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Paithiyakkaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Panakkaarar Thaedugira Inbam

From Paithiyakkaran · 1947

Lyricist
Ambikapathi
Singer
N. S. Krishnan
Music directors
C. R. Subbaraman, M. S. Gnanamani
Movie name
Paithiyakkaran
Movie release year
1947
Lyrics added on
26 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Panakkaarar thaedugira inbam
Ezhai paattaali makkal padum thunbam
Kaasu panam kondavarkku
Kavalaiyillaadha naeram yaedhu
Panakkaarar thaedugira inbam
Ezhai paattaali makkal padum thunbam
Gunathodu pazhagaadha koottam
Kooli kuraithu kodukka poraattam
Gunathodu pazhagaadha koottam
Kooli kuraithu kodukka poraattam
Seidhum kulam vettuvaar
Madam kattuvaar
Kulam vettuvaar madam kattuvaar
Kadan koduthae pin vazhakkaadi
Aduthorai keduthagum
Panakkaarar thaedugira inbam
Kaasu panam kondavarkku
Kavalaiyillaadha naeram yaedhu
Vellikkaasu panam kondavarkku
Kavalaiyillaadha naeram yaedhu
Avar kanmoodi thoongamudiyaadhu
Avar kanmoodi thoongamudiyaadhu
Pagal kaalathilae kollai laabathilae
Kaarunyam thaanindri thaedidum
Thanga kaasu panam kondavarkku
Kavalaiyillaadha naeram yaedhu
Koozhaiyunnum ezhai
Manikkaezhu mayil nadappaan
Konda selvan vandiyaera
Rendu paerai azhaippaan
Vaelai seiyum kooli oru naazhi
Annam pusippaan
Aaalai yaeikkum kozhai mudhalaali
Sotrai veruppaan
Kaasu panam kondavarkku
Kavalaiyillaadha naeram yaedhu
Kaattaik kaakkum ezhai
Veettukkkaari udambu
Kattumasthum kallu
Polirukkum irumbu
Veettai kaakkum selvanin
Pondaatti udambu
Adhu veliyae sollum
Vishayamalla melindha thurumbu
Naattai kedukkum
Navanaagareegam naaduvaar
Pootti vaitha rokkathai
Kaatti uravaaduvaar
Poottum nagaiyaadai porulaalae
Pugazh thaedum
Kaasu panam kondavarkku
Kavalaiyillaadha naeram yaedhu
The pleasure sought by the wealthy
Comes from the suffering of poor working folk.
For those who have money and riches,
When is there ever a moment free from worry?
The pleasure sought by the wealthy
Comes from the suffering of poor working folk.
A crowd with no decency or good nature,
Always scheming to cut down daily wages.
A crowd with no decency, wages
They constantly fight to reduce!
Yet they dig ponds for charity,
And build rest-houses for pilgrims;
They dig ponds and build rest-houses,
Lend money and drag borrowers to court,
Ruining others to get their way—
That is the pleasure sought by the wealthy!
For those who have money and riches,
When is there ever a moment free from worry?
For those who hold silver coins and wealth,
When is there ever a moment free from worry?
They cannot even close their eyes and sleep,
They cannot even close their eyes and sleep!
During the day, chasing shameless profits,
Gathering wealth without any mercy,
For those who hold gold coins and wealth,
When is there ever a moment free from worry?
The poor man who lives on simple porridge
Can walk seven miles in an hour;
But the rich man, just to climb into his carriage,
Has to call two people to help him!
The working laborer eats a good measure
Of hearty rice with appetite,
While the cowardly master who cheats everyone
Has no taste for food and turns away!
For those who have money and riches,
When is there ever a moment free from worry?
The poor man working out in the fields,
His wife's body
Is sturdy and solid as rock,
Strong like iron!
But the rich man guarding his house,
His wife's body—
Well, it is nothing to boast about,
She is as frail and thin as dry straw!
Chasing destructive modern fads
That ruin the land,
Showing off their locked-up cash,
They pretend to be close to others,
Flaunting costly jewels and fancy clothes,
Hunting for empty fame!
For those who have money and riches,
When is there ever a moment free from worry?
Male
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Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This social commentary song from the 1947 movie Paithiyakkaran contrasts the superficial, anxiety-ridden lives of wealthy elites with the robust, honest lives of working-class laborers. It asserts that material riches bring sleepless nights, greed, and lack of peace, whereas the poor, despite their simple diet and hard physical labor, enjoy vitality, restful sleep, and genuine well-being.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Panakkaarar thaedugira inbam / Ezhai paattaali makkal padum thunbam”

Rhyming end words 'inbam' and 'thunbam' emphasize the tragic contrast between rich and poor.

Upamai (Simile)

“Kattumasthum kallu / Polirukkum irumbu”

Compares the physical strength of the laboring woman's body to stone ('kallu') and iron ('irumbu').

Muran (Contrast/Antithesis)

“Koozhaiyunnum ezhai / Manikkaezhu mayil nadappaan”

Contrasts the active poor man walking seven miles effortlessly with the rich man who needs help just to board a carriage.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Vishayamalla melindha thurumbu”

Refers to the frail, delicate physical condition of the pampered rich woman as a thin straw ('melindha thurumbu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Paithiyakkaran (1947) was a classic film associated with N.S. Krishnan (NSK), known for embedding strong socio-political, Marxist, and anti-feudal reformist messages into catchy music during the transitional era around India's independence.

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