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Ennaipol Oruvan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aanattam Pennattam

From Ennaipol Oruvan · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Ennaipol Oruvan
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
21 Jul 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………..
Aanaattam pennaattam aada venum
Intha aagaatha peyaattam maara venum
Aanaattam pennaattam aada venum
Intha aagaatha peyaattam maara venum
Poovaattam pengalukku menmai venum
Illai poosari vanthuthaan ootta venum
Poovaattam pengalukku menmai venum
Illai poosari vanthuthaan ootta venum
Aanaattam pennaattam aada venum
Intha aagaatha peyaattam maara venum
Nee kanda pattana vaasam
Naan kandaen eththanai vesham
Nee kanda pattana vaasam
Naan kandaen eththanai vesham
Panpaattu thaththuvam undu en pattina thambi
Namakkendru paarvaiyum undu
Onnu therinjikko unna purinjikko
Nalla nadanthukka kanna thoranthukko
Aanaattam pennaattam aada venum
Intha aagaatha peyaattam maara venum
Hae ponnu malligai mottu
Vaa nallaa selaiyai kattu
Yaen vanthaai naanaththai vittu
Vaa konjam kungumam ittu
Mael naattu sangathi alla
En pattana ponnu
Nam naattu sangathi enna
Mael naattu sangathi alla
En pattana ponnu
Nam naattu sangathi enna
Kannai surukkikko kaalai adakkikko
Kaiyai madakkikko
Ponna nenaichchikko
Aanaattam pennaattam aada venum
Intha aagaatha peyaattam maara venum
...
Men should act like men, and women like women,
This dreadful, wild dance must change.
Men should act like men, and women like women,
This dreadful, wild dance must change.
Women should possess soft gentleness like flowers,
Or else a priest must come to exorcise them!
Women should possess soft gentleness like flowers,
Or else a priest must come to exorcise them!
Men should act like men, and women like women,
This dreadful, wild dance must change.
You have seen city life,
And I have seen so many disguises!
You have seen city life,
And I have seen so many disguises!
There is philosophy in our culture, my hungry brother,
And we have a vision of our own.
Learn one thing well and understand yourself,
Behave properly and open your eyes!
Men should act like men, and women like women,
This dreadful, wild dance must change.
Hey girl, fresh as a jasmine bud,
Come, drape your saree neatly!
Why did you come here discarding all modesty?
Come, adorn your forehead with vermilion!
This is not a Western affair,
My city girl!
What about the ways of our own land?
This is not a Western affair,
My city girl!
What about the ways of our own land?
Restrain your eyes, check your steps,
Fold your hands modestly,
And consider yourself precious as gold!
Men should act like men, and women like women,
This dreadful, wild dance must change.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In 'Aanaattam Pennaattam', the protagonist delivers a social commentary on modern youth and westernization. He advocates for maintaining traditional values, modesty, and social decorum rather than adopting chaotic modern trends, which he metaphorically calls a 'devilish dance' (peyaattam). The lyrics stress self-respect, cultural identity, and restraint.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Poovaattam pengalukku menmai venum”

Compares gentle womanly behavior to a blooming flower ('Poovaattam') and a young woman to a jasmine bud ('malligai mottu').

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Onnu therinjikko unna purinjikko / Nalla nadanthukka kanna thoranthukko”

Phrases end with rhythmic, rhyming suffixes like '-aattam', '-venum', and '-jikko'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Intha aagaatha peyaattam maara venum”

Refers to wild, modern Western dancing or uncouth behavior metaphorically as a 'peyaattam' (possession/devilish dance).

Did you know?

Trivia

Ennaipol Oruvan (1978) starred Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan in dual roles. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, this song is rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and reflects the conservative commentary common in Tamil films during the late 1970s.

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