KANNADASAN[Unakkaaga Naan] iraivan ulagathai padaithaana..

Movie: Unakkaaga Naan
Poet: Kannadasan
Singer: Yesudas
Music: M.S Viswanathan
Song Sequence: (1)-(1)-(2)-(2)- (3)-(3)-(4)-(1)-(5)-(5)-(6)-(1)-(7)

(1)iraivan ulagathai padaithaanaa,ezhmaiyai avan thaan padaithaanaa, 

did God create this “world”?
did he create “Poverty” too?

(2)ezhaiyai padaiththavan avan endraal,
iraivan enbavan edharkkaaga,

if he were the person who created the “poor”,
what is the need of such a God,

(3)ponnagai anindha maaligaigal,
punnagai marandha man kudisai,

one one hand, we have the bungalows adorned with all the gold,
and on the other hand we have the mud house which has forgotten to smile,
(what a contrast life is!)

(4)pasi vara ange maathiraigal,
pattiniyaal ingu yaathiraigal, 

in the rich man’s house, people take pills to become hungry!
on the other side, due to hunger, people make expeditions (taking great pains to feed themselves)!

(5)uyare parakkum kaathaadi,
udhavum ezhai nool pole,

the rich are like the high flying kites,
and the poor who help them are like the string attached to it

(6)pattam polavar palapalappaar nool pole ivar ilaithiruppaar,
iru ver iyakkam idhuvendraal iraivan enbavan edharkaaga, 

the rich, like the kite, are pompous and attractive; the poor grow lean like the string attached to the kite,
if these are two separate groups, what is the need of “God”,

(7)iraivan inge varavillai enave naan angu pogindren,
varumai muzhuvadhum theerndha pinne marupadi oru naal naan varuven,

the “God” never came here (to the poor man’s rescue), hence I am going to him (I am going to die),
once poverty is eliminated, I will come back (I will be reborn).

PAAPANAASAM SIVAN[Haridas] Annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane…

Movie: Haridas
Poet: Papanasam Sivan
Singer : MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Music: Papanasam Sivan and G.Ramanathan

annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane,
annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane,
paaril anda saraasaram kankanda deivam,
annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane,
paaril anda saraasaram kankanda deivam,
annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane,

In this world, your mother and father 
are your universe, they are the gods which your eyes can see,

thaayinum kovil ingedhu,
thaayinum kovil ingedhu,
inba thandhai sol mikkadhor mandhiramedhu,
thandhai sol mikkadhor mandhiramedhu,
seyin kadan annai thondu,
seyin kadan annai thondu,
punya theerthamum moorthi sthalam idhil undu,
theerthamum moorthi sthalam idhil undu,
annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane 
annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane,
paaril anda saraasaram kankanda deivam,
annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane,

where is a temple that is superior to your mother?
what is a better mantra than your father’s words?
you are indebted to taking care and helping your mother,
this is equivalent to drinking the virtuous holy water / being at the place where gods idol is placed (divine place),

thaayudan thandhaiyin paadham,
endrum thalai vanangaadhavan naal thavaraamal kovilil sendru enna kaanbaan,
nandha gopaalan vendum varam tharuvaano,

to a person who does not bow to the feet of his mother and father,
what is the use of (/ what will he see) going to temple everyday,
will the god (Krishna) give him the boon he prayed for?

ponnudal than porul bhoomi,
ponnudal than porul bhoomi,
pendir puthirarum pugazh iththanai vaazhvum,
puthirarum pugazh iththanai vaazhvum,
annai pidhaa indri yedhu,
annai pidhaa indri yedhu,
maram aayin vidhai indri kaai kani yedhu,
aayin vidhai indri kaai kani yedhu,
annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane paaril,
anda saraasaram kan kanda deivam,
annaiyum thandhaiyum thaane paaril,

having a golden body ( I guess healthy and perfect body), all the materialistic things, owning land,
a chaste wife, children, glory and all the good life associated with the aforesaid,
how did you achieve them without your mother and father,
it is akin to saying that you may be like a mighty huge tree, but without a seed how did you come about?
if not for the seed how would you bear the fruits?

BHARATHIDASAN[Parasakthi] desam gnanam kalvi eesan poosai ellaam…
 

The song talks about how money has blinded our lives, our values our relations etc… wonderful song… apparently Sivaji and karunanidhi’s first movie. Have fun with the song.

Movie: Parasakthi
Music: R.Sudharsanam
Lyrics: Bharathidasan
Singer: C.S.Jayaraman
 

desam gnanam kalvi eesan poosai ellaam,
kaasu mun selladhadi,
desam gnanam kalvi eesan poosai ellaam,
kaasu mun sellaadhadi,
kudhambhaai, kaasu mun sellaadhadi

one’s country, knowledge, education, god , worshipping ritual,
all these do not count in front of “money”,
one’s country, knowledge, education, god , worshipping ritual,
all these do not count in front of “money”,
oh people! do not count in front of “money”

eesanum eesanaar poosaiyum desathil kaasukku pinnaale,
kudhambaai, kaasukku pinnaale,

In this country god, worshipping god etc come after money (money is primary, even god comes later),
oh people! every thing is after money,

kaatchiyaana panam kai vittu pona pin saatchi court eraadhadi,
kaatchiyaana panam kai vittu pona pin saatchi court eraadhadi,
kudhambaai, saatchi court eraadhadi,

money, which has become our vision (blinding us from the truth), when leaves our hands, does not even get onto the court to be the witness,
money, which has become our vision (blinding us from the truth), when leaves our hands, does not even get onto the court to be the witness,
oh people! does not even get onto the court to be the witness,

pai paiyaai pon kondor poi poiyaai sonnaalum,
mei meiyaai pogumadi,
kudhambaai mei meiyaai pogumadi,

people who have bags overs bags of gold (riches), even if they keep on lying,
it shall be perceived as truth,
oh people! it shall be perceived as truth,

nallavar aanaalum illaadhavarai naadu madhikkaadhu,
nallavar aanaalum illaadhavarai naadu madhikkaadhu,
kudhambaai naadu madhikkaadhu,

even if people are good, if they don’t have the money, society doesn’t respect them,
even if people are good, if they don’t have the money, society doesn’t respect them,
oh people! society doesn’t even respect them!

kalvi illaadha moodarai katror kondaadudhal velli panamadiye,
kudhambaai velli panamadiye,

people who are educated praise and appreciate uneducated fools just for (the silver like) money,
oh people! just for the (silver like) money!

aariya koothaadinaalum thaandavakkone kaasu kaariyathil kan vaiyadaa thaandavakkone,
aariya koothaadinaalum thaandavakkone kaasu kaariyathil kan vaiyadaa thaandavakkone,

any thing that a person does, his focus is only on how to make money from it,
any thing that a person does, his focus is only on how to make money from it,
(literally this means even when the king is dancing (Lord Natarajan), the focus should always be on how o make money out of it (a modification of the original siddhar paatu discussed at the beginning))

ulle pagai vaiyadaa thaandavakkone,
ulle pagai vaiyadaa thaandavakkone, kasukku udhattil uravaadadaa thaandavakkone,
ulle pagai vaiyadaa thaandavakkone kasukku udhattil uravaadadaa thaandavakkone,

have vengeance with in you! oh people!
have vengeance with in you! oh people! but just for the money, keep a smile on the lips, oh people!
have vengeance with in you! oh people! but just for the money, keep a smile on the lips, oh people!

muttaa payalai ellaam thaandavakkone sila mutta payalai ellaam thaandavakkone,
kaasu mudhalaali aakkudhada thaandavakkone,
mutta payalai ellaam thaandavakkone kaasu mudhalaali aakkudhada thaandavakkone,

the foolish people, oh people!
some foolish people become bosses just because of the money they have, oh people!
some foolish people become bosses just because of the money they have, oh people!

katti azhumpodhum thaandavakkone pinathai katti azhumpodhum thaandavakkone,
katti azhumpodhum thaandavakkone pana petti mele kan vaiyaadaa thaandavakkone,
katti azhumpodhum thaaNdavakkone pana petti mele kan vaiyadaa thaandavakkone,

even when you are crying embracing the cadaver, oh people! make sure you have an eye on the money box (of yours or the one who died (i.e even your cry for some one who is dead, it is dependent on how much money he/she had))

aariya koothaadinaalum thaandavakkone kaasu kaariyathil kan vaiyadaa thaandavakkone,

KANNADASAN[Saraswathi sabatham] kalviya selvama veerama?

Movie : Saraswathi sabatham 
Poet: Kannadasan 
Music Director : K V Mahadevan 
Singer : T.M.Sounderajan 
Song Sequence: (1)-(2)-(1)-(2)-(3)-(3)-(1)-(4)-(4)-(5)-(4)-(5)-(6)-(6)-(7)-(7)-(1)-(8)- (8)-(9)-(9)-(10)-(1)-(11)-(11)-(12)-(12)-(13)-(13)-(1)-(14)-(14)-(15)-(15)-(16)-(16)-(1)-(2)-(3)-(1)

(1)kalviya selvama veerama?
(2)annaiya thandhaiya deivama?

is it education? wealth? bravery? that is the most important
it is like asking if mother? father? or god? that are the most important

(3)ondrillamal mattondru uruvaaguma?
idhil uyarvendrum thalvendrum pirivaaguma?

without one how can the other begin ( or exist) ?
where is the separation of which is more important ?

(4)karporku porul indri pasi theeruma?
(5)porul petrorku arivindri pugal seruma?
(6)katraalum petraalum balamagumaa?
(7)veeram kaanadha vaalvendrum vaalvaaguma?

for the learned ( educated people) , without wealth how will their hunger satiate?
for the wealthy, without intellect ( which comes by education), how will they become famous?
even if one is learned, or has all the wealth, does it lead to strength?
if you don’t have bravery, then is such a life worth living?

(8)padithavan karuthellam sabai yeruma? 
porul padaithavan karuthanaal sabai meeruma? 
(9)padithavan padaithavan yaarayinum 
(10)balam padaithirundaal avanukkinaiaguma?

do all the ideas or ideals of learned people,  get accepted or lead to accolades?
how can the idea’s or ideals of creator, be rejected? ( since he has already proved thats his ideas work),
whether it is the learned or the creator,
if they also possess bravery, then there is no one comparable to them.

(11)ondrukkul ondraga karuvanadu,
adu ondrinil ondraga porulanadu ,
(12)ondrai ondru pagaithal uyarvedu ?
(13)moondrum Or idathil irundaal nigar edu?

each of these qualities are intertwined and began within each other,
they all are meaningful only when taken together,
if each of them detest the other, where is progress or elevation?
if all of them are at a place, then what is comparable to its power?

(14)moondru thalaimuraikkum nidhi venduma ?
kaalam mutrum pugal valarkkum mathi venduma ?
(15)thondrum pagai nadungum balam venduma ?
(16)ivai moondrum thunai irukkum nalam venduma?

so do you want wealth that will last the next 3 generations?
or do you want a powerful intellect that will be remembered and revered till the end of time?
or do you need the strength that will send shivers down the enemy who opposes you?
or do you need the goodness that comes with help of all three qualities?

KANNADASAN[Avanthaan manidhan] manidhan ninaipadhundu…

Movie: Avanthan manidhan
Poet: Kannadasan
Music: M.S.Viswanathhan
Singer: T.M. Sounderajan
Song Sequence: (1)-(2)-(1)-(1)-(2)-(2)-(1)-(3)-(3)-(4)-(1)-(5)-(5)-(6)-(1)-(7)-(1)-(2)

(1)manidhan ninaipadhundu
vaalvu nilaikkum endru,

humans think (falsely),
“this life is permanent”,

(2)iraivan ninaipadhundu,
paavam manidhan endru,

god thinks ( to this thought of human),
“I am sorry for humans”,

(3)thandhai tavaru seidhaar,
thaayum idam koduthaal,
(4)vandhu pirandhu vittom,
verum bandham valarthu vittom,
manadhu thudikindradhu,
mayakkam varugindradhu,
azhudhu laabam enna,
avan aatchi nadakindradhu,

father committed a mistake,
mother also co conspired and gave room for it,
as a result we were born,
all we did was only grow our relationships,
my heart is beating in pain,
I feel dizzy,
what is the gain in crying?
its all by the rule of god ( we just dance to his tunes).

(5)kaattu manamirundhal,
kavalai valarndhuvidum,
(6)pootai thirandhuvittal,
andha kuruvi parandhuvidum,
kaalil vilangum ittom,
kadamai yena alaithom,
naalu vilangugalil dhinam naatiyam adugindrom,

if your heart ( intellect) is an untamed forest,
then worry easily grows in it,
if you open the lock of the cage (open up to new ideas, ideals, experiences etc.),
the bird ( worry) will fly away,
all we do is tie shackles to our own legs,
we term it as “duty”, 
with our “tied” legs, we are trying to dance,

(7)vidhiyin radhangalile, naam viraindhu payanam seidhaal,
madhiyum mayangudhada, siru manamum kalangudhada
kudukka yedhuvum illai , yen kulaappam mudindadada,
kanakkai mudithuvitten , oru kavalai mudindhadada.

in the chariot of “fate”, we travel speedily (hastily),
my intellect is dizzy, my small heart is crying,
I don’t have anything to give, my confusion came to an end,
I finished the calculation, my worry is over now,

VAALI[Edhir neechal] vetri vendumaa pottu paarada edhir neechal..

Movie: Edhir neechal
Poet: Vaali
Singer: Seerkali Govindarajan
Music Director: V.Kumar
Song Sequence: (1)- (2)-(3)-(1)-(4)-(1)-(5)-(1)-(2)-(3)

(1)vetri vendumaa pottu paarada edhir neechal,
(2)sardhaan poda thalaividhi enbadhu perum koochal,
(3)enni thunindhaal ingu, enna nadakaadhathu,
konjam muyandraal ingu, edhu kidaikaadhadhu,

do you want success?, swim against the tide ( depicted metaphorically to mean battle against tumultuous times) ( hard work, do things differently, smartly),
to attribute all your actions to fate and not doing what you truly want to do, is a big problem (irritating),
if you act bravely, carefully calculating all your moves; then what is it that is impossible?
if you put a bit of effort, there is nothing that you cannot get.

(4)pillaiyai perugira ammavukku,
pathu maasamum edhir neechal,
porakkura kulandhai nadakura varayil,
tharayil poduvadhu edhir neechal,
palliku palliku idathukku alayum,
appanukkadhudhaan edhir neechal,
pillaiku eppadi idam kidaichaalum,
paritchai vandhaal edhir neechal,

for the mother who bears her child,
the ten months of pregnancy is a swim against the tide ( battle against tumultuous times),
once the child is born, until the time it learns to walk,
leaving it ( putting) on the floor is a swim against the tide,
once the child grows a bit, finding/admitting to  a suitable school
is another hard time for the father,
even after the child gets an admission,
when the examinations come then its again a time to swim against the tide,

(5)kadarkarai oram nadakira kaadhal,
kalyanam mudippathum edhir neechal,
kanakkukku mele pillaiyai pethu,
kaalam kalippadhu edhir neechal,
kanmoodi valakkam mann moodi poga,
karuthai solvadhu edhir neechal,
veetuku veedu ottukkal vaangi,
padhavikku varuvadhu edhir neechal,

for the love that begins and flourishes at the beach ( usually the place where lovers meet , usually in secret),
for it to end in marriage is a swim against the tide,
if you give birth to more children ( more than necessary),
then spending time with all of them ( or living a good life) is a swim against the tide,
in order to abolish baseless superstitions,
making people believe in a convincing way against them is a swim against the tide,
to canvass for votes, going from door to door,
and coming to power is a swim against the tide,

(6)oru pidi sothukku oru jaan vayiru,
poraduvadhu edhir neechal,
oru pidi mannuku urimai kondu,
porkkalam povadhu edhir neechal,
ettadi mannil sikki vidaamal,
thappa ninaipadhu edhir neechal,
kooti kazhithu pottu paarkayil,
kadaisi varayil edhir neechal,

to work hard for a handful of rice, so as to fulfill  the foot long stomach we have,
is a swim against the tide,
to fight claiming ownership for a handful of land,
is a swim against the tide,
to not get entrapped in the 8 feet of mud (to die),
and cheating death is a swim against the tide,
if you actually look at the way we live our lives (do the balance sheet of life),
till the end , all we do is to swim against the tide.