Kanni Tamilnadu
From Pennin Perumai · 1956
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music directors
- B. N. Rao, A. Rama Rao, Master Venu
- Details
- Pennin Perumai1956
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kanni tamilnaadu | Virgin Tamil land, |
| Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu | This is the native home where Kannagi was born. |
| Kanni tamilnaadu | Virgin Tamil land, |
| Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu | This is the native home where Kannagi was born. |
| Nee ennipaar pennin perumaiyai | Ponder upon it, the greatness of a woman |
| Vilakkidum ilakkaiya yedu | Is like a literary manuscript that explains it. |
| Kanni tamilnaadu | Virgin Tamil land, |
| Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu | This is the native home where Kannagi was born. |
| Male | |
| Kanavanukkagavae adimaiyaagavae | Solely dedicated to her husband as a dutiful companion, |
| Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu | Staying awake and waiting patiently, |
| Kanavanukkagavae adimaiyaagavae | Solely dedicated to her husband as a dutiful companion, |
| Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu | Staying awake and waiting patiently, |
| Kanniyamaagavae inba vaazhvinil | Living with dignity in a joyful life, |
| Rambai polavae magizhndhu | Rejoicing happily like the celestial Rambha, |
| Kanniyamaagavae inba vaazhvinil | Living with dignity in a joyful life, |
| Rambai polavae magizhndhu | Rejoicing happily like the celestial Rambha, |
| Male | |
| Thanimaiyilum avar mandhiri pola | Even in solitude, advising him like a wise minister, |
| Thanimaiyilum avar mandhiri pola | Even in solitude, advising him like a wise minister, |
| Thakka yosanai pugandru | Offering sound and appropriate counsel, |
| Thaaiyai polavae unavu thandhu | Serving food with love just like a mother, |
| Thaaiyai polavae unavu thandhu | Serving food with love just like a mother, |
| Perunthanmaiyodu dhinam anbu kaattidum | Exhibiting boundless love daily with nobility, |
| Male | |
| Kanni tamilnaadu | Virgin Tamil land, |
| Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu | This is the native home where Kannagi was born. |
| Nee ennipaar pennin perumaiyai | Ponder upon it, the greatness of a woman |
| Vilakkidum ilakkaiya yedu | Is like a literary manuscript that explains it. |
| Kanni tamilnaadu | Virgin Tamil land, |
| Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu | This is the native home where Kannagi was born. |
| Male | |
| Thanmaanam vaazhvin sanmaanam | Self-respect is the true reward of life, |
| Endra thanmaiyai maranthidathu | Never forgetting this noble quality, |
| Thanmaanam vaazhvin sanmaanam | Self-respect is the true reward of life, |
| Endra thanmaiyai maranthidathu | Never forgetting this noble quality, |
| Penn maanam kakka thanadhu uyiraiyum | To protect a woman's honor, even her own life, |
| Peridhaaga ennaadhu | She does not consider greater, |
| Penn maanam kakka thanadhu uyiraiyum | To protect a woman's honor, even her own life, |
| Peridhaaga ennaadhu | She does not consider greater, |
| Pennin perumaiyai maravaadhu | Never forgetting the glory of womanhood, |
| Pennin perumaiyai maravaadhu | Never forgetting the glory of womanhood, |
| Indha unmai endrumae thavaradhu | This eternal truth shall never fail. |
கன்னித் தமிழ்நாடு
இதுவே கண்ணகி பிறந்த வீடு
கன்னித் தமிழ்நாடு
இதுவே கண்ணகி பிறந்த வீடு
நீ எண்ணிப்பார் பெண்ணின் பெருமையை
விளக்கிடும் இலக்கிய ஏடு
கன்னித் தமிழ்நாடு
இதுவே கண்ணகி பிறந்த வீடு
Virgin Tamil land,
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
Virgin Tamil land,
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
Ponder upon it, the greatness of a woman
Is like a literary manuscript that explains it.
Virgin Tamil land,
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
கணவனுக்காகவே அடிமையாகவே
கண் விழித்து காத்திருந்து
கணவனுக்காகவே அடிமையாகவே
கண் விழித்து காத்திருந்து
கண்ணியமாகவே இன்ப வாழ்வினில்
ரம்பை போலவே மகிழ்ந்து
கண்ணியமாகவே இன்ப வாழ்வினில்
ரம்பை போலவே மகிழ்ந்து
Solely dedicated to her husband as a dutiful companion,
Staying awake and waiting patiently,
Solely dedicated to her husband as a dutiful companion,
Staying awake and waiting patiently,
Living with dignity in a joyful life,
Rejoicing happily like the celestial Rambha,
Living with dignity in a joyful life,
Rejoicing happily like the celestial Rambha,
தனிமையிலும் அவர் மந்திரி போல
தனிமையிலும் அவர் மந்திரி போல
தக்க யோசனை புகன்று
தாயைப் போலவே உணவு தந்து
பெருந் தன்மையோடு தினம் அன்பு காட்டிடும்
Even in solitude, advising him like a wise minister,
Even in solitude, advising him like a wise minister,
Offering sound and appropriate counsel,
Serving food with love just like a mother,
Serving food with love just like a mother,
Exhibiting boundless love daily with nobility,
கன்னித் தமிழ்நாடு
இதுவே கண்ணகி பிறந்த வீடு
நீ எண்ணிப்பார் பெண்ணின் பெருமையை
விளக்கிடும் இலக்கிய ஏடு
கன்னித் தமிழ்நாடு
இதுவே கண்ணகி பிறந்த வீடு
Virgin Tamil land,
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
Ponder upon it, the greatness of a woman
Is like a literary manuscript that explains it.
Virgin Tamil land,
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
தன்மானம் வாழ்வின் சன்மானம்
என்ற தன்மையை மறந்திடாது
தன்மானம் வாழ்வின் சன்மானம்
என்ற தன்மையை மறந்திடாது
பெண் மானம் காக்க தனது உயிரையும்
பெரிதாக எண்ணாது
பெண் மானம் காக்க தனது உயிரையும்
பெரிதாக எண்ணாது
பெண்ணின் பெருமையை மறவாது
பெண்ணின் பெருமையை மறவாது
இந்த உண்மை என்றுமே தவறாது...
Self-respect is the true reward of life,
Never forgetting this noble quality,
Self-respect is the true reward of life,
Never forgetting this noble quality,
To protect a woman's honor, even her own life,
She does not consider greater,
To protect a woman's honor, even her own life,
She does not consider greater,
Never forgetting the glory of womanhood,
Never forgetting the glory of womanhood,
This eternal truth shall never fail.
Kanni tamilnaadu
Virgin Tamil land,
Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
Kanni tamilnaadu
Virgin Tamil land,
Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
Nee ennipaar pennin perumaiyai
Ponder upon it, the greatness of a woman
Vilakkidum ilakkaiya yedu
Is like a literary manuscript that explains it.
Kanni tamilnaadu
Virgin Tamil land,
Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
Kanavanukkagavae adimaiyaagavae
Solely dedicated to her husband as a dutiful companion,
Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu
Staying awake and waiting patiently,
Kanavanukkagavae adimaiyaagavae
Solely dedicated to her husband as a dutiful companion,
Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu
Staying awake and waiting patiently,
Kanniyamaagavae inba vaazhvinil
Living with dignity in a joyful life,
Rambai polavae magizhndhu
Rejoicing happily like the celestial Rambha,
Kanniyamaagavae inba vaazhvinil
Living with dignity in a joyful life,
Rambai polavae magizhndhu
Rejoicing happily like the celestial Rambha,
Thanimaiyilum avar mandhiri pola
Even in solitude, advising him like a wise minister,
Thanimaiyilum avar mandhiri pola
Even in solitude, advising him like a wise minister,
Thakka yosanai pugandru
Offering sound and appropriate counsel,
Thaaiyai polavae unavu thandhu
Serving food with love just like a mother,
Thaaiyai polavae unavu thandhu
Serving food with love just like a mother,
Perunthanmaiyodu dhinam anbu kaattidum
Exhibiting boundless love daily with nobility,
Kanni tamilnaadu
Virgin Tamil land,
Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
Nee ennipaar pennin perumaiyai
Ponder upon it, the greatness of a woman
Vilakkidum ilakkaiya yedu
Is like a literary manuscript that explains it.
Kanni tamilnaadu
Virgin Tamil land,
Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu
This is the native home where Kannagi was born.
Thanmaanam vaazhvin sanmaanam
Self-respect is the true reward of life,
Endra thanmaiyai maranthidathu
Never forgetting this noble quality,
Thanmaanam vaazhvin sanmaanam
Self-respect is the true reward of life,
Endra thanmaiyai maranthidathu
Never forgetting this noble quality,
Penn maanam kakka thanadhu uyiraiyum
To protect a woman's honor, even her own life,
Peridhaaga ennaadhu
She does not consider greater,
Penn maanam kakka thanadhu uyiraiyum
To protect a woman's honor, even her own life,
Peridhaaga ennaadhu
She does not consider greater,
Pennin perumaiyai maravaadhu
Never forgetting the glory of womanhood,
Pennin perumaiyai maravaadhu
Never forgetting the glory of womanhood,
Indha unmai endrumae thavaradhu
This eternal truth shall never fail.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kanni Tamilnaadu' is a soulful ode to the glory, virtue, and dignity of women, invoking Tamil Nadu as the sacred birthplace of the legendary chaste heroine Kannagi from the epic Silappatikaram. It describes the multifaceted character of a virtuous woman who serves as a comforting companion, a wise advisor like a minister in times of counsel, and a nourishing, selfless figure like a mother.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kanni tamilnaadu / Idhuvae kannagi pirandha veedu”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Ka' across 'Kanni' and 'Kannagi'.
Upamai (Simile)
“Rambai polavae magizhndhu”
Comparing a woman's joyful presence to the celestial dancer Rambha ('Rambai pola').
Upamai (Simile)
“Thanimaiyilum avar mandhiri pola”
Comparing a woman's wise guidance in solitude to that of a royal minister ('mandhiri pola').
Iyaibu (Internal Rhyme)
“Thanmaanam vaazhvin sanmaanam”
Rhyming of words 'Thanmaanam' (self-respect) and 'sanmaanam' (reward/honor) within the same line.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pennin Perumai' (1956), starring Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, and Sivaji Ganesan, was a remake of the Telugu hit 'Letha Manasulu' (1955). This classic eulogy rendered by Seerkazhi Govindarajan highlights traditional Tamil literary values about womanhood, drawing heavily on classical Tamil ethics and epic traditions.
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