Kurangu Varum Thottamadi
From Panathottam · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Panathottam1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kurangu varum thottamadi pazhathottam | A fruit garden is a garden where monkeys visit, |
| Vandu varum thottamadi malarthottam | A flower garden is a garden where bees visit, |
| Manidhanukku thottamadi manathottam | For man, the garden is the garden of the mind, |
| Andha manidhan vilaiyaadumidam panathottam | And the playground of that man is the garden of money! |
| Panathottam panathottam | Garden of money, garden of money! |
| Male | |
| Manathottam podum endru | Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice, |
| Maayavanaar kodutha udal | The body given by the mysterious Lord, |
| Panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear, |
| Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money! |
| Male | |
| Manathottam podum endru | Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice, |
| Maayavanaar kodutha udal | The body given by the mysterious Lord, |
| Panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear, |
| Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money! |
| Male | |
| Sangathaal pirandha inam | A race born out of the Tamil literary Sangam, |
| Singam pola valarndha gunam | A noble character that grew strong like a lion, |
| Sangathaal pirandha inam | A race born out of the Tamil literary Sangam, |
| Singam pola valarndha gunam | A noble character that grew strong like a lion, |
| Thangathaal azhindhathaeyadi | Has been ruined by gold, my dear, |
| Muthamma thangathaal azhindhathaeyadi | Oh Muthamma, ruined by gold! |
| Muthamma thangathaal azhindhathaeyadi | Oh Muthamma, ruined by gold! |
| Male | |
| Manathottam podum endru | Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice, |
| Maayavanaar kodutha udal | The body given by the mysterious Lord, |
| Panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear, |
| Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money! |
| En muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Oh my Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money! |
| Male | |
| Oosi munai kaadhukullae | Even if camels pass through |
| Ottagangal ponaalum | The eye of a needle, |
| Kaasaasai pogaathadi | The greed for money will never leave, my dear, |
| En muthamma kattaiyilum vegathadi | Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre! |
| Vera oosi munai kaadhukullae | Even if camels pass through the eye of a needle, |
| Ottagangal ponaalum | Ottagangal ponaalum |
| Kaasaasai pogaathadi | The greed for money will never leave, my dear, |
| En muthamma kattaiyilum vegathadi | Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre! |
| En muthamma kattaiyilum vegathadi | Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre! |
| Male | |
| Manathottam podum endru | Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice, |
| Maayavanaar kodutha udal | The body given by the mysterious Lord, |
| Panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear, |
| Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money! |
| Male | |
| Ennaiyudan thanneerai | No matter how you try to mix |
| Eppadithaan kalandhaalum | Oil with water, |
| Ennaiyudan thanneerai | No matter how you try to mix |
| Eppadithaan kalandhaalum | Oil with water, |
| Irandum ondru saerathadi | The two will never combine into one, my dear, |
| Muthamma iyarkkai gunam maaradhadi | Oh Muthamma, inherent human nature never changes! |
| Muthamma iyarkkai gunam maaradhadi | Oh Muthamma, inherent human nature never changes! |
| Male | |
| Manathottam podum endru | Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice, |
| Maayavanaar kodutha udal | The body given by the mysterious Lord, |
| Panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear, |
| Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money! |
| En muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi | Oh my Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money! |
குரங்கு வரும் தோட்டமடி பழத்தோட்டம்
வண்டு வரும் தோட்டமடி மலர்த்தோட்டம்
மனிதனுக்குத் தோட்டமடி மனத்தோட்டம்
அந்த மனிதன் விளையாடுமிடம் பணத்தோட்டம்
பணத்தோட்டம் பணத்தோட்டம்
A fruit garden is a garden where monkeys visit,
A flower garden is a garden where bees visit,
For man, the garden is the garden of the mind,
And the playground of that man is the garden of money!
Garden of money, garden of money!
மனத்தோட்டம் போடுமென்று
மாயவனார் கொடுத்த உடல்
பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி
முத்தம்மா பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி...
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
மனத்தோட்டம் போடுமென்று
மாயவனார் கொடுத்த உடல்
பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி
முத்தம்மா பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி...
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
சங்கத்தால் பிறந்த இனம்
சிங்கம்போல வளர்ந்த குணம்
சங்கத்தால் பிறந்த இனம்
சிங்கம்போல வளர்ந்த குணம்
தங்கத்தால் அழிந்ததேயடி
முத்தம்மா தங்கத்தால் அழிந்ததேயடி
முத்தம்மா தங்கத்தால் அழிந்ததேயடி
A race born out of the Tamil literary Sangam,
A noble character that grew strong like a lion,
A race born out of the Tamil literary Sangam,
A noble character that grew strong like a lion,
Has been ruined by gold, my dear,
Oh Muthamma, ruined by gold!
Oh Muthamma, ruined by gold!
மனத்தோட்டம் போடுமென்று
மாயவனார் கொடுத்த உடல்
பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி
முத்தம்மா பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி...
என் முத்தம்மா பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி...
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
Oh my Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
ஊசி முனைக் காதுக்குள்ளே
ஒட்டகங்கள் போனாலும்
காசாசை போகாதடி
என் முத்தம்மா கட்டையிலும் வேகாதடி
ஹே ஊசி முனைக் காதுக்குள்ளே
ஒட்டகங்கள் போனாலும்
ஊசி முனைக் காதுக்குள்ளே
ஒட்டகங்கள் போனாலும்
காசாசை போகாதடி
என் முத்தம்மா கட்டையிலும் வேகாதடி
என் முத்தம்மா கட்டையிலும் வேகாதடி
Even if camels pass through
The eye of a needle,
The greed for money will never leave, my dear,
Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre!
Even if camels pass through the eye of a needle,
Ottagangal ponaalum
The greed for money will never leave, my dear,
Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre!
Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre!
மனத்தோட்டம் போடுமென்று
மாயவனார் கொடுத்த உடல்
பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி
முத்தம்மா பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி...
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
எண்ணெயுடன் தண்ணீரை
எப்படித்தான் கலந்தாலும்
எண்ணெயுடன் தண்ணீரை
எப்படித்தான் கலந்தாலும்
இரண்டும் ஒன்று சேராதடி
முத்தம்மா இயற்கை குணம் மாறாதடி!
முத்தம்மா இயற்கை குணம் மாறாதடி!
No matter how you try to mix
Oil with water,
No matter how you try to mix
Oil with water,
The two will never combine into one, my dear,
Oh Muthamma, inherent human nature never changes!
Oh Muthamma, inherent human nature never changes!
மனத்தோட்டம் போடுமென்று
மாயவனார் கொடுத்த உடல்
பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி
முத்தம்மா பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி...
என் முத்தம்மா பணத்தோட்டம் போட்டதேயடி...
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
Oh my Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
Kurangu varum thottamadi pazhathottam
A fruit garden is a garden where monkeys visit,
Vandu varum thottamadi malarthottam
A flower garden is a garden where bees visit,
Manidhanukku thottamadi manathottam
For man, the garden is the garden of the mind,
Andha manidhan vilaiyaadumidam panathottam
And the playground of that man is the garden of money!
Panathottam panathottam
Garden of money, garden of money!
Manathottam podum endru
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
Maayavanaar kodutha udal
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
Manathottam podum endru
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
Maayavanaar kodutha udal
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
Sangathaal pirandha inam
A race born out of the Tamil literary Sangam,
Singam pola valarndha gunam
A noble character that grew strong like a lion,
Sangathaal pirandha inam
A race born out of the Tamil literary Sangam,
Singam pola valarndha gunam
A noble character that grew strong like a lion,
Thangathaal azhindhathaeyadi
Has been ruined by gold, my dear,
Muthamma thangathaal azhindhathaeyadi
Oh Muthamma, ruined by gold!
Muthamma thangathaal azhindhathaeyadi
Oh Muthamma, ruined by gold!
Manathottam podum endru
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
Maayavanaar kodutha udal
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
En muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Oh my Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
Oosi munai kaadhukullae
Even if camels pass through
Ottagangal ponaalum
The eye of a needle,
Kaasaasai pogaathadi
The greed for money will never leave, my dear,
En muthamma kattaiyilum vegathadi
Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre!
Vera oosi munai kaadhukullae
Even if camels pass through the eye of a needle,
Ottagangal ponaalum
Ottagangal ponaalum
Kaasaasai pogaathadi
The greed for money will never leave, my dear,
En muthamma kattaiyilum vegathadi
Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre!
En muthamma kattaiyilum vegathadi
Oh my Muthamma, it won't burn away even on the funeral pyre!
Manathottam podum endru
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
Maayavanaar kodutha udal
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
Ennaiyudan thanneerai
No matter how you try to mix
Eppadithaan kalandhaalum
Oil with water,
Ennaiyudan thanneerai
No matter how you try to mix
Eppadithaan kalandhaalum
Oil with water,
Irandum ondru saerathadi
The two will never combine into one, my dear,
Muthamma iyarkkai gunam maaradhadi
Oh Muthamma, inherent human nature never changes!
Muthamma iyarkkai gunam maaradhadi
Oh Muthamma, inherent human nature never changes!
Manathottam podum endru
Thinking that the garden of the mind would suffice,
Maayavanaar kodutha udal
The body given by the mysterious Lord,
Panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Has grown a garden of money instead, my dear,
Muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Oh Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
En muthamma panathottam pottadhaeyadi
Oh my Muthamma, it has grown a garden of money!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Panathottam (Garden of Money) is a timeless philosophical song written by Kannadasan for the 1963 MGR film of the same name. Through vivid metaphors, the song reflects on human greed and the corrupting nature of wealth. It begins by contrasting natural gardens—where animals and insects seek fruits and flowers—with the human realm, where man abandons peace of mind to chase money. Kannadasan laments that a culture built on proud heritage and lion-like bravery has succumbed to the lure of gold.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Manidhanukku thottamadi manathottam”
Compares various natural settings to the human condition, equating the mind and money to gardens ('Manathottam', 'Panathottam').
Simile (Upamai)
“Singam pola valarndha gunam”
Compares the bravery and growth of character to a lion ('Singam pola').
Biblical Allusion
“Oosi munai kaadhukullae / Ottagangal ponaalum”
Adapts the biblical phrase 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle' to convey the stubbornness of human greed.
Analogy
“Ennaiyudan thanneerai / Eppadithaan kalandhaalum”
Uses the physical impossibility of permanently mixing oil and water to illustrate how true character cannot be disguised or altered.
Did you know?
Trivia
The line 'Oosi munai kaadhukullae ottagangal ponaalum' is Kannadasan's celebrated Tamil adaptation of the famous Biblical quote from Matthew 19:24. The song's commentary on wealth and moral corruption perfectly complemented the socio-political themes often associated with M. G. Ramachandran's cinema in the 1960s.
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