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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poiyum Purattum

From Mahalakshmi · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
A. L. Ragavan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Mahalakshmi1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Solvadhu pol palaringe seivadhillaiMany people here do not do what they say.
Silar seivadhellam velyilae therivadhillaiWhat some people do never comes to light outside.
Ullapadi idhanaale olungu illaiTherefore, as things stand, there is no proper order or discipline.
Idhai unardhavarkku oru naalum kavalaiyillaiThose who realize this will never worry about anything.
Male
Poiyum purattum illadhuWithout lies and deception,
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhuNo one has ever accumulated immense wealth.
Poiyum purattum illadhuWithout lies and deception,
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhuNo one has ever accumulated immense wealth.
Paiyil konjam pasayirundhaIf there is a little money in one's pocket,
Avan paadhaiyai maattrum thadaiyedhuWhat obstacle can stand in the way of changing his path?
Paiyil konjam pasayirundhaIf there is a little money in one's pocket,
Avan paadhaiyai maattrum thadaiyedhuWhat obstacle can stand in the way of changing his path?
Male
Poiyum purattum illadhuWithout lies and deception,
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhuNo one has ever accumulated immense wealth.
Male
Kaiyai nambhithaan vaayirukkuThe mouth depends on the hand working,
Andha vaaiyai nambhithaan vayir irukkuAnd the stomach depends on that mouth.
Kaiyai nambhithaan vaayirukkuThe mouth depends on the hand working,
Andha vaaiyai nambhithaan vayir irukkuAnd the stomach depends on that mouth.
Vayirae nambhithaan uyirirukkuLife itself depends on the stomach,
Andha uyirai nambhithaan udalirukkuAnd the body depends on that life.
Male
Poiyum purattum illadhuWithout lies and deception,
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhuNo one has ever accumulated immense wealth.
Male
Koozhukku palarum vaadaiyilae thindaadaiyilaeWhile many struggle in the cold wind even for simple porridge,
Porul kuviyudhu silarin pettiyilae thangha kattiyilaeWealth piles up in the boxes of a few in gold bars.
Koozhukku palarum vaadaiyilae thindaadaiyilaeWhile many struggle in the cold wind even for simple porridge,
Porul kuviyudhu silarin pettiyilae thangha kattiyilaeWealth piles up in the boxes of a few in gold bars.
Oorukku palarum uzhaikkaiyilae manam kalaikaiyilaeWhile many labor for the town and get disheartened,
Uruludhu siladhu methaiyil nottu kathaiyilaeA few roll on beds filled with stacks of currency notes.
Oorukku palarum uzhaikkaiyilae manam kalaikaiyilaeWhile many labor for the town and get disheartened,
Uruludhu siladhu methaiyil nottu kathaiyilaeA few roll on beds filled with stacks of currency notes.
Male
Poiyum purattum illadhuWithout lies and deception,
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhuNo one has ever accumulated immense wealth.
Male
Padithaalum velai kedaipadhillaiEven if one studies, one does not get a job,
Adhu kidaithaalum endrum nilaippathillaiEven if one gets it, it never lasts permanently.
Padithaalum velai kedaipadhillaiEven if one studies, one does not get a job,
Adhu kidaithaalum endrum nilaippathillaiEven if one gets it, it never lasts permanently.
Panathaasai mattum viduvathillaiYet the greed for money never leaves people,
Adhu paduthum paattukkae ellaiyillaiAnd there is no limit to the suffering it causes.
Panathaasai mattum viduvathillaiYet the greed for money never leaves people,
Adhu paduthum paattukkae ellaiyillaiAnd there is no limit to the suffering it causes.
Male
Poiyum purattum illadhuWithout lies and deception,
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhuNo one has ever accumulated immense wealth.
Paiyil konjam pasayirundhaIf there is a little money in one's pocket,
Avan paadhaiyai maattrum thadaiyedhuWhat obstacle can stand in the way of changing his path?
Poiyum purattum illadhuWithout lies and deception,
Perum porulai serndhavan kedaiyaadhuNo one has ever accumulated immense wealth.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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