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Isaimozhi
Sudharsan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Paaril Sandhai Koottam

From Sudharsan · 1951

Lyricist
K. D. Santhanam
Singer
P. A. Periyanayaki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Sudharsan
Movie release year
1951
Lyrics added on
10 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sandhai kottamada aa a a aa
Ulagamae sandhai koottamada idhil
Ulavidum manidharilae nalloor pollaar
Iru vagaiyaam gunamudaiyoor
Varuvaar povaar adhu polae
Paaril or sandhai koottam
Pala vagai manidha nadamattam
Paaril or sandhai koottam
Pala vagai manidha nadamattam
Yer pidithu dhinam paadupattu udal
Ilaikkiraan oruvan
Avan vervai sindhi vilaiyum
Sugathilae thilaikkiraan oruvan
Yer pidithu dhinam paadupattu udal
Ilaikkiraan oruvan
Avan vervai sindhi vilaiyum
Sugathilae thilaikkiraan oruvan
Paaril or sandhai koottam
Pala vagai manidha nadamattam
Kai mudhal illadhadhaalae
Kadan vaanginaan vatti melae
Kai mudhal illadhadhaalae
Kadan vaanginaan vatti melae
Nambiyae udal pongum veiyililae
Seigiraan vyabaaram
Nambiyae udal pongum veiyililae
Seigiraan vyabaaram
Enna seidhum illaiyae saaram
Vaangiya kadanai thanthadhu poga
Vattikkae seriyaachu
Vaangiya kadanai thanthadhu poga
Vattikkae seriyaachu
Laabam vattikkae seriyaachu
Paadupattadhellam veenaachu
Vatti vaangi kollaiadipavan
Vaazhvu uyaral aachu
Vatti vaangi kollaiadipavan
Vaazhvu uyaral aachu
Vaazha ninaikkiraan oruvan
Avanai vaatti vadhaikkiraan oruvan
Vaazha ninaikkiraan oruvan
Avanai vaatti vadhaikkiraan oruvan
Paaril or sandhai koottam
Pala vagai manidha nadamattam
It is a crowded marketplace, my friend...
The whole world is just a crowded marketplace, where
among the people who walk through it, the good and the bad
are people of two different natures.
They come and go, just like that.
In this world, a market crowd gathers,
with all kinds of people moving about.
In this world, a market crowd gathers,
with all kinds of people moving about.
Gripping the plough and toiling every day,
one man wears himself down to the bone.
And from the harvest grown by his sweat,
another man basks in easy comfort.
Gripping the plough and toiling every day,
one man wears himself down to the bone.
And from the harvest grown by his sweat,
another man basks in easy comfort.
Look at the market crowd in this world,
with all kinds of people moving about.
Having no capital of his own,
he took a loan with interest piled upon interest.
Having no capital of his own,
he took a loan with interest piled upon interest.
Putting his faith in it, under the burning sun,
he runs his trade.
Putting his faith in it, under the burning sun,
he runs his trade.
Whatever he does, nothing of value remains.
After giving back the borrowed loan,
the rest was swallowed by the interest.
After giving back the borrowed loan,
the rest was swallowed by the interest.
His profit was swallowed by the interest,
and all his hard work went in vain.
The one who robs others by taking interest
sees his life rise high in prosperity.
The one who robs others by taking interest
sees his life rise high in prosperity.
One man only hopes to make a living,
but another torments and crushes him.
One man only hopes to make a living,
but another torments and crushes him.
Look at the market crowd in this world,
with all kinds of people moving about...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical song compares the world to a chaotic marketplace where diverse people—both righteous and wicked—come and go. It offers a poignant social critique of labor exploitation and economic injustice. The lyricist highlights how a farmer toils continuously in sweat to grow food, only for an idle, wealthy person to enjoy the profits of that hard work. Furthermore, the song exposes the evil cycle of high-interest loans and predatory moneylenders. A small merchant works under the blazing sun, yet all his earnings are devoured by debt and interest, leaving his hard work in vain. Ultimately, the song laments a cruel world where one person struggles merely to survive while another prospers by tormenting and exploiting him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Ulagamae sandhai koottamada idhil”

Compares the world to a temporary, bustling marketplace ('Sandhai koottam') filled with transient human interaction.

Antithesis / Social Contrast (Edhirinai)

“Avan vervai sindhi vilaiyum / Sugathilae thilaikkiraan oruvan”

Contrasts the laborer who exhausts himself farming with the wealthy idle man who enjoys the output without working.

Consonance / Monnai & Etukai (Phonetic Repetition)

“Vaazha ninaikkiraan oruvan / Avanai vaatti vadhaikkiraan oruvan”

The rhythmic repetition of words starting with 'V' ('Vaazha', 'Vaatti', 'Vadhaikkiraan') emphasizes the cruelty of oppression.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1951 Tamil film 'Sudharsan' starring P. U. Chinnappa, this song composed by G. Ramanathan and sung by P. A. Periya Nayagi carries strong socio-economic commentary typical of early Dravidian movement-inspired reformist themes in mid-20th-century Tamil cinema.

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