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Kasethan Kadavulada album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Andavan Thodangi

From Kasethan Kadavulada · 1972

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
M. S. Vishwanathan, A. L. Raghavan, K. Veeramani
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Kasethan Kadavulada
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
4 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aanadavan thodangi
Aandigal varaiyil
Kaasethaan kadavulada
Male :Adi pattu odha pattu
Arinjukittenda
Kaasethaan kadavulada
Aanadavan thodangi
Aandigal varaiyil
Kaasethaan kadavulada
Adi pattu odha pattu
Arinjukittenda
Kaasethaan kadavulada
Kaasethaan
Male :Kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan
Male :Kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan kadavulada
Lal lal laaa….aaaa
Male :Achadicha andha pachai notukku
Archanai seivom malaraale
Male :Malaarale..
Male :Aaa hmm aaa hmm aaa aaa hmmm
Aa aa hmmm …
Om rubaiya namaha om
Male :Alukku nottu namaha om
Male :Om velli naanayam maha om
Male :Atleast naya paisaya nama om
Male :Aahh…
Achadicha andha pachai notukku
Archanai seivom malaraale
Male :Thengai odachu soodathai yeththi
Darisanam seivom kidachaalae
Male :Haaa aaa aaah…haaa aaa aaahh
Dhuttu irundha tea adipen
Illaangaati ee adippen
Sokka pesi nekka paathu
Pocket adippen
Dhuttu irundha tea adipen
Illaangaati ee adippen
Sokka pesi nekka paathu
Pocket adippen
Daav adippen dive adippen
Daav adippen dive adippen
Jaga vaangi side adippen
Bajari kaithe unna nottala adippen
Kaasethaan
Male :Kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan
Male :Kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan kadavulada
Aanadavan thodangi
Aandigal varaiyil
Kaasethaan kadavulada
Male :Adi pattu odha pattu
Arinjukittenda
Kaasethaan kadavulada
Pethedutha thaai
Thandhaiyai thavira
Panathaal ethaiyum perakoodum
Aaah…hmm aaah hmm aaahaa hmmm
Aaahhhmm
Pethedutha thaai
Thandhaiyai thavira
Panathaal ethaiyum perakoodum
Laksmhi oruthi kooda irundhaal
Latchiyam ellaam niraiverum
Male :Aha latchiyam ellaam niraiverum
Enna manusan enna oh ho
Annaengiraan thambingraan
Galla pettiya kandaan kaati
Salaam adikkiraan
Enna manusan enna oh ho
Annaengiraan thambingraan
Galla pettiya kandaan kaati
Salaam adikkiraan
Penja mazhai onju pona
Penja mazhai onju pona
Saanja edam kaanju pona
Pettaiyathaan maathikinnu
Dera adikkiraan
Aanadavan thodangi
Aandigal varaiyil
Kaasethaan kadavulada
Adi pattu odha pattu
Arinjukittenda
Kaasethaan kadavulada
Kaasethaan
Male :Kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan
Male :Kadavulada
Male :Kaasethaan kadavulada
From the rich master
to the poorest beggar,
money alone is god, my friend!
Getting beaten and kicked around,
I learned this lesson, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
From the rich master
to the poorest beggar,
money alone is god, my friend!
Getting beaten and kicked around,
I learned this lesson, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
Money alone
is god, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
Money alone
is god, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
La la la... aa!
For that freshly printed green note,
we will offer worship with flowers!
With flowers...
Aa mm aa mm aa aa mmm
Aa aa mmm...
Om, praise be to the rupee, Om!
Praise be even to the dirty note, Om!
Om, praise be to the silver coin, Om!
At least, praise be to a humble penny, Om!
Aah...
For that freshly printed green note,
we will offer worship with flowers!
Breaking a coconut and lighting camphor,
we will worship it if we ever get it!
Haa aa aah... haa aa aah!
If I have cash, I'll drink hot tea;
if not, I'll just swat flies!
Sweet-talking and looking for the chance,
I'll pick pockets!
If I have cash, I'll drink hot tea;
if not, I'll just swat flies!
Sweet-talking and looking for the chance,
I'll pick pockets!
I'll flirt around and make a dive,
I'll flirt around and make a dive,
I'll slip aside and dodge away!
You loud shrew and crook, I'll smack you with wads of cash!
Money alone
is god, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
Money alone
is god, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
From the rich master
to the poorest beggar,
money alone is god, my friend!
Getting beaten and kicked around,
I learned this lesson, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
Except for the mother who bore you
and the father,
money can buy anything in this world!
Aah... mm aah mm aaha mmm
Aah mm
Except for the mother who bore you
and the father,
money can buy anything in this world!
If Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) is with you,
all your dreams will come true!
Aha, all your dreams will come true!
What a man this is, oh look!
He calls everyone an elder or younger brother,
but the moment he sees a cash box,
he bows and salutes!
What a man this is, oh look!
He calls everyone an elder or younger brother,
but the moment he sees a cash box,
he bows and salutes!
Once the pouring rain stops,
once the pouring rain stops,
and the place he leaned on goes dry,
he moves to a new neighborhood
and pitches his tent!
From the rich master
to the poorest beggar,
money alone is god, my friend!
Getting beaten and kicked around,
I learned this lesson, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
Money alone
is god, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
Money alone
is god, my friend!
Money alone is god, my friend!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kaasethaan Kadavulada' is a satirical and philosophical Tamil song that highlights the absolute supremacy of money in human society. The song humorously elevates currency to the status of a deity, parodying traditional Hindu mantras with chanting dedicated to green notes, coins, and rupees. It reflects on how society's respect and interpersonal relationships shift according to wealth, pointing out that everyone—from kings to mendicants—is bound by the pursuit of riches. While delivering sharp socio-political commentary on greed, hypocrisy, and opportunism, the lyrics maintain a lighthearted, comedic tone. Vaali subtly notes that while money can buy almost everything and fulfill all materialistic ambitions, it can never replace one's biological parents, adding a poignant touch of human truth amidst the cynical satire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire / Parody

“Om rubaiya namaha om”

The song parodies religious Vedic mantras by chanting 'Om rubaiya namaha' and 'Om velli naanayam maha om', treating money as a divine entity.

Emonai (Alliteration)

“Aanadavan thodangi / Aandigal varaiyil”

Repetition of the initial consonant sounds across adjacent lines or words ('Aanadavan' / 'Aandigal').

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

“Dhuttu irundha tea adipen / Illaangaati ee adippen”

Use of rhyming end sounds like 'tea adipen', 'ee adippen', 'pocket adippen' to create a lively rhythmic slang flow.

Metaphor

“Laksmhi oruthi kooda irundhaal / Latchiyam ellaam niraiverum”

Equating financial prosperity directly with the presence of Goddess Lakshmi to symbolise ambition fulfillment.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kasethan Kadavulada' (1972) is a classic Tamil comedy film directed by Chitralaya Gopu, starring Muthuraman, Lakshmi, Thengai Srinivasan, and Manorama. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with vocals by M. S. Viswanathan himself along with K. Veeramani and others. The title track became an iconic anthem reflecting the commercial nature of modern life.

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