Azhagiya Pengal
From Sathya Sundharam · 1981
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Sathya Sundharam1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae | Is the life of beautiful women meant... |
| Aadvar sorpadi aadavaa | ...only to dance to the tunes of men? |
| Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae | Is the life of beautiful women meant... |
| Aadvar sorpadi aadavaa | ...only to dance to the tunes of men? |
| Aayiram thollai anupaviththaalum | Even if they endure a thousand troubles, |
| Aamaigal polae vaazhvaa vaazhvaa vaazhavaa….aa…. | Should they live withdrawn into shells like turtles? |
| Female | |
| Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae | Is the life of beautiful women meant... |
| Aadvar sorpadi aadavaa | ...only to dance to the tunes of men? |
| Female | |
| Seerudan sirappudan unmaiyai kattraan | He learned truth with honor and greatness (Harishchandra), |
| Theruvinilae avan manaiviyai vittraan | Yet sold his own wife on the public street. |
| Kaadhinil oruvan kurai solla kettaan | He listened to a casual rumor whispered in his ear (Rama), |
| Kaattinil oruvan manaviyai vittaan | And abandoned his wife in the deep forest. |
| Female | |
| Bedhai oruththi sabhaiyinil nindraal | An innocent woman stood helpless in the assembly (Draupadi), |
| Paei pol oruvan thugilinai urinthaan | While a demonic man stripped off her garments. |
| Kadhaliththey oru kuzhanthai piranthum | Even after a child was born out of love (Shakuntala), |
| Kayinil munivan vaangida maruththaan | The sage/king refused to receive the child in his hands. |
| Kayinil munivan vaangida maruththaan | The sage/king refused to receive the child in his hands. |
| Male | |
| Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae | Is the life of beautiful women meant... |
| Aadavar thammai aatti vaikkavaa | ...or to rule over men and make them dance? |
| Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae | Is the life of beautiful women meant... |
| Aadavar thammai aatti vaikkavaa | ...or to rule over men and make them dance? |
| Aayiram thollai anupaviththaalum | Even if they endure a thousand troubles, |
| Aamaigal polae vaazhvaa vaazhvaa…aa… | Should they live withdrawn into shells like turtles? |
| Male | |
| Udambinil oruththi paathiyai kettaal | One woman demanded half of his body (Parvati), |
| Unchchnthalaiyinil oruththi utkaarnthaal | While another sat atop his head (Ganga). |
| Kattiya kanvanai kattilil oruththi | One wife commanded her wedded husband... |
| Kaalgalai pidikka kattalaiyittaal | ...to press her feet on the bed. |
| Male | |
| Andrey oruththi sabathameduththu | Back then, one woman took a vow (Draupadi), |
| Aayiram pergalai porinil maaththaal | And caused thousands of men to perish in war. |
| Aasaiyil oruththi mookkarupattu | One woman got her nose severed out of desire (Surpanakha), |
| Annanin vaazhvil emanaai vanthaal | And became the cause of death in her brother's life. |
| Annanin vaazhvil emanaai vanthaal | And became the cause of death in her brother's life. |
| Female | |
| Vanjagar aangal | Men are deceivers! |
| Male :Vanjiyar neengal | Male: You women are treacherous! |
| Female :Paadhagar aangal | Female: Men are sinners! |
| Male :Paavigal neengal | Male: You women are the evil ones! |
....................
...
அழகிய பெண்கள் வாழ்வதே
ஆடவர் சொற்படி ஆடவா
அழகிய பெண்கள் வாழ்வதே
ஆடவர் சொற்படி ஆடவா
ஆயிரம் தொல்லை அனுபவித்தாலும்
ஆமைகள் போலே வாழவா வாழவா வாழவா...ஆ.....
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
...only to dance to the tunes of men?
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
...only to dance to the tunes of men?
Even if they endure a thousand troubles,
Should they live withdrawn into shells like turtles?
அழகிய பெண்கள் வாழ்வதே
ஆடவர் சொற்படி ஆடவா
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
...only to dance to the tunes of men?
சீருடன் சிறப்புடன் உண்மையை கற்றான்
தெருவினிலே அவன் மனைவியை விற்றான்
காதினில் ஒருவன் குறை சொல்லக் கேட்டான்
காட்டினில் ஒருவன் மனைவியை விட்டான்
He learned truth with honor and greatness (Harishchandra),
Yet sold his own wife on the public street.
He listened to a casual rumor whispered in his ear (Rama),
And abandoned his wife in the deep forest.
பேதை ஒருத்தி சபையினில் நின்றாள்
பேய்போல் ஒருவன் துகிலினை உரிந்தான்
காதலித்தே ஒரு குழந்தை பிறந்தும்
கையினில் முனிவன் வாங்கிட மறுத்தான்
கையினில் முனிவன் வாங்கிட மறுத்தான்
An innocent woman stood helpless in the assembly (Draupadi),
While a demonic man stripped off her garments.
Even after a child was born out of love (Shakuntala),
The sage/king refused to receive the child in his hands.
The sage/king refused to receive the child in his hands.
அழகிய பெண்கள் வாழ்வதே
ஆடவர் தம்மை ஆட்டி வைக்கவா
அழகிய பெண்கள் வாழ்வதே
ஆடவர் தம்மை ஆட்டி வைக்கவா
ஆயிரம் தொல்லை அனுபவித்தாலும்
ஆமைகள் போலே வாழவா வாழவா...ஆ.....
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
...or to rule over men and make them dance?
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
...or to rule over men and make them dance?
Even if they endure a thousand troubles,
Should they live withdrawn into shells like turtles?
உடம்பினில் ஒருத்தி பாதியைக் கேட்டாள்
உச்சந் தலையினில் ஒருத்தி உட்கார்ந்தாள்
கட்டிய கணவனை கட்டிலில் ஒருத்தி
கால்களை பிடிக்கக் கட்டளையிட்டாள்
One woman demanded half of his body (Parvati),
While another sat atop his head (Ganga).
One wife commanded her wedded husband...
...to press her feet on the bed.
அன்றே ஒருத்தி சபதமெடுத்து
ஆயிரம் பேர்களை போரினில் மாய்த்தாள்
ஆசையில் ஒருத்தி மூக்கறுப்பட்டு
அண்ணனின் வாழ்வில் எமனாய் வந்தாள்
அண்ணனின் வாழ்வில் எமனாய் வந்தாள்
Back then, one woman took a vow (Draupadi),
And caused thousands of men to perish in war.
One woman got her nose severed out of desire (Surpanakha),
And became the cause of death in her brother's life.
And became the cause of death in her brother's life.
வஞ்சகர் ஆண்கள்
வஞ்சியர் நீங்கள்
பாதகர் ஆண்கள்
பாவிகள் நீங்கள்........
Men are deceivers!
Male: You women are treacherous!
Female: Men are sinners!
Male: You women are the evil ones!
…………..
...
Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
Aadvar sorpadi aadavaa
...only to dance to the tunes of men?
Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
Aadvar sorpadi aadavaa
...only to dance to the tunes of men?
Aayiram thollai anupaviththaalum
Even if they endure a thousand troubles,
Aamaigal polae vaazhvaa vaazhvaa vaazhavaa….aa….
Should they live withdrawn into shells like turtles?
Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
Aadvar sorpadi aadavaa
...only to dance to the tunes of men?
Seerudan sirappudan unmaiyai kattraan
He learned truth with honor and greatness (Harishchandra),
Theruvinilae avan manaiviyai vittraan
Yet sold his own wife on the public street.
Kaadhinil oruvan kurai solla kettaan
He listened to a casual rumor whispered in his ear (Rama),
Kaattinil oruvan manaviyai vittaan
And abandoned his wife in the deep forest.
Bedhai oruththi sabhaiyinil nindraal
An innocent woman stood helpless in the assembly (Draupadi),
Paei pol oruvan thugilinai urinthaan
While a demonic man stripped off her garments.
Kadhaliththey oru kuzhanthai piranthum
Even after a child was born out of love (Shakuntala),
Kayinil munivan vaangida maruththaan
The sage/king refused to receive the child in his hands.
Kayinil munivan vaangida maruththaan
The sage/king refused to receive the child in his hands.
Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
Aadavar thammai aatti vaikkavaa
...or to rule over men and make them dance?
Azhagiya pengal vaazhvathae
Is the life of beautiful women meant...
Aadavar thammai aatti vaikkavaa
...or to rule over men and make them dance?
Aayiram thollai anupaviththaalum
Even if they endure a thousand troubles,
Aamaigal polae vaazhvaa vaazhvaa…aa…
Should they live withdrawn into shells like turtles?
Udambinil oruththi paathiyai kettaal
One woman demanded half of his body (Parvati),
Unchchnthalaiyinil oruththi utkaarnthaal
While another sat atop his head (Ganga).
Kattiya kanvanai kattilil oruththi
One wife commanded her wedded husband...
Kaalgalai pidikka kattalaiyittaal
...to press her feet on the bed.
Andrey oruththi sabathameduththu
Back then, one woman took a vow (Draupadi),
Aayiram pergalai porinil maaththaal
And caused thousands of men to perish in war.
Aasaiyil oruththi mookkarupattu
One woman got her nose severed out of desire (Surpanakha),
Annanin vaazhvil emanaai vanthaal
And became the cause of death in her brother's life.
Annanin vaazhvil emanaai vanthaal
And became the cause of death in her brother's life.
Vanjagar aangal
Men are deceivers!
Male :Vanjiyar neengal
Male: You women are treacherous!
Female :Paadhagar aangal
Female: Men are sinners!
Male :Paavigal neengal
Male: You women are the evil ones!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful yet thought-provoking debate song from the movie 'Sathya Sundharam' contrasts the suffering and power of women in Hindu mythology and history. The female verse highlights how women throughout history—such as Chandramati (wife of Harishchandra), Sita, Draupadi, and Shakuntala—were wronged, abandoned, or humiliated by men despite their purity and devotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Aamaigal polae vaazhvaa vaazhvaa vaazhavaa….aa….”
Comparing women living passively under oppression to turtles hiding in their shells ('Aamaigal polae vaazhvaa').
Alliteration (Moonaai / Etukai)
“Seerudan sirappudan unmaiyai kattraan / Theruvinilae avan manaiviyai vittraan”
Use of matching second-consonant sounds (Etukai) across lines like 'Seerudan' and 'Theruvinilae', or 'Bedhai' and 'Paei'.
Mythological Allusions (Puraana Kurippu)
“Udambinil oruththi paathiyai kettaal / Unchchnthalaiyinil oruththi utkaarnthaal”
References to epic stories including Harishchandra, Ramayana (Rama and Sita, Surpanakha), Mahabharata (Draupadi), Shiva (Parvati and Ganga), and Kalidasa's Shakuntala.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Aazhagiya pengal vaazhvathae / Aadavar thammai aatti vaikkavaa”
Contrasting male dominance ('Aadvar sorpadi aadavaa') with female dominance ('Aadavar thammai aatti vaikkavaa').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Kannadasan, this song serves as a intellectual banter track utilizing rich literary allusions from Hindu mythology to present both feminist grievances and male counterarguments with sharp wit and musical flair composed by M. S. Viswanathan.
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