‘Kaiyile Vaanginen Paiyile Podalai’ is a song from the 1960 film Irumbu Thirai. Thiruchi Loganathan performs the lyrics by Kothamangalam Subbu, with music by S. V. Venkatraman. The track opens with a man’s confusion: he held his salary but it never reached his pocket. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala, and B. Saroja Devi.
The lyrics describe how creditors immediately claim the man’s wages. He observes how the rich man’s money multiplies through interest, while his own hard work leads only to hunger. Looking at beautiful jewelry he cannot afford makes him feel physically faint.
Kaiyile Vanginen Paiyile PodalaiI held the money in my hand, but it never made it to my pocket
Kasu Pona Idam TheriyalaiI don’t know where the money went
Kaiyile Vanginen Paiyile PodalaiI held the money in my hand, but it never made it to my pocket
Kasu Pona Idam TheriyalaiI don’t know where the money went
En Kadhali Pappa Karanam KetpaMy darling will ask me for the reason
Yedhu Solvathendrum TheriyalaiAnd I don’t know what I’ll say
Yezhaikku Kalam SariyilleThe times just aren’t right for a poor man
Kaiyile Vanginen Paiyile PodalaiI held the money in my hand, but it never made it to my pocket
Kasu Pona Idam TheriyalaiI don’t know where the money went
Masam Muppathu Nalum UzhaichuAfter toiling for all thirty days of the month
Varumai Pidichu Uruvam IlaichuPoverty has taken hold, and my body has grown thin
Kasu Vantha Kadankaran EllamThe moment the money arrives, all the creditors
Kanakku Noteoda NikkuranAre standing there with their account books
Vanthu Enakku Unakkunnu PikkuranThey come and tear it all apart for themselves
Kasu Vantha Kadankaran EllamThe moment the money arrives, all the creditors
Kanakku Noteoda NikkuranAre standing there with their account books
Vanthu Enakku Unakkunnu PikkuranThey come and tear it all apart for themselves
Kaiyile Vanginen Paiyile PodalaiI held the money in my hand, but it never made it to my pocket
Kasu Pona Idam TheriyalaiI don’t know where the money went
Sottu Sotta Vervai VittaI’ve shed my sweat drop by drop
Pattiniyai Padu PattaI’ve suffered through endless hunger
Kattu Katta Nottu SeruthuBut bundles and bundles of notes pile up
Kettikkaran PottiyileIn the clever rich man’s box
Athu Kuttiyum Poduthu VattiyileAnd through interest, it even bears children
Kattu Katta Nottu SeruthuBundles and bundles of notes pile up
Kettikkaran PottiyileIn the clever rich man’s box
Athu Kuttiyum Poduthu VattiyileAnd through interest, it even bears children
Kaiyile Vanginen Paiyile PodalaiI held the money in my hand, but it never made it to my pocket
Kasu Pona Idam TheriyalaiI don’t know where the money went
Vithavithamai Thunigal IrukkuThere are all sorts of wonderful clothes
Vilaiya Ketta Nadukkam VaruthuBut when I ask the price, I start to tremble
Vagai Vagaiya Nagaigal IrukkuThere are all kinds of beautiful jewelry
Madiyai Paththa Mayakkam VaruthuBut I look at my empty hands, and I feel faint
Edhaiyedhaiyo VanganuminnuThis urge to buy so many things
Anne Edhaiyedhaiyo VanganuminnuBrother, this urge to buy so many things
Ennamirukku VazhiyilleThe desire is there, but there is no way
Idhai Ennamalirukkavum MudiyalleAnd I can’t stop myself from thinking about it
Kaiyile Vanginen Paiyile PodalaiI held the money in my hand, but it never made it to my pocket
Kasu Pona Idam TheriyalaiI don’t know where the money went
Kannukku Azhaga Ponna PadachanHe created woman, a beauty to behold
Ponnukku Thunaiya Anai PadachanHe created man to be a companion for woman
Onnukku Paththa Selvaththa PadachanHe created wealth ten times more than what’s needed
Ulagam Neraiya Inbaththa PadachanHe created a world filled with joy
Ennai Pola Palaraiyum Padaichu AnneAfter creating so many others just like me, brother
Ennai Pola Palaraiyum PadaichuAfter creating so many others just like me
Idhukkum Adhukkum Yenga VachanHe made us yearn for this and for that
Yezhaiyai Kadavul Yen PadachanSo why did God create the poor?
Kaiyile Vanginen Paiyile PodalaiI held the money in my hand, but it never made it to my pocket
Kasu Pona Idam TheriyalaiI don’t know where the money went
Kasu Pona Idam TheriyalaiI don’t know where the money went
The song shifts from a personal financial problem to a wider social observation. It questions the gap between the world’s abundance and an individual’s lack of access to it. The piece ends by directly asking why God created poor people, transforming the complaint into a philosophical question.
