Laabama Nashtama
From Satharam · 1956
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Satharam1956
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Laabamaa nastama nainaa paiyaa | Is it profit or loss, my friend? |
| Laabamaa nastama | Is it profit or loss? |
| Raajangam namma kaiyil vandhaale | If governance comes into our hands |
| Naatil ulla janangalukku nammaale | For the people in the country, through us |
| Raajangam namma kaiyil vandhaale | If governance comes into our hands |
| Naatil ulla janangalukku nammaale | For the people in the country, through us |
| Laabamaa nastama nainaa paiyaa | Is it profit or loss, my friend? |
| Laabamaa nastama | Is it profit or loss? |
| Male | |
| Saalaiyile nikkum maram | Trees standing along the roadside |
| Sarkaaru vecha maram | Trees planted by the government |
| Aalu mela saanjadhunaa aabathu | If one leans over a person, it is a danger |
| Avan aaviyadhu poguminnu yugichu | Guessing that his life might be lost |
| Male | |
| Nalla verai killi marathai ellaam | Plucking the good roots and all the trees |
| Vetti thalli kaaya vechu | Cutting them down and letting them dry |
| Vithuvida solliputten kaasukku | I ordered them to sell for money |
| Viragu panjam theerum nammudaiya oorukku | The shortage of firewood will end for our town |
| Naina laabama nastama | My friend, is it profit or loss? |
| Idhanaal laabama nastama | Because of this, is it profit or loss? |
| Male | |
| Pazham koduthu palan kodukkum | Giving fruits and providing benefits |
| Pala maramum ponaa nizhal yedhu | If many trees are gone, where is the shade? |
| Panamum yedhu laabam yedhu naina | Where is the money, where is the profit, my friend? |
| Male | |
| Sathirangal iruppadhaale | Because free choultries exist |
| Thanda sothu saamigale | Parasitic holy men who eat free food |
| Jaasthiyaagi pochu namba naatilae | Have increased in our country |
| Adhuga sanjarchu vendiyadhu kaattula | They ought to roam around in the forest |
| Male | |
| Adhanaal iththiname | Therefore, this very day |
| Engumulla Sathirathai | Choultries everywhere |
| Idichi thalla utharavu | An order to demolish them down |
| Pottu vitten naerile | I have issued directly |
| Ennai pola buthisaali | A smart person like me |
| Yaaru indha oorile | Who is there in this town? |
| Naina laabama nastama | My friend, is it profit or loss? |
| Idhanaal laabama nastama | Because of this, is it profit or loss? |
| Male | |
| Iduchi thalla yegapatta | Demolishing them causes immense |
| Selavu aagum podhu | Expense, when that happens |
| Iruppadhellaam karainju | All that exists will drain away |
| Pogum laabam yemi ledhu | Profit goes away, there is nothing gained |
| Male | |
| Sambalamum vaangi kittu | Drawing salaries |
| Kimbalamum pethukittu | And taking bribes on top |
| Sattathittam podum adhigaaringa | Officials who make rules and regulations |
| Thammai sandai pottu | Fighting among themselves |
| Velai vittu naanunga | I dismissed them from their jobs |
| Male | |
| Ini sambalamum micham | From now on, salary is saved |
| Pala vambugalum micham | Many troubles are saved as well |
| Namma janangalukku illaiyini sangadam | Our people will no longer have distress |
| Manasil sandhosam thannalae pongidum | Joy will naturally overflow in their hearts |
| Naina laabama nastama | My friend, is it profit or loss? |
| Idhanaal laabama nastama | Because of this, is it profit or loss? |
| Male | |
| Laabam okatti nastam nooru | Profit is one, loss is a hundred! |
லாபமா நஷ்டமா நைனாப் பையா
லாபமா நஷ்டமா
ராஜாங்கம் நம்ம கையில் வந்தாலே
நாட்டில் உள்ள ஜனங்களுக்கு நம்மாலே
ராஜாங்கம் நம்ம கையில் வந்தாலே
நாட்டில் உள்ள ஜனங்களுக்கு நம்மாலே
லாபமா நஷ்டமா டேய் நைனாப் பையா
லாபமா நஷ்டமா
Is it profit or loss, my friend?
Is it profit or loss?
If governance comes into our hands
For the people in the country, through us
If governance comes into our hands
For the people in the country, through us
Is it profit or loss, my friend?
Is it profit or loss?
சாலையிலே நிக்கும் மரம்
சர்க்காரு வச்ச மரம்
ஆளு மேலே சாஞ்சுதுன்னா ஆபத்து
அவன் ஆவியது போகுமின்னு யூகிச்சு
Trees standing along the roadside
Trees planted by the government
If one leans over a person, it is a danger
Guessing that his life might be lost
நல்லா வேரைக் கிள்ளி மரத்தையெல்லாம்
வெட்டித் தள்ளி காய வச்சு
வித்துவிட சொல்லிப்புட்டேன் காசுக்கு
விறகு பஞ்சம் தீரும் நம்முடைய ஊருக்கு
நைனா லாபமா நஷ்டமா
இதனால் லாபமா நஷ்டமா
Plucking the good roots and all the trees
Cutting them down and letting them dry
I ordered them to sell for money
The shortage of firewood will end for our town
My friend, is it profit or loss?
Because of this, is it profit or loss?
பழம் கொடுத்து பலன் கொடுக்கும்
பல மரமும் போனா நிழல் ஏது
பணமும் ஏது லாபம் ஏது நைனா
Giving fruits and providing benefits
If many trees are gone, where is the shade?
Where is the money, where is the profit, my friend?
சத்திரங்கள் இருப்பதாலே
தண்டச் சோத்து சாமிகளே
ஜாஸ்தியாகிப் போச்சு நம்ப நாட்டிலே
அதுக சஞ்சரிக்க வேண்டியது காட்டுல
Because free choultries exist
Parasitic holy men who eat free food
Have increased in our country
They ought to roam around in the forest
அதனால் இத்தினமே
எங்குமுள்ள சத்திரத்தை
இடிச்சித் தள்ள உத்தரவு
போட்டு விட்டேன் நேரிலே
என்னைப் போல புத்திசாலி
யாரு இந்த ஊரிலே
நைனா லாபமா நஷ்டமா
இதனால் லாபமா நஷ்டமா
Therefore, this very day
Choultries everywhere
An order to demolish them down
I have issued directly
A smart person like me
Who is there in this town?
My friend, is it profit or loss?
Because of this, is it profit or loss?
இடிச்சித் தள்ள ஏகப்பட்ட
செலவு ஆகும்போது
இருப்பதெல்லாம் கரைஞ்சுப்
போகும் லாபம் ஏமிலேது
Demolishing them causes immense
Expense, when that happens
All that exists will drain away
Profit goes away, there is nothing gained
சம்பளமும் வாங்கி கிட்டு
கிம்பளமும் பெத்துகிட்டு
சட்டத்திட்டம் போடும் அதிகாரிங்க
தம்மை சண்டை போட்டு
வேலை விட்டு நானுங்க
Drawing salaries
And taking bribes on top
Officials who make rules and regulations
Fighting among themselves
I dismissed them from their jobs
இனி சம்பளமும் மிச்சம்
பல வம்புகளும் மிச்சம்
நம்ம ஜனங்களுக்கு இல்லையினி சங்கடம்
மனசில் சந்தோசம் தன்னாலே பொங்கிடும்...
நைனா லாபமா நஷ்டமா
இதனால் லாபமா நஷ்டமா
From now on, salary is saved
Many troubles are saved as well
Our people will no longer have distress
Joy will naturally overflow in their hearts
My friend, is it profit or loss?
Because of this, is it profit or loss?
லாபம் ஓக்கட்டி நஷ்டம் நூறு
Profit is one, loss is a hundred!
Laabamaa nastama nainaa paiyaa
Is it profit or loss, my friend?
Laabamaa nastama
Is it profit or loss?
Raajangam namma kaiyil vandhaale
If governance comes into our hands
Naatil ulla janangalukku nammaale
For the people in the country, through us
Raajangam namma kaiyil vandhaale
If governance comes into our hands
Naatil ulla janangalukku nammaale
For the people in the country, through us
Laabamaa nastama nainaa paiyaa
Is it profit or loss, my friend?
Laabamaa nastama
Is it profit or loss?
Saalaiyile nikkum maram
Trees standing along the roadside
Sarkaaru vecha maram
Trees planted by the government
Aalu mela saanjadhunaa aabathu
If one leans over a person, it is a danger
Avan aaviyadhu poguminnu yugichu
Guessing that his life might be lost
Nalla verai killi marathai ellaam
Plucking the good roots and all the trees
Vetti thalli kaaya vechu
Cutting them down and letting them dry
Vithuvida solliputten kaasukku
I ordered them to sell for money
Viragu panjam theerum nammudaiya oorukku
The shortage of firewood will end for our town
Naina laabama nastama
My friend, is it profit or loss?
Idhanaal laabama nastama
Because of this, is it profit or loss?
Pazham koduthu palan kodukkum
Giving fruits and providing benefits
Pala maramum ponaa nizhal yedhu
If many trees are gone, where is the shade?
Panamum yedhu laabam yedhu naina
Where is the money, where is the profit, my friend?
Sathirangal iruppadhaale
Because free choultries exist
Thanda sothu saamigale
Parasitic holy men who eat free food
Jaasthiyaagi pochu namba naatilae
Have increased in our country
Adhuga sanjarchu vendiyadhu kaattula
They ought to roam around in the forest
Adhanaal iththiname
Therefore, this very day
Engumulla Sathirathai
Choultries everywhere
Idichi thalla utharavu
An order to demolish them down
Pottu vitten naerile
I have issued directly
Ennai pola buthisaali
A smart person like me
Yaaru indha oorile
Who is there in this town?
Naina laabama nastama
My friend, is it profit or loss?
Idhanaal laabama nastama
Because of this, is it profit or loss?
Iduchi thalla yegapatta
Demolishing them causes immense
Selavu aagum podhu
Expense, when that happens
Iruppadhellaam karainju
All that exists will drain away
Pogum laabam yemi ledhu
Profit goes away, there is nothing gained
Sambalamum vaangi kittu
Drawing salaries
Kimbalamum pethukittu
And taking bribes on top
Sattathittam podum adhigaaringa
Officials who make rules and regulations
Thammai sandai pottu
Fighting among themselves
Velai vittu naanunga
I dismissed them from their jobs
Ini sambalamum micham
From now on, salary is saved
Pala vambugalum micham
Many troubles are saved as well
Namma janangalukku illaiyini sangadam
Our people will no longer have distress
Manasil sandhosam thannalae pongidum
Joy will naturally overflow in their hearts
Naina laabama nastama
My friend, is it profit or loss?
Idhanaal laabama nastama
Because of this, is it profit or loss?
Laabam okatti nastam nooru
Profit is one, loss is a hundred!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a sharp political satire from the movie 'Satharam' (1956). The character singing boasts about his foolish and short-sighted governance decisions, foolishly believing he is a grand administrative genius. He cuts down roadside trees to solve firewood shortages and prevent falling branches, destroys public rest-houses (satharam) to drive away idle mendicants, and fires officials to save state funds on salaries and curb corruption. Through a call-and-response style, the narrator asks whether his actions yield profit or loss, while the realistic voice points out the disastrous consequences of each act (loss of shade, huge demolition costs, and governance breakdown). The song brilliantly concludes with the ironic reality: 'Profit is one, loss is a hundred!'
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Dramatic Irony / Satire (Nindha Stuthi)
“Ennai pola buthisaali / Yaaru indha oorile”
The speaker praises himself as a genius ('Ennai pola buthisaali'), while his actual actions are disastrous and short-sighted, highlighting comedic irony.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Pazham koduthu palan kodukkum”
Repetition of the 'p' sound at the beginning of adjacent words ('Pazham', 'palan').
Rhyme / Internal Assonance (Edhugai & Iyaibu)
“Sambalamum vaangi kittu / Kimbalamum pethukittu”
Use of matching internal rhyming words like 'Sambalamum' (salary) and 'Kimbalamum' (bribe) to create rhythmic musicality.
Linguistic Code-Switching
“Laabam okatti nastam nooru”
Inclusion of Madras Tamil street slang ('nainaa paiyaa') along with Telugu loan words ('yemi ledhu', 'okatti') commonly used in historical Tamil folk dialogue.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Satharam' (1956) was scored by legendary composer G. Ramanathan and featured lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, who was renowned for crafting social critiques disguised as accessible folk songs. Seerkazhi Govindarajan's theatrical rendering elevates the comedic pomposity of the character.
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