Naanam Enbathu Enna
From Kettikaran · 1971
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Kettikaran1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Naanamenbathu enna enna | What is shyness, what is it? |
| Acham endraal enna enna | What is fear, what is it? |
| Nammaipol pennidam illaathathu | Something that women like us do not possess, |
| Melnattilae yaarumae sollaathathu | Something no one in Western countries preaches. |
| Female | |
| Naanamenbathu enna enna | What is shyness, what is it? |
| Acham endraal enna enna | What is fear, what is it? |
| Nammaipol pennidam illaathathu | Something that women like us do not possess, |
| Melnattilae yaarumae sollaathathu | Something no one in Western countries preaches. |
| Female | |
| Thaazhvu manapaanmai innum edharkku | Why still hold onto an inferiority complex? |
| Petra thaaikulamaagiya namakku | For us, who belong to the noble motherhood community. |
| Soozhum edhirppai thagarththu selvom | We shall shatter the opposition surrounding us and move forward. |
| Soozhum edhirppai thagarththu selvom | We shall shatter the opposition surrounding us and move forward. |
| Thuninthu vaazhkkaiyil puratchikal seivom | Daringly, we shall make revolutions in life. |
| Female | |
| Sakthiyaal yukthiyaal munneruvom | Through strength and intellect, we will progress. |
| Ingu niththamum vetrigal kondaaduvom | Here, we will celebrate victories every single day. |
| Female | |
| Naanamenbathu enna enna | What is shyness, what is it? |
| Acham endraal enna enna | What is fear, what is it? |
| Nammaipol pennidam illaathathu | Something that women like us do not possess, |
| Melnattilae yaarumae sollaathathu | Something no one in Western countries preaches. |
| Female | |
| Chandhiranil poe irangum kaalam | This is an era where humans land on the moon, |
| Idhil yaeninnum selaiyin kolam | Why still be bound by traditional attire and constraints? |
| Female | |
| Pazhaiya vazhiyai maattri amaippom | We shall alter and reform the old ways, |
| Pudhiya paadhaiyil nimiranthae nadappom | We shall walk upright with head held high on a new path. |
| Thaththuvom aayiram solvom solvom | We will speak thousands of philosophies, |
| Nam yukithiyaal bhoomiyai velvom | With our intellect, we will conquer the world. |
| Female | |
| Naanamenbathu enna enna | What is shyness, what is it? |
| Acham endraal enna enna | What is fear, what is it? |
| Chorus :Nammaipol pennidam illaathathu | Chorus: Something that women like us do not possess, |
| Melnattilae yaarumae sollaathathu | Something no one in Western countries preaches. |
நாணமென்பது என்ன என்ன
அச்சம் என்றால் என்ன என்ன
நம்மைப்போல் பெண்ணிடம் இல்லாதது
மேல்நாட்டிலே யாருமே சொல்லாதது
What is shyness, what is it?
What is fear, what is it?
Something that women like us do not possess,
Something no one in Western countries preaches.
நாணமென்பது என்ன என்ன
அச்சம் என்றால் என்ன என்ன
நம்மைப்போல் பெண்ணிடம் இல்லாதது
மேல்நாட்டிலே யாருமே சொல்லாதது
What is shyness, what is it?
What is fear, what is it?
Something that women like us do not possess,
Something no one in Western countries preaches.
தாழ்வு மனப்பான்மை இன்னும் எதற்கு
பெற்ற தாய்க்குலமாகிய நமக்கு
சூழும் எதிர்ப்பை தகர்த்து செல்வோம்
சூழும் எதிர்ப்பை தகர்த்து செல்வோம்
துணிந்து வாழ்க்கையில் புரட்சிகள் செய்வோம்
Why still hold onto an inferiority complex?
For us, who belong to the noble motherhood community.
We shall shatter the opposition surrounding us and move forward.
We shall shatter the opposition surrounding us and move forward.
Daringly, we shall make revolutions in life.
சக்தியால் யுக்தியால் முன்னேறுவோம்
இங்கு நித்தமும் வெற்றிகள் கொண்டாடுவோம்
Through strength and intellect, we will progress.
Here, we will celebrate victories every single day.
நாணமென்பது என்ன என்ன
அச்சம் என்றால் என்ன என்ன
நம்மைப்போல் பெண்ணிடம் இல்லாதது
மேல்நாட்டிலே யாருமே சொல்லாதது
What is shyness, what is it?
What is fear, what is it?
Something that women like us do not possess,
Something no one in Western countries preaches.
சந்திரனில் போயிறங்கும் காலம்
இதில் ஏனின்னும் சேலையின் கோலம்
This is an era where humans land on the moon,
Why still be bound by traditional attire and constraints?
பழைய வழியை மாற்றி அமைப்போம்
புதிய பாதையில் நிமிர்ந்தே நடப்போம்
தத்துவம் ஆயிரம் சொல்வோம் சொல்வோம்
நம் யுக்தியால் பூமியை வெல்வோம்...
We shall alter and reform the old ways,
We shall walk upright with head held high on a new path.
We will speak thousands of philosophies,
With our intellect, we will conquer the world.
நாணமென்பது என்ன என்ன
அச்சம் என்றால் என்ன என்ன
குழு :
நம்மைப்போல் பெண்ணிடம் இல்லாதது
மேல்நாட்டிலே யாருமே சொல்லாதது
What is shyness, what is it?
What is fear, what is it?
Chorus: Something that women like us do not possess,
Something no one in Western countries preaches.
Naanamenbathu enna enna
What is shyness, what is it?
Acham endraal enna enna
What is fear, what is it?
Nammaipol pennidam illaathathu
Something that women like us do not possess,
Melnattilae yaarumae sollaathathu
Something no one in Western countries preaches.
Naanamenbathu enna enna
What is shyness, what is it?
Acham endraal enna enna
What is fear, what is it?
Nammaipol pennidam illaathathu
Something that women like us do not possess,
Melnattilae yaarumae sollaathathu
Something no one in Western countries preaches.
Thaazhvu manapaanmai innum edharkku
Why still hold onto an inferiority complex?
Petra thaaikulamaagiya namakku
For us, who belong to the noble motherhood community.
Soozhum edhirppai thagarththu selvom
We shall shatter the opposition surrounding us and move forward.
Soozhum edhirppai thagarththu selvom
We shall shatter the opposition surrounding us and move forward.
Thuninthu vaazhkkaiyil puratchikal seivom
Daringly, we shall make revolutions in life.
Sakthiyaal yukthiyaal munneruvom
Through strength and intellect, we will progress.
Ingu niththamum vetrigal kondaaduvom
Here, we will celebrate victories every single day.
Naanamenbathu enna enna
What is shyness, what is it?
Acham endraal enna enna
What is fear, what is it?
Nammaipol pennidam illaathathu
Something that women like us do not possess,
Melnattilae yaarumae sollaathathu
Something no one in Western countries preaches.
Chandhiranil poe irangum kaalam
This is an era where humans land on the moon,
Idhil yaeninnum selaiyin kolam
Why still be bound by traditional attire and constraints?
Pazhaiya vazhiyai maattri amaippom
We shall alter and reform the old ways,
Pudhiya paadhaiyil nimiranthae nadappom
We shall walk upright with head held high on a new path.
Thaththuvom aayiram solvom solvom
We will speak thousands of philosophies,
Nam yukithiyaal bhoomiyai velvom
With our intellect, we will conquer the world.
Naanamenbathu enna enna
What is shyness, what is it?
Acham endraal enna enna
What is fear, what is it?
Chorus :Nammaipol pennidam illaathathu
Chorus: Something that women like us do not possess,
Melnattilae yaarumae sollaathathu
Something no one in Western countries preaches.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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