Panamennada
From Andaman Kadhali · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Andaman Kadhali1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Panam ennadaa panam panam… | What is money, my friend, what is money? |
| Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam… | Good character alone is eternal... |
| Male | |
| Panam ennadaa panam panam | What is money, my friend, what is money? |
| Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam | Good character alone is eternal |
| Panam ennadaa panam panam | What is money, my friend, what is money? |
| Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam | Good character alone is eternal |
| Ennidathil illaadhadhaa | Is it something I do not possess? |
| Nalla vilai pesaadhadhaa | Did it not fetch a good price? |
| Athanaiyum pettrenadaa | I acquired all of it, my friend |
| Thatthuvathai kattrenadaa | And I learned the deep philosophy |
| Irakka manathai kedukkum arakkan | Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart |
| Panam panam panam haa… | Money, money, money, ha... |
| Male | |
| Panam ennadaa panam panam… | What is money, my friend, what is money? |
| Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam… | Good character alone is eternal... |
| Male | |
| Sondhamillai bandhamillai | It has no relatives, no bonds |
| Yeri midhikkum | It will trample upon you |
| Thol meedhu yeri nindru | Standing on your shoulders |
| Kaadhai kadikkum | It will bite your ear |
| Pala kodi serthaalum melum ninaikkum | Even if you accumulate crores, it craves for more |
| Padu paavi engindra perai kodukkum | It gives you the reputation of a complete sinner |
| Panathaalae nalla ullam peiyaanadhu | Because of money, a good heart turned into a demon |
| Gunathaalae adhu meendum thaayaanadhu | Because of good character, it became a mother again |
| Male | |
| Ponnulagil neeraadinen | I bathed in a golden world |
| Kannizhandhu kondaadinen | I celebrated having lost my sight |
| Mannanukkum melaaginen | I rose above even kings |
| Thannanthani aalaaginen | Yet I became completely alone |
| Irakka manathai kedukkum arakkan | Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart |
| Panam panam panam haa… | Money, money, money, ha... |
| Male | |
| Panam ennadaa panam panam… | What is money, my friend, what is money? |
| Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam… | Good character alone is eternal... |
| Male | |
| Kaasu endra sollin porul | The meaning of the word 'kaasu' (cash) |
| Kuttram enbadhu | Is crime |
| Kaasu vara odi vidum | When money arrives, they run away |
| Suttram enbadhu | The kith and kin |
| Naanayam endraal adhan per | If you say 'naanayam' (coin/honesty), its meaning |
| Nermai enbadhu | Is integrity |
| Nallavarkku kaasu panam | For good people, cash and money |
| Thaevaiyattradhu | Are unnecessary |
| Bagavaanin maniyosai | The temple bell sound of the Almighty |
| Ketkindradhu | Is being heard |
| Panam ennum peraasai maraigindradhu | The greed called money is disappearing |
| Male | |
| Nalla buthi yaar thandhadhu… | Who gave this good wisdom... |
| Pillaiyidam thaan vandhadhu… | It came from the child... |
| Male | |
| Endha nilai vandhaal enna | No matter what situation arises |
| Nalla vazhi naan selvadhu | I shall walk the righteous path |
| Irakka manathai kedukkum arakkan | Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart |
| Panam panam panam haaa… | Money, money, money, ha... |
| Male | |
| Panam ennadaa panam panam… | What is money, my friend, what is money? |
| Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam… | Good character alone is eternal... |
பணம் என்னடா பணம் பணம்
குணம் தானடா நிரந்தரம்
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Good character alone is eternal...
பணம் என்னடா பணம் பணம்
குணம் தானடா நிரந்தரம்
பணம் என்னடா பணம் பணம்
குணம் தானடா நிரந்தரம்
என்னிடத்தில் இல்லாததா
நல்ல விலை பேசாததா
அத்தனையும் பெற்றேனடா
தத்துவத்தை கற்றேனடா
இரக்க மனதை கெடுக்கும் அரக்கன்
பணம் பணம் பணம் ஹா.....
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Good character alone is eternal
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Good character alone is eternal
Is it something I do not possess?
Did it not fetch a good price?
I acquired all of it, my friend
And I learned the deep philosophy
Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart
Money, money, money, ha...
பணம் என்னடா பணம் பணம்
குணம் தானடா நிரந்தரம்
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Good character alone is eternal...
சொந்தம் இல்லை பந்தம் இல்லை
ஏறி மிதிக்கும்
தோள் மீது ஏறி நின்று
காதைக் கடிக்கும்
பல கோடி சேர்த்தாலும் மேலும் நினைக்கும்
படுபாவி என்கின்ற பேரைக் கொடுக்கும்
பணத்தாலே நல்ல உள்ளம் பேய் ஆனது
குணத்தாலே அது மீண்டும் தாய் ஆனது
It has no relatives, no bonds
It will trample upon you
Standing on your shoulders
It will bite your ear
Even if you accumulate crores, it craves for more
It gives you the reputation of a complete sinner
Because of money, a good heart turned into a demon
Because of good character, it became a mother again
பொன்னுலகில் நீராடினேன்
கண்ணிழந்து கொண்டாடினேன்
மன்னனுக்கும் மேலாகினேன்
தன்னந்தனி ஆளாகினேன்
இரக்க மனதை கெடுக்கும் அரக்கன்
பணம் பணம் பணம் ஹா
I bathed in a golden world
I celebrated having lost my sight
I rose above even kings
Yet I became completely alone
Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart
Money, money, money, ha...
பணம் என்னடா பணம் பணம்
குணம் தானடா நிரந்தரம்
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Good character alone is eternal...
காசு என்ற சொல்லின் பொருள்
குற்றம் என்பது
காசு வர ஓடி விடும்
சுற்றம் என்பது
நாணயம் என்றால் அதன் பேர்
நேர்மை என்பது
நல்லவருக்கு காசு பணம்
தேவையற்றது
பகவானின் மணியோசை
கேட்கின்றது
பணம் என்னும் பேராசை மறைகின்றது
The meaning of the word 'kaasu' (cash)
Is crime
When money arrives, they run away
The kith and kin
If you say 'naanayam' (coin/honesty), its meaning
Is integrity
For good people, cash and money
Are unnecessary
The temple bell sound of the Almighty
Is being heard
The greed called money is disappearing
நல்ல புத்தி யார் தந்தது.....
பிள்ளையிடம் தான் வந்தது....
Who gave this good wisdom...
It came from the child...
எந்த நிலை வந்தால் என்ன
நல்ல வழி நான் செல்வது
இரக்க மனதை கெடுக்கும் அரக்கன்
பணம் பணம் பணம் ஹா.....
No matter what situation arises
I shall walk the righteous path
Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart
Money, money, money, ha...
பணம் என்னடா பணம் பணம்
குணம் தானடா நிரந்தரம்
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Good character alone is eternal...
Panam ennadaa panam panam…
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam…
Good character alone is eternal...
Panam ennadaa panam panam
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam
Good character alone is eternal
Panam ennadaa panam panam
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam
Good character alone is eternal
Ennidathil illaadhadhaa
Is it something I do not possess?
Nalla vilai pesaadhadhaa
Did it not fetch a good price?
Athanaiyum pettrenadaa
I acquired all of it, my friend
Thatthuvathai kattrenadaa
And I learned the deep philosophy
Irakka manathai kedukkum arakkan
Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart
Panam panam panam haa…
Money, money, money, ha...
Panam ennadaa panam panam…
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam…
Good character alone is eternal...
Sondhamillai bandhamillai
It has no relatives, no bonds
Yeri midhikkum
It will trample upon you
Thol meedhu yeri nindru
Standing on your shoulders
Kaadhai kadikkum
It will bite your ear
Pala kodi serthaalum melum ninaikkum
Even if you accumulate crores, it craves for more
Padu paavi engindra perai kodukkum
It gives you the reputation of a complete sinner
Panathaalae nalla ullam peiyaanadhu
Because of money, a good heart turned into a demon
Gunathaalae adhu meendum thaayaanadhu
Because of good character, it became a mother again
Ponnulagil neeraadinen
I bathed in a golden world
Kannizhandhu kondaadinen
I celebrated having lost my sight
Mannanukkum melaaginen
I rose above even kings
Thannanthani aalaaginen
Yet I became completely alone
Irakka manathai kedukkum arakkan
Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart
Panam panam panam haa…
Money, money, money, ha...
Panam ennadaa panam panam…
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam…
Good character alone is eternal...
Kaasu endra sollin porul
The meaning of the word 'kaasu' (cash)
Kuttram enbadhu
Is crime
Kaasu vara odi vidum
When money arrives, they run away
Suttram enbadhu
The kith and kin
Naanayam endraal adhan per
If you say 'naanayam' (coin/honesty), its meaning
Nermai enbadhu
Is integrity
Nallavarkku kaasu panam
For good people, cash and money
Thaevaiyattradhu
Are unnecessary
Bagavaanin maniyosai
The temple bell sound of the Almighty
Ketkindradhu
Is being heard
Panam ennum peraasai maraigindradhu
The greed called money is disappearing
Nalla buthi yaar thandhadhu…
Who gave this good wisdom...
Pillaiyidam thaan vandhadhu…
It came from the child...
Endha nilai vandhaal enna
No matter what situation arises
Nalla vazhi naan selvadhu
I shall walk the righteous path
Irakka manathai kedukkum arakkan
Money is a demon that destroys a merciful heart
Panam panam panam haaa…
Money, money, money, ha...
Panam ennadaa panam panam…
What is money, my friend, what is money?
Gunam thaanadaa nirandharam…
Good character alone is eternal...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Panam Ennada Panam from Andaman Kadhali (1978) is a deeply philosophical track written by Kannadasan that contemplates the corrosive influence of wealth versus the permanent beauty of virtuous character. The protagonist reflects on his past pursuit of riches, realizing that while wealth elevates one's social status, it blinds human empathy, creates isolation, and destroys genuine human relationships.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Irakka manathai kedukkum arakkan”
Money is explicitly equated to a demon ('arakkan') that destroys compassion and mercy in human hearts.
Pun / Double Entendre (Sledi)
“Naanayam endraal adhan per Nermai enbadhu”
Kannadasan brilliantly plays on the word 'Naanayam', which means currency coin literally, but moral integrity/honesty spiritually.
Rhyme / End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Athanaiyum pettrenadaa / Thatthuvathai kattrenadaa”
The lines end with matching phonetic sounds ('pettrenadaa' / 'kattrenadaa'), creating rhythmic musical flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song from the 1978 film Andaman Kadhali features actor Sivaji Ganesan, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. Lyricist Kannadasan's wordplay on 'Kaasu' (crime) and 'Naanayam' (honesty) remains one of the most celebrated lyrical antitheses in Tamil film music history.
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