Traditional economy versus Consumerism!

Bama Vijayam (பாமா விஜயம், Tamil; 1967)

The perpetual clash between the old wisdom and the new, between modernity and the time-tested traditional values, between the conventional economy and the New World Order whose lynchpin is credit and counting the eggs before they are hatched. This lesson, together with the advice of living within your means and to forget keeping up with the Joneses, is nicely depicted in this song.

The clash between the generation is evident here in this song composed by Kannadasan, as the member of the older, as depicted by the retired schoolmaster (TS Balaiah) who is probably the patriarchal head of the household and a widow, is debating his views about life and management of economics with his three sons, their wives and their kids. The grandchildren tend to side with their grandfather, probably just joining the fun, clueless about the complexities of adulthood.

The older generation, after enduring the effects of Schools of Hard Knocks and Uncertainties, is naturally worried about the unpredictability of tomorrow, tend to be wary of plunging head-on without thinking without a safety net. The young, lured by materialism, consumerism and comforts of life do not mind taking risks by living only for the moment.

In the spring of youth, everything is done with only one demon to satisfy, i.e. the primal needs of men. With age and hopefully with wisdom and after burning our fingers and glutes, we wise up to appreciate that not all ancient teachings are outdated and worthless.

The whole scenario smacks of Schopenhauer's 'Will-to-life' proposition to reign in our desires and adopts a consolingly pessimistic attitude to our struggles as being happy is just an illusion created by Man to delude himself. This movie has been said to have best playwright ever, written by Crazy Mohan, for a Tamil movie. Mohan went on to write screenplays for many blockbusters including Avvai Shanmugi.

It is nice to see so many big names in one music video; TS Balaiah as the father, Sundarajan, Muthuraman and Nagesh as sons, Sowkar Janaki, Kanchana and Jayanthi as their respective wives and Satchu as a young adult.

Whether to reject all forms of modernity or embrace it wholeheartedly, the answer must surely lie somewhere in the middle. Like the melody of the song which infuses elements of traditional Indian instruments and the picking of electric guitar, which is the quintessential emblem of modernity, the combination of both must surely be necessary. Its testimony is this mesmerising tune!

வரவு எட்டணா செலவு பத்தணா
அதிகம் ரெண்டனா கடைசியில் தும் தனா தும் தனா தும் தனா
நிலைமைக்கு மேலே நினைப்பு வந்தால் நிம்மதி இருக்காது
அய்யா நிம்மதி இருக்காது
அளவுக்கு மேலே ஆசை வந்தால் உள்ளதும் நிலைக்காது
அம்மா உள்ளதும் நிலைக்காது
வயசுக்கு மேலே உலகத்தில் உள்ள நல்லது பிடிக்காது
மாமா நல்லது பிடிக்காது
வயசு பிள்ளைகள் புதுசா பெருசா வாழ்வது பொறுக்காது
அப்பா வாழ்வது பொறுக்காது
வாடகை சோபா 20 ருபாய்
விலைக்கு வாங்கின 30 தே ரூபா
வாடகை சோபா 20 ரூபா விலைக்கு வாங்கின 30 தே ரூபா
அடங்கா மனைவி அடிமை புருஷன் குடும்பதுக்ககாது
அய்யா குடும்பதுக்க்காகது
யானையை போலே பூனையும் தின்னா ஜீரனமாகத்து
அய்யா ஜீரனமாகது
பச்சை கிளிகள் பறப்பதை பார்த்த பருந்துக்கு பிடிக்காது
அப்பா பருந்துக்கு பிடிக்காது
பணத்தை பார்த்தல் கௌரவம் என்பது மருந்துக்கும் இருக்காது
மாமா மருந்துக்கும் இருக்காது
தங்க சங்கிலி இரவல் வாங்கின தவறி போச்சுன்னா தகிட தந்தன
பாமா விஜயம் கிருஷ்ணனுக்காக இங்கே எதுக்காக
அம்மா இங்கே எதுக்காக
மாதர்கள் எல்லாம் கன்னிகளாக மாறனும் அதுக்காக
அப்பா மாறனும் அதுக்காக
கன்னியராக மாறனுமேன்றால் பிள்ளைகள் எதற்காக
அய்யா பிள்ளைகள் எதற்காக
காதல் செய்த பாவத்துக்காக வேறே எதுக்காக
அப்பா வேறே எதுக்காக
பட்டாள் தெரியும் பழசும் புதுசும் கெட்டால் தெரியும் கேள்வியும் பதிலும்

Income is 8 annas, Expenditure 10 annas,

the difference of 2 annas will make things miserable in the end,

when you think beyond your means, there is no peace.

Sir, there is no peace.

When there is too much desire, the existing one also won't stay.

Mum, the existing one won't stay.

After a certain age, good things in the world are rejected,

Uncle, good things are discarded.

When offspring live with new bigger things, they (the elders) can't take it,

Father, they can't stand it,

A rented sofa is Rs20, selling price Rs30,

(Exactly, showing the absurdity of the justification of renting)

A rented sofa is Rs20, price of sale Rs30,

Tyrant wife and enslaved husband won't work for the family unit,

Sir, won't work for a family.

If a cat eats like an elephant (showing gluttony, advising moderation), it'll have indigestion,

Sir, indigestion.

An eagle doesn't like to see a parrot fly high,

Father, the eagle, doesn't like.

Without money, even medicines won't work,

uncle, medications won't work.

If a borrowed golden chain goes missing, it is trouble,

Bama Vijayam (the house) which is for Krishna, what is it for?

Mum, what is it for? (advising saving for the future, for a rainy day)

Mothers must turn to virgins (nuns),

father, must turn for that,

If they turn to nuns, why do they have children?

Sir, why have children?

For the sin of falling in love, what else?

Father, for what else?

The experience will explain what is new and what is old,

Get dejected, and you will know the questions and the answers.

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