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Lyrics & meaning

Kallallada Mannallada

From Veetuku Oru Kannagi · 1984

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Veetuku Oru Kannagi
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
2 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kallallada mannalladaa
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Aanukkoru needhi ponnukkoru needhi
Eppothum sellaathu
Veettukkoru ponnum kannagiyaa aanaa
Aan varkkam thulaathu
Kallallada mannalladaa
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Veettilae samsaaram mappillaikku
Veliyae santhosaham
Aambala polae pombala ponaa
Thaasigal thaanada
Neenga mattum devanin thoodhaadaa
Ada veettilae samsaaram mappillaikku
Veliyae santhosaham
Aambala polae pombala ponaa
Thaasigal thaanada
Neenga mattum devanin thoodhaadaa
Chinna veedu enna kedu vazhiyuthu panbaadu
Chinna veedu enna kedu vazhiyuthu panbaadu
Kallallada mannalladaa
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Raamanin santhegam jaangikki
Akkini piravaesham
Kannanin amsam mannanin vamsam
Sodhanai pottaandaa
Yosanaiyai sonnavan vannaandaa
Annai ondrae dheivam endrae
Alappathuthaan michcham
Annai ondrae dheivam endrae
Alappathuthaan michcham
Kallallada mannalladaa
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Aah kaiyila thuppaakki naalaiyini
Pengalum yaenthaatti
Veedhiyil pogum kanniyar yaarum
Veettukku varamaattar
Kaamaveri vilangugal vidamaattaai
Kattumillai kaavalillai idhu ennadaa naadu
Kattumillai kaavalillai ha idhu ennadaa naadu
Kallallada mannalladaa
Pennallavaa sollungadaa
Kaatai vittu naattil vantha
Jenmangalaa nillungada
Aanukkoru needhi ponnukkoru needhi
Eppothum sellaathu
Veettukkoru ponnum kannagiyaa aanaa
Aan varkkam thulaathu
She is not made of stone, nor is she made of clay!
Tell me, isn't she a woman?
You creatures who came from the jungle into civilized lands,
Stop right there, you beasts!
One justice for men, and another for women—
this will never be accepted!
If every woman in every home becomes a Kannagi (legendary woman of righteous fury),
the male race will not survive!
She is not made of stone, nor is she made of clay!
Tell me, isn't she a woman?
You creatures who came from the jungle into civilized lands,
Stop right there, you beasts!
A wife at home for the man,
and pleasure on the outside!
If a woman goes out freely like a man,
you brand her a loose woman!
While you men act as if you are messengers of God?
Ah, a wife at home for the man,
and pleasure on the outside!
If a woman goes out freely like a man,
you brand her a loose woman!
While you men act as if you are messengers of God?
Keeping mistresses, what a disgrace, yet you preach about culture!
Keeping mistresses, what a disgrace, yet you preach about culture!
She is not made of stone, nor is she made of clay!
Tell me, isn't she a woman?
You creatures who came from the jungle into civilized lands,
Stop right there, you beasts!
Because of Rama's suspicion, Janaki (Sita)
had to undergo the trial by fire!
A divine incarnation, born of a royal dynasty,
still put his woman through a test!
And the one who planted that doubt was a mere washerman!
Preaching that 'Mother is the only God'
is nothing but empty talk!
Preaching that 'Mother is the only God'
is nothing but empty talk!
She is not made of stone, nor is she made of clay!
Tell me, isn't she a woman?
You creatures who came from the jungle into civilized lands,
Stop right there, you beasts!
Ah, from tomorrow, if women
do not carry guns in their hands,
no young woman walking down the street
will ever return home safely!
Lust-crazed beasts will not leave them alone!
No discipline, no safety—what kind of country is this?
No discipline, no safety, ha, what kind of country is this?
She is not made of stone, nor is she made of clay!
Tell me, isn't she a woman?
You creatures who came from the jungle into civilized lands,
Stop right there, you beasts!
One justice for men, and another for women—
this will never be accepted!
If every woman in every home becomes a Kannagi (legendary woman of righteous fury),
the male race will not survive!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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