Vedan’s acapella track “Voice Voiceless” comes from his 2022 album. The lyrics, written by Vedan, open by asking who owns the wetlands and fenced off the land. This questioning establishes a history of displacement and injustice from the start.
Released: April 22, 2022
Voice Voiceless
Vedan • From “Vedan”
Vedan’s Voice Voiceless Lyrics Translation
The song then bluntly rejects specific caste labels like ‘Paananalla’ and ‘Pulayanalla’. It continues by pointing out the hypocrisy of a system where a forest thief thrives but a rice thief dies. The lyrics also ask what place a slave has in the history books.
Neernilangalin AdimayaarudamayaarWhose slaves are the wetlands, whose property are they?
Nilangalaayiram VeliyilWho was it that fenced off a thousand lands?
ThirichathaarWho divided them?
Thiricha Veliyil Kulam Mudichathethra PerInside those fences, how many clans were destroyed?
Muthukooni ThalakalHunched backs, heads bowed low,
Thaanuminിയും EthranaalFor how much longer must this go on?
Neernilangalin AdimayaarudamayaarWhose slaves are the wetlands, whose property are they?
Nilangalaayiram VeliyilWho was it that fenced off a thousand lands?
ThirichathaarWho divided them?
Thiricha Veliyil Kulam Mudichathethra PerInside those fences, how many clans were destroyed?
Muthukooni ThalakalHunched backs, heads bowed low,
Thaanuminിയും EthranaalFor how much longer must this go on?
Nee Piranna MannilIn the land where you were born,
Ninne Kandaal VeruppuThey look at you with hatred.
Paniyedutha MeniYour body that toiled,
Veyil Konde KaruppuIs burnt black by the sun.
Ninte Chaalayil Eriyunnilla AduppuIn your shack, no fire burns in the stove,
Pinju Kunjaval Avayaril KidappuAnd your little child lies on the bare floor.
Raathri Pakalaakki Paniyeduthu NaduvodinjYou broke your back working night into day,
Chora Neeraakki Neer Muzhuvan Vatti VaarnnuTurned blood into water ’til you were bled dry.
Naadu Nagaraakki Koodu KoodaaramaakkiYou turned countryside into cities, your home into a tent,
Mannu Ponnaakki Ponnu NinakkanyamaakkiTurned soil into gold, and that gold was taken from you.
Ponnu Kettavan Pidanju Veenu ChorathuppiThe groom who tied the sacred thread fell, convulsing and spitting blood,
Neethikettavan Iruttarayil ThalathappiThe one denied justice beats his head in a dark room.
Ponnu Neethiyum Vilachedutha BhoomiyumThat golden justice and the land you harvested,
Vilichu Kena SaamiyumThe god who answered your calls,
Velichamulla BhaviyumAnd the future full of light…
Nee Nediyilla EnkilumEven though you gained nothing,
Nee VaadiyillaYou didn’t wilt.
Agniyil Kuruthu Kanneeraazhiyil KulichuYou sprouted in fire and bathed in an ocean of tears.
Thundu Manninaay Kothichu Mannu Ninne ChathichuYou craved a piece of land, and the land betrayed you.
Pinnilaaro Kalichu Neethi Pande MarichuSomeone played games behind your back; justice died long ago.
Kannil Kaanatha Jaathi Matha VerpaaduThis unseen separation of caste and religion,
Yugangalaay Thudangi Iniyumenne VettayaaduStarted ages ago and still hunts me down.
Adangi Nilkkuvaan Ayyo Njan Petta PaaduOh, the struggle I’ve endured to just stay quiet,
Ente Muthukil Ninte Vanchanayaaletta PaaduThe scar on my back is from your betrayal.
Njan Paananalla Parayanalla Pulayanalla Nee ThampuranumallaI’m not a Paanan, not a Parayan, not a Pulayan, and you are no lord.
Aanel Oru M***umillaAnd even if I were, I don’t give a f***.
Iniyum Kaalamilla KaathirikkaanaakukillaThere’s no more time, we can’t wait any longer.
Poruthu Pokuvaan Kshamayoruthari BaakkiyillaThere isn’t a single grain of patience left to keep fighting.
Enikku Vendatho Enikku Vendathalla Njangalkku VendathuIt’s not what I want, not for me, but what we need.
Nee Tharaan Madichu Njangalere KothichuYou hesitated to give it, and we yearned for it.
Athinaayethra Per Marichu Kandu Kandu Nee ChirichuHow many died for it, and you just watched and laughed?
Alla Alla Allalilla NaalathillaNo, no, there’s no sorrow, no tomorrow.
Illa Illa Vedan Illa Katha ParayukillaNo, no, there’s no pain, I won’t tell the story.
Kaadu Kattavante Naattil Choru Kattavan MarikkumIn the land of the one who stole the forest, the one who stole rice will die.
Kooru Kettavan Bharichal Ooru Kettavan MudikkumIf the disloyal rule, the corrupt will destroy the country.
Peru Ketta Paamaranmaar Poradikkuvaan VilikkumThe infamous commoners will call everyone to fight.
Pettunovedutha Thalla Pallayil Kanal NirakkumThe mother who suffered birth pangs will fill her mouth with burning embers.
Kodikalethra Paari KottakothalangalilHow many flags have flown over forts and palaces?
Adiyaan Kandathilla Bhaavi Thante MakkalilThe serf never saw a future in his own children.
Maandu Poyi Nee Karutha PorkkalangalilYou perished in dark battlefields.
Adimakethidam Charithra PusthakangalilWhat place is there for a slave in the history books?
Kapada Deshavaadi Naattil Matha Jaathi VyaadhiIn the land of fake patriots, religion and caste are a disease.
Thalavanilla Aadhi Naadu Chuttidaan Ninte NikuthiAn old anxiety with no leader, and your tax money is used to burn the nation.
Vaaleduthavante Kayyilaanu Naadu PaathiHalf the country is in the hands of the one who took up the sword.
VaakeduthavanThe one who took up words…
Deshadrohi Theevravaadi…Is a traitor, a terrorist.
Ezhuthiya Variyiladhika Pakuthiyum Njanetta ChathiMore than half of the lines I’ve written are the betrayals I’ve faced.
Kanaloru Thari Mathi Oruthari Mathi Thari MathiA single spark is enough, one grain is enough, a spark is enough.
Neernilangalin AdimayaarudamayaarWhose slaves are the wetlands, whose property are they?
Nilangalaayiram VeliyilWho was it that fenced off a thousand lands?
ThirichathaarWho divided them?
Thiricha Veliyil Kulam Mudichathethra PerInside those fences, how many clans were destroyed?
Muthukooni ThalakalHunched backs, heads bowed low,
Thaanuminിയും EthranaalFor how much longer must this go on?
Voice Voiceless Music Video
The piece moves from historical grievances to a direct confrontation with the present. It links past wrongs, such as stolen land, to the current erasure of marginalized people. The meaning of the “Voice Voiceless” lyrics is a demand for recognition and a forceful dismantling of societal hierarchy.