Pagattula Ulagam
From Mallika (1957 film) · 1957
- Lyricist
- M. K. Aathmanathan
- Singers
- Jikki, S. C. Krishnan
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Mallika (1957 film)1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu | The world gets fooled by superficial pretension |
| Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu | Because of this, our money changes hands |
| Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu | The world gets fooled by superficial pretension |
| Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu | Because of this, our money changes hands |
| Iruttula kedanthu thindaadudhu | It lies trapped in darkness and struggles |
| Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu | Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it |
| Iruttula kedanthu thindaadudhu | It lies trapped in darkness and struggles |
| Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu | Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it |
| Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu | Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it |
| Chorus | |
| Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu | The world gets fooled by superficial pretension |
| Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu | Because of this, our money changes hands |
| Iruttula kedanthu thindaadudhu | It lies trapped in darkness and struggles |
| Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu | Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it |
| Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu | Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it |
| Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu | The world gets fooled by superficial pretension |
| Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu | Because of this, our money changes hands |
| Male | |
| Illaadha manushanukku soru tharaadhu | It will not give food to a man who has nothing |
| Ellaam iruppavanai azhaichu | Yet inviting the one who has everything |
| Virundhu vaikka thavaraadhu | It never fails to host a grand feast for him |
| Nallavanga sollukku madhippu tharaadhu | It gives no value to the words of righteous people |
| Indha naadarinja unmai idhai | Even though this is a truth known to the entire country |
| Enni paarkkadhu…hoo | It refuses to reflect upon it... hoo |
| Male | |
| Pattam pdhavikku aasaipattu | Lustful for titles and positions of power |
| Perum pagal veshakaarnai suthikittu | Wandering around as a grand show-off pretender |
| Chorus :Pattam pdhavikku aasaipattu | Chorus: Lustful for titles and positions of power |
| Perum pagal veshakaarnai suthikittu | Wandering around as a grand show-off pretender |
| Male :Mattu mariyaadhai maanathai udharivittu | Male: Casting aside self-respect, decency, and dignity |
| Avanai vaazhthivittu | Extolling that deceiver with praise |
| Thannai thazhthikittu | And degrading oneself in the process |
| Male | |
| Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu | The world gets fooled by superficial pretension |
| Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu | Because of this, our money changes hands |
| Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu | The world gets fooled by superficial pretension |
| Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu | Because of this, our money changes hands |
பகட்டுலே உலகம் ஏமாறுது
நம்ம பணமும் அதனால் கை மாறுது
பகட்டுலே உலகம் ஏமாறுது
நம்ம பணமும் அதனால் கை மாறுது
இருட்டுல கெடந்து திண்டாடுது
தன்னை ஏய்க்கிற மனுஷனை கொண்டாடுது...
இருட்டுல கெடந்து திண்டாடுது
தன்னை ஏய்க்கிற மனுஷனை கொண்டாடுது...
தன்னை ஏய்க்கிற மனுஷனை கொண்டாடுது...
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Because of this, our money changes hands
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Because of this, our money changes hands
It lies trapped in darkness and struggles
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
It lies trapped in darkness and struggles
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
பகட்டுலே உலகம் ஏமாறுது
நம்ம பணமும் அதனால் கை மாறுது
இருட்டுல கெடந்து திண்டாடுது
தன்னை ஏய்க்கிற மனுஷனை கொண்டாடுது...
தன்னை ஏய்க்கிற மனுஷனை கொண்டாடுது...
பகட்டுலே உலகம் ஏமாறுது
நம்ம பணமும் அதனால் கை மாறுது
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Because of this, our money changes hands
It lies trapped in darkness and struggles
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Because of this, our money changes hands
இல்லாத மனுஷனுக்கு சோறு தராது
எல்லாம் இருப்பவனை அழைச்சு
விருந்து வைக்கத் தவறாது
நல்லவங்க சொல்லுக்கு மதிப்பு தராது
இந்த நாடறிஞ்ச உண்மையிதை
எண்ணிப் பார்க்காது...ஹோ
It will not give food to a man who has nothing
Yet inviting the one who has everything
It never fails to host a grand feast for him
It gives no value to the words of righteous people
Even though this is a truth known to the entire country
It refuses to reflect upon it... hoo
பட்டம் பதவிக்கு ஆசைப்பட்டு
பெரும் பகல் வேஷக்காரனை சுத்திக்கிட்டு
குழு :
பட்டம் பதவிக்கு ஆசைப்பட்டு
பெரும் பகல் வேஷக்காரனை சுத்திக்கிட்டு
மட்டு மரியாதை மானத்தை உதறிவிட்டு
அவனை வாழ்த்தி விட்டு
தன்னை தாழ்த்திகிட்டு
Lustful for titles and positions of power
Wandering around as a grand show-off pretender
Chorus: Lustful for titles and positions of power
Wandering around as a grand show-off pretender
Male: Casting aside self-respect, decency, and dignity
Extolling that deceiver with praise
And degrading oneself in the process
பகட்டுலே உலகம் ஏமாறுது
நம்ம பணமும் அதனால் கை மாறுது
பகட்டுலே உலகம் ஏமாறுது
நம்ம பணமும் அதனால் கை மாறுது
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Because of this, our money changes hands
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Because of this, our money changes hands
Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu
Because of this, our money changes hands
Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu
Because of this, our money changes hands
Iruttula kedanthu thindaadudhu
It lies trapped in darkness and struggles
Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
Iruttula kedanthu thindaadudhu
It lies trapped in darkness and struggles
Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu
Because of this, our money changes hands
Iruttula kedanthu thindaadudhu
It lies trapped in darkness and struggles
Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
Thannai yeikkura manushanai kondaadudhu
Yet it celebrates the man who deceives it
Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu
Because of this, our money changes hands
Illaadha manushanukku soru tharaadhu
It will not give food to a man who has nothing
Ellaam iruppavanai azhaichu
Yet inviting the one who has everything
Virundhu vaikka thavaraadhu
It never fails to host a grand feast for him
Nallavanga sollukku madhippu tharaadhu
It gives no value to the words of righteous people
Indha naadarinja unmai idhai
Even though this is a truth known to the entire country
Enni paarkkadhu…hoo
It refuses to reflect upon it... hoo
Pattam pdhavikku aasaipattu
Lustful for titles and positions of power
Perum pagal veshakaarnai suthikittu
Wandering around as a grand show-off pretender
Chorus :Pattam pdhavikku aasaipattu
Chorus: Lustful for titles and positions of power
Perum pagal veshakaarnai suthikittu
Wandering around as a grand show-off pretender
Male :Mattu mariyaadhai maanathai udharivittu
Male: Casting aside self-respect, decency, and dignity
Avanai vaazhthivittu
Extolling that deceiver with praise
Thannai thazhthikittu
And degrading oneself in the process
Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu
Because of this, our money changes hands
Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu
The world gets fooled by superficial pretension
Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu
Because of this, our money changes hands
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This satirical song serves as a sharp social commentary on human superficiality and societal flaws. The singers critique how society is easily swayed by pompous displays, wealth, and fake pretenses, resulting in ordinary people losing their hard-earned money to deceivers. It highlights the tragic irony of how society ignores the needy while lavishing feasts on the rich, and how people sacrifice their dignity to praise corrupt leaders and pretenders.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Pagatulae ulagam yemaarudhu / Namma panamum adhanaal kai maarudhu”
The song employs prominent end-rhymes across lines, such as 'yemaarudhu', 'maarudhu', 'thindaadudhu', and 'kondaadudhu', creating a rhythmic and memorable satirical flow.
Irony / Satire
“Illaadha manushanukku soru tharaadhu / Ellaam iruppavanai azhaichu virundhu vaikka thavaraadhu”
The lyrics use biting irony to point out societal contradictions—people praise those who exploit them and feed those who are already wealthy while ignoring the impoverished.
Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)
“Pattam pdhavikku aasaipattu / Perum pagal veshakaarnai suthikittu”
Matching initial consonants/vowels occur in adjacent words or lines, such as 'Pattam' and 'Perum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by T. R. Pappa for the 1957 Tamil movie 'Mallika', this song showcases the classic duet style of Jikki and S. C. Krishnan. S. C. Krishnan was famed for delivering folk-flavored, humorous, and socially sharp songs with distinct diction during the golden age of Tamil cinema.
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