- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Penmani Aval Kanmani
- Movie release year
- 1988
- Lyrics added on
- 21 May 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This poignant song from Penmani Aval Kanmani addresses the tragic realities of dowry harassment, marital abuse, and societal indifference towards women's suffering. The singer appeals to elements of nature—forests, rain clouds, and birds—asking them to bear witness to the agony of young brides whose marital lives become so unbearable that suicide seems like their only refuge. Vaali's lyrics scathingly critique the commercialization of marriage, comparing wedding markets to livestock auctions and exposing the hypocrisy of sacred marital traditions when they fail to protect women. The song questions a society that remains silent while women suffer at the hands of greedy grooms and abusive in-laws.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Apostrophe / Personification
“Moongil ilai kaadugalae / Muththu mazhai megangalae”
Addressing non-human nature elements (bamboo forests, clouds, birds) as listeners capable of understanding human grief.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Moongil ilai kaadugalae / Muththu mazhai megangalae”
Repetition of the initial sound 'M' across lines 1 and 2.
Metaphor
“Pengal yaavanum vellaattu manthaiyo”
Comparing women to a herd of goats being bargained for in a market.
Mythological Allusion
“Ammaadi maamiyaar pennalla thaadagai”
Comparing a cruel mother-in-law to Thaadagai, the formidable demoness from the Ramayana.
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