Kai Niraiya Kaasu
From Kai Niraiya Kasu · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Kai Niraiya Kasu1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kai niraiya kasu | Hands full of money |
| Pai niraiya kasu | Pockets full of money |
| Veluthu kattu raja | Give it your all, king |
| Vettri nadaipottu | Walk with a victorious stride |
| Male | |
| Kai niraiya kasu | Hands full of money |
| Pai niraiya kasu | Pockets full of money |
| Veluthu kattu raja | Give it your all, king |
| Vettri nadaipottu | Walk with a victorious stride |
| Male | |
| Entha appanukkum | To any father |
| Appanadaa vellaiyappan | Vellaiyappan is the ultimate father |
| Antha appanukkum | Even to that father |
| Appanadaa pazhaniyappan | Palaniyappan is the ultimate father |
| Male | |
| Pillai sollum mazhalaiyil | In the baby talk of a child |
| Kollai inbam ullathendru | They say there is immense joy |
| Valluvanaar sillaraiyai paarthathillai | Saint Valluvar never looked at loose change |
| Avan kasai konjam sundivittu | Flipping his coin a little bit |
| Yosanaiyum ennavendru | And asking what your opinion is |
| Male | |
| Kathaara annaalil kettathillai | He never cried out asking in those days |
| Kathaara annaalil kettathillai | He never cried out asking in those days |
| Male | |
| Kai niraiya kasu | Hands full of money |
| Pai niraiya kasu | Pockets full of money |
| Veluthu kattu raja | Give it your all, king |
| Vettri nadaipottu | Walk with a victorious stride |
| Male | |
| Un sollil ulla naanayaththai | The honesty in your words |
| Evan mathippan | Who will value it? |
| Adhu kaiyil vanthu paiyil vanthaal | If money comes to your hand and pocket |
| Pallu ilippan | Everyone will grin and flatter you |
| Male | |
| Oru pakkam poo endru | Heads on one side |
| Marupakkam thalai endrum | Tails on the other side |
| Irupakkm iruppathu edharkaaga | Why does it exist on both sides? |
| Panam anthapakkam netrirukkum | Money was on that side yesterday |
| Inthapakkam indrirukkum | It is on this side today |
| Enbathai nee ariyaenum adharkaga | Just so that you understand this truth |
| Enbathai nee ariyaenum adharkaga | Just so that you understand this truth |
| Male | |
| Kai niraiya kasu | Hands full of money |
| Pai niraiya kasu | Pockets full of money |
| Veluthu kattu raja | Give it your all, king |
| Vettri nadaipottu | Walk with a victorious stride |
| Vettri nadaipottu | Walk with a victorious stride |
| Vettri nadaipottu | Walk with a victorious stride |
கை நிறைய காசு
பை நிறைய நோட்டு
வெளுத்து கட்டு ராஜா
வெற்றி நடைப்போட்டு
Hands full of money
Pockets full of money
Give it your all, king
Walk with a victorious stride
கை நிறைய காசு
பை நிறைய நோட்டு
வெளுத்து கட்டு ராஜா
வெற்றி நடைப்போட்டு
Hands full of money
Pockets full of money
Give it your all, king
Walk with a victorious stride
எந்த அப்பனுக்கும்
அப்பனடா வெள்ளையப்பன்
அந்த அப்பனுக்கும்
அப்பனடா பழனியப்பன்
To any father
Vellaiyappan is the ultimate father
Even to that father
Palaniyappan is the ultimate father
பிள்ளை சொல்லும் மழலையில்
கொள்ளை இன்பம் உள்ளதென்று
வள்ளுவனார் சில்லறையை பார்த்ததில்லை
அவன் காசை கொஞ்சம் சுண்டிவிட்டு
யோசனையும் என்னவென்று
In the baby talk of a child
They say there is immense joy
Saint Valluvar never looked at loose change
Flipping his coin a little bit
And asking what your opinion is
காதார அந்நாளில் கேட்டதில்லை
காதார அந்நாளில் கேட்டதில்லை
He never cried out asking in those days
He never cried out asking in those days
கை நிறைய காசு
பை நிறைய நோட்டு
வெளுத்து கட்டு ராஜா
வெற்றி நடைப்போட்டு
Hands full of money
Pockets full of money
Give it your all, king
Walk with a victorious stride
உன் சொல்லில் உள்ள நாணயத்தை
எவன் மதிப்பான்
அது கையில் வந்து பையில் வந்தால்
பல்லு இளிப்பான்
The honesty in your words
Who will value it?
If money comes to your hand and pocket
Everyone will grin and flatter you
ஒரு பக்கம் பூ என்றும்
மறுபக்கம் தலை என்றும்
இருபக்கம் இருப்பது எதற்காக
பணம் அந்தபக்கம் நேற்றிருக்கும்
இந்த பக்கம் இன்றிருக்கும்
என்பதை நீ அறியேனும் அதற்காக
என்பதை நீ அறியேனும் அதற்காக
Heads on one side
Tails on the other side
Why does it exist on both sides?
Money was on that side yesterday
It is on this side today
Just so that you understand this truth
Just so that you understand this truth
கை நிறைய காசு
பை நிறைய நோட்டு
வெளுத்து கட்டு ராஜா
வெற்றி நடைப்போட்டு
வெற்றி நடைப்போட்டு
வெற்றி நடைப்போட்டு
Hands full of money
Pockets full of money
Give it your all, king
Walk with a victorious stride
Walk with a victorious stride
Walk with a victorious stride
Kai niraiya kasu
Hands full of money
Pai niraiya kasu
Pockets full of money
Veluthu kattu raja
Give it your all, king
Vettri nadaipottu
Walk with a victorious stride
Kai niraiya kasu
Hands full of money
Pai niraiya kasu
Pockets full of money
Veluthu kattu raja
Give it your all, king
Vettri nadaipottu
Walk with a victorious stride
Entha appanukkum
To any father
Appanadaa vellaiyappan
Vellaiyappan is the ultimate father
Antha appanukkum
Even to that father
Appanadaa pazhaniyappan
Palaniyappan is the ultimate father
Pillai sollum mazhalaiyil
In the baby talk of a child
Kollai inbam ullathendru
They say there is immense joy
Valluvanaar sillaraiyai paarthathillai
Saint Valluvar never looked at loose change
Avan kasai konjam sundivittu
Flipping his coin a little bit
Yosanaiyum ennavendru
And asking what your opinion is
Kathaara annaalil kettathillai
He never cried out asking in those days
Kathaara annaalil kettathillai
He never cried out asking in those days
Kai niraiya kasu
Hands full of money
Pai niraiya kasu
Pockets full of money
Veluthu kattu raja
Give it your all, king
Vettri nadaipottu
Walk with a victorious stride
Un sollil ulla naanayaththai
The honesty in your words
Evan mathippan
Who will value it?
Adhu kaiyil vanthu paiyil vanthaal
If money comes to your hand and pocket
Pallu ilippan
Everyone will grin and flatter you
Oru pakkam poo endru
Heads on one side
Marupakkam thalai endrum
Tails on the other side
Irupakkm iruppathu edharkaaga
Why does it exist on both sides?
Panam anthapakkam netrirukkum
Money was on that side yesterday
Inthapakkam indrirukkum
It is on this side today
Enbathai nee ariyaenum adharkaga
Just so that you understand this truth
Enbathai nee ariyaenum adharkaga
Just so that you understand this truth
Kai niraiya kasu
Hands full of money
Pai niraiya kasu
Pockets full of money
Veluthu kattu raja
Give it your all, king
Vettri nadaipottu
Walk with a victorious stride
Vettri nadaipottu
Walk with a victorious stride
Vettri nadaipottu
Walk with a victorious stride
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kai Niraiya Kasu' is a sharp, philosophical commentary on the power of money and human nature in society. Penned by Kannadasan, it highlights how society respects money far more than character, virtue, or spoken honesty. Using playful references to Thiruvalluvar and the two sides of a coin, the lyrics explain that money is transient—it moves from hand to hand and person to person, revealing the shallow nature of material wealth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Double Entendre (Sleshhai)
“Un sollil ulla naanayaththai”
The word 'Naanayam' in 'Un sollil ulla naanayaththai' is a clever pun meaning both 'currency coin' and 'honesty/integrity'.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kai niraiya kasu”
Repetition of initial consonants creating a rhythmic beat: 'Kai niraiya kasu / Pai niraiya kasu'.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Panam anthapakkam netrirukkum / Inthapakkam indrirukkum”
The second letter harmony seen in 'anthapakkam' and 'Inthapakkam'.
Metaphor
“Oru pakkam poo endru / Marupakkam thalai endrum”
Comparing the two sides of a coin (poo and thalai) to the impermanence and shifting nature of wealth across time.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan frequently embedded deep philosophical observations on wealth into upbeat, catchy Tamil film tracks. His clever play on the word 'naanayam' (coin/honesty) remains one of his iconic linguistic devices to criticize societal materialism.
Keep listening
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