- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Kettikaran
- Movie release year
- 1971
- Lyrics added on
- 18 Dec 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Naanamenbathu Enna Enna from the 1971 movie Kettikaran is a pioneering women's empowerment anthem. Written by A. Maruthakasi and rendered with fiery enthusiasm by L. R. Eswari under Shankar-Ganesh's music direction, the song boldly questions centuries-old societal ideals imposed on women, specifically the traditional virtues of Acham (fear) and Naanam (shyness). The song urges women to discard their inferiority complexes and break free from outdated customs. Highlighting human advancement such as landing on the moon, the lyrics motivate women to step into a new era guided by strength, courage, and intellect. It stands as a progressive rallying cry for equality, self-confidence, and female liberation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question
“Naanamenbathu enna enna / Acham endraal enna enna”
The repeated questioning of 'What is shyness? What is fear?' challenges conventional expectations imposed on women and forces listeners to rethink outdated social norms.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition)
“Naanamenbathu enna enna”
The repetition of words like 'enna enna' and 'solvom solvom' adds rhythm, urgency, and strong emotional emphasis to the speaker's assertiveness.
Contrast / Temporal Imagery
“Chandhiranil poe irangum kaalam / Idhil yaeninnum selaiyin kolam”
Contrasts modern technological milestones like landing on the moon with backward cultural restrictions placed on women's lifestyle and attire.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Sakthiyaal yukthiyaal munneruvom / Ingu niththamum vetrigal kondaaduvom”
The lines end with rhythmic rhyming suffixes like 'munneruvom' and 'kondaaduvom', building an inspiring and martial cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Rendered in L. R. Eswari's signature high-energy voice, this song was notably progressive for 1971 Tamil cinema. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi directly challenged the classic Tamil literary ideal of 'Acham, Naanam, Madam, Payirppu' (Fear, Shyness, Ignorance, and Hesitation as ideal traits for women) in an era when moon landings were redefining global human potential.
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