Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Cheri Maari Aalu Maari

From Rajangam · 1981

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Rajangam
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
13 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Panakkaara veshamadaa….aa….
Namakku pazhagaatha paashaiyadaa…aa…
Mudhaali poonaigalum
Ingu mugamoodi poduthadaa….haei…
Saeri maari aalu maari maadi yaeri vanthaenae
Vaadakaikku maalai yaendhi vanthaen
…………………
Saeri maari aalu maari maadi yaeri vanthaenae
Vaadakaikku maalai yaendhi vanthaen
Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku
Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku
Naanthaan raajaangam jeyilu enakku poorveegam
Ennaikkaikkum paarthathillai panjangam
Naanthaan raajangam jeyilu enakku poorveegam
Ennaikkaikkum paarthathillai panjangam
Panapiruppavan jaadhagam paakka venum avasiyam
Yaezhaikenna josiyam ragasiya….
Panapiruppavan jaadhagam paakka venum avasiyam
Yaezhaikenna josiyam ragasiya….
Seerthiruththam saerikkullae
Irunthu karkanum haei haei
Saeri maari….aah haa…
Aalu maari….yaeh hae
Saeri maari aalu maari maadi yaeri vanthaenae
Vaadakaikku maalai yaendhi vanthaen
Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku
Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku
Veliyae poonthottam
Veetukkullae thaen koottam
Kadhava ragasiyaththai kaappaththum
Veliyae poonthottam
Veetukkullae thaen koottam
Kadhava ragasiyaththai kaappaththum
Maadi veettu jannalo
Silukku sattai pottirukku
Saeri paiyan kovanaththil ottu irukku
Maadi veettu jannalo
Silukku sattai pottirukku
Saeri paiyan kovanaththil ottu irukku
Unga veettu kannukutti
Rotti ketkuthu….haei haei….
Saeri maari….aah haa…
Aalu maari….yaeh hae
Saeri maari aalu maari maadi yaeri vanthaenae
Vaadakaikku maalai yaendhi vanthaen
Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku
Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku
Yaeh hae….uhh hoo…..
Kaanum oiyyaaram ellaam ingae viyaabaaram
Otta vachcha meesaikenna singaram
Kaanum oiyyaaram ellaam ingae viyaabaaram
Otta vachcha meesaikenna singaram
Veedu ingae jeyilunga
Vaazhkkai ingae peyilunga
Viduthalaikku muyalunga vilakunga
Veedu ingae jeyilunga
Vaazhkkai ingae peyilunga
Viduthalaikku muyalunga vilakunga
Pullaththachchi pullapochchi
Sonna kelunga….haei haei…..
Saeri maari….aah haa…
Aalu maari….yaeh hae
Saeri maari aalu maari maadi yaeri vanthaenae
Vaadakaikku maalai yaendhi vanthaen
Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku
Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku
…………………
It is a rich man's disguise, my friend...
It is an unfamiliar language to us, my friend...
Even the capitalist cats
Are wearing masks here... hey!
Leaving the slum, changing my look, I climbed up to the upper floor
I came carrying a rented garland
...
Leaving the slum, changing my look, I climbed up to the upper floor
I came carrying a rented garland
A decorated palanquin, but inside lies mere oilcake
A decorated palanquin, but inside lies mere oilcake
I am the kingdom myself, though jail is my ancestral place
I have never consulted an almanac in my life
I am the kingdom myself, though jail is my ancestral place
I have never consulted an almanac in my life
One born with money must surely check his horoscope
What astrology or secret is there for a poor man...
One born with money must surely check his horoscope
What astrology or secret is there for a poor man...
Reform must be learned
From within the slum, hey hey!
Changing the slum... ah ha...
Changing persona... yeah hae
Leaving the slum, changing my look, I climbed up to the upper floor
I came carrying a rented garland
A decorated palanquin, but inside lies mere oilcake
A decorated palanquin, but inside lies mere oilcake
A flower garden outside
A beehive inside the house
The door protects the secret
A flower garden outside
A beehive inside the house
The door protects the secret
The window of the upstairs house
Is wearing a silk shirt
The slum boy's loincloth has a patch
The window of the upstairs house
Is wearing a silk shirt
The slum boy's loincloth has a patch
The calf of your house
Is asking for bread... hey hey!
Changing the slum... ah ha...
Changing persona... yeah hae
Leaving the slum, changing my look, I climbed up to the upper floor
I came carrying a rented garland
A decorated palanquin, but inside lies mere oilcake
A decorated palanquin, but inside lies mere oilcake
Yeah hae... uhh hoo...
All the grandeur you see here is just business
What elegance is there in a stuck-on mustache?
All the grandeur you see here is just business
What elegance is there in a stuck-on mustache?
The house here is a prison, sir
Life here is a ghost, sir
Strive for freedom, move aside!
The house here is a prison, sir
Life here is a ghost, sir
Strive for freedom, move aside!
A pregnant woman, a simple innocent soul
Listen to what I say... hey hey!
Changing the slum... ah ha...
Changing persona... yeah hae
Leaving the slum, changing my look, I climbed up to the upper floor
I came carrying a rented garland
A decorated palanquin, but inside lies mere oilcake
A decorated palanquin, but inside lies mere oilcake
...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a sharp social commentary highlighting the stark economic inequality between the wealthy elite living in high-rise mansions and the impoverished dwellers of the slums. The protagonist, named Rajangam, enters the world of the wealthy in disguise, carrying a rented garland, only to expose the hypocrisy, artificiality, and moral decay hidden behind luxury. He remarks that while the rich wear fake masks and obsess over horoscopes, the poor face daily hardship where even basic necessities are patched together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Saeri maari aalu maari maadi yaeri vanthaenae

The second letters 'ri' match across the words 'Saeri' and 'Maari' in the chorus lines.

Contrast / Antithesis

Alngaara pallaakku ullayirukku punnaakku

Contrasting external decorative grandeur ('Alngaara pallaakku') with internal worthlessness ('punnaakku').

Metaphor

Veedu ingae jeyilunga / Vaazhkkai ingae peyilunga

Comparing affluent homes to prisons ('jeyilunga') and wealthy lives to ghosts/devils ('peyilunga') to symbolize entrapment and artificiality.

Did you know?

Trivia

This rare song features lyrics penned by Vairamuthu early in his career during the 1980s. It uses folk-style rhythms and socio-political themes typical of early 1980s Tamil cinema focusing on urban class struggles.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Rajangam

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.