Seerkazhi Govindarajan’s resonant vocals anchor ‘Kaalana Minjaathaiyaa’ from the album ‘Avan Amaran.’ Lyricist A. Maruthakasi and composer T. M. Ibrahim frame a debate between labor and wealth through stark tonal contrasts.
Kaalana Minjaathaiyaa
Seerkazhi Govindarajan • From “Avan Amaran”
Avan Amaran’s Kaalana Minjaathaiyaa Tamil Lyrics English Meaning
Maruthakasi contrasts the worker’s exhaustion (‘not even a shadow to call their own’) with money’s empty promises (‘buy the whole world’). Govindarajan delivers these lines with raw urgency, emphasizing relentless toil.
Kaalanaa MinjaathaiyaaNot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa MinjaathaiyaaNot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa MinjaathaiyaaNot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa MinjaathaiyaaNot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Aalaiyil PaadupadumIn the lives of those who toil in the factories,
Yaezhaigal Vaazhvinilaewithin the lives of the poor,
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Jolliyaai VaazhnthidalaamWe can live a life full of joy.
Jolliyaai VaazhnthidalaamWe can live a life full of joy.
Ninaiththaal UlagaiyelaamIf we want, we can buy the whole world,
Panaththaal Vaangidalaamwe can buy it all with money.
Jolliyaai VaazhnthidalaamWe can live a life full of joy.
Jolliyaai VaazhnthidalaamWe can live a life full of joy.
Paattaaliyae Varumai KoottaaliyaeO worker, poverty’s your only companion.
Enni PaaraiyyaaThink about it, sir,
Un Nilaiyai Innaalilaelook at your situation today.
Enni PaaraiyyaaJust think about it, sir,
Un Nilaiyai Innaalilaelook at the state you’re in today.
Nottaagave Vantha KoottaaliyaeAs a companion who’s come in the form of a banknote,
Mana Kottaiyellaam Unnaalaeall your mental castles,
Eederumaewill finally be fulfilled because of you.
Mana Kottaiyellaam UnnaalaeAll your mental castles,
Eederumaewill finally be fulfilled because of you.
Onda Nizhal SonthamillaeWe don’t own even the shadow we stand in,
Oivu Mattum Siruthumillaand there isn’t even a little bit of rest.
Onda Nizhal SonthamillaeWe don’t own even the shadow we stand in,
Oivu Mattum Siruthumillaand there isn’t even a little bit of rest.
Kandapadi KalippuravaeTo enjoy life as we’d like,
Kaalanthaan Pothavillaitime itself isn’t enough.
Onda Nizhal SonthamillaeWe don’t own the shadow we stand in,
Oivu Mattum Siruthumillaand there’s no rest to be found.
Aalaiyil PaadupadumIn the lives of those who toil in the factories,
Yaezhaigal Vaazhvinilaewithin the lives of the poor,
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Pana Naathanae Unthan ArutpaarvaiyaalO Lord of Wealth, through your graceful gaze,
Intha Paar Meedhu Uzhaikkaamalwithout working on this earth,
Poruleettuvomwe’ll gather riches.
Pana Naathanae Unthan ArutpaarvaiyaalO Lord of Money, by your graceful gaze,
Intha Paar Meedhu Uzhaikkaamalwithout working on this earth,
Poruleettuvomwe’ll gather riches.
Pasiyaaravae Yaezhmai Pagai TheeravaeTo satisfy our hunger and end the war with poverty,
Pagal Iravendru Paaraamal Paniyaattruvomwe’ll work tirelessly without caring if it’s day or night.
Pagal Iravendru Paaraamal PaniyaattruvomWe’ll work tirelessly without caring if it’s day or night.
Kaalam Maaridumaa Kavalai TheernthidumaaWill the times change, and will these worries finally end?
Kaalam Maaridumaa Kavalai TheernthidumaaWill the times change, and will these worries finally end?
Aalaiyil PaadupadumIn the lives of those who toil in the factories,
Yaezhaigal Vaazhvinilaewithin the lives of the poor,
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalanaa Minjaathaiyaanot even a ‘kaalanaa’ (a quarter-penny) remains, sir.
Kaalana Minjaathaiyaa Music Video
The ‘Kaalana Minjaathaiyaa’ lyrics translation underscores how poverty traps workers in cycles of unpaid labor while the wealthy thrive effortlessly. Maruthakasi’s words remain relevant in discussions about economic inequality.