P. Leela and C. S. Jayaraman perform “Unakkum Puriyudhu” from the album Kuravanji. Lyricist Kannadasan opens the song with an image of a fish gasping on the shore. This comparison immediately suggests a world where things are not in their proper place.
Unakkum Puriyudhu
C. S. Jayaraman | P. Leela • From “Kuravanji”
Kuravanji’s Unakkum Puriyudhu Lyrics Translation
The verses pose a direct question about what happens when a strong person strikes a weak one. The song then provides an answer, stating the weak will eventually strike the strong in return. The meaning of the ‘Unakkum Puriyudhu’ lyrics points to this coming reversal.
Thanneeril MeenirukkumFish belong in the water
Tharaniyil Ulla MuraiThat is the way of the world
Inghu Tharaiyile Meen KidanthuBut here, a fish lies on the shore
Thaviyai ThavikkudhuGasping and struggling for life
Puthile PambirukkumA snake belongs in its burrow
Boothathil Ulla MuraiThat is the law of the earth
Inghu Aranmanaiyil Pambhu VandhuBut here, a serpent has entered the palace
Adhigaram NadathudhadaAnd now it wields all the power
HaHa
Unakkum Puriyudhu Enakkum PuriyudhuYou understand and I understand
Oorukku Puriyaladi SinghiBut the town doesn’t see it, Singhi
Oorukku Puriyaladi SinghiBut the town doesn’t see it, Singhi
Oorukku PuriyaladiThe town just doesn’t see it
Veliye Kanakku NadakkudhuOutside, a reckoning is taking place
Koottam Thiraludhu Kattayam PuriyumadaA crowd is gathering, they will surely understand
Singham Kattayam PuriyumadaSingha, they will surely understand
Singham Kattayam PuriyumadaSingha, they will surely understand
Unakkum Puriyudhu Enakkum PuriyudhuYou understand and I understand
Oorukku Puriyaladi SinghiBut the town doesn’t see it, Singhi
Oorukku Puriyaladi SinghiBut the town doesn’t see it, Singhi
Oorukku PuriyaladiThe town just doesn’t see it
Veliye Kanakku NadakkudhuOutside, a reckoning is taking place
Koottam Thiraludhu Kattayam PuriyumadaA crowd is gathering, they will surely understand
Singham Kattayam PuriyumadaSingha, they will surely understand
Singham Kattayam PuriyumadaSingha, they will surely understand
Kattai Azhikkudhu Vettai NadathudhuIt’s tearing down fences, it’s carrying out hunts
Kann Ketta Oru KoottamA mob that has lost its sight
Inge Kann Ketta Oru KoottamHere, a mob that has lost its sight
Kattai Azhikkudhu Vettai NadathudhuIt’s tearing down fences, it’s carrying out hunts
Kann Ketta Oru KoottamA mob that has lost its sight
Inge Kann Ketta Oru KoottamHere, a mob that has lost its sight
Adhu Veettai IdikkudhuIt demolishes homes
Poottai UdaikkudhuIt breaks open locks
Adudhu Kurangattam SinghaAnd dances like a wild monkey, Singha
Adudhu KurangattamIt’s dancing wildly
Adhu Veettai IdikkudhuIt demolishes homes
Poottai UdaikkudhuIt breaks open locks
Adudhu Kurangattam SinghaAnd dances like a wild monkey, Singha
Adudhu KurangattamIt’s dancing wildly
Vanam PozhinjudhuThe skies poured rain
Boomi VelanjadhuThe earth yielded its harvest
Vanam PozhinjudhuThe skies poured rain
Boomi VelanjadhuThe earth yielded its harvest
Aruvadai EnnachuWhat happened to the crops?
Singhi Aruvadai EnnachuSinghi, what happened to the crops?
Boomi VelanjadhuThe earth yielded its harvest
Aruvadai EnnachuWhat happened to the crops?
Aruvadai EnnachuWhat happened to the crops?
Singhi Aruvadai EnnachuSinghi, what happened to the crops?
Adhu Odi MaranjadhuIt ran and hid
Padhunghi KidakkudhuIt’s lying in wait
Kudisaigal MannachuThe huts have turned to dust
Singha Kudisaigal MannachuSingha, the huts have turned to dust
Adhu Odi MaranjadhuIt ran and hid
Padhunghi KidakkudhuIt’s lying in wait
Kudisaigal MannachuThe huts have turned to dust
Singha Kudisaigal MannachuSingha, the huts have turned to dust
Unakkum Puriyudhu Enakkum PuriyudhuYou understand and I understand
Oorukku Puriyaladi SinghiBut the town doesn’t see it, Singhi
Oorukku Puriyaladi SinghiBut the town doesn’t see it, Singhi
Oorukku PuriyaladiThe town just doesn’t see it
Ilaithavan ThalaiyilUpon the head of the weak
Valuthavan AdithalIf the mighty one strikes
Ennadi MudivagumWhat will be the outcome?
Singhi Ennadi MudivagumSinghi, what will be the outcome?
Ilaithavan ThalaiyilUpon the head of the weak
Valuthavan AdithalIf the mighty one strikes
Ennadi MudivagumWhat will be the outcome?
Singhi Ennadi MudivagumSinghi, what will be the outcome?
Andha Valuthavan ThalaiyilUpon the head of that mighty one
Ilaithavan AdippathuThe weak one will strike back
Maruppadi UruvagumA new order will be born
Singha Marupapdi UruvagumSingha, a new order will be born
Andha Valuthavan ThalaiyilUpon the head of that mighty one
Ilaithavan AdippathuThe weak one will strike back
Maruppadi UruvagumA new order will be born
Singha Marupapdi UruvagumSingha, a new order will be born
Kallaiyum PullaiyumStones and grass
Sapida SonnavanThe one who told us to eat them
Kadaisiyil EnnananWhat happened to him in the end?
Singhi Kadaisiyil EnnananSinghi, what happened to him in the end?
Kallaiyum PullaiyumStones and grass
Sapida SonnavanThe one who told us to eat them
Kadaisiyil EnnananWhat happened to him in the end?
Singhi Kadaisiyil EnnananSinghi, what happened to him in the end?
Andha Kallaiyum PullaiyumThose very stones and grass
Thane ThaniyaiHe had to eat all alone
Sappittu MannananAnd he turned into dust
Singha Sappittu MannananSingha, he turned into dust
Andha Kallaiyum PullaiyumThose very stones and grass
Thane ThaniyaiHe had to eat all alone
Sappittu MannananAnd he turned into dust
Singha Sappittu MannananSingha, he turned into dust
Unakkum Puriyudhu Enakkum PuriyudhuYou understand and I understand
Oorukku Puriyaladi SinghiBut the town doesn’t see it, Singhi
Oorukku Puriyaladi SinghiBut the town doesn’t see it, Singhi
Oorukku PuriyaladiThe town just doesn’t see it
Veliye Kanakku NadakkudhuOutside, a reckoning is taking place
Koottam Thiraludhu Kattayam PuriyumadaA crowd is gathering, they will surely understand
Singham Kattayam PuriyumadaSingha, they will surely understand
Singham Kattayam PuriyumadaSingha, they will surely understand
Unakkum Puriyudhu Music Video
The dialogue moves from describing social problems to forecasting a popular uprising. It presents a broken world and then suggests an inevitable correction led by the oppressed. The song functions as a political call delivered through simple folk imagery.