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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaiyile Vaanginen Paiyile Podalai

From Irumbu Thirai – (1960) · 1960

Lyricist
Kothamangalam Subbu
Singer
Thiruchi Loganathan
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Irumbu Thirai – (1960)1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalaeI received it in my hand, but didn't even put it in my bag
Kaasu pona idam theriyalaeI don't know where the money went
Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalaeI received it in my hand, but didn't even put it in my bag
Kaasu pona idam theriyalaeI don't know where the money went
En kadhali pappa karanam ketpaaMy beloved sweetheart will ask for the reason
Yaedhu solvathendrum theriyalaeI don't know what to tell her
Yaezhaikku kaalam sariyillaeTimes are not good for the poor man
Male
Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalaeI received it in my hand, but didn't even put it in my bag
Kaasu pona idam theriyalaeI don't know where the money went
Male
Maasam muppathu naalum uzhaichchuWorking hard all thirty days of the month
Varumai pidichchu uruvam ilaichchuCaught in poverty, my body has grown thin
Kaasu vanthaa kadankaaran ellaamThe moment money comes, all the creditors
Kanakku noteoda nikkuraanStand waiting with their accounting notebooks
Vanthu enakku unakkunnu pikkuraanThey come and snatch it away saying 'this is for me, that is for you'
Kaasu vanthaa kadankaaran ellaamThe moment money comes, all the creditors
Kanakku noteoda nikkuraanStand waiting with their accounting notebooks
Vanthu enakku unakkunnu pikkuraanThey come and snatch it away saying 'this is for me, that is for you'
Male
Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalaeI received it in my hand, but didn't even put it in my bag
Kaasu pona idam theriyalaeI don't know where the money went
Male
Sottu sottaa vervai vittaaShedding sweat drop by drop
Pattiniyaai paadu pattaaSuffering and starving
Kattu kattaa nottu seruthuBundles and bundles of currency notes accumulate
Kettikkaaran pottiyilaeIn the clever rich man's box
Athu kuttiyum poduthu vattiyilaeAnd it breeds more money through interest
Kattu kattaa nottu seruthuBundles and bundles of currency notes accumulate
Kettikkaaran pottiyilaeIn the clever rich man's box
Athu kuttiyum poduthu vattiyilaeAnd it breeds more money through interest
Male
Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalaeI received it in my hand, but didn't even put it in my bag
Kaasu pona idam theriyalaeI don't know where the money went
Male
Vithavithamaai thunigal irukkuThere are various kinds of clothes available
Vilaiya kettaa nadukkam varuthuBut hearing the price makes me shiver
Vagai vagaiyaa nagaigal irukkuThere are varieties of shiny jewels
Madiyai paaththaa mayakkam varuthuLooking at my empty pocket makes me feel faint
Male
Edhaiyedhaiyo vanganuminnuWanting to buy so many different things
Annae edhaiyedhaiyo vanganuminnuOh brother, wanting to buy so many things
Ennamirukku vazhiyillaeI have the wish, but no way to afford them
Idhai ennaamalirukkavum mudiyallaeYet, I am unable to refrain from wishing for them
Male
Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalaeI received it in my hand, but didn't even put it in my bag
Kaasu pona idam theriyalaeI don't know where the money went
Male
Kannukku azhagaa ponna padachchaanHe created women beautiful to the eyes
Ponnukku thunaiyaa aanai padachchaanHe created men as companions for women
Onnukku paththaa selvaththa padachchaanHe created ten-fold wealth to match
Ulagam neraiya inbaththa padachchaanHe created the world full of pleasures
Male
Ennai pola palaraiyum padaichchu annaeHaving created many people like me, oh brother
Ennai pola palaraiyum padaichchuHaving created many people like me
Idhukkum adhukkum yaenga vachchaanHe made us long for this and that
Yaezhaiyai kadavul yaen padachchaanWhy did God create the poor man at all?
Male
Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalaeI received it in my hand, but didn't even put it in my bag
Kaasu pona idam theriyalaeI don't know where the money went
Kaasu pona idam theriyalaeI don't know where the money went

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalae is a classic social commentary song expressing the plight and economic struggles of the working class. The song highlights the tragic irony where a laborer works tirelessly all month, losing health to poverty, only for his hard-earned wages to disappear immediately to pay off debts and creditors. It contrasts the plight of the poor with the wealthy, who effortlessly accumulate wealth that compounds through interest. The lyricist Kothamangalam Subbu brilliantly captures the human desire for life's simple joys—clothes, jewelry, and comfort—which remain forever out of reach for the impoverished. The protagonist ultimately questions God and society's economic disparity, asking why the poor were created only to suffer and yearn for pleasures that are denied to them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Chorus / Anaphora

Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalae

The line 'Kaiyilae vaanginen payila podalae / Kaasu pona idam theriyalae' is repeated as a central refrain emphasizing the continuous cycle of poverty.

Metaphor

Athu kuttiyum poduthu vattiyilae

Describing interest on money compounding as if giving birth ('kuttiyum poduthu vattiyilae').

Rhyme / Ethukai (Second letter agreement)

Sottu sottaa vervai vittaa

The second letter consonant agreement between 'Sottu', 'Pattiniyaai', and 'Kattu'.

Repetition / Irattai Kilavi

Sottu sottaa vervai vittaa

Use of reduplicated words like 'Sottu sottaa' (drop by drop) and 'Kattu kattaa' (bundle by bundle) to heighten emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by S. V. Venkatraman for the 1960 movie Irumbu Thirai starring Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi, this song rendered by Thiruchi Loganathan became a famous anthem reflecting the socioeconomic struggles of working-class Tamils in the mid-20th century.

Keep listening

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