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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pananadha Engal

From Orey Vazhi · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, S. C. Krishnan
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Details
Orey Vazhi1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aandavanai padaithavanae aadhi mudhalvaO creator of God, O primary lord!
Indha avaniyai aatti veikkum engal iraivaaO our lord who makes this world spin!
Vendiyavarkkarul vazhangum velli uruvaaiO silver-formed one who bestows grace upon those who ask!
En vaedhanaiyaai theerthu vaikkaTo relieve my agony,
Odi odi odi varuvaaiCome running, running, running!
Male
Panam naadha inba guna naadhaLord Money, O master of pleasure and virtue!
Appa panam naadha inba guna naadhaFather Money, lord of pleasure and good nature!
Ulagai pambaramaai aatti veikkum arul naadhaGracious lord who spins the world like a top!
Panam naadha inba guna naadhaLord Money, O master of pleasure and virtue!
Ulagai pambaramaai aatti veikkum arul naadhaGracious lord who spins the world like a top!
Male
Appa panam naadhaO Father Money!
Male
Vaangi kondu ponavargal tharuvadhillaiThose who borrowed you never return you,
Indha vaasal pakkam kooda avar varuvadhillaiThey do not even step near this doorstep anymore.
Unnai thaekki vaithu kondaalum nimmadhiyillai..aeEven if one hoards you, there is no peace of mind...
Unnai thaekki vaithu kondaalum nimmadhiyillaiEven if one hoards you, there is no peace of mind.
Dhinam thedi thedi alaibavarkkum amaidhiyillaiEven for those who wander endlessly searching for you daily, there is no calm.
Male
Perazhagu pengalaiyum manamudippaaiYou arrange marriages even for gorgeous women,
Petra pillaiyaiyum thandhaiyaiyum pirithu veithaaiYou have torn apart fathers and their own children.
Male :HaiyooMale: Alas!
Male :Perazhagu pengalaiyum manamudippaaiMale: You arrange marriages even for gorgeous women,
Petra pillaiyaiyum thandhaiyaiyum pirithu veithaaiYou have torn apart fathers and their own children.
Car yeri rottinilae parakka vaippaaiYou make people fly down the road in cars,
Silarai kadanaaliyaakki vittu vidai koduppaaiAnd you leave others in debt before bidding them farewell.
Male
Tharkurigal pakkathilae nee irundhaalIf you stand beside illiterate fools,
Male
Avargal saritheerathu verargalaai maari viduvaaiYou transform them into historic heroes!
Male
Indha tharkurigal pakkathilae nee irundhaalIf you stand beside these illiterate fools,
Male
Avargal saritheerathu verargalaai maari viduvaaiYou transform them into historic heroes!
Male
Kattrarindha pergalidam illai nee endraalIf you are absent among learned scholars,
Kattrarindha pergalidam illai nee endraalIf you are absent among learned scholars,
Avar kandhal katti sundalukku kaathu kidappaarThey will dress in rags and wait endlessly for a hand-out.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This satirical song from 'Orey Vazhi' (1959) personifies money ('Panam') as a supreme deity capable of controlling human fate and social dynamics. Kannadasan's lyrics playfully address money as the ultimate ruler that turns the world like a spinning top, uniting lovers, separating families, and granting high status to the uneducated while reducing wise scholars to poverty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (உருவகப்படுத்தல்)

Aandavanai padaithavanae aadhi mudhalva

Money is directly addressed as a supreme God ('Aandavan', 'Arul naadha', 'Inba guna naadha') capable of granting wishes and deciding human destinies.

Simile (உவமை)

Ulagai pambaramaai aatti veikkum arul naadha

Comparing the way money manipulates society to a spinning top ('pambaram').

Repetition / Anaphora (அடுக்குத்தொடர்)

Odi odi odi varuvaai

The deliberate repetition of words like 'Odi odi odi' and 'thedi thedi' emphasizes urgency and relentless human pursuit.

Social Satire / Irony (எள்ளல்)

Tharkurigal pakkathilae nee irundhaal / Avargal saritheerathu verargalaai maari viduvaai

Highlights the absurd reality where wealth elevates uneducated fools into historical heroes, while scholars without money are reduced to begging.

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Trivia

Written by legendary poet Kannadasan and set to music by R. Govarthanam, this humorous philosophical track reflects Kannadasan's iconic style of weaving sharp social commentary about wealth, greed, and societal hypocrisy into lighthearted cinema songs.

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