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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pocketla Paathu Kasu

From Nethiyadi · 1988

Lyricist
Maari
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chorus
Music director
R. Pandiarajan
Details
Nethiyadi1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pocket-la paththu kaasu illaennaaIf you do not have ten coins in your pocket,
Intha paasam nesam ellaam illeengaAll this love and affection does not exist, sir.
Male
Pocket-la paththu kaasu illaennaaIf you do not have ten coins in your pocket,
Intha paasam nesam ellaam illeengaAll this love and affection does not exist, sir.
Male
Naanum neeyum onnu pandha paasam onnuSaying you and I are one, our bond and love are one,
Sonnathu suththa poiyyungaIs an absolute lie, sir.
Idha purinjukka therunju nadanthukkaUnderstand this and act accordingly.
Male
Pocket-la paththu kaasu illaennaaIf you do not have ten coins in your pocket,
Intha paasam nesam ellaam illeengaAll this love and affection does not exist, sir.
Male
Soththu saeththaakka sontham varumIf you accumulate wealth, relatives will come,
Jaadhi pedhamthaan paranthu pogumCaste differences will just fly away.
Thangam vellinnu saeththupputtaaIf you hoard gold and silver,
Thaguthi paakkaama paaraattuththaanEveryone praises you without checking your worthiness.
Male
Panamthaan ellam panamthaanMoney is everything, money rules.
Chorus :Aamam aamaamChorus: Yes, yes!
Male :Nejanthaan idhu nejanjthaanMale: It is true, this is true!
Male :Correct-tuMale: Correct!
Male :Ellaam therunjikittu kaasa vittuputtuMale: Knowing all this and losing my money,
Paaduraen thanni poduraenI sing and I drink alcohol,
Aaduraen thallaaduraenI dance and stagger around.
Male
Pocket-la paththu kaasu illaennaaIf you do not have ten coins in your pocket,
Intha paasam nesam ellaam illeengaAll this love and affection does not exist, sir.
Naanum neeyum onnu pandha paasam onnuSaying you and I are one, our bond and love are one,
Sonnathu suththa poiyyungaIs an absolute lie, sir.
Idha purinjukka therunju nadanthukka…aamaamUnderstand this and act accordingly... yes.
Male
Kozhi adichchaakkaa koodiduaanIf you slaughter a chicken, people will gather around,
Koraiyya sonnaakkaa odiduvaan….aamaamIf you point out their faults, they will run away... yes.
Kashtappadumpothu kannil pattaaWhen you are struggling, if you cross their sight,
Kandum kaanaama marainjiduvaanThey will pretend not to see and slip away.
Male
Nampaathae yaaraiyum nampaathaeDo not trust anyone, do not trust.
Chorus :Aamaam aamamChorus: Yes, yes.
Male :Nambittu pinnaala vembaathaeMale: Do not trust and regret later.
Male :NambaathaeMale: Do not trust!
Male :Enga veettulaeyum unga veettulaeyumMale: In my house and in your house,
Nadakkuthu intha mattaer-ruThis exact matter is happening.
Nalla kavaninga illa dangerObserve carefully, otherwise it is danger.
Male
Pocket-la paththu kaasu illaennaaIf you do not have ten coins in your pocket,
Intha paasam nesam ellaam illeengaAll this love and affection does not exist, sir.
Pocket-la paththu kaasu illaennaaIf you do not have ten coins in your pocket,
Intha paasam nesam ellaam illeengaAll this love and affection does not exist, sir.
Male
Naanum neeyum onnu pandha paasam onnuSaying you and I are one, our bond and love are one,
Sonnathu suththa poiyyungaIs an absolute lie, sir.
Idha purinjukka therunju nadanthukka…aamaamUnderstand this and act accordingly... yes.
Male
Pocket-la paththu kaasu illaennaaIf you do not have ten coins in your pocket,
Intha paasam nesam ellaam illeenga….All this love and affection does not exist, sir....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film Nethiyadi (1988) is a humorous yet hard-hitting commentary on materialism and human nature. It explores how personal relationships, social respect, and familial affection are largely dictated by wealth. When a person is penniless, even close friends and family abandon them, but when wealth is accumulated, social barriers like caste fade away and praise comes unconditionally.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Naanum neeyum onnu pandha paasam onnu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in the line creates rhythm.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Soththu saeththaakka sontham varum / Jaadhi pedhamthaan paranthu pogum

Matching of second consonants in adjacent lines creating phonetic harmony.

Irony and Social Satire

Kozhi adichchaakkaa koodiduaan / Koraiyya sonnaakkaa odiduvaan

Highlights the hypocrisy of society where superficial benefits attract fair-weather friends who disappear during hardship.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nethiyadi (1988) was directed by Pandiarajan, who also played the lead role and composed the soundtrack for the film, marking a rare instance of an actor-director turning full-fledged music director.

Keep listening

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