[Unnal Mudiyum Thambi] Akkam Pakkam Paaradaa ….

Beautiful song…. so much to learn from it … seems so relevant now 🙂


Poet: Pulamaipithan
Music Director: Ilayaraja
Singer: S.P. Balasubramaniam
Movie: Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
Song Sequence: (1)-(1)- (2)- (3) -(3)-(1)-(4)-(5)- (5)- (1)- (6)-(7)-(7)- (1)- (2) -(3)-(1)

(1)அக்கம் பக்கம் பாரடா சின்ன ராசா
ஆகாசப் பார்வை என்ன சொல்லு ராசா

akkam pakkam paaradaa chinna raasaa,
aagaasa paarvai enna sollu raasa,

look around oh little king,
tell me what is the vision of the sky ( emphasis on having a broad vision).

(2)வாயில் என்ன மந்திரமா 
மனசு என்ன எந்திரமா?

vaayil enna mandhiramaa,
manasu enna endhiramaa,

what are you doing with your mouth, are you chanting hymns?
is your heart just a machine (nonreactive , unemotional, mundane )?

(3)சாமியிடம் பேசுது புள்ள 
தாயழுக கேக்கவுமில்ல

saamiyidam pesudhu pulla,
thaai alugai kekkavum illa,

the child is speaking to the god ( worshiping idol, chanting hymns),
but  the mother’s cry seems to be unheard! ( emphasizing that today’s man has become so ignorant of people’s suffering and is focused on praying god (idols) etc)

(4)அம்மா பசி என்றொரு கூக்குரல் 
அது தான் இனி தேசிய பாஷை
கட்சிக் கொடிகள் ஏறுது அங்கே
கஞ்சிப்பானை தெருவில் இங்கே

amma pasi endroru kookkural,
adhuthaan ini desiya bhaashai,
katchi kodigal yaerudhu ange,
kanji paanai theruvil inge,

“mother , hungry” (begging, poverty, hunger etc) this seems to be the national language now ( emphasizing the rampant poverty all around),
political parties are raising their flags there, but here the mud pot ( to cook porridge) is on the streets ( emphasizing that people are busy playing politics than to think about people) 

 (5)சுதந்திர நாடு சோத்துக்குக் கேடு 
சொல்லாதே சாமி
நம்ம பூமியோ எப்போதும் 
தருமம் செஞ்ச பூமி

sudhandhira naadu soththukku kedu,
sollaadhe saami,
namma bhoomiyo eppodhum,
dharmam senja bhoomi,

In this independent nation, there is a dearth even with the basic need of “food”,
don’t  keep chanting the names of gods only (emphasizing the need for action),
our land is always considered as the nation that did the most charity, ( so share your wealth with others in terms of charity)

(6)தேசமிது செஞ்சது உனக்கு
ஏராளம் இங்கே உண்டு
நீ என்ன செஞ்ச அதுக்கு? 
உனக்கேட்டு நீ பதில் சொல்லு

desam idhu senjadhu unakku,
yeraalam inge undu,
neeyenna senja adhukku,
unna kettu nee badhil sollu,

This nation has done a lot of things for you,
in return ask yourself and tell, what you did for the nation? 

(7)நமக்கென்ன போடா போன்னு நழுவுறே 
நேரம் பாத்து
நாடு முழுதும் தீயாப் போனா 
வீடு மட்டும் ஏது?

namakkenna podaa ponnu naluvura,
neram paaththu,
naadu muludhum theeyaa ponaa,
veedu mattum yedhu,

You seem to be insensitive and walk away from (bad) issues happening around, since it does not directly affect you,
if the nation is on fire , how can only your house be saved ( these lines emphasize that one should do something about the issues facing the nation and not be insensitive to it , since our welfare is contingent on the nation’s welfare) 

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