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Manaivi Oru Mandhiri album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Bajanai Seiyalam Vanga

From Manaivi Oru Mandhiri · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
18 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Irumbu pettiyilae irukkindra naayaganae
Kallaap pattiyilae kannurangum kannmaniyae
Karuppum vellaiyumaa uruvedukkum vellaiyappaa
Un arumaigalum perumaigalum
Kadavulukkum illaiyappaa….yappaa…
Haei bajanai seiyyalaam vaanga
Paktha kodi naanga
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaanga
Paktha kodi naanga
Ishta dheivam ennaalum
Pachcha nottu thaanga
Notta paaththaalae kaatta vendaamo
Soodam saambiraanithaan
Kaasu illama kadaiyil kidaikkaathu
Chicken briyanithaan hae…
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaanga
Paktha kodi naanga
Male :Continue paadunga
Chorus :Ishta dheivam ennaalum
Pachcha nottu thaanga
Male :Aamaanga
Saeththu vachchavaru sishyaa neththu poyaachchudaa
Sontha panthamellam sishyaa open aayaachchudaa
Saeththu vachchavaru sishyaa neththu poyaachchudaa
Sontha panthamellam sishyaa open aayaachchudaa
Kallarai eeram kaaala
Adhukkul sillara vazhakkuthaan
Latchiyam pesum katchiyum
Udainju povathum adhukkuththaan
Kaasaalaththaan ennaalumae poosalgal undaaguthu
Raththaththoda raththangalum yuththangal kondaaduthu
Saamigal paaduthu paattu
Kaaranam roopaa nottu haei…
Chorus :Saamigal paaduthu paattu
Kaaranam roopaa nottu
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaanga
Paktha kodi naanga
Ishta dheivam ennaalum
Pachcha nottu thaanga
Notta paaththaalae kaatta vendaamo
Soodam saambiraanithaan
Kaasu illama kadaiyil kidaikkaathu
Chicken briyanithaan
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaanga
Paktha kodi naanga
Ishta dheivam ennaalum
Pachcha nottu thaanga
Kaasi raamaeshvaram poga
Kaalam varavillaiyae
Kuzhanthai venumendru
Thaaram pogavidavillaiyae
Ada kaasi raamaeshvaram poga
Kaalam varavillaiyae
Kuzhanthai venumendru
Thaaram pogavidavillaiyae
Saamiyaar enakku maamiyaar
Irukkum saedhithaan theriyumae
Pillaithaan pirantha piraguthaan
Enathu thollaithaan vidiyumae
Pillaikku yaenguthu mayilu
Kaaranam antha uyilu…haan..
Pillaikku yaenguthu mayilu
Kaaranam antha uyilu…
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaanga
Paktha kodi naanga
Male :Aamaanga
Chorus :Ishta dheivam ennaalum
Pachcha nottu thaanga
Notta paaththaalae kaatta vendaamo
Soodam saambiraanithaan
Kaasu illama kadaiyil kidaikkaathu
Chicken briyanithaan
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaanga
Paktha kodi naanga
Ishta dheivam ennaalum
Pachcha nottu thaanga
Haan bajanai seiyyalaam vaanga
Paktha kodi naanga
Ishta dheivam ennaalum
Pachcha nottu thaanga….
O Lord who resides inside the iron safe,
O precious darling sleeping inside the cashbox,
Taking form as both black and white money, O revered one,
Your value and your greatness,
Even God does not possess them, oh man!
Hey, come let us sing devotional hymns!
We are a multitude of devotees!
Come, let us sing devotional hymns!
We are a multitude of devotees!
Our favourite deity at all times
Is the green currency note!
The moment we see a note, shouldn't we offer
Camphor and fragrant incense?
Without money, you cannot get
Chicken biryani at the shop, hey!
Come, let us sing devotional hymns!
We are a multitude of devotees!
Male: Continue singing!
Chorus: Our favourite deity at all times
Is the green currency note!
Male: Yes indeed!
The one who hoarded it all passed away yesterday, my disciple!
And all the relatives have shown their true colors, my disciple!
The one who hoarded it all passed away yesterday, my disciple!
And all the relatives have shown their true colors, my disciple!
The wet soil of the grave has not even dried,
And petty legal battles have already begun!
Political parties that preach lofty ideals
Split apart only for the sake of this money!
It is only because of money that quarrels happen every day,
And blood relations wage wars against one another!
Even holy men are singing songs,
And the reason is the rupee note, hey!
Chorus: Even holy men are singing songs,
And the reason is the rupee note!
Come, let us sing devotional hymns!
We are a multitude of devotees!
Our favourite deity at all times
Is the green currency note!
The moment we see a note, shouldn't we offer
Camphor and fragrant incense?
Without money, you cannot get
Chicken biryani at the shop!
Come, let us sing devotional hymns!
We are a multitude of devotees!
Our favourite deity at all times
Is the green currency note!
To go on pilgrimage to Kashi and Rameswaram,
The right time has not yet arrived!
Wanting a child,
My wife refuses to let me go!
Ah, to go on pilgrimage to Kashi and Rameswaram,
The right time has not yet arrived!
Wanting a child,
My wife refuses to let me go!
Though I am an ascetic, that I have a mother-in-law
Is a fact everyone already knows!
Only after a child is born
Will my troubles finally see dawn!
My peacock of a wife longs for a child,
And the reason is that property will... aha!
My peacock of a wife longs for a child,
And the reason is that property will...
Come, let us sing devotional hymns!
We are a multitude of devotees!
Male: Yes indeed!
Chorus: Our favourite deity at all times
Is the green currency note!
The moment we see a note, shouldn't we offer
Camphor and fragrant incense?
Without money, you cannot get
Chicken biryani at the shop!
Come, let us sing devotional hymns!
We are a multitude of devotees!
Our favourite deity at all times
Is the green currency note!
Aha, come let us sing devotional hymns!
We are a multitude of devotees!
Our favourite deity at all times
Is the green currency note!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This satirical song from the movie Manaivi Oru Mandhiri (1988) uses the format of a traditional Hindu bhajan (devotional group singing) to mock society's obsession with money and material greed. Instead of praising a divine deity, the singers worship the 'pachcha nottu' (green cash bill) stored inside iron safes and cash boxes, sarcastically elevating money above God. The lyrics hilariously expose human hypocrisy across various situations, such as family members fighting over inheritance even before a relative's grave dries up, political parties compromising their ideals for funds, godmen performing rituals solely for financial gain, and family members scheming for legal wills. Penned by lyricist Vaali, the song uses witty irony and street-smart humor to show that money rules everything in modern life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire and Irony

Irumbu pettiyilae irukkindra naayaganae / Pachcha nottu thaanga

Praising currency notes using devotional bhajan phrasing to mock humanity's greed and materialism.

Metaphor

Kallaap pattiyilae kannurangum kannmaniyae

Addressing money/currency as 'naayaganae' (Lord) and 'kannmaniyae' (darling/apple of the eye).

Rhyme (Edhugai / Monai)

Saeththu vachchavaru sishyaa neththu poyaachchudaa / Sontha panthamellam sishyaa open aayaachchudaa

Use of matching second letters and initial word sounds across lines for rhythmic flow (e.g., Saeththu / Sontha, Latchiyam / Udainju).

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by legendary lyricist Vaali, this song is famous for its humorous blend of classical devotional melody styles with cynical social commentary on money, property wills, and fake godmen.

Keep listening

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