Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Mahalakshmi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poiyum Purattum

From Mahalakshmi · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
A. L. Ragavan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Mahalakshmi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
6 Oct 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Solvadhu pol palaringe seivadhillai
Silar seivadhellam velyilae therivadhillai
Ullapadi idhanaale olungu illai
Idhai unardhavarkku oru naalum kavalaiyillai
Poiyum purattum illadhu
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhu
Poiyum purattum illadhu
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhu
Paiyil konjam pasayirundha
Avan paadhaiyai maattrum thadaiyedhu
Paiyil konjam pasayirundha
Avan paadhaiyai maattrum thadaiyedhu
Poiyum purattum illadhu
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhu
Kaiyai nambhithaan vaayirukku
Andha vaaiyai nambhithaan vayir irukku
Kaiyai nambhithaan vaayirukku
Andha vaaiyai nambhithaan vayir irukku
Vayirae nambhithaan uyirirukku
Andha uyirai nambhithaan udalirukku
Poiyum purattum illadhu
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhu
Koozhukku palarum vaadaiyilae thindaadaiyilae
Porul kuviyudhu silarin pettiyilae thangha kattiyilae
Koozhukku palarum vaadaiyilae thindaadaiyilae
Porul kuviyudhu silarin pettiyilae thangha kattiyilae
Oorukku palarum uzhaikkaiyilae manam kalaikaiyilae
Uruludhu siladhu methaiyil nottu kathaiyilae
Oorukku palarum uzhaikkaiyilae manam kalaikaiyilae
Uruludhu siladhu methaiyil nottu kathaiyilae
Poiyum purattum illadhu
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhu
Padithaalum velai kedaipadhillai
Adhu kidaithaalum endrum nilaippathillai
Padithaalum velai kedaipadhillai
Adhu kidaithaalum endrum nilaippathillai
Panathaasai mattum viduvathillai
Adhu paduthum paattukkae ellaiyillai
Panathaasai mattum viduvathillai
Adhu paduthum paattukkae ellaiyillai
Poiyum purattum illadhu
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhu
Paiyil konjam pasayirundha
Avan paadhaiyai maattrum thadaiyedhu
Poiyum purattum illadhu
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhu
Many people here do not do as they say
What some people do is never seen outside
Truly, because of this, there is no order in this world
Those who realize this will never worry
Without lies and deception,
No one has ever gained great wealth
Without lies and deception,
No one has ever gained great wealth
If there is some cash in one's pocket,
What obstacle can ever stop his way?
If there is some cash in one's pocket,
What obstacle can ever stop his way?
Without lies and deception,
No one has ever gained great wealth
The mouth depends on the hand to feed it,
And the stomach depends on that mouth
The mouth depends on the hand to feed it,
And the stomach depends on that mouth
Life itself depends on that stomach,
And this body depends on that life
Without lies and deception,
No one has ever gained great wealth
While many suffer and struggle even for simple porridge,
Wealth and gold bars pile up in the chests of a few
While many suffer and struggle even for simple porridge,
Wealth and gold bars pile up in the chests of a few
While many toil for society and wear out their hearts,
A few roll on soft mattresses over bundles of cash
While many toil for society and wear out their hearts,
A few roll on soft mattresses over bundles of cash
Without lies and deception,
No one has ever gained great wealth
Even if educated, one cannot find a job,
And even if found, it never lasts
Even if educated, one cannot find a job,
And even if found, it never lasts
Only the greed for money never lets go,
And there is no end to the misery it causes
Only the greed for money never lets go,
And there is no end to the misery it causes
Without lies and deception,
No one has ever gained great wealth
If there is some cash in one's pocket,
What obstacle can ever stop his way?
Without lies and deception,
No one has ever gained great wealth
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical commentary song highlights the socioeconomic ironies and moral dilemmas of modern society. Written by A. Maruthakasi, it critiques the hypocrisy where people rarely practice what they preach and wealth is overwhelmingly accumulated through dishonesty and deceit. It contrasts the hard labor of the working class—who struggle for basic meals—with the extravagant luxury of the wealthy, pointing out how money dictates human behavior, corrupts values, and drives endless greed despite societal instability and unemployment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Poiyum purattum illadhu / Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhu”

Matching initial consonant sounds across consecutive phrases or lines to create rhythmic flow.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Padithaalum velai kedaipadhillai / Adhu kidaithaalum endrum nilaippathillai”

Matching the second letter sound across lines to establish musical rhythm in Tamil lyrics.

Anadiplosis / Gradatio (Chain Progression)

“Kaiyai nambhithaan vaayirukku / Andha vaaiyai nambhithaan vayir irukku”

A sequential cause-and-effect progression linking body functions from hand to mouth to stomach to life and body.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, this song reflects the social reform themes popular in 1950s and 1960s Tamil cinema, sung in A. L. Ragavan's signature expressive and theatrical style.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Vetri Vendumaa1968
Ethir Neechal (1968 Film)AmbitionFate
Chennai Pattanam (Kasu Kasu)2001
Alli Thandha VaanamPovertySocial Class
Kasethan Kadavulada2022
ThunivuPovertyAmbition
Padichu Ennatha Kizhikka Pora1989
Ore Oru GramathileySocial ClassWork And Duty
Jana Gana Mana2004
Aaytha EzhuthuAmbitionUnknown
Vidhi Maarudha2024
Lucky BaskharContemplativeAmbition

From the same album

More songs from Mahalakshmi

View album
Vandhaai Engal1960
MahalakshmiJoyful
Paal Paal1960
MahalakshmiPlayful
Vel Vellumaa1960
MahalakshmiContemplative
Kaatrulla Podhey1960
MahalakshmiHopeful
Chinnanchiru Kannan1960
MahalakshmiPlayful
Azhagiya Kamalathil1960
MahalakshmiDevotional

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.