Panam Panam Pandhiyile
From Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal · 1959
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Panam panam | Money, money |
| Panam panam | Money, money |
| Panam panam panam panam | Money, money, money, money |
| Panam pandhiyilae | Money takes the seat of honor at the feast |
| Gunam gunam | Character, character |
| Gunam gunam | Character, character |
| Gunam gunam gunam gunam | Character, character, character, character |
| Gunam kuppaiyilae | Character is discarded into the trash |
| Panam pandhiyilae | Money takes the seat of honor at the feast |
| Gunam kuppaiyilae | Character is discarded into the trash |
| Male | |
| Dhinam pugazh | Daily praise |
| Manam mahaa janam tharum paname | O money that grants respect and public acclaim |
| Panamae….panamae….paname…panamae | O money... O money... O money... O money |
| Dhinam pugazh | Daily praise |
| Manam mahaa janam tharum paname | O money that grants respect and public acclaim |
| Sugam ellam thandhidum | It bestows every comfort and pleasure |
| Polladha panam illa nadai piname | Without wicked money, one is merely a walking corpse |
| Sugam ellam thandhidum | It bestows every comfort and pleasure |
| Polladha panam illa nadai piname | Without wicked money, one is merely a walking corpse |
| Illa nadai piname | A walking corpse without it |
| Panam illa nadai piname | Without money, one is merely a walking corpse |
| Male | |
| Panam panam | Money, money |
| Panam panam | Money, money |
| Panam panam panam panam | Money, money, money, money |
| Panam pandhiyilae | Money takes the seat of honor at the feast |
| Gunam gunam | Character, character |
| Gunam gunam | Character, character |
| Gunam gunam gunam gunam | Character, character, character, character |
| Gunam kuppaiyilae | Character is discarded into the trash |
| Panam pandhiyilae | Money takes the seat of honor at the feast |
| Gunam kuppaiyilae | Character is discarded into the trash |
| Male | |
| Kaasalae aagadha kaariyam illae..ae | There is no task that cannot be accomplished with cash |
| Kaasalae aagadha kaariyam illae | There is no task that cannot be accomplished with cash |
| Velli kaasalae ..panam kaasale | With silver coins... with money coins |
| Velli panam kaasalae aagadha kaariyam illae | There is no task that cannot be accomplished with silver money coins |
| Kaasillena kovil kulam poojaiyum illae | Without coins, there are no temples, tanks, or worship |
| Panam kaasillena kovil kulam poojaiyum illae | Without money coins, there are no temples, tanks, or worship |
| Poojaiyum illae | Not even worship exists |
| Aasai nanbar pendu pillai | Beloved friends, wife, or children |
| Annan thambhi illae | Elder brothers or younger brothers do not exist |
| Orutharumae illae poo | No one is truly there, go away |
| Aasai nanbar pendu pillai | Beloved friends, wife, or children |
| Annan thambhi illae | Elder brothers or younger brothers do not exist |
| Thalai attum podhu koottam | A nodding crowd that assents to everything |
| Vellai appan alladhu illae | Does not exist except for the white lord / currency |
| Thalai attum podhu koottam | A nodding crowd that assents to everything |
| Vellai appan alladhu illae | Does not exist except for the white lord / currency |
| Vellai appan alladhu illae | Does not exist except for the white lord / currency |
| Vellai appan alladhu illae | Does not exist except for the white lord / currency |
| Male | |
| Panam panam | Money, money |
| Panam panam | Money, money |
| Panam panam panam panam | Money, money, money, money |
| Panam pandhiyilae | Money takes the seat of honor at the feast |
| Gunam gunam | Character, character |
| Gunam gunam | Character, character |
| Gunam gunam gunam gunam | Character, character, character, character |
| Gunam kuppaiyilae | Character is discarded into the trash |
| Panam pandhiyilae | Money takes the seat of honor at the feast |
| Gunam kuppaiyilae | Character is discarded into the trash |
பணம் பணம்
பணம் பணம்
பணம் பணம் பணம் பணம்
பணம் பந்தியிலே
குணம் குணம்
குணம் குணம்
குணம் குணம் குணம் குணம்
குணம் குப்பையிலே
பணம் பந்தியிலே
குணம் குப்பையிலே
Money, money
Money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Character, character
Character, character
Character, character, character, character
Character is discarded into the trash
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Character is discarded into the trash
தினம் புகழ்
மனம் மஹா ஜனம் தரும் பணமே
பணமே....பணமே....பணமே...பணமே
தினம் புகழ்
மனம் மஹா ஜனம் தரும் பணமே
சுகம் எல்லாம் தந்திடும்
பொல்லாத பணம் இல்ல நடை பினமே
சுகம் எல்லாம் தந்திடும்
பொல்லாத பணம் இல்ல நடை பினமே
இல்ல நடை பினமே
பணம் இல்ல நடை பினமே
Daily praise
O money that grants respect and public acclaim
O money... O money... O money... O money
Daily praise
O money that grants respect and public acclaim
It bestows every comfort and pleasure
Without wicked money, one is merely a walking corpse
It bestows every comfort and pleasure
Without wicked money, one is merely a walking corpse
A walking corpse without it
Without money, one is merely a walking corpse
பணம் பணம்
பணம் பணம்
பணம் பணம் பணம் பணம்
பணம் பந்தியிலே
குணம் குணம்
குணம் குணம்
குணம் குணம் குணம் குணம்
குணம் குப்பையிலே
பணம் பந்தியிலே
குணம் குப்பையிலே
Money, money
Money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Character, character
Character, character
Character, character, character, character
Character is discarded into the trash
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Character is discarded into the trash
காசாலே ஆகாத காரியம் இல்லே..ஏ
காசாலே ஆகாத காரியம் இல்லை
வெள்ளி காசாலே ..பணம் காசாலே
வெள்ளி பணம் காசாலே ஆகாத காரியம் இல்லை
காசில்லைனா கோவில் குளம் பூஜையும் இல்லே
பணம் காசில்லைனா கோவில் குளம் பூஜையும் இல்லே
பூஜையும் இல்லே
ஆசை நண்பர் பெண்டு பிள்ளை
அண்ணன் தம்பி இல்லே
ஒருதருமே இல்லே போ
ஆசை நண்பர் பெண்டு பிள்ளை
அண்ணன் தம்பி இல்லே
தலை ஆட்டும் பொது கூட்டம்
வெள்ளை அப்பன் அல்லாது இல்லை
தலை ஆட்டும் பொது கூட்டம்
வெள்ளை அப்பன் அல்லாது இல்லை
வெள்ளை அப்பன் அல்லாது இல்லை
வெள்ளை அப்பன் அல்லாது இல்லை
There is no task that cannot be accomplished with cash
There is no task that cannot be accomplished with cash
With silver coins... with money coins
There is no task that cannot be accomplished with silver money coins
Without coins, there are no temples, tanks, or worship
Without money coins, there are no temples, tanks, or worship
Not even worship exists
Beloved friends, wife, or children
Elder brothers or younger brothers do not exist
No one is truly there, go away
Beloved friends, wife, or children
Elder brothers or younger brothers do not exist
A nodding crowd that assents to everything
Does not exist except for the white lord / currency
A nodding crowd that assents to everything
Does not exist except for the white lord / currency
Does not exist except for the white lord / currency
Does not exist except for the white lord / currency
பணம் பணம்
பணம் பணம்
பணம் பணம் பணம் பணம்
பணம் பந்தியிலே
குணம் குணம்
குணம் குணம்
குணம் குணம் குணம் குணம்
குணம் குப்பையிலே
பணம் பந்தியிலே
குணம் குப்பையிலே
Money, money
Money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Character, character
Character, character
Character, character, character, character
Character is discarded into the trash
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Character is discarded into the trash
Panam panam
Money, money
Panam panam
Money, money
Panam panam panam panam
Money, money, money, money
Panam pandhiyilae
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Gunam gunam
Character, character
Gunam gunam
Character, character
Gunam gunam gunam gunam
Character, character, character, character
Gunam kuppaiyilae
Character is discarded into the trash
Panam pandhiyilae
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Gunam kuppaiyilae
Character is discarded into the trash
Dhinam pugazh
Daily praise
Manam mahaa janam tharum paname
O money that grants respect and public acclaim
Panamae….panamae….paname…panamae
O money... O money... O money... O money
Dhinam pugazh
Daily praise
Manam mahaa janam tharum paname
O money that grants respect and public acclaim
Sugam ellam thandhidum
It bestows every comfort and pleasure
Polladha panam illa nadai piname
Without wicked money, one is merely a walking corpse
Sugam ellam thandhidum
It bestows every comfort and pleasure
Polladha panam illa nadai piname
Without wicked money, one is merely a walking corpse
Illa nadai piname
A walking corpse without it
Panam illa nadai piname
Without money, one is merely a walking corpse
Panam panam
Money, money
Panam panam
Money, money
Panam panam panam panam
Money, money, money, money
Panam pandhiyilae
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Gunam gunam
Character, character
Gunam gunam
Character, character
Gunam gunam gunam gunam
Character, character, character, character
Gunam kuppaiyilae
Character is discarded into the trash
Panam pandhiyilae
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Gunam kuppaiyilae
Character is discarded into the trash
Kaasalae aagadha kaariyam illae..ae
There is no task that cannot be accomplished with cash
Kaasalae aagadha kaariyam illae
There is no task that cannot be accomplished with cash
Velli kaasalae ..panam kaasale
With silver coins... with money coins
Velli panam kaasalae aagadha kaariyam illae
There is no task that cannot be accomplished with silver money coins
Kaasillena kovil kulam poojaiyum illae
Without coins, there are no temples, tanks, or worship
Panam kaasillena kovil kulam poojaiyum illae
Without money coins, there are no temples, tanks, or worship
Poojaiyum illae
Not even worship exists
Aasai nanbar pendu pillai
Beloved friends, wife, or children
Annan thambhi illae
Elder brothers or younger brothers do not exist
Orutharumae illae poo
No one is truly there, go away
Aasai nanbar pendu pillai
Beloved friends, wife, or children
Annan thambhi illae
Elder brothers or younger brothers do not exist
Thalai attum podhu koottam
A nodding crowd that assents to everything
Vellai appan alladhu illae
Does not exist except for the white lord / currency
Thalai attum podhu koottam
A nodding crowd that assents to everything
Vellai appan alladhu illae
Does not exist except for the white lord / currency
Vellai appan alladhu illae
Does not exist except for the white lord / currency
Vellai appan alladhu illae
Does not exist except for the white lord / currency
Panam panam
Money, money
Panam panam
Money, money
Panam panam panam panam
Money, money, money, money
Panam pandhiyilae
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Gunam gunam
Character, character
Gunam gunam
Character, character
Gunam gunam gunam gunam
Character, character, character, character
Gunam kuppaiyilae
Character is discarded into the trash
Panam pandhiyilae
Money takes the seat of honor at the feast
Gunam kuppaiyilae
Character is discarded into the trash
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a sharp social commentary and satirical critique of materialist society, penned by the renowned poet Udumalai Narayanakavi. It highlights how money dictates human respect, social standing, religious rituals, and family relationships. In a commercialized world, moral character (gunam) is treated like garbage while money (panam) receives the highest seat at the table. Without wealth, a person is treated as good as dead—a walking corpse—regardless of their virtues.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethirai (Second letter rhyme)
“Panam pandhiyilae / Gunam kuppaiyilae”
Matching second consonants in key words across lines to create rhythmic symmetry ('Panam' and 'Gunam').
Metaphor
“Polladha panam illa nadai piname”
Describing a penniless person as 'nadai pinam' (a walking corpse), emphasizing total loss of societal dignity without wealth.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Panam panam panam panam”
Rhythmic repetition of 'panam' and 'gunam' to create urgency and musical emphasis on the contrast between money and character.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi and composed by R. Sudarsanam for 'Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal' (1959), this song is famous for its timeless social criticism delivered powerfully through T. M. Soundararajan's voice. Udumalai Narayanakavi was famous for weaving rationalist ideals and social reform messages into mainstream Tamil cinema lyrics.
Keep listening
More from Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal
Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal
Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal
Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal
Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal
Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal
Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal