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Isaimozhi
Mayor Meenakshi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Evalo Oru Pennam

From Mayor Meenakshi · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Mayor Meenakshi
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
26 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Evalo oru pennaam
Aval naanillaiyaam
Evalo oru pennaam
Aval naanillaiyaam
Idhayam adhu ponnaam
Adhil neeyillaiyaam purigindrathaa
Evalo oru pennaam
Aval naanillaiyaam
Karnan endroru thearotti
Kadhal kondaval rajaththi
Karnan endroru thearotti
Kadhal kondaval rajaththi
Gouravam paarththaalaa
Iru kangalai maraiththaalaa illai
Karpinil uyarnthaalaa
Nee sollu kannaa purigindrathaa
Evalo oru pennaam
Aval naanillaiyaam
Idhayam adhu ponnaam
Adhil neeyillaiyaam purigindrathaa
Evalo oru pennaam
Aval naanillaiyaam
Vaanil en nilai paranthaalum
Vaazhvil unnudan samamandro
Vaanil en nilai paranthaalum
Vaazhvil unnudan samamandro
Gopuram uyarnthaalum
Adhu deivathin veedandro
Idhu tamil magal naadandro
Nee sollu kannaa purigindrathaa
Evalo oru pennaam
Aval naanillaiyaam
Kannil neeyundu nizhalundu
Kayil adhigaaram thaanundu
Kannil neeyundu nizhalundu
Kayil adhigaaram thaanundu
Aayiram valarnthaalum
En aadhikkam un kaiyil
Idhil thaazhvukku idamaethu
Nee sollu kanna purigindrathaa
Evalo oru pennaam
Aval naanillaiyaam
Idhayam adhu ponnaam
Adhil neeyillaiyaam purigindrathaa
Evalo oru pennaam
Aval naanillaiyaam
They say I am some other woman,
and that I am not your own.
They say I am some other woman,
and that I am not your own.
They say this heart is made of gold,
but you have no place in it—do you understand?
They say I am some other woman,
and that I am not your own.
Karna was known as a charioteer,
yet a princess fell in love with him.
Karna was known as a charioteer,
yet a princess fell in love with him.
Did she care about status and pride?
Did she blindfold her eyes? No,
didn't she rise high in her devotion?
You tell me, Kanna, do you understand?
They say I am some other woman,
and that I am not your own.
They say this heart is made of gold,
but you have no place in it—do you understand?
They say I am some other woman,
and that I am not your own.
Even if my status flies as high as the sky,
in life, am I not equal with you?
Even if my status flies as high as the sky,
in life, am I not equal with you?
Even if the temple tower stands tall,
isn't it still the home of God?
Isn't this the land of the Tamil woman?
You tell me, Kanna, do you understand?
They say I am some other woman,
and that I am not your own.
In my eyes, you and your reflection live;
in my hands, there is only power.
In my eyes, you and your reflection live;
in my hands, there is only power.
Even if I rise a thousand times higher,
power over me rests in your hands.
Where is there any room for feeling inferior here?
You tell me, Kanna, do you understand?
They say I am some other woman,
and that I am not your own.
They say this heart is made of gold,
but you have no place in it—do you understand?
They say I am some other woman,
and that I am not your own.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In 'Evalo Oru Pennaam' from Mayor Meenakshi (1976), the protagonist—a woman holding high civic authority—expresses her affectionate devotion to her husband while gently dismissing rumors or insecurities about her position distancing her from him. Addressing him playfully and lovingly as 'Kannaa', she challenges the notion that her career, status, or public power makes her any less devoted to her home and marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Vaanil en nilai paranthaalum / Vaazhvil unnudan samamandro”

The second consonant 'aa'/'zh' sound creates a rhythmic Tamil poetic concordance between 'Vaanil' and 'Vaazhvil'.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Karnan endroru thearotti / Kadhal kondaval rajaththi”

The initial consonant sound 'Ka' is repeated in 'Karnan' and 'Kadhal'.

Metaphor / Classical Allusion

“Gopuram uyarnthaalum / Adhu deivathin veedandro”

Compares her high social position to a temple tower (Gopuram), emphasizing that just as a Gopuram belongs to God, her high status still belongs under her husband's love and shelter.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film *Mayor Meenakshi* (1976) stars K. R. Vijaya and Jaishankar. The song's narrative touches upon a working woman's balance between political/public authority and traditional marital devotion, crafted by lyricist Kannadasan and set to tune by M. S. Viswanathan.

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