Chithirathil Penn
From Rani Samyuktha · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. Jamunarani
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Rani Samyuktha1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sithirathil penn eludhi | Oh world that draws a woman in painting |
| Seer paduthum maanilamae | And praises and honors her as ideal! |
| Jeevanulla penn inathai | Will you not let living womankind |
| Vaazha vida maattaayoo | Live her life in peace? |
| Female | |
| Sithirathil penn eludhi | Oh world that draws a woman in painting |
| Seer paduthum maanilamae | And praises and honors her as ideal! |
| Jeevanulla penn inathai | Will you not let living womankind |
| Vaazha vida maattaayoo | Live her life in peace? |
| Female | |
| Sithirathil penn eludhi | Oh world that draws a woman in painting |
| Seer paduthum maanilamae | And praises and honors her as ideal! |
| Female | |
| Kaaviyathil kaadhalendraal | If it is love celebrated in epic poems, |
| Karaindhurugum karpanaiyae | The poetic imagination melts with tender feelings! |
| Kaaviyathil kaadhalendraal | If it is love celebrated in epic poems, |
| Karaindhurugum karpanaiyae | The poetic imagination melts with tender feelings! |
| Kanniraindha kaadhalukkae | Yet for true love that fills eyes and hearts, |
| Kanneer thaan un vazhiyoo | Is shedding tears the only path you offer? |
| Kanniraindha kaadhalukkae | Yet for true love that fills eyes and hearts, |
| Kanneer thaan un vazhiyoo | Is shedding tears the only path you offer? |
| Kanneer thaan un vazhiyoo | Is shedding tears the only path you offer? |
| Female | |
| Sithirathil penn eludhi | Oh world that draws a woman in painting |
| Seer paduthum maanilamae | And praises and honors her as ideal! |
| Jeevanulla penn inathai | Will you not let living womankind |
| Vaazha vida maattaayoo | Live her life in peace? |
| Female | |
| Sithirathil penn eludhi | Oh world that draws a woman in painting |
| Seer paduthum maanilamae | And praises and honors her as ideal! |
| Female | |
| Annai endrum deivam endrum | Calling woman 'Mother' and 'Goddess', |
| Aarparikkum periyorae | Oh elders who chant loud praises! |
| Annai endrum deivam endrum | Calling woman 'Mother' and 'Goddess', |
| Aarparikkum periyorae | Oh elders who chant loud praises! |
| Innamudha deivam ellaam | Are all these sweet divine ideals |
| Yettil varum thaendhaanoo | Just honey written on palm leaves? |
| Innamudha deivam ellaam | Are all these sweet divine ideals |
| Yettil varum thaendhaanoo | Just honey written on palm leaves? |
| Female | |
| Mannar kula kanniyarum | If even young maidens born into royal lineage |
| Kan kalanga naerum endraal | Are destined to weep in despair, |
| Mannar kula kanniyarum | If even young maidens born into royal lineage |
| Kan kalanga naerum endraal | Are destined to weep in despair, |
| Mandalathil pengalukkae | For all women living in this world, |
| Vaaitha vidhi idhu dhaanoo | Is this the cruel fate ordained for them? |
| Mandalathil pengalukkae | For all women living in this world, |
| Vaaitha vidhi idhu dhaanoo | Is this the cruel fate ordained for them? |
| Vaaitha vidhi idhu dhaanoo | Is this the cruel fate ordained for them? |
| Female | |
| Sithirathil penn eludhi | Oh world that draws a woman in painting |
| Seer paduthum maanilamae | And praises and honors her as ideal! |
| Jeevanulla penn inathai | Will you not let living womankind |
| Vaazha vida maattaayoo | Live her life in peace? |
| Female | |
| Sithirathil penn eludhi | Oh world that draws a woman in painting |
| Seer paduthum maanilamae | And praises and honors her as ideal! |
சித்திரத்தில் பெண்ணெழுதி
சீர் படுத்தும் மாநிலமே
ஜீவனுள்ள பெண்ணினத்தை
வாழ விட மாட்டாயோ
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Will you not let living womankind
Live her life in peace?
சித்திரத்தில் பெண்ணெழுதி
சீர் படுத்தும் மாநிலமே
ஜீவனுள்ள பெண்ணினத்தை
வாழ விட மாட்டாயோ
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Will you not let living womankind
Live her life in peace?
சித்திரத்தில் பெண்ணெழுதி
சீர் படுத்தும் மாநிலமே
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
And praises and honors her as ideal!
காவியத்தில் காதலென்றால்
கரைந்துருகும் கற்பனையே
காவியத்தில் காதலென்றால்
கரைந்துருகும் கற்பனையே
கண்ணிறைந்த காதலுக்கே
கண்ணீர்தான் உன் வழியோ
கண்ணிறைந்த காதலுக்கே
கண்ணீர்தான் உன் வழியோ
கண்ணீர்தான் உன் வழியோ
If it is love celebrated in epic poems,
The poetic imagination melts with tender feelings!
If it is love celebrated in epic poems,
The poetic imagination melts with tender feelings!
Yet for true love that fills eyes and hearts,
Is shedding tears the only path you offer?
Yet for true love that fills eyes and hearts,
Is shedding tears the only path you offer?
Is shedding tears the only path you offer?
சித்திரத்தில் பெண்ணெழுதி
சீர் படுத்தும் மாநிலமே
ஜீவனுள்ள பெண்ணினத்தை
வாழ விட மாட்டாயோ
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Will you not let living womankind
Live her life in peace?
சித்திரத்தில் பெண்ணெழுதி
சீர் படுத்தும் மாநிலமே
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
And praises and honors her as ideal!
அன்னை என்றும் தெய்வம் என்றும்
ஆர்ப்பரிக்கும் பெரியோரே
அன்னை என்றும் தெய்வம் என்றும்
ஆர்ப்பரிக்கும் பெரியோரே
இன்னமுதத் தெய்வமெல்லாம்
ஏட்டில் வரும் தேன்தானோ
இன்னமுதத் தெய்வமெல்லாம்
ஏட்டில் வரும் தேன்தானோ
Calling woman 'Mother' and 'Goddess',
Oh elders who chant loud praises!
Calling woman 'Mother' and 'Goddess',
Oh elders who chant loud praises!
Are all these sweet divine ideals
Just honey written on palm leaves?
Are all these sweet divine ideals
Just honey written on palm leaves?
மன்னர் குலக் கன்னியரும்
கண்கலங்க நேருமென்றால்
மன்னர் குலக் கன்னியரும்
கண்கலங்க நேருமென்றால்
மண்டலத்தில் பெண்களுக்ககே
வாய்த்த விதி இதுதானோ
மண்டலத்தில் பெண்களுக்கே
வாய்த்த விதி இதுதானோ
வாய்த்த விதி இதுதானோ
If even young maidens born into royal lineage
Are destined to weep in despair,
If even young maidens born into royal lineage
Are destined to weep in despair,
For all women living in this world,
Is this the cruel fate ordained for them?
For all women living in this world,
Is this the cruel fate ordained for them?
Is this the cruel fate ordained for them?
சித்திரத்தில் பெண்ணெழுதி
சீர் படுத்தும் மாநிலமே
ஜீவனுள்ள பெண்ணினத்தை
வாழ விட மாட்டாயோ
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Will you not let living womankind
Live her life in peace?
சித்திரத்தில் பெண்ணெழுதி
சீர் படுத்தும் மாநிலமே
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Sithirathil penn eludhi
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
Seer paduthum maanilamae
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Jeevanulla penn inathai
Will you not let living womankind
Vaazha vida maattaayoo
Live her life in peace?
Sithirathil penn eludhi
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
Seer paduthum maanilamae
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Jeevanulla penn inathai
Will you not let living womankind
Vaazha vida maattaayoo
Live her life in peace?
Sithirathil penn eludhi
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
Seer paduthum maanilamae
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Kaaviyathil kaadhalendraal
If it is love celebrated in epic poems,
Karaindhurugum karpanaiyae
The poetic imagination melts with tender feelings!
Kaaviyathil kaadhalendraal
If it is love celebrated in epic poems,
Karaindhurugum karpanaiyae
The poetic imagination melts with tender feelings!
Kanniraindha kaadhalukkae
Yet for true love that fills eyes and hearts,
Kanneer thaan un vazhiyoo
Is shedding tears the only path you offer?
Kanniraindha kaadhalukkae
Yet for true love that fills eyes and hearts,
Kanneer thaan un vazhiyoo
Is shedding tears the only path you offer?
Kanneer thaan un vazhiyoo
Is shedding tears the only path you offer?
Sithirathil penn eludhi
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
Seer paduthum maanilamae
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Jeevanulla penn inathai
Will you not let living womankind
Vaazha vida maattaayoo
Live her life in peace?
Sithirathil penn eludhi
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
Seer paduthum maanilamae
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Annai endrum deivam endrum
Calling woman 'Mother' and 'Goddess',
Aarparikkum periyorae
Oh elders who chant loud praises!
Annai endrum deivam endrum
Calling woman 'Mother' and 'Goddess',
Aarparikkum periyorae
Oh elders who chant loud praises!
Innamudha deivam ellaam
Are all these sweet divine ideals
Yettil varum thaendhaanoo
Just honey written on palm leaves?
Innamudha deivam ellaam
Are all these sweet divine ideals
Yettil varum thaendhaanoo
Just honey written on palm leaves?
Mannar kula kanniyarum
If even young maidens born into royal lineage
Kan kalanga naerum endraal
Are destined to weep in despair,
Mannar kula kanniyarum
If even young maidens born into royal lineage
Kan kalanga naerum endraal
Are destined to weep in despair,
Mandalathil pengalukkae
For all women living in this world,
Vaaitha vidhi idhu dhaanoo
Is this the cruel fate ordained for them?
Mandalathil pengalukkae
For all women living in this world,
Vaaitha vidhi idhu dhaanoo
Is this the cruel fate ordained for them?
Vaaitha vidhi idhu dhaanoo
Is this the cruel fate ordained for them?
Sithirathil penn eludhi
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
Seer paduthum maanilamae
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Jeevanulla penn inathai
Will you not let living womankind
Vaazha vida maattaayoo
Live her life in peace?
Sithirathil penn eludhi
Oh world that draws a woman in painting
Seer paduthum maanilamae
And praises and honors her as ideal!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from Rani Samyuktha is a fierce critique of societal hypocrisy regarding the treatment of women. Kannadasan's lyrics contrast the idealization of women in art, literature, and religious rhetoric with the harsh realities faced by real, living women. Society reveres women in paintings, glorifies tragic love in epic poems, and loudly proclaims women to be divine mothers, yet it inflicts sorrow and oppression upon them in actual life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Proverbial Allusion (Yettil Varum Thean)
“Yettil varum thaendhaanoo”
Compares abstract honor bestowed upon women in books to honey written on paper ('Yettil varum thean'), referring to the Tamil idiom that bookish honey cannot satisfy real hunger.
Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kaaviyathil kaadhalendraal / Karaindhurugum karpanaiyae”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across words in consecutive lines ('Kaaviyathil', 'Kaadhalendraal', 'Karaindhurugum', 'Karpanaiyae').
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)
“Jeevanulla penn inathai / Vaazha vida maattaayoo”
The speaker challenges societal norms using rhetorical questions to highlight the painful contradiction between worshiping women as goddesses and oppressing them in reality.
Contrast (Ethir-nnilai)
“Sithirathil penn eludhi ... Jeevanulla penn inathai”
Striking juxtaposition between static art ('Sithirathil penn') and real breathing women ('Jeevanulla penn').
Did you know?
Trivia
Rani Samyuktha (1962) stars M. G. Ramachandran and Padmini. The song is picturized on Padmini and sung by K. Jamunarani, composed by K. V. Mahadevan in a classical raga framework expressing deep distress and philosophical anger.
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