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Bama Vijayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Varavu Ettana

From Bama Vijayam · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Bama Vijayam
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
25 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Varavu ettanaa
Selavu pathanaa
Adhigam rendanaa
Kadaisiyil thundhanaa..
Varavu ettanaa
Selavu pathanaa
Adhigam rendanaa
Kadaisiyil thundhanaa..
Thundhanaa thundhanaa..aaa
One two three four
Five six seven eight hmm..
Varavu ettanaa
Selavu pathanaa
Adhigam rendanaa
Kadaisiyil thundhanaa..
Thundhanaa thundhanaa..aaa
Thiraimaiku mele ninaipu vandhaal
Nimmadhi irukaadhu
Aiyaa nimmadhi irukaadhu
Alavuku mele aasai vandhaal
Ulladhum nilaikaadhu
Amma ulladhum nilaikaadhu
Vayasukumelae ulagathil ulla
Nalladhu pidikaadhu
Maama nalladhu pidikaadhu
Female Chorus :Vayasukumelae ulagathil ulla
Nalladhu pidikaadhu
Maama nalladhu pidikaadhu
Vayasu pillaigal pudhusaa perusaa
Vaazhvadhu porukaadhu
Appa vaazhvadhu porukaadhu
Male Chorus :Vayasu pillaigal pudhusaa perusaa
Vaazhvadhu porukaadhu
Appa vaazhvadhu porukaadhu
Vaadagai sobaa
Male :Iruvadhu roobaa
Male :Vilaiku vaanginaa
Male :Muppadhe roobaa
Vaadagai sobaa iruvadhu roobaa
Vilaiku vaanginaa muppadhe roobaa
Varavu ettanaa
Selavu pathanaa
Adhigam rendanaa
Kadaisiyil thundhanaa..
Thundhanaa thundhanaa…
Adangaa manaivi adimai purushan
Yaanaiyaipole ponaiyum thinaa
Jeeranamaagaadhu
Aiyaa jeeranamaagaadhu
Chorus :Yaanaiyaipolae ponaiyum thinaa
Pachaikiligal parapadhai paarthaa
Parundhuku pidikaadhu
Appa parundhuku pidikaadhu
Male Chorus :Pachaikiligal parapadhai paarthaa
Parudhuku pidikaadhu
Appa parundhuku pidikaadhu
Panathai paarthal gowravam enbadhu
Marundhukum irukaadhu
Maama marundhukum irukaadhu
Female Chorus :Panathai paarthal gowravam enbadhu
Marundhukum irukaadhu
Maama marundhukum irukaadhu
Thangasangili iraval vaagunaa
Thavari pochunaa
Thagidathandhanaa
Ho ho ho
Appa haan haan haan
Baamavijayam krishnanukaaga
Inge edhukaaga
Chorus :Baamavijayam krishnanukaaga
Ingae edhukaaga
Amma ingae edhukaaga
Maadhargal ellaam kannigalaaga
Maranam adhukaaga
Appa maranam adhukaaga
Kannigalaaga vaazhanum endraal
Pillaigal edhukaaga
Aiyaa pillaigal edhukaaga
Kaadhal seidha paavathukaaga
Verae edhukaaga
Appa verae edhukaaga
Pataal theriyum pazhasum pudhusum
Kettaal theriyum kelviyum badhilum
Varavu ettanaa
Selavu pathanaa
Adhigam rendanaa
Kadaisiyil thundhanaa..
Thundhanaa thundhanaa…aa
An income of eight annas,
An expense of ten annas,
Two annas in excess,
In the end, facing a deficit!
An income of eight annas,
An expense of ten annas,
Two annas in excess,
In the end, facing a deficit!
A deficit, a deficit... ah!
One, two, three, four,
Five, six, seven, eight, mm...
An income of eight annas,
An expense of ten annas,
Two annas in excess,
In the end, facing a deficit!
A deficit, a deficit... ah!
If your ego grows beyond your ability,
There will be no peace of mind,
Sir, there will be no peace of mind!
If desire grows beyond your limits,
Even what you have won't last,
Madam, even what you have won't last!
Once past a certain age,
You dislike the good things in the world,
Uncle, you dislike good things!
Female Chorus: Once past a certain age,
You dislike the good things in the world,
Uncle, you dislike good things!
When young people live anew
And in grand style, you cannot bear it,
Father, you cannot bear it!
Male Chorus: When young people live anew
And in grand style, you cannot bear it,
Father, you cannot bear it!
A rented sofa
Male: costs twenty rupees,
Male: but if you buy it outright,
Male: it costs just thirty rupees!
A rented sofa costs twenty rupees,
While buying it costs just thirty rupees!
An income of eight annas,
An expense of ten annas,
Two annas in excess,
In the end, facing a deficit!
A deficit, a deficit...
A stubborn wife and an obedient husband;
If a cat tries to eat like an elephant,
It won't be able to digest it,
Sir, it won't digest at all!
Chorus: If a cat tries to eat like an elephant...
When green parrots fly free,
The hawk does not like it,
Father, the hawk does not like it!
Male Chorus: When green parrots fly free,
The hawk does not like it,
Father, the hawk does not like it!
When greed for money takes over,
Not a trace of dignity remains,
Uncle, not even a trace is left!
Female Chorus: When greed for money takes over,
Not a trace of dignity remains,
Uncle, not even a trace is left!
If you borrow a gold chain
And happen to lose it,
Everything falls apart in ruin!
Ho ho ho!
Father, haan haan haan!
Bhama Vijayam (Bhama's visit) was meant for Lord Krishna,
Why is she visiting here?
Chorus: Bhama Vijayam was meant for Lord Krishna,
Why is she visiting here?
Mother, why is she visiting here?
For married women to pose as unmarried girls,
Death is the price to pay,
Father, death is the price to pay!
If women must live as unmarried girls,
Why have children at all?
Sir, why have children at all?
As punishment for the sin of falling in love,
Why else?
Father, why else?
Only through hard experience will young and old learn,
Only by asking will you find the answers!
An income of eight annas,
An expense of ten annas,
Two annas in excess,
In the end, facing a deficit!
A deficit, a deficit... ah!
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Varavu Ettanaa Selavu Pathanaa' is a classic satirical masterpiece written by Kannadasan for the 1967 film 'Bama Vijayam'. The song addresses middle-class financial mismanagement, vanity, pretension, and the foolishness of living beyond one's financial means. Through humorous analogies—such as renting expensive furniture to impress others or a cat trying to eat as much as an elephant—the song delivers a sharp social commentary on the hazards of false pride and uncontrolled spending. Ultimately, it serves as an enduring philosophical warning that living beyond one's earnings inevitably leads to loss of peace, dignity, and severe financial distress.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme (Ethukai / Monai)

Pataal theriyum pazhasum pudhusum / Kettaal theriyum kelviyum badhilum

The song heavily uses Tamil second-letter rhyming (Ethukai) and first-letter alliteration (Monai) for catchy rhythm, such as pairing 'Varavu' and 'Selavu', and 'Pataal' and 'Kettaal'.

Metaphor & Analogy

Yaanaiyaipole ponaiyum thinaa / Jeeranamaagaadhu

Kannadasan uses vivid metaphorical comparisons, comparing a small-income family attempting lavish living to a cat trying to eat an elephant's diet ('Yaanaiyaipole ponaiyum thinaa').

Refrain / Chorus Repetition

Varavu ettanaa / Selavu pathanaa / Adhigam rendanaa / Kadaisiyil thundhanaa..

The recurring refrain 'Varavu ettanaa selavu pathanaa' anchors the central financial theme throughout the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

The phrase 'Varavu Ettanaa Selavu Pathanaa' became an iconic Tamil cultural idiom representing budget deficits and spending beyond one's means. The song's massive popular success inspired a 1991 Hindi film titled 'Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya', which was directly themed around the financial struggles of middle-class families.

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