- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Andaman Kadhali
- Movie release year
- 1978
- Lyrics added on
- 9 May 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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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