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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Panamethan Jeevanaadi

From Kodeeswaran · 1955

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Kodeeswaran1955

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hmmm mmmmHmmm mmmm
Arul illarkku avvulagamillaiFor those without grace, that divine world does not exist;
Porul illarkku ivvulagamillaiFor those without material wealth, this earthly world does not exist.
Bagavanae kelaiyaa pachondhi ulagilaeOh Lord, listen to this, in this chameleon-like world,
Bagavanae kelaiyaa pachondhi ulagilaeOh Lord, listen to this, in this chameleon-like world,
Panamae thaan jeeva naadiMoney alone is the lifeblood,
Ulagil panamae thaan jeeva naadiIn this world, money alone is the lifeblood!
Female
Padhaviyin aasaiyaalaeOut of sheer desire for power and high status,
Pal perai mosam seidhuBy deceiving numerous innocent people,
Pagal vesha mainar ellaamAll these hypocritical, flashy gentlemen,
Sugamaaga vaazhndhidavumManage to live lives of luxury and comfort, because...
Panamae thaan jeeva naadiMoney alone is the lifeblood,
Ulagil panamae thaan jeeva naadiIn this world, money alone is the lifeblood!
Female
Uttraarum uravinarumFor friends and relatives,
Vandhu soozhavumTo come and gather around you,
Uyiraana manaivi makkalFor one's beloved wife and children,
Serndhu vaazhavumTo live together in harmony,
Kattraarellaam saattruFor learned scholars to write panegyrics,
Kavigal paadavumAnd poets to sing praises,
Kakkaa kootangal ellaamFor crowds of opportunistic sycophants,
Amaam podavumTo nod and agree with whatever you say,
Panamae thaan jeeva naadiMoney alone is the lifeblood,
Ulagil panamae thaan jeeva naadiIn this world, money alone is the lifeblood!
Female
Jaladhosam pidichavan polLike a person struck down by a heavy cold,
Thalaiyai kanathidumIt makes one's head swell up with pride,
Salaesuram kangal polLike eyes infected with sticky discharge,
Paarvai maaridumIt completely distorts one's perspective!
Female
Pazhaiya nilaiyai marandhuForgetting one's past humble beginnings,
Melae parakka seidhidumIt makes a person fly high up in the air,
Pazhaiya kanjiyai marandhuForgetting the old simple rice porridge,
Summa badham geeril neendhidavaeIt makes them float lazily in rich almond milk sweets!
Panamae thaan jeeva naadiMoney alone is the lifeblood,
Ulagil panamae thaan jeeva naadiIn this world, money alone is the lifeblood!
Bagavanae kelaiyaa pachondhi ulagilaeOh Lord, listen to this, in this chameleon-like world,
Panamae thaan jeeva naadiMoney alone is the lifeblood,
Ulagil panamae thaan jeeva naadiIn this world, money alone is the lifeblood!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Panamae Thaan Jeeva Naadi' from the film Kodeeswaran (1955) is a sharp philosophical and satirical commentary on society's obsession with wealth. Opening with a classic reference to Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural (stating that grace is needed for heaven while wealth is necessary for earth), the song establishes money as the ultimate 'lifeblood' driving human relationships and societal stature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Thirukkural Reference)

Arul illarkku avvulagamillai / Porul illarkku ivvulagamillai

The opening lines 'Arul illarkku avvulagamillai / Porul illarkku ivvulagamillai' directly cite Kural 247 by Thiruvalluvar, grounding the song's theme in ancient Tamil wisdom.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Bagavanae kelaiyaa pachondhi ulagilae

Compares the changing, opportunistic nature of human society to a chameleon ('pachondhi').

Simile (Upamai)

Jaladhosam pidichavan pol thalaiyai kanathidum

Compares the arrogance and altered mindset brought by sudden wealth to physical afflictions like a heavy head from cold ('jaladhosam') or distorted vision from eye infections ('salaesuram').

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

Arul illarkku ... / Porul illarkku ...

Rhyming of the second letter 'ru' in Arul and Porul.

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Trivia

This track features lyrics by the legendary Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, renowned for incorporating social satire and classical literature into popular cinema. The film 'Kodeeswaran' stars Sivaji Ganesan, and the soundtrack was composed by S. V. Venkatraman.

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