanna mayilgal aadaadho | won't colorful peacocks dance? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhai polae thogai viriya | As their feathers open like banana leaves, |
| Valar pirai aayiram thondraadho | doesn't it look like a thousand crescent moons appearing? |
| Male | |
| Azhagum kalaiyum vaazhum naadu | A land where beauty and art flourish, |
| Aandavan veedaai thigazhaadho | won't it shine like God's own home? |
| Male | |
| Azhagum kalaiyum vaazhum naadu | A land where beauty and art flourish, |
| Aandavan veedaai thigazhaadho | won't it shine like God's own home? |
| Avaigalai ellaam azhikka ninaithaal | If you plot to destroy all of these, |
| Sarithiram unnai igazhaadho… | won't history mock and condemn you? |
| Aa… aa…aa… aaahhahaa… | Aa... aa...aa... aaahhahaa... |
| Male | |
| Unnai paarthu | Looking at you, |
| Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu | this world is laughing. |
| Male | |
| Nee kadavulai paarthadhu kidaiyaadhu | You have never seen God, |
| Avan karuppaa sigappaa theriyaadhu | you do not know whether He is dark or fair. |
| Nee kadavulai paarthadhu kidaiyaadhu | You have never seen God, |
| Avan karuppaa sigappaa theriyaadhu | you do not know whether He is dark or fair. |
| Iraivan oruvan irukkindraan | There is one God, |
| Indha ezhaighal uzhaippil sirikkindraan | and He smiles through the hard labor of these poor people. |
| Iraivan oruvan irukkindraan | There is one God, |
| Indha ezhaighal uzhaippil sirikkindraan… | and He smiles through the hard labor of these poor people... |
| Aa…aaa… aaa… aahhahaa… | Aa...aaa... aaa... aahhahaa... |
| Male | |
| Thondra thaan pogiradhu | It is bound to emerge — |
| Sama urimai samudhaayam… | an egalitarian society... |
| Male | |
| Maraiya thaan pogiradhu | It is bound to fade away — |
| Thani manidhan aniyaayam… | the injustice of self-centered men... |
| Malara thaan pogiradhu | It is bound to blossom — |
| Engaladhu pudhu vaazhvu… | our new life... |
| Maara thaan pogiradhu | It is bound to change — |
| Manidhaa un vilaiyaattu… | O man, this wicked game of yours... |
உன்னைப் பார்த்து
இந்த உலகம் சிரிக்கிறது
உன்னைப் பார்த்து
இந்த உலகம் சிரிக்கிறது
உன் செயலைப் பார்த்து
உன் நிழலும் வெறுக்கிறது
உன் செயலைப் பார்த்து
உன் நிழலும் வெறுக்கிறது
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
Looking at your deeds,
even your shadow despises you.
Looking at your deeds,
even your shadow despises you.
உன்னைப் பார்த்து
இந்த உலகம் சிரிக்கிறது
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
பாடும் பறவை
பாயும் மிருகம்
பாடும் பறவை பாயும் மிருகம்
இவைகளுகெல்லாம் பகுத்தறிவில்லை
ஆனால் அவைகளுக்குள்ளே
சூழ்ச்சிகள் இல்லை
The singing bird,
the pouncing beast,
the singing bird and the pouncing beast,
do not possess human intellect,
yet there are no deceptive conspiracies among them.
உன்னைப் பார்த்து
இந்த உலகம் சிரிக்கிறது
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
சேவல் கூட தூங்கும் உலகை
கூவி எழுப்பும் குரலாலே
Even a rooster wakes the sleeping world
with its crowing voice;
ஏவல் செய்யும் காவல் காக்கும்
நாய்களும் தங்கள் குணத்தாலே
dogs follow commands and guard faithfully
by their very loyal nature.
இரை கிடைத்தாலும் இல்லை என்றாலும்
உறவை வளர்க்கும் காக்கைகளே
Whether food is found or not,
crows call their kind to foster bonding.
இரை கிடைத்தாலும் இல்லை என்றாலும்
உறவை வளர்க்கும் காக்கைகளே
இனத்தை இனமே பகைப்பது எல்லாம்
மனிதன் வகுத்த வாழ்க்கையிலே
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆஹாஹா......
Whether food is found or not,
crows call their kind to foster bonding.
It is only in human-made life
that one's own kind hates its own kind...
Aaa... aaa... aaa... aaahhahaa...
உன்னைப் பார்த்து
இந்த உலகம் சிரிக்கிறது
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
வானில் நீந்தும் மேகம் கண்டால்
வண்ண மயில்கள் ஆடாதோ
Upon seeing clouds swimming in the sky,
won't colorful peacocks dance?
வாழை போல தோகை விரிய
வளர் பிறை ஆயிரம் தோன்றாதோ
As their feathers open like banana leaves,
doesn't it look like a thousand crescent moons appearing?
அழகும் கலையும் வாழும் நாடு
ஆண்டவன் வீடாய்த் திகழாதோ
A land where beauty and art flourish,
won't it shine like God's own home?
அழகும் கலையும் வாழும் நாடு
ஆண்டவன் வீடாய்த் திகழாதோ
அவைகளை எல்லாம் அழிக்க நினைத்தால்
சரித்திரம் உன்னை இகழாதோ
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆஹாஹா......
A land where beauty and art flourish,
won't it shine like God's own home?
If you plot to destroy all of these,
won't history mock and condemn you?
Aa... aa...aa... aaahhahaa...
உன்னைப் பார்த்து
இந்த உலகம் சிரிக்கிறது
Looking at you,
this world is laughing.
நீ கடவுளைப் பார்த்தது கிடையாது
அவன் கறுப்பா சிவப்பா தெரியாது
நீ கடவுளைப் பார்த்தது கிடையாது
அவன் கறுப்பா சிவப்பா தெரியாது
இறைவன் ஒருவன் இருக்கின்றான்
இந்த ஏழைகள் உழைப்பில் சிரிக்கின்றான்
இறைவன் ஒருவன் இருக்கின்றான்
இந்த ஏழைகள் உழைப்பில் சிரிக்கின்றான்
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆஹாஹா......
You have never seen God,
you do not know whether He is dark or fair.
You have never seen God,
you do not know whether He is dark or fair.
There is one God,
and He smiles through the hard labor of these poor people.
There is one God,
and He smiles through the hard labor of these poor people...
Aa...aaa... aaa... aahhahaa...
தோன்றத்தான் போகிறது
சம உரிமை சமுதாயம்
It is bound to emerge —
an egalitarian society...
மறையத்தான் போகிறது
தலை வணங்கும் அநியாயம்.....
மலரத்தான் போகிறது
எங்களது புது வாழ்வு....
மாறத்தான் போகிறது
மனிதா உன் விளையாட்டு....
It is bound to fade away —
the injustice of self-centered men...
It is bound to blossom —
our new life...
It is bound to change —
O man, this wicked game of yours...
Unnai paarthu
Looking at you,
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
this world is laughing.
Unnai paarthu
Looking at you,
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
this world is laughing.
Un seyalai paarthu
Looking at your deeds,
Un nizhalum verukkiradhu
even your shadow despises you.
Un seyalai paarthu
Looking at your deeds,
Un nizhalum verukkiradhu
even your shadow despises you.
Unnai paarthu
Looking at you,
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
this world is laughing.
Paadum paravai
The singing bird,
Paayum mirugam
the pouncing beast,
Paadum paravai paayum mirugam
the singing bird and the pouncing beast,
Ivaigalukkellaam paguttharivillai
do not possess human intellect,
Aanaal avaigalukkullae soozhchighal illai
yet there are no deceptive conspiracies among them.
Unnai paarthu
Looking at you,
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
this world is laughing.
Saeval kooda thoongum ulagai
Even a rooster wakes the sleeping world
Koovi ezhuppum kuralaalae
with its crowing voice;
Yeval seiyum kaaval kaakkum
dogs follow commands and guard faithfully
Naaigalum thanghal gunathaalae
by their very loyal nature.
Irai kidaithaalum illai endraalum
Whether food is found or not,
Uravai valarkkum kaakkaigalae
crows call their kind to foster bonding.
Irai kidaithaalum illai endraalum
Whether food is found or not,
Uravai valarkkum kaakkaigalae
crows call their kind to foster bonding.
Inathai inamae pagaippadhellaam
It is only in human-made life
Manidhan vagutha vaazhkkaiyilae…
that one's own kind hates its own kind...
Aaa… aaa… aaa… aaahhahaa…
Aaa... aaa... aaa... aaahhahaa...
Unnai paarthu
Looking at you,
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
this world is laughing.
Vaanil neendhum megam kandaal
Upon seeing clouds swimming in the sky,
Vanna mayilgal aadaadho
won't colorful peacocks dance?
Vaazhai polae thogai viriya
As their feathers open like banana leaves,
Valar pirai aayiram thondraadho
doesn't it look like a thousand crescent moons appearing?
Azhagum kalaiyum vaazhum naadu
A land where beauty and art flourish,
Aandavan veedaai thigazhaadho
won't it shine like God's own home?
Azhagum kalaiyum vaazhum naadu
A land where beauty and art flourish,
Aandavan veedaai thigazhaadho
won't it shine like God's own home?
Avaigalai ellaam azhikka ninaithaal
If you plot to destroy all of these,
Sarithiram unnai igazhaadho…
won't history mock and condemn you?
Aa… aa…aa… aaahhahaa…
Aa... aa...aa... aaahhahaa...
Unnai paarthu
Looking at you,
Indha ulagam sirikkiradhu
this world is laughing.
Nee kadavulai paarthadhu kidaiyaadhu
You have never seen God,
Avan karuppaa sigappaa theriyaadhu
you do not know whether He is dark or fair.
Nee kadavulai paarthadhu kidaiyaadhu
You have never seen God,
Avan karuppaa sigappaa theriyaadhu
you do not know whether He is dark or fair.
Iraivan oruvan irukkindraan
There is one God,
Indha ezhaighal uzhaippil sirikkindraan
and He smiles through the hard labor of these poor people.
Iraivan oruvan irukkindraan
There is one God,
Indha ezhaighal uzhaippil sirikkindraan…
and He smiles through the hard labor of these poor people...
Aa…aaa… aaa… aahhahaa…
Aa...aaa... aaa... aahhahaa...
Thondra thaan pogiradhu
It is bound to emerge —
Sama urimai samudhaayam…
an egalitarian society...
Maraiya thaan pogiradhu
It is bound to fade away —
Thani manidhan aniyaayam…
the injustice of self-centered men...
Malara thaan pogiradhu
It is bound to blossom —
Engaladhu pudhu vaazhvu…
our new life...
Maara thaan pogiradhu
It is bound to change —
Manidhaa un vilaiyaattu…
O man, this wicked game of yours...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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