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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pala Kodi Selvatha

From Naam · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Naam1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pala kodi selvaththa pala perkku podhuvaakkumMaking wealth worth tens of millions available to many people,
Mahalatchumi uruvaththil vanthaWho arrived in the form of Goddess Lakshmi,
En arumai lottery seettu dheivangalaeOh my dear lottery ticket deities!
Dheepam yaeththuraen soodam kaatturaenI light the lamp and offer camphor,
Dhenamum nadaththuraen poojaiI perform worship every single day.
Male
Paavam theerkkavae parisum vaangavaeTo wash away my sins and to win a prize,
Thaviyaa thavikkuthu ennaasaiMy desire yearns endlessly.
Vaangum sampalattha vachchuWith the salary that I earn,
Kudumbangala thaanga mudiyala saamiI cannot support my family, oh Lord!
Yaengum nilamaigala eduththu ozhichchu vittuEradicate these longing and miserable conditions,
Enakku nalla vazhi kaami enakku nalla vazhi kaamiShow me a good path, show me a good path!
Male
Om maharashtra punjabOm Maharashtra, Punjab,
Assam haryana biharAssam, Haryana, Bihar,
Bengal andhra MP naagaa karanatakaBengal, Andhra, MP, Nagaland, Karnataka,
Puducherryudan tamilnaduAlong with Puducherry and Tamil Nadu,
Male
Seettu vadivaththilae sernthu irukkumWhich come together in the form of tickets,
Enthan note-u saamigalaeOh my currency-note gods!
Chinna ottu veettukkullaeInside a small tiled roof house,
Ondi kudithanamaa maattiyirukkum enakkuFor me who is stuck living as a single tenant,
Magizhchchi thara maatteengaloWon't you grant me happiness?
Magizhchchi thara maatteengaloWon't you grant me happiness?
Male
Om nepal bhutan mehalayaaOm Nepal, Bhutan, Meghalaya,
Neegalaavathu paaraayoAt least won't you look upon me?
Ongalukku irukkum vasathiyilaeWith all the abundance and capacity you have,
Oru sila latcham perusum illaA few lakhs is not a big deal for you.
Ongalai nambum indha adiyaenukkuFor this humble devotee who trusts in you,
Udane pitchai ida venumaiyyaaYou must grant alms immediately, sir!
Male
Naan arinjum ariyaamalumWhether knowingly or unknowingly,
Therinthum theriyaamalum seithaConsciously or unconsciously,
Sagalavidhamaana kuttrangalaiyumAll kinds of mistakes and sins I have committed,
Poruththu kaaththu ratchikka venumForgive them, protect me, and save me!
Om namo lottery seettu maathaakkalaeOm Namo to the lottery ticket mothers!
Saamigalae om shanthi om shanthi om shanthiOh Gods, Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous and satire-laden track from 'Naam' (1985) features a struggling working-class man praying fervently to various state and international lottery schemes as if they were divine deities. Unable to manage his household expenses on a meager salary and living in cramped quarters, he performs ritualistic worship to lottery tickets, chanting state names like mantras to grant him a jackpot prize.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satirical Metaphor / Personification

En arumai lottery seettu dheivangalae

Elevating state lottery tickets to the status of goddesses and heavenly deities ('lottery seettu dheivangalae', 'note-u saamigalae').

Irony / Parody of Mantras

Om maharashtra punjab

Chanting names of Indian states and neighboring countries prefixed with 'Om' to simulate a sacred Vedic chant.

Monorhyme / Rhyme Scheme (Edhukai/Monaai)

Naan arinjum ariyaamalum

Alliteration and repetition of sounds in lines like 'arinjum ariyaamalum' and 'therinthum theriyaamalum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed and written by Gangai Amaran, this unique comical song playfully highlights the mid-1980s craze for state-sponsored lotteries in South India, sung with dramatic devotion by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

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