Kungummathai
From Panithirai · 1961
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Panithirai1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kungumathai azhikkavaa | Should I wipe off the vermilion? |
| Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa | Should I dishevel the richness of my hair? |
| Manjalaiyum izhakkavaa | Should I lose the turmeric? |
| Mangala naan kazhattravaa | Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread? |
| Female | |
| Kungumathai azhikkavaa | Should I wipe off the vermilion? |
| Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa | Should I dishevel the richness of my hair? |
| Manjalaiyum izhakkavaa | Should I lose the turmeric? |
| Mangala naan kazhattravaa | Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread? |
| Kungumathai azhikkavaa | Should I wipe off the vermilion? |
| Female | |
| Naalum kazhindhadhendraar | They say the days are past |
| Nadantha kadhai mudithathendraar | They say the story that happened has ended |
| Naalum kazhindhadhendraar | They say the days are past |
| Nadantha kadhai mudithathendraar | They say the story that happened has ended |
| Vaazha veitha aiyaa neer | O respectable sir who gave me a life |
| Maraindhu vitteer engindraar | They say that you have passed away |
| Vaazha veitha aiyaa neer | O respectable sir who gave me a life |
| Maraindhu vitteer engindraar | They say that you have passed away |
| Edhai enni kungumam veippen | Thinking of what shall I wear vermilion? |
| Naan enna solli poovai mudippen | Saying what shall I adorn my hair with flowers? |
| Female | |
| Kungumathai azhikkavaa | Should I wipe off the vermilion? |
| Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa | Should I dishevel the richness of my hair? |
| Manjalaiyum izhakkavaa | Should I lose the turmeric? |
| Mangala naan kazhattravaa | Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread? |
| Kungumathai azhikkavaa | Should I wipe off the vermilion? |
| Female | |
| Petravarai naan izhandhu | Having lost my parents |
| Paedhalithu nirrkayilae | When I stood bewildered and helpless |
| Petravarai naan izhandhu | Having lost my parents |
| Paedhalithu nirrkayilae | When I stood bewildered and helpless |
| Uttravarum ooraarum | My relatives and the townspeople |
| Udhavaadha sagunamendraar | Called me an unlucky omen |
| Uttravarum ooraarum | My relatives and the townspeople |
| Udhavaadha sagunamendraar | Called me an unlucky omen |
| Paavam endru mana muditheerae | Pitying me, you married me |
| Naan paavam endru mana muditheerae | Pitying that I was unfortunate, you married me |
| Andha paavathinaal maraindhu vitteeroo | Did you pass away because of that pity? |
| Hooo hoooo ooo | Hooo hoooo ooo |
| Female | |
| Kungumathai azhikkavaa | Should I wipe off the vermilion? |
| Female | |
| Naanarindhu seidhathillai | I did not do it knowingly |
| Naan purintha kuttramillai | It is not a fault I committed |
| Naanarindhu seidhathillai | I did not do it knowingly |
| Naan purintha kuttramillai | It is not a fault I committed |
| Penn pirandha velaiyilae | At the time a woman is born |
| Pirandhu vantha paavamendraar | They said it is a sin born with her |
| Penn pirandha velaiyilae | At the time a woman is born |
| Pirandhu vantha paavamendraar | They said it is a sin born with her |
| Padaithavanin kuttramallava | Isn't this the fault of the Creator? |
| Idhu padaithavanin kuttramallava | Isn't this the fault of the Creator? |
| Andha paavi seidha paavam allavaa | Isn't it a sin committed by that sinner God? |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa…. | Aaa…aaa…aaa…. |
| Female | |
| Kungumathai azhikkavaa | Should I wipe off the vermilion? |
| Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa | Should I dishevel the richness of my hair? |
| Manjalaiyum izhakkavaa | Should I lose the turmeric? |
| Mangala naan kazhattravaa | Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread? |
| Kungumathai azhikkavaa | Should I wipe off the vermilion? |
குங்குமத்தை அழிக்கவா
கூந்தல் வளம் கலைக்கவா
மஞ்சளையும் இழக்கவா
மங்கல நாண் கழற்றவா
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Should I dishevel the richness of my hair?
Should I lose the turmeric?
Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread?
குங்குமத்தை அழிக்கவா
கூந்தல் வளம் கலைக்கவா
மஞ்சளையும் இழக்கவா
மங்கல நாண் கழற்றவா
குங்குமத்தை அழிக்கவா
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Should I dishevel the richness of my hair?
Should I lose the turmeric?
Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread?
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
நாளும் கழிந்ததென்றார்
நடந்த கதை முடிந்ததென்றார்
நாளும் கழிந்ததென்றார்
நடந்த கதை முடிந்ததென்றார்
வாழ வைத்த ஐயா நீர்
மறைந்து விட்டீர் என்கின்றார்
வாழ வைத்த ஐயா நீர்
மறைந்து விட்டீர் என்கின்றார்
எதை எண்ணி குங்குமம் வைப்பேன்
நான் என்ன சொல்லிப் பூ முடிப்பேன்
They say the days are past
They say the story that happened has ended
They say the days are past
They say the story that happened has ended
O respectable sir who gave me a life
They say that you have passed away
O respectable sir who gave me a life
They say that you have passed away
Thinking of what shall I wear vermilion?
Saying what shall I adorn my hair with flowers?
குங்குமத்தை அழிக்கவா
கூந்தல் வளம் கலைக்கவா
மஞ்சளையும் இழக்கவா
மங்கல நாண் கழற்றவா
குங்குமத்தை அழிக்கவா
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Should I dishevel the richness of my hair?
Should I lose the turmeric?
Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread?
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
பெற்றவரை நானிழந்து
பேதலித்து நிற்கையிலே
பெற்றவரை நானிழந்து
பேதலித்து நிற்கையிலே
உற்றவரும் ஊராரும்
உதவாத சகுனமென்றார்
உற்றவரும் ஊராரும்
உதவாத சகுனமென்றார்
நான் பாவமென்று மணமுடித்தீரோ
அந்தப் பாவத்தினால் மறைந்து விட்டீரோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஓ
Having lost my parents
When I stood bewildered and helpless
Having lost my parents
When I stood bewildered and helpless
My relatives and the townspeople
Called me an unlucky omen
My relatives and the townspeople
Called me an unlucky omen
Pitying me, you married me
Pitying that I was unfortunate, you married me
Did you pass away because of that pity?
Hooo hoooo ooo
குங்குமத்தை அழிக்கவா
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
நானறிந்து செய்ததில்லை
நான் புரிந்த குற்றமில்லை
நானறிந்து செய்ததில்லை
நான் புரிந்த குற்றமில்லை
பெண் பிறந்த வேளையிலே
பிறந்து வந்த பாவமென்றால்
பெண் பிறந்த வேளையிலே
பிறந்து வந்த பாவமென்றால்
இது படைத்தவனின் குற்றமல்லவா
அந்தப் பாவி செய்த பாவமல்லவா
ஆஆ......ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....
I did not do it knowingly
It is not a fault I committed
I did not do it knowingly
It is not a fault I committed
At the time a woman is born
They said it is a sin born with her
At the time a woman is born
They said it is a sin born with her
Isn't this the fault of the Creator?
Isn't this the fault of the Creator?
Isn't it a sin committed by that sinner God?
Aaa…aaa…aaa….
குங்குமத்தை அழிக்கவா
கூந்தல் வளம் கலைக்கவா
மஞ்சளையும் இழக்கவா
மங்கல நாண் கழற்றவா
குங்குமத்தை அழிக்கவா
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Should I dishevel the richness of my hair?
Should I lose the turmeric?
Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread?
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Kungumathai azhikkavaa
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa
Should I dishevel the richness of my hair?
Manjalaiyum izhakkavaa
Should I lose the turmeric?
Mangala naan kazhattravaa
Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread?
Kungumathai azhikkavaa
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa
Should I dishevel the richness of my hair?
Manjalaiyum izhakkavaa
Should I lose the turmeric?
Mangala naan kazhattravaa
Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread?
Kungumathai azhikkavaa
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Naalum kazhindhadhendraar
They say the days are past
Nadantha kadhai mudithathendraar
They say the story that happened has ended
Naalum kazhindhadhendraar
They say the days are past
Nadantha kadhai mudithathendraar
They say the story that happened has ended
Vaazha veitha aiyaa neer
O respectable sir who gave me a life
Maraindhu vitteer engindraar
They say that you have passed away
Vaazha veitha aiyaa neer
O respectable sir who gave me a life
Maraindhu vitteer engindraar
They say that you have passed away
Edhai enni kungumam veippen
Thinking of what shall I wear vermilion?
Naan enna solli poovai mudippen
Saying what shall I adorn my hair with flowers?
Kungumathai azhikkavaa
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa
Should I dishevel the richness of my hair?
Manjalaiyum izhakkavaa
Should I lose the turmeric?
Mangala naan kazhattravaa
Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread?
Kungumathai azhikkavaa
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Petravarai naan izhandhu
Having lost my parents
Paedhalithu nirrkayilae
When I stood bewildered and helpless
Petravarai naan izhandhu
Having lost my parents
Paedhalithu nirrkayilae
When I stood bewildered and helpless
Uttravarum ooraarum
My relatives and the townspeople
Udhavaadha sagunamendraar
Called me an unlucky omen
Uttravarum ooraarum
My relatives and the townspeople
Udhavaadha sagunamendraar
Called me an unlucky omen
Paavam endru mana muditheerae
Pitying me, you married me
Naan paavam endru mana muditheerae
Pitying that I was unfortunate, you married me
Andha paavathinaal maraindhu vitteeroo
Did you pass away because of that pity?
Hooo hoooo ooo
Hooo hoooo ooo
Kungumathai azhikkavaa
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Naanarindhu seidhathillai
I did not do it knowingly
Naan purintha kuttramillai
It is not a fault I committed
Naanarindhu seidhathillai
I did not do it knowingly
Naan purintha kuttramillai
It is not a fault I committed
Penn pirandha velaiyilae
At the time a woman is born
Pirandhu vantha paavamendraar
They said it is a sin born with her
Penn pirandha velaiyilae
At the time a woman is born
Pirandhu vantha paavamendraar
They said it is a sin born with her
Padaithavanin kuttramallava
Isn't this the fault of the Creator?
Idhu padaithavanin kuttramallava
Isn't this the fault of the Creator?
Andha paavi seidha paavam allavaa
Isn't it a sin committed by that sinner God?
Aaa…aaa…aaa….
Aaa…aaa…aaa….
Kungumathai azhikkavaa
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa
Should I dishevel the richness of my hair?
Manjalaiyum izhakkavaa
Should I lose the turmeric?
Mangala naan kazhattravaa
Should I remove the auspicious wedding thread?
Kungumathai azhikkavaa
Should I wipe off the vermilion?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kungumathai azhikkavaa from the film Panithirai (1961), penned by lyricist Kannadasan, is a heartbreaking lament of a newly widowed young woman. She grieves the unexpected loss of her husband, who was her sole savior when her family and society abandoned her as an ill-omened orphan. The song questions the cruel traditional practice of stripping away a widow's sacred symbols—vermilion (kumkum), turmeric, flowers, and mangalsutra. Throughout the song, the protagonist questions the unfairness of fate and societal superstition. She rejects the idea that her womanhood or birth was a curse, pointing her grief directly at the Creator for orchestrating such tragic destiny. The song stands as a powerful critique of patriarchal rituals and social stigma surrounding widowhood in Tamil culture.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Azhikkavaa / Kazhattravaa)
“Kungumathai azhikkavaa”
The lyrics consistently end lines with questions like 'Azhikkavaa' (Should I erase?) and 'Kazhattravaa' (Should I remove?), emphasizing agonizing doubt and grief.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kungumathai azhikkavaa / Koondhal vazham kalaikkavaa”
Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines like 'Kungumathai' and 'Koondhal' ('Ku' sound).
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Petravarai naan izhandhu / Uttravarum ooraarum”
The second letter consonant rhyming 't' sound in 'Petravarai' and 'Uttravarum'.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Kungumathai azhikkavaa”
Repetition of the opening verse throughout the song to anchor the protagonist's recurring emotional turmoil.
Apostrophe / Personification of God
“Idhu padaithavanin kuttramallava”
Addressing the Creator directly and accusing Him of committing a sin against her life.
Did you know?
Trivia
Panithirai (1961) featured music composed by K. V. Mahadevan with vocals by P. Susheela. Kannadasan used this song to challenge archaic social taboos against widows in South India, using poignant symbolism like kumkum, turmeric, and flowers to convey grief.
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