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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Palapalakkudhu

From Thullatha Manamum Thullum · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Gopal Rao
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Details
Thullatha Manamum Thullum1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thuttu thuttu thuttu thuttuMoney, money, money, money
Male :Oh ohMale: Oh oh
Chorus :Thuttu thuttu thuttu thuttuChorus: Money, money, money, money
Male :OhMale: Oh
Male
PalapalakuthuIt shines brightly
Chorus :Puthu nottuChorus: A new currency note
Male :Ennai izukkuthuMale: It pulls me
Chorus :Valai pottuChorus: Casting a net
Male :Currencyil oruMale: On currency
Chorus :Ila pottuChorus: Laying a plantain leaf
Male :Kai thudaikkanumMale: Must wipe my hand
Chorus :Puthu nottuChorus: A new currency note
Male
Kashmirai vilai kettuAsk the price for Kashmir
Chorus: Oyae oooChorus: Oyae ooo
Male :Kaasaalae kodiyetruMale: Hoist the flag using money
Chorus :Oyae oooChorus: Oyae ooo
Male
Sorgam sendruGo to heaven
Antha kathavu thattuKnock on that door
Visiting card kaattuShow your visiting card
Card-a paarthumEven after seeing the card
Athu thorakkalaiyaaIf it does not open
Gandhi notta neettuOffer a Gandhi note
Chorus
Thuttu thuttu thuttu thuttuMoney, money, money, money
Male :Oh ohMale: Oh oh
Male
PalapalakuthuIt shines brightly
Chorus :Puthu nottuChorus: A new currency note
Male :Ennai izukkuthuMale: It pulls me
Chorus :Valai pottuChorus: Casting a net
Male :Currencyil oruMale: On currency
Chorus :Ila pottuChorus: Laying a plantain leaf
Male :Kai thudaikkanumMale: Must wipe my hand
Chorus :Puthu nottuChorus: A new currency note
Chorus
Ye ye ye ye yeiYe ye ye ye yei
Ye ye ye ye yeiYe ye ye ye yei
Ye ye …………….Ye ye...
Male
Money money money moneyMoney money money money
Makes many thingsMakes many things
Money money money moneyMoney money money money
Makes many thingsMakes many things
Male
Chinna ponungalinYoung girls'
Saittum kodukkumGlance it will give
Pinbu fightum kodukkumThen a fight also it will give
Intha thuttu thuttuThis money, money
Male
Puthu governmentA new government
Amaichu kodukkumIt will form and give
Pinbu athaiyum kavukkumThen that too it will topple
Intha thuttu thuttuThis money, money
Male
Ulagam enbathuWhat is called the world
Urundu odudhuIs rolling and running
Thuttu sakkaram maattikittuGetting attached to the wheel of money
Antha vandiyilIn that cart
Manithan pogiraanMan is travelling
Irandu kannaiyum moodikittuClosing both his eyes
Chorus
Hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei
{Kaasu thedi povomaa{Shall we go in search of money, hey younger sister? From the womb to the cemetery, everything is money, sister} (2)
Ekka sinnakkaa{Shall we go in search of money, hey younger sister? From the womb to the cemetery, everything is money, sister} (2)
Karuvil irunthu kaadu varaiFrom the womb to the cemetery
Ellaam thuttakka} (2)Everything is money, sister
Male
PalapalakuthuIt shines brightly
Chorus :Puthu nottuChorus: A new currency note
Male :Ennai izukkuthuMale: It pulls me
Chorus :Valai pottuChorus: Casting a net
Male :Currencyil oruMale: On currency
Chorus :Ila pottuChorus: Laying a plantain leaf
Male :Kai thudaikkanumMale: Must wipe my hand
Chorus :Puthu nottuChorus: A new currency note
Chorus
……………………………………....
Male
Chinna chinna chinnaSmall, small, small
Nariya pidithuCatching a fox
Oru singathil amarthumIt will seat it upon a lion
Intha thuttu thuttuThis money, money
Male
Vatta vatta vattaRound, round, round
Valaiyam pidithuCatching a ring
Athil ottagam nulaikkumIt will squeeze a camel through it
Intha thuttu thuttuThis money, money
Male
Kallarai moodiyumEven the grave's door
Kadhava thirakkumaeIt will open wide
Sillarai osaiyai kettu puttuUpon hearing the sound of loose coins
Jaathi mathamellamAll caste and religion
Ozhinji pogumaeWill disappear away
Pacha notta thaan paathuputtuJust by looking at green currency notes
Chorus
Hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei
{Kaasu thedi povomaa{Shall we go in search of money, hey elder sister? If you have money in hand, even a mistake becomes right, sister} (2)
Ekka periyakka{Shall we go in search of money, hey elder sister? If you have money in hand, even a mistake becomes right, sister} (2)
Kayyil kaasu vechirundhaIf you have money in hand
Thappum seriyakka} (2)Even a mistake becomes right, sister
Male
PalapalakuthuIt shines brightly
Chorus :Puthu nottuChorus: A new currency note
Male :Ennai izukkuthuMale: It pulls me
Chorus :Valai pottuChorus: Casting a net
Male :Currencyil oruMale: On currency
Chorus :Ila pottuChorus: Laying a plantain leaf
Male :Kai thudaikkanumMale: Must wipe my hand
Chorus :Puthu nottuChorus: A new currency note
Male
Kashmirai vilai kettuAsk the price for Kashmir
Chorus :Oyae oooChorus: Oyae ooo
Male :Kaasaalae kodiyetruMale: Hoist the flag using money
Chorus :Oyae oooChorus: Oyae ooo
Male
Sorgam sendruGo to heaven
Antha kathavu thattuKnock on that door
Visiting card kaattuShow your visiting card
Card-a paarthumEven after seeing the card
Athu thorakkalaiyaaIf it does not open
Gandhi notta neettuOffer a Gandhi note
Chorus
Thuttu thuttu thuttu thuttuMoney, money, money, money
Male :Oh oh yeahMale: Oh oh yeah
Chorus :Thuttu thuttu thuttu thuttuChorus: Money, money, money, money
Male :Oh oh yeahMale: Oh oh yeah

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Thuttu Thuttu' from the 1999 Tamil film 'Thullatha Manamum Thullum' serves as a satirical critique of the overwhelming influence of money on human life and societal values. Written by lyricist Vairamuthu and composed by SA Rajkumar, the song humorously describes how wealth controls everything—from political governments and romantic relationships to moral standards and religious/caste barriers. Through hyperbole, the lyrics suggest that money can buy anything, seat a fox on a lion's throne, or even open the gates of heaven with a 'Gandhi note'. The song highlights humanity's blind pursuit of material wealth from birth to death.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Atisayokti)

Gandhi notta neettu

Exaggerated imagery used for comedic and dramatic effect, such as bribing heaven's gates with currency or placing a fox atop a lion.

Metaphor (Rupaka)

Thuttu sakkaram maattikittu Antha vandiyil Manithan pogiraan

Comparing money to a wheel ('Thuttu sakkaram') attached to the vehicle of human existence.

Ethirai (Second-letter Assonance)

Karuvil irunthu kaadu varai / Ellaam thuttakka

Rhyming scheme where the second letter matches across lines for rhythmic flow (e.g., 'Karuvil' and 'Ellaam', 'Kayyil' and 'Thappum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by SA Rajkumar for the blockbuster film 'Thullatha Manamum Thullum' starring Vijay and Simran, the song prominently features the term 'Gandhi nottu' (Gandhi note). This was a timely cultural reference to the Mahatma Gandhi Series bank notes introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in 1996, which had recently become iconic across India.

Keep listening

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