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Sudharsan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Kandu Mayangadha

From Sudharsan · 1951

Lyricist
K. D. Santhanam
Singer
P. A. Periyanayaki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Sudharsan
Movie release year
1951
Lyrics added on
20 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………………………
Unnai kandu mayangaadha pergal undooo
Unnai kandu mayangaadha pergal undooo
Panamae unnai kandu mayangaadha pergal undooo
Kalikaalathil kannkanda deivamae
Unnai kandu mayangaadha pergal undooo
Gnyaalathilae nee seiyum jaalathilae
Gnyaalathilae nee seiyum jaalathilae
Un pradhabathilae leela vinodhathilae
Unnai kandu mayangaadha pergal undooo
Panamae panamae ….paadhagaa panamae
Maapaadhaga panamae nee maa paadhaga panamae
Ni sa ni sa ni ma paadhaga panamae
Paadhaga maa paadhaga nee maa paadhaga
Ni sa ni sa ni ma paadhaga panamae
Unnai kandu mayangaadha pergal undooo
Kalladhavan karunai illadhavan
Kaamandhakaaran polladhavan poiyan
Kalladhavan karunai illadhavan
Kaamandhakaaran polladhavan poiyan
Aagiya koottathil
Nallavarai nambina perai
Nallavarai nambina perai
Naai pol uzhaipavarai
Naanayamaai vaazha ennum
Naanayamaai vaazha ennum
Ezhaiyai sikka veithae
Ullam thudikka kanneer vadikka
Ullam thudikka kanneer vadikka
Vedikkai paarkum vinodhanae
Ulagil unakku nigar yedhappa pana naadhanae
Muttaalum mullaa kalaingjan pola pesuvaan
Muttaalum mullaa kalaingjan pola pesuvaan
Summaa thottaal nadungum kozhai kooda vaai veesuvaan
Summaa thottaal nadungum kozhai kooda vaai veesuvaan
Pattapagalil kollai adikkum pakkaa thirudanum
Pattapagalil kollai adikkum pakkaa thirudanum
Un paarvaiyinaal parama yogiyan pola kaanuvaan
Un paarvaiyinaal parama yogiyan pola kaanuvaan
Kattidathu sathirathu somberi kooda
Kattidathu sathirathu somberi kooda
Un kribaiyaal periya manidhan aagi vidugiraan
Un kribaiyaal periya manidhan aagi vidugiraan
Ellam undhan magimayinaalae nadakudhappa
Ellam undhan magimayinaalae nadakudhappa
Inai illadha magaanu baava
Ariyaamai poraamai pirarai
Adakki aazhum thanmai
Ariyaamai poraamai pirarai
Adakki aazhum thanmai
Karvam kuraiyaamai nilai unaraamai
Karvam kuraiyaamai nilai unaraamai
Indha theemai ellamae seidhidum nanmai
Theemai ellamae seidhidum nanmai
Engum niraindhavanae engum niraindhavanae
Panam ennum yegadhapathiyaanae
Manadhai mayakum maayajaalathai kai vittu
Manadhai mayakum maayajaalathai kai vittu
Mamadhai kollaamal naan solvadhai nee kettu
Mamadhai kollaamal naan solvadhai nee kettu
Nalla manidharidam naadu
Nalla manitharidam naadu
Adhanaal naadu sezhithu nalam pera koodum
Vallavan neeyaanadhanaalae vallavan nee aanadhanaalae
Ulagil ellorkkum podhuvaa irundhaal panamae unnai kandu
Ulagil ellorkkum podhuvaa irundhaal panamae unnai kandu
Vanangaadha pergal undoo
...
Is there anyone who is not captivated by you?
Is there anyone who is not captivated by you?
Oh money, is there anyone who is not captivated by you?
In this age of Kali, you are the living god before our eyes!
Is there anyone who is not captivated by you?
By the illusions you weave across the world,
By the illusions you weave across the world,
By your majesty and your playful wonders,
Is there anyone who is not captivated by you?
Oh money, money... you cruel, wicked money!
Most treacherous money, you are deeply wicked money!
Ni Sa Ni Sa Ni Ma, you wicked money!
Wicked, so wicked, you are utterly wicked!
Ni Sa Ni Sa Ni Ma, you wicked money!
Is there anyone who is not captivated by you?
The uneducated, the merciless,
The lustful, the wicked, and the liar—
The uneducated, the merciless,
The lustful, the wicked, and the liar—
In the company of such people,
Good people, those who trusted them,
Good people, those who trusted them,
Those who toil like dogs,
And those who wish to live with honesty,
And those who wish to live with honesty,
Entangling the poor in their grasp,
While their hearts throb and tears stream down,
While their hearts throb and tears stream down,
You are the eccentric one watching the spectacle!
In this world, who can equal you, oh Lord of Money?
Even a fool talks like a learned artist,
Even a fool talks like a learned artist,
Even a coward who trembles at a mere touch boasts loudly,
Even a coward who trembles at a mere touch boasts loudly,
Even a hardened thief who robs in broad daylight,
Even a hardened thief who robs in broad daylight,
Appears like a supreme saint by your grace!
Appears like a supreme saint by your grace!
Even an idler lounging in an inn,
Even an idler lounging in an inn,
Becomes a respected gentleman by your grace!
Becomes a respected gentleman by your grace!
Everything happens through your great power!
Everything happens through your great power!
You matchless, mighty power!
Ignorance, jealousy, and the urge
To dominate and rule over others,
Ignorance, jealousy, and the urge
To dominate and rule over others,
Unending pride, blindness to one's reality—
Unending pride, blindness to one's reality—
You make all these evils bring forth fortune!
You make all these evils bring forth fortune!
You who are present everywhere, present everywhere!
Oh absolute emperor called money!
Give up this mind-deluding magic of yours,
Give up this mind-deluding magic of yours,
Do not be arrogant, but listen to what I say,
Do not be arrogant, but listen to what I say,
Go dwell with good people!
Go dwell with good people!
So that the country may prosper and flourish!
Because you are so powerful, because you are so mighty,
If only you belonged equally to all in this world, oh money,
If only you belonged equally to all in this world, oh money,
Is there anyone who would not bow to you?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This satirical social commentary song from 'Sudharsan' (1951) addresses money directly as a supreme, controlling deity of the modern age (Kali Yuga). The song lampoons the corrupting power of wealth, showing how money elevates fools into apparent scholars, turns cowards into boastful men, disguises daytime robbers as holy ascetics, and grants respectability to lazy individuals, while leaving honest, hard-working poor people trapped in misery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagandhal / Katpazhikkaatha Uruvagam)

Kalikaalathil kannkanda deivamae

Money is personified as a deity ('Kannkanda deivamae'), a monarch ('Yegadhapathiyaanae'), and a mischievous spectator ('Vedikkai paarkum vinodhanae') who manipulates human destiny.

Simile (Upama Alankaram)

Naai pol uzhaipavarai

Comparing the honest poor man's relentless hard labor to that of a dog ('Naai pol uzhaipavarai') and a thief appearing like a holy sage ('parama yogiyan pola').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kalladhavan karunai illadhavan / Kaamandhakaaran polladhavan poiyan

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Ka' in 'Kalladhavan karunai' and 'Kaamandhakaaran'.

Swaras Integration (Musical Solfège Poetry)

Ni sa ni sa ni ma paadhaga panamae

Blending classical Carnatic swaras (Ni Sa Ni Sa Ni Ma) directly into the lyric to emphasize rhythmic mock-devotion towards money.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sudharsan' (1951) was directed by A. S. A. Sami and featured music by G. Ramanathan. Singer P. A. Periya Nayagi, a renowned Carnatic vocalist and playback singer of early Tamil cinema, delivers this dramatic character song with rich classical inflections combined with theatrical satire.

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