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Lyrics & meaning

Meena Adi Meena Song

From Yarukku Mappillai Yaaro · 1975

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singers
Vani Jairam, L. R. Anjali
Music director
K. Vijaya Baskar
Movie name
Yarukku Mappillai Yaaro
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
17 Nov 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Meena adi meena
Nee neentha theriyaatha meenaa
Aangal thazhuvaa maeniyai konjam
Meengal thazhuvi konjattumae
Meena adi meena
Nee neentha theriyaatha meenaa
Aangal thazhuvaa maeniyai konjam
Meengal thazhuvi konjattumae
Sheela adu mala intha
Keliyum kindalum pothumadi
Kaalam ennum kadalil neentha
Paadam kattraval naanthaandi….
……………
Imaigal maraikkumadi kangalai
Udaigal maraikkumadi pengalai
Olivu maraivugal yaenadi
Ulaga pengalai paaradi
Pazhamaiyai penmai maranthida vendaam
Pudhumai pennaai uruvaga vendum
Thunichal endru thevaiyadi….
Sheela adu mala intha
Keliyum kindalum pothumadi
Kaalam ennum kadalil neentha
Paadam kattraval naanthaandi….
Vaanil paranthuvarum pennadi
Neeril neentha vara achchamaa
Neeril neenthugindra anaivarum
Vaanil neenthi vara mudiyumaa
Naal vagai gunamum namakku varaathu
Naanamillaathu penmaiyum yaethu
Pennukku perumai adakkamadi
Meena adi meena
Nee neentha theriyaatha meenaa
Aangal thazhuvaa maeniyai konjam
Meengal thazhuvi konjattumae
Melai naattavarin paaniyil
Paathai maaruvathu thevaiyaa
Kaalam maarugindra velaiyil
Kolam maaruvathu avasiyam
Kolaththai poduthal pengalin vazhakkam
Kolangal poduthal pazhangaala pazhakam
Vazhakkaththai maattrida vendumadi
Sheela adu mala intha
Keliyum kindalum pothumadi
Kaalam ennum kadalil neentha
Paadam kattraval naanthaandi….
……………
Meena, oh Meena!
Are you a fish that does not know how to swim?
Let your body, untouched by men,
Be caressed and fondled a little by the fish!
Meena, oh Meena!
Are you a fish that does not know how to swim?
Let your body, untouched by men,
Be caressed and fondled a little by the fish!
Hey Sheela, or Mala, stop this now!
Enough of your teasing and mocking, girl!
To swim across the ocean called time,
I am the one who has learned the lesson!
...
Eyelids cover up the eyes, girl,
Clothes cover up the women, girl!
Why all this hiding and secrecy?
Look at the women across the world!
Womanhood should not forget tradition,
One must emerge as a modern woman!
Courage is what is needed now...
Hey Sheela, or Mala, stop this now!
Enough of your teasing and mocking, girl!
To swim across the ocean called time,
I am the one who has learned the lesson!
I am a woman who flies through the sky, girl!
Are you afraid to come and swim in the water?
Can everyone who swims in the water
Soar and swim through the sky as well?
The four traditional virtues will not stay with us,
And what is womanhood without modesty?
A woman's pride lies in her modesty, girl!
Meena, oh Meena!
Are you a fish that does not know how to swim?
Let your body, untouched by men,
Be caressed and fondled a little by the fish!
In the style of Westerners,
Is it necessary to change our path?
When times are changing,
Changing our ways and attire is essential!
Drawing traditional patterns is a woman's custom!
Drawing old patterns is an outdated habit!
We must transform these traditions, girl!
Hey Sheela, or Mala, stop this now!
Enough of your teasing and mocking, girl!
To swim across the ocean called time,
I am the one who has learned the lesson!
...
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song presents a spirited, friendly debate between two perspectives on womanhood in 1970s South India. One friend argues for modernism, Western attire, courage, and breaking away from restrictive ancient customs. The other friend counters by advocating for moral restraint, modesty (naanam and adakkam), and preserving traditional identity amidst changing times. Through clever banter, lyricist Poovai Senguttavan contrasts Bharathiyar's concept of the modern woman ('Pudhumai Penn') with traditional cultural values, framing life's passage as learning to swim in the ocean of time.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Wordplay (Sleidai)

“Nee neentha theriyaatha meenaa”

Plays on the proper noun 'Meena' and the Tamil noun 'Meen' (fish), asking if Meena is a fish that cannot swim.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Kaalam ennum kadalil neentha”

Compares time to a vast ocean that one must learn to navigate or swim across.

Antithesis / Contrast

“Pazhamaiyai penmai maranthida vendaam / Pudhumai pennaai uruvaga vendum”

Juxtaposes ancient traditions (pazhamai) against modern womanhood (pudhumai) to highlight the central debate.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edugai)

“Imaigal maraikkumadi kangalai / Udaigal maraikkumadi pengalai”

The second letter in both words ('ma') creates a rhythmic phonetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Kannada music maestro K. Vijaya Bhaskar for 'Yarukku Mappillai Yaaro' (1975), this song stands out as a musical debate on female empowerment and Westernization during a key era of cultural shift in Tamil cinema.

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