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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanda Kanda Pasanga

From Devan · 2002

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Unnikrishnan, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Devan2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top,
Chorus
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top!
Male
Engalaiyum konjamUs too, just a little bit,
Mela yethungaPlease elevate us to the top.
Unga ora kannaal paathu vechuLook at us out of the corner of your eye,
Lesaa thookkungaAnd gently lift us up.
Chorus
Engalaiyum konjamUs too, just a little bit,
Mela yethungaPlease elevate us to the top.
Unga ora kannaal paathu vechuLook at us out of the corner of your eye,
Lesaa thookkungaAnd gently lift us up.
Male
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Male
Engalaiyum konjamUs too, just a little bit,
Mela yethungaPlease elevate us to the top.
Unga ora kannaal paathu vechuLook at us out of the corner of your eye,
Lesaa thookkungaAnd gently lift us up.
Male
Melae irukkuravanaThe person who is already at the top,
Yerakka venaangaYou don't need to bring him down.
Ada engala pottu tharaikkum keezhaeHey, us who are pushed way below the ground,
Amukka venaangaYou don't need to crush us further.
Male
Naayar mayor aagaum ezhuthu maarinaalIf fate changes, even a Nair becomes a mayor,
Lowerum upper thaanndi ezhutha maathunaanCrossing lower and upper classes, he changed his destiny.
Chinna chinna thalaiyila nee ezhudhum ezhuthulaIn the destiny you write on small heads,
Ennennavo nadakkudhingae onnum puriyallaeAll kinds of strange things happen here, I don't understand anything!
Male
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Chorus
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Male
Benz kekkalae toyota carum kekkalaeWe didn't ask for a Benz, nor did we ask for a Toyota car,
Chorus
Benz kekkalae toyota carum kekkalaeWe didn't ask for a Benz, nor did we ask for a Toyota car.
Male
Gypsy kekkalae santro carum kaekkalaeWe didn't ask for a Gypsy, nor did we ask for a Santro car,
Chorus
Gypsy kekkalae santro carum kekkalaeWe didn't ask for a Gypsy, nor did we ask for a Santro car.
Male
T V S suzuki thandhaalIf you give us a TVS Suzuki bike,
EdanjalaagumaaWill it be a bother to you?
Indha olagathilae onakku yedhumIn this world, will anything for you
Koranju pogumaaDecrease or diminish?
Chorus
EdanjalaagumaaWill it be a bother?
Onakkaedhum koranju pogumaaWill anything diminish for you?
Male
Pathu maadi veettukkullaInside a ten-story house,
AC room kekkavillaWe didn't ask for an air-conditioned room.
Porandha naalukkellaamFor every birthday,
Cakeugalum kekkavillaWe didn't ask for cakes either.
Ae appartmentaa kettomHey, did we ask for an apartment?
Naanga housing boardaa kettomDid we ask for a housing board flat?
Ada otha kudisa outerilumHey, why haven't you given us even a single hut
Kodukkaliyae edhukkuOn the outskirts of town?
Male
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Chorus : Kanda kanda pasangalellaamChorus: You elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Male
Yaaru yaaraiyo cinema hero aakuraYou turn random people into cinema heroes,
Chorus
Yaaru yaaraiyo cinema hero aakuraYou turn random people into cinema heroes.
Male
Vethu vaettaiyum MLA mandhiri aakkuraYou turn useless fellas into MLAs and ministers,
Chorus
Vethu vaettaiyum MLA mandhiri aakkuraYou turn useless fellas into MLAs and ministers.
Male
TV yilae serialuIn a television serial,
Nadikka maattomaaWouldn't we act?
Oru counsilloraa aakkipputtaaIf you make us a local councillor,
Adikka maattomaaWouldn't we strike it rich?
Chorus
Nadikka maattomaaWouldn't we act?
Naanga yedhum adikka maattomaaWouldn't we make something for ourselves?
Male
Osandhu ponavanumThe one who has risen up high
Aaduraan peyaattathilDances around like a possessed spirit.
Vasamaa maattikkittomWe are caught helpless
Vazhkkai ennum poraattathilIn the struggle called life.
Chorus
Nee ezhudhi vacha kanakkaaIs this the calculation/plan you wrote down?
Idhu onakku nallaa irukkaaDoes this look fair to you?
Nee engala mattum kazhichu vachuExcluding only us,
Kotti vittaa kanakkaaAs if dumping us out of the count?
Male
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Chorus :Kanda kanda pasangalellaamChorus: You elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Male
Engalaiyum konjamUs too, just a little bit,
Mela yethungaPlease elevate us to the top.
Unga ora kannaal paathu vechuLook at us out of the corner of your eye,
Lesaa thookkungaAnd gently lift us up.
Male
Melae irukkuravanaThe person who is at the top,
Yerakka venaangaYou don't need to bring him down.
Ada engala pottu tharaikkum keezhaeHey, us who are pushed way below the ground,
Amukka venaangaYou don't need to crush us further.
Male
Naayar mayor aagaum ezhuthu maarinaalIf fate changes, even a Nair becomes a mayor,
Lowerum upper thaanndi ezhutha maathunaanCrossing lower and upper classes, he changed his destiny.
Chinna chinna thalaiyila nee ezhudhum ezhuthulaIn the destiny you write on small heads,
Ennennavo nadakkudhingae onnum puriyallaeAll kinds of strange things happen here, I don't understand anything!
Chorus
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.
Male
Kanda kanda pasangalellaamYou elevate all sorts of random guys,
Melae yethum kadavulaeOh God, who uplifts them to the top.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kanda Kanda Pasangalellaam' from the film Devan (2002) is a lighthearted yet deeply satirical song written as a direct conversation between the common working-class man and God. The lyrics question the apparent arbitrariness of fate, highlighting how random, seemingly ordinary, or even untalented individuals often get elevated to positions of fame, power, and wealth—becoming film stars, politicians, or owners of luxury cars.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Epiphora / Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Benz kekkalae toyota carum kekkalae / Gypsy kekkalae santro carum kaekkalae

The deliberate repetition of the word 'kekkaalae' (didn't ask) at the end of consecutive lines emphasizes the speakers' humble demands and modesty compared to the wealthy.

Metaphor (Urvakam)

Vazhkkai ennum poraattathil

Life is explicitly described as a battle or struggle ('poraattam'), painting the everyday human condition as a constant fight for survival.

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

Lowerum upper thaanndi ezhutha maathunaan

Contrasting 'lower' and 'upper' classes to showcase sudden upward social mobility driven by unpredictable destiny.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Naayar mayor aagaum ezhuthu maarinaal

The second letters 'ya' in 'Naayar' and 'va'/'ya' sound patterns fit traditional Tamil poetic meter rules (Edhukai) across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Devan' (2002) was directed by actor Arun Pandian and featured an ensemble cast including Vijayakanth, Karthik, and Arun Pandian himself. The music for the film was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring conversational, colloquial lyrics by Pazhani Bharathi that captured contemporary urban Tamil vernacular.

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