Kallallada Mannallada
From Veetuku Oru Kannagi · 1984
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Veetuku Oru Kannagi1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kallallada mannalladaa | She is not a stone, nor is she soil, |
| Pennallavaa sollungadaa | Is she not a woman? Speak up, men! |
| Kaatai vittu naattil vantha | You creatures who came from the forest to the town, |
| Jenmangalaa nillungada | Halt right there! |
| Female | |
| Aanukkoru needhi ponnukkoru needhi | One justice for men and another for women, |
| Eppothum sellaathu | Will never be acceptable! |
| Veettukkoru ponnum kannagiyaa aanaa | If every woman at home turns into a Kannagi, |
| Aan varkkam thulaathu | Mankind/males will be weighed down and ruined! |
| Female | |
| Kallallada mannalladaa | She is not a stone, nor is she soil, |
| Pennallavaa sollungadaa | Is she not a woman? Speak up, men! |
| Kaatai vittu naattil vantha | You creatures who came from the forest to the town, |
| Jenmangalaa nillungada | Halt right there! |
| Female | |
| Veettilae samsaaram mappillaikku | At home, a wife for the groom, |
| Veliyae santhosaham | And outside, pleasure seeking! |
| Aambala polae pombala ponaa | If a woman behaves like a man, |
| Thaasigal thaanada | She is branded as a prostitute! |
| Neenga mattum devanin thoodhaadaa | Are you men alone messengers of God? |
| Female | |
| Ada veettilae samsaaram mappillaikku | Ah, at home a wife for the groom, |
| Veliyae santhosaham | And outside, pleasure seeking! |
| Aambala polae pombala ponaa | If a woman behaves like a man, |
| Thaasigal thaanada | She is branded as a prostitute! |
| Neenga mattum devanin thoodhaadaa | Are you men alone messengers of God? |
| Chinna veedu enna kedu vazhiyuthu panbaadu | Keeping a mistress—what a shame! Culture is overflowing! |
| Chinna veedu enna kedu vazhiyuthu panbaadu | Keeping a mistress—what a shame! Culture is overflowing! |
| Female | |
| Kallallada mannalladaa | She is not a stone, nor is she soil, |
| Pennallavaa sollungadaa | Is she not a woman? Speak up, men! |
| Kaatai vittu naattil vantha | You creatures who came from the forest to the town, |
| Jenmangalaa nillungada | Halt right there! |
| Female | |
| Raamanin santhegam jaangikki | Rama doubted, leading Janaki to |
| Akkini piravaesham | Enter the fire ordeal! |
| Kannanin amsam mannanin vamsam | Claiming Krishna's grace and royal lineage, |
| Sodhanai pottaandaa | He put her through trials! |
| Yosanaiyai sonnavan vannaandaa | And the one who suggested this suspicion was just a washerman! |
| Female | |
| Annai ondrae dheivam endrae | Calling 'Mother alone is God' |
| Alappathuthaan michcham | While just wailing hypocritically is all that remains! |
| Annai ondrae dheivam endrae | Calling 'Mother alone is God' |
| Alappathuthaan michcham | While just wailing hypocritically is all that remains! |
| Female | |
| Kallallada mannalladaa | She is not a stone, nor is she soil, |
| Pennallavaa sollungadaa | Is she not a woman? Speak up, men! |
| Kaatai vittu naattil vantha | You creatures who came from the forest to the town, |
| Jenmangalaa nillungada | Halt right there! |
| Female | |
| Aah kaiyila thuppaakki naalaiyini | Ah, if tomorrow women do not take up guns |
| Pengalum yaenthaatti | In their own hands, |
| Veedhiyil pogum kanniyar yaarum | No young woman walking on the street |
| Veettukku varamaattar | Will ever return home safely! |
| Kaamaveri vilangugal vidamaattaai | Lust-crazed beasts won't leave them alone, |
| Kattumillai kaavalillai idhu ennadaa naadu | There is no discipline, no protection—what kind of country is this? |
| Kattumillai kaavalillai ha idhu ennadaa naadu | There is no discipline, no protection—ha! What kind of country is this? |
| Female | |
| Kallallada mannalladaa | She is not a stone, nor is she soil, |
| Pennallavaa sollungadaa | Is she not a woman? Speak up, men! |
| Kaatai vittu naattil vantha | You creatures who came from the forest to the town, |
| Jenmangalaa nillungada | Halt right there! |
| Female | |
| Aanukkoru needhi ponnukkoru needhi | One justice for men and another for women, |
| Eppothum sellaathu | Will never be acceptable! |
| Veettukkoru ponnum kannagiyaa aanaa | If every woman at home turns into a Kannagi, |
| Aan varkkam thulaathu | Mankind/males will be weighed down and ruined! |
கல்லல்லடா மண்ணல்லடா
பெண்ணல்லவா சொல்லுங்கடா
காட்டை விட்டு நாட்டில் வந்த
ஜென்மங்களா நில்லுங்கடா
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Halt right there!
ஆணுக்கொரு நீதி பொண்ணுக்கொரு நீதி
எப்போதும் செல்லாது
வீட்டுக்கொரு பொண்ணும் கண்ணகியா ஆனா
ஆண் வர்க்கம் துள்ளாது.....
One justice for men and another for women,
Will never be acceptable!
If every woman at home turns into a Kannagi,
Mankind/males will be weighed down and ruined!
கல்லல்லடா மண்ணல்லடா
பெண்ணல்லவா சொல்லுங்கடா
காட்டை விட்டு நாட்டில் வந்த
ஜென்மங்களா நில்லுங்கடா
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Halt right there!
வீட்டிலே சம்சாரம் மாப்பிள்ளைக்கு
வெளியே சந்தோசம்
ஆம்பள போலே பொம்பள போனா
தாசிகள் தானடா
நீங்க மட்டும் தேவனின் தூதாடா
At home, a wife for the groom,
And outside, pleasure seeking!
If a woman behaves like a man,
She is branded as a prostitute!
Are you men alone messengers of God?
அட வீட்டிலே சம்சாரம் மாப்பிள்ளைக்கு
வெளியே சந்தோசம்
ஆம்பள போலே பொம்பள போனா
தாசிகள் தானாடா
நீங்க மட்டும் தேவனின் தூதாடா
சின்ன வீடு என்ன கேடு வழியுது பண்பாடு
சின்ன வீடு என்ன கேடு வழியுது பண்பாடு
Ah, at home a wife for the groom,
And outside, pleasure seeking!
If a woman behaves like a man,
She is branded as a prostitute!
Are you men alone messengers of God?
Keeping a mistress—what a shame! Culture is overflowing!
Keeping a mistress—what a shame! Culture is overflowing!
கல்லல்லடா மண்ணல்லடா
பெண்ணல்லவா சொல்லுங்கடா
காட்டை விட்டு நாட்டில் வந்த
ஜென்மங்களா நில்லுங்கடா
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Halt right there!
ராமனின் சந்தேகம் ஜானகிக்கு
அக்னி பிரவேசம்
கண்ணனின் அம்சம் மன்னனின் வம்சம்
சோதனை போட்டான்டா
யோசனையை சொன்னவன் வண்ணான்டா
Rama doubted, leading Janaki to
Enter the fire ordeal!
Claiming Krishna's grace and royal lineage,
He put her through trials!
And the one who suggested this suspicion was just a washerman!
அன்னை ஒன்றே தெய்வம் என்றே
அளப்பதுதான் மிச்சம்...
அன்னை ஒன்றே தெய்வம் என்றே
அளப்பதுதான் மிச்சம்...
Calling 'Mother alone is God'
While just wailing hypocritically is all that remains!
Calling 'Mother alone is God'
While just wailing hypocritically is all that remains!
கல்லல்லடா மண்ணல்லடா
பெண்ணல்லவா சொல்லுங்கடா
காட்டை விட்டு நாட்டில் வந்த
ஜென்மங்களா நில்லுங்கடா
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Halt right there!
கையில துப்பாக்கி நாளையினி
பெண்களும் ஏந்தாட்டி
வீதியில் போகும் கன்னியர் யாரும்
வீட்டுக்கு வரமாட்டார்
காமவெறி விலங்குகள் விடமாட்டார்
Ah, if tomorrow women do not take up guns
In their own hands,
No young woman walking on the street
Will ever return home safely!
Lust-crazed beasts won't leave them alone,
There is no discipline, no protection—what kind of country is this?
There is no discipline, no protection—ha! What kind of country is this?
ஆஹ் கையில துப்பாக்கி நாளையினி
பெண்களும் ஏந்தாட்டி
வீதியில் போகும் கன்னியர் யாரும்
வீட்டுக்கு வரமாட்டார்
காமவெறி விலங்குகள் விடமாட்டார்
கட்டுமில்லை காவலில்லை இது என்னடா நாடு
கட்டுமில்லை காவலில்லை ஹா இது என்னடா நாடு
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Halt right there!
கல்லல்லடா மண்ணல்லடா
பெண்ணல்லவா சொல்லுங்கடா
காட்டை விட்டு நாட்டில் வந்த
ஜென்மங்களா நில்லுங்கடா
One justice for men and another for women,
Will never be acceptable!
If every woman at home turns into a Kannagi,
Mankind/males will be weighed down and ruined!
ஆணுக்கொரு நீதி பொண்ணுக்கொரு நீதி
எப்போதும் செல்லாது
வீட்டுக்கொரு பொண்ணும் கண்ணகியா ஆனா
ஆண் வர்க்கம் துள்ளாது.....
Kallallada mannalladaa
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Halt right there!
Aanukkoru needhi ponnukkoru needhi
One justice for men and another for women,
Eppothum sellaathu
Will never be acceptable!
Veettukkoru ponnum kannagiyaa aanaa
If every woman at home turns into a Kannagi,
Aan varkkam thulaathu
Mankind/males will be weighed down and ruined!
Kallallada mannalladaa
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Halt right there!
Veettilae samsaaram mappillaikku
At home, a wife for the groom,
Veliyae santhosaham
And outside, pleasure seeking!
Aambala polae pombala ponaa
If a woman behaves like a man,
Thaasigal thaanada
She is branded as a prostitute!
Neenga mattum devanin thoodhaadaa
Are you men alone messengers of God?
Ada veettilae samsaaram mappillaikku
Ah, at home a wife for the groom,
Veliyae santhosaham
And outside, pleasure seeking!
Aambala polae pombala ponaa
If a woman behaves like a man,
Thaasigal thaanada
She is branded as a prostitute!
Neenga mattum devanin thoodhaadaa
Are you men alone messengers of God?
Chinna veedu enna kedu vazhiyuthu panbaadu
Keeping a mistress—what a shame! Culture is overflowing!
Chinna veedu enna kedu vazhiyuthu panbaadu
Keeping a mistress—what a shame! Culture is overflowing!
Kallallada mannalladaa
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Halt right there!
Raamanin santhegam jaangikki
Rama doubted, leading Janaki to
Akkini piravaesham
Enter the fire ordeal!
Kannanin amsam mannanin vamsam
Claiming Krishna's grace and royal lineage,
Sodhanai pottaandaa
He put her through trials!
Yosanaiyai sonnavan vannaandaa
And the one who suggested this suspicion was just a washerman!
Annai ondrae dheivam endrae
Calling 'Mother alone is God'
Alappathuthaan michcham
While just wailing hypocritically is all that remains!
Annai ondrae dheivam endrae
Calling 'Mother alone is God'
Alappathuthaan michcham
While just wailing hypocritically is all that remains!
Kallallada mannalladaa
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Halt right there!
Aah kaiyila thuppaakki naalaiyini
Ah, if tomorrow women do not take up guns
Pengalum yaenthaatti
In their own hands,
Veedhiyil pogum kanniyar yaarum
No young woman walking on the street
Veettukku varamaattar
Will ever return home safely!
Kaamaveri vilangugal vidamaattaai
Lust-crazed beasts won't leave them alone,
Kattumillai kaavalillai idhu ennadaa naadu
There is no discipline, no protection—what kind of country is this?
Kattumillai kaavalillai ha idhu ennadaa naadu
There is no discipline, no protection—ha! What kind of country is this?
Kallallada mannalladaa
She is not a stone, nor is she soil,
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Is she not a woman? Speak up, men!
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
You creatures who came from the forest to the town,
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Halt right there!
Aanukkoru needhi ponnukkoru needhi
One justice for men and another for women,
Eppothum sellaathu
Will never be acceptable!
Veettukkoru ponnum kannagiyaa aanaa
If every woman at home turns into a Kannagi,
Aan varkkam thulaathu
Mankind/males will be weighed down and ruined!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This powerful feminist protest song from the 1984 film 'Veetuku Oru Kannagi' challenges double standards in patriarchal society. The speaker forcefully admonishes men who demand purity and absolute sacrifice from women while indulging in infidelity and hypocrisy. Referring to mythological precedents like Sita's trial by fire (Akkini Piravaesham) and Kannagi's righteous wrath, the song criticizes how society praises motherhood in rhetoric while oppressing women in reality. It warns that if men do not change their ways, women will eventually be forced to take up arms for their self-defense and dignity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kallallada mannalladaa / Pennallavaa sollungadaa”
Matching second consonants across successive lines, such as 'Kallallada' and 'Pennallavaa' (ll / nn sound pattern).
Allusion (Mythological)
“Raamanin santhegam jaangikki / Akkini piravaesham”
Reference to Sita (Janaki) entering fire due to Rama's doubt, and Kannagi from Silappatikaram.
Irony / Sarcasm
“Chinna veedu enna kedu vazhiyuthu panbaadu”
Sarcastic critique of societal hypocrisy where men keep mistresses while boasting about culture ('vazhiyuthu panbaadu').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by renowned Tamil lyricist Pulamaipithan, 'Veetuku Oru Kannagi' features social-justice themes calling out gender discrimination. The allusion to Kannagi highlights the legendary Tamil epic heroine who burned Madurai down to avenge her husband's unjust execution.
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