- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music directors
- B. N. Rao, A. Rama Rao, Master Venu
- Movie name
- Pennin Perumai
- Movie release year
- 1956
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Dec 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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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