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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pollatha Kaasu

From Panchamirtham · 1978

Lyricist
Nellai A. Ganapathy
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Panchamirtham1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pollaatha kaasu panamWicked money and wealth
Pollaatha kaasu panamWicked money and wealth
Bhoomithanai aaluthadaaRules over this entire earth, my friend!
Ellaamae aritha manamEven a mind that understands everything
Yaengi yaengi alaiyuthadaaWanders around longing and yearning!
Male
Kurukku vazhiyil sendriduvaarPeople will travel through shortcut paths
Gopuraththil yaeriduvaarThey will climb up to the top of the tower
Kodi katti paranthiduvaarThey will fly high with flags of success
Kolgaiyellaam maranthiduvaarThey will forget all their principles and ideals
Male
Netru varai nadanthathellaamEverything that happened until yesterday
Ninaikkaamal aadiduvaarThey will dance around without reflecting on it
Nenjaara poiyuraippaarThey will utter lies wholeheartedly
Needhiyaiyum maattriduvaarThey will even subvert and change justice
Male
Pollaatha kaasu panam….oo…Wicked money and wealth... oh...
Pollaatha kaasu panamWicked money and wealth
Bhoomithanai aaluthadaaRules over this entire earth, my friend!
Ellaamae aritha manamEven a mind that understands everything
Yaengi yaengi alaiyuthadaaWanders around longing and yearning!
Male
Ellaamae paarththiruppaanGod will be watching over everything
Iraivanavan poruththiruppaanHe will remain patient for the right time
Pollaatha thuriyavanavanThat wicked Duryodhana
Vithi mudintha kadhai arivomWe know the story of how his fate ended
Male
Nallorai vendra soodhuThe deceitful gamble that defeated righteous people
Maayavanaal veezhnthathadaaWas destroyed by Lord Krishna
Paandavarum vaazhnthu vittaarThe Pandavas eventually lived prosperously
Paanjaali thalai mudiththaal…oo…oo…oo….Once Draupadi tied her hair... oh... oh... oh...
Male
Dharmamthaan nilaikkumadaaRighteousness alone will ultimately endure, my friend
Saththiyathaan jeyikkumadaaTruth alone will triumph, my friend
Karmam vithi enbathellaamKarma and fate, all such concepts
Kaalaththaal maarumadaaWill change with the passage of time, my friend
Male
Unmaithaan udan pirappuTruth is our true sibling
Uyar gunamthaan thaai thanthaiNoble virtue is our true parents
Nammai naam vekavatharkkuFor us to elevate ourselves
Naanilaththil idhu vedhamThis is the sacred Veda in this world
Nammai naam vekavatharkkuFor us to elevate ourselves
Naanilaththil idhu vedhamThis is the sacred Veda in this world
Male
Pollaatha kaasu panamWicked money and wealth
Bhoomithanai aaluthadaaRules over this entire earth, my friend!
Ellaamae aritha manamEven a mind that understands everything
Yaengi yaengi alaiyuthadaaWanders around longing and yearning!
Yaengi yaengi alaiyuthadaaWanders around longing and yearning!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This philosophical Tamil song reflects on the corrupting influence of money and greed in human society. It highlights how people sacrifice morals, resort to shortcuts, lie, and manipulate justice to attain power and wealth. However, the song serves as a reminder that material wealth is transient and corrupt methods eventually lead to ruin.\n\nDrawing parallels from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the lyricist points out how evil figures like Duryodhana and the unfair game of dice ultimately collapsed through divine intervention (Lord Krishna) and the triumph of the Pandavas. The song concludes with a moral imperative that truth, righteousness, and good virtues are humanity's real guides and family, ensuring that cosmic justice and truth will always prevail over temporary greed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Yaengi yaengi alaiyuthadaa

The words 'Yaengi yaengi' are repeated sequentially to emphasize intense longing and restlessness caused by greed.

Allusion (Mythological Reference)

Paandavarum vaazhnthu vittaar / Paanjaali thalai mudiththaal

Refers to the epic Mahabharata, invoking Duryodhana ('Pollaatha thuriyavanavan'), Krishna ('Maayavan'), the Pandavas, and Panchali's vow to illustrate moral victory.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Dharmamthaan nilaikkumadaa ... Karmam vithi enbathellaam

The second letters of 'Dharmamthaan' (r) and 'Karmam' (r) rhyme, creating rhythmic harmony.

Moonaik Chondham (Initial Alliteration)

Netru varai nadanthathellaam / Ninaikkaamal aadiduvaar

Initial consonant sounds in 'Netru' and 'Ninaikkaamal' match, providing a pleasing melodic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Shankar Ganesh and rendered in the commanding, morally resonant voice of Seerkazhi Govindarajan, this track from 'Panchamirtham' (1978) stands out as a classic philosophical song ('Thathuva Paadal') typical of 1970s Tamil cinema morality plays.

Keep listening

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