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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Bajanai Seiyalam Vanga

From Manaivi Oru Mandhiri · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Irumbu pettiyilae irukkindra naayaganaeO Lord who resides inside the iron safe box,
Kallaap pattiyilae kannurangum kannmaniyaeO apple of my eye who sleeps in the cash box,
Karuppum vellaiyumaa uruvedukkum vellaiyappaaO fair-complexioned Lord who takes form in black and white,
Un arumaigalum perumaigalumYour value and your greatness,
Kadavulukkum illaiyappaa….yappaa…Even God Almighty does not possess... oh yes...
Male
Haei bajanai seiyyalaam vaangaHey, come let us sing devotional songs,
Paktha kodi naangaWe are the millions of devotees,
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaangaCome let us sing devotional songs,
Paktha kodi naangaWe are the millions of devotees,
Male
Ishta dheivam ennaalumOur favorite deity forever and always,
Pachcha nottu thaangaIs the green currency note,
Notta paaththaalae kaatta vendaamoOnly when the note is seen, shouldn't one show,
Soodam saambiraanithaanCamphor and dhoop incense?
Kaasu illama kadaiyil kidaikkaathuWithout money, you cannot get in a shop,
Chicken briyanithaan hae…Chicken biryani, hey...
Chorus
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaangaCome let us sing devotional songs,
Paktha kodi naangaWe are the millions of devotees,
Male :Continue paadungaMale: Keep singing!
Chorus :Ishta dheivam ennaalumChorus: Our favorite deity forever and always,
Pachcha nottu thaangaIs the green currency note,
Male :AamaangaMale: Yes indeed!
Male
Saeththu vachchavaru sishyaa neththu poyaachchudaaThe one who accumulated wealth passed away yesterday, disciple!
Sontha panthamellam sishyaa open aayaachchudaaAll relatives got exposed open, disciple!
Saeththu vachchavaru sishyaa neththu poyaachchudaaThe one who accumulated wealth passed away yesterday, disciple!
Sontha panthamellam sishyaa open aayaachchudaaAll relatives got exposed open, disciple!
Male
Kallarai eeram kaaalaBefore the moisture of the grave dries up,
Adhukkul sillara vazhakkuthaanPetty disputes over small change begin!
Latchiyam pesum katchiyumEven political parties talking about ideals,
Udainju povathum adhukkuththaanBreak apart only for the sake of that money!
Kaasaalaththaan ennaalumae poosalgal undaaguthuIt is only because of money that disputes arise always,
Raththaththoda raththangalum yuththangal kondaaduthuBlood relative fights wars against own blood,
Male
Saamigal paaduthu paattuGodmen sing devotional songs,
Kaaranam roopaa nottu haei…The reason is the rupee note, hey...
Chorus :Saamigal paaduthu paattuChorus: Godmen sing devotional songs,
Kaaranam roopaa nottuThe reason is the rupee note!
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaangaCome let us sing devotional songs,
Paktha kodi naangaWe are the millions of devotees,
Ishta dheivam ennaalumOur favorite deity forever and always,
Pachcha nottu thaangaIs the green currency note,
Male
Notta paaththaalae kaatta vendaamoOnly when the note is seen, shouldn't one show,
Soodam saambiraanithaanCamphor and dhoop incense?
Kaasu illama kadaiyil kidaikkaathuWithout money, you cannot get in a shop,
Chicken briyanithaanChicken biryani,
Chorus
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaangaCome let us sing devotional songs,
Paktha kodi naangaWe are the millions of devotees,
Ishta dheivam ennaalumOur favorite deity forever and always,
Pachcha nottu thaangaIs the green currency note,
Male
Kaasi raamaeshvaram pogaTo travel to Kasi and Rameswaram,
Kaalam varavillaiyaeThe time has not arrived yet,
Kuzhanthai venumendruDesiring to have a child,
Thaaram pogavidavillaiyaeThe wife did not let me go,
Ada kaasi raamaeshvaram pogaAh, to travel to Kasi and Rameswaram,
Kaalam varavillaiyaeThe time has not arrived yet,
Kuzhanthai venumendruDesiring to have a child,
Thaaram pogavidavillaiyaeThe wife did not let me go,
Male
Saamiyaar enakku maamiyaarYou know the news that the saint,
Irukkum saedhithaan theriyumaeHas become a mother-in-law to me,
Pillaithaan pirantha piraguthaanOnly after a child is born,
Enathu thollaithaan vidiyumaeMy troubles will come to an end,
Male
Pillaikku yaenguthu mayiluMayil yearns for a child,
Kaaranam antha uyilu…haan..The reason is that property will...
Chorus
Pillaikku yaenguthu mayiluMayil yearns for a child,
Kaaranam antha uyilu…The reason is that property will...
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaangaCome let us sing devotional songs,
Paktha kodi naangaWe are the millions of devotees,
Male :AamaangaMale: Yes indeed!
Chorus :Ishta dheivam ennaalumChorus: Our favorite deity forever and always,
Pachcha nottu thaangaIs the green currency note,
Male
Notta paaththaalae kaatta vendaamoOnly when the note is seen, shouldn't one show,
Soodam saambiraanithaanCamphor and dhoop incense?
Kaasu illama kadaiyil kidaikkaathuWithout money, you cannot get in a shop,
Chicken briyanithaanChicken biryani,
Chorus
Bajanai seiyyalaam vaangaCome let us sing devotional songs,
Paktha kodi naangaWe are the millions of devotees,
Ishta dheivam ennaalumOur favorite deity forever and always,
Pachcha nottu thaangaIs the green currency note,
Haan bajanai seiyyalaam vaangaHaha, come let us sing devotional songs,
Paktha kodi naangaWe are the millions of devotees,
Ishta dheivam ennaalumOur favorite deity forever and always,
Pachcha nottu thaanga….Is the green currency note....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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