Nalla Paerodu
From Perum Pugazhum · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Perum Pugazhum1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nalla paerodu | With a good name |
| Pugazh petra perumai | The pride of earning fame |
| Veerap pennaaga | As a brave woman |
| Aval vaazhndha magimai | The majesty in which she lived |
| Indru ninaithaalum | Even if thought of today |
| Azhiyaadha pudhumai | An undying novelty |
| Aval nilaiyaana varalaatru penmai | She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood |
| Female | |
| Nalla paerodu | With a good name |
| Pugazh petra perumai | The pride of earning fame |
| Veerap pennaaga | As a brave woman |
| Aval vaazhndha magimai | The majesty in which she lived |
| Indru ninaithaalum | Even if thought of today |
| Azhiyaadha pudhumai | An undying novelty |
| Aval nilaiyaana varalaatru penmai | She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood |
| Female | |
| Andha jhansi rani | That Rani of Jhansi |
| Perum saenai kondaal | Commanded a grand army |
| Poril thaanae sendraal | She personally went into battle |
| Padai thannai vendraal | She vanquished the enemy forces |
| Male | |
| Vettum vaalodu vilaiyaadalaam | One can play with a slashing sword |
| Vaelum villaenthi nadamaadalaam | One can dance wielding a spear and bow |
| Dharmam pennukku porallavae | Isn't righteousness a woman's true battle? |
| Thaaimai panpaadu adhuvallavae | Is not motherhood her ultimate virtue? |
| Andha vaasuki pol konda naayaganai | Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband |
| Andha vaasuki pol konda naayaganai | Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband |
| Thottu vanankaadha pen endrum pen allavae | A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all |
| Thottu vanankaadha pen endrum pen allavae | A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all |
| Male | |
| Nalla paerodu | With a good name |
| Pugazh petra perumai | The pride of earning fame |
| Veerap pennaaga | As a brave woman |
| Aval vaazhndha magimai | The majesty in which she lived |
| Indru ninaithaalum | Even if thought of today |
| Azhiyaadha pudhumai | An undying novelty |
| Aval nilaiyaana varalaatru penmai | She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood |
| Female | |
| Penmai vilaiyaadum bommai alla | Womanhood is not a plaything |
| Pillai perugindra silaiyum alla | Nor is it a statue merely meant for childbearing |
| Male | |
| Nam annai idhu pola | Our mothers were not like that |
| Ninaiththaal illai | If we reflect upon it |
| Andha panpaadu namakkaen illai | Why do we lack that culture now? |
| Female | |
| Andru jhaansiyilae | Back then in Jhansi |
| Vandha raaniyaip pol | Like the queen who emerged |
| Andru jhaansiyilae | Back then in Jhansi |
| Vandha raaniyaip pol | Like the queen who emerged |
| Pugazh kaanaadha pen endrum pen allavae | A woman who achieves no fame is no woman at all |
| Male | |
| Thottil thaalaattu pugazh illaiyo | Is there no fame in rocking the cradle with lullabies? |
| Female | |
| Tholil poo maalai pugazh illaiyo | Is there no fame in the floral garland on shoulders? |
| Male | |
| Thalaiyil pennukku malar illaiyoo | Are there no flowers for a woman's hair? |
| Female | |
| Aval thaanum paer vaanga manamillaiyo | Does she lack the desire to earn a good name? |
| Naanum paer vaanga manamillaiyoo | Do I lack the desire to earn a good name too? |
| Male | |
| Andha vaasuki pol konda naayaganai | Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband |
| Thottu vanangaadha penn endrum penn allavae | A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all |
| Thottu vanangaadha penn endrum penn allavae | A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all |
| Male | |
| Nalla paerodu | With a good name |
| Pugazh petra perumai | The pride of earning fame |
| Veerap pennaaga | As a brave woman |
| Aval vaazhndha magimai | The majesty in which she lived |
| Indru ninaithaalum | Even if thought of today |
| Azhiyaadha pudhumai | An undying novelty |
| Aval nilaiyaana varalaatru penmai | She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood |
நல்ல பேரோடு
புகழ் பெற்ற பெருமை
வீரப் பெண்ணாக
அவள் வாழ்ந்த மகிமை
இன்று நினைத்தாலும்
அழியாத புதுமை
அவள் நிலையான வரலாற்றுப் பெண்மை
With a good name
The pride of earning fame
As a brave woman
The majesty in which she lived
Even if thought of today
An undying novelty
She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood
நல்ல பேரோடு
புகழ் பெற்ற பெருமை
வீரப் பெண்ணாக
அவள் வாழ்ந்த மகிமை
இன்று நினைத்தாலும்
அழியாத புதுமை
அவள் நிலையான வரலாற்றுப் பெண்மை
With a good name
The pride of earning fame
As a brave woman
The majesty in which she lived
Even if thought of today
An undying novelty
She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood
அந்த ஜான்சி ராணி
பெரும் சேனைக் கொண்டாள்
போரில் தானே சென்றாள்
படை தன்னை வென்றாள்
That Rani of Jhansi
Commanded a grand army
She personally went into battle
She vanquished the enemy forces
வெட்டும் வாளோடு விளையாடலாம்
வேலும் வில்லேந்தி நடமாடலாம்
தர்மம் பெண்ணுக்குப் போரல்லவா
தாய்மைப் பண்பாடு அதுவல்லவோ
அந்த வாசுகி போல் கொண்ட நாயகனைத்
அந்த வாசுகி போல் கொண்ட நாயகனைத்
தொட்டு வணங்காத பெண்ணென்றும் பெண்ணல்லவே
தொட்டு வணங்காத பெண்ணென்றும் பெண்ணல்லவே
One can play with a slashing sword
One can dance wielding a spear and bow
Isn't righteousness a woman's true battle?
Is not motherhood her ultimate virtue?
Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband
Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband
A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all
A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all
நல்ல பேரோடு
புகழ் பெற்ற பெருமை
வீரப் பெண்ணாக
அவள் வாழ்ந்த மகிமை
இன்று நினைத்தாலும்
அழியாத புதுமை
அவள் நிலையான வரலாற்றுப் பெண்மை
With a good name
The pride of earning fame
As a brave woman
The majesty in which she lived
Even if thought of today
An undying novelty
She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood
பெண்மை விளையாடும் பொம்மை அல்ல
பிள்ளை பெறுகின்ற சிலையும் அல்ல
Womanhood is not a plaything
Nor is it a statue merely meant for childbearing
நம் அன்னை இதுபோல
நினைத்தாளில்லை
அந்தப் பண்பாடு நமக்கேன் இல்லை
Our mothers were not like that
If we reflect upon it
Why do we lack that culture now?
அன்று ஜான்சியிலே
வந்த ராணியைப் போல
அன்று ஜான்சியிலே
வந்த ராணியைப் போல
புகழ் காணாத பெண்ணென்றும் பெண்ணல்லவே
Back then in Jhansi
Like the queen who emerged
Back then in Jhansi
Like the queen who emerged
A woman who achieves no fame is no woman at all
தொட்டில் தாலாட்டு புகழில்லையோ
Is there no fame in rocking the cradle with lullabies?
தோளில் பூமாலை புகழில்லையோ
Is there no fame in the floral garland on shoulders?
தலையில் பெண்ணுக்கு மலரில்லையோ
Are there no flowers for a woman's hair?
அவள் தானும் பேர் வாங்க மனமில்லையோ
நானும் பேர் வாங்க மனமில்லையோ
Does she lack the desire to earn a good name?
Do I lack the desire to earn a good name too?
அந்த வாசுகி போல் கொண்ட நாயகனைத்
தொட்டு வணங்காத பெண்ணென்றும் பெண்ணல்லவே
தொட்டு வணங்காத பெண்ணென்றும் பெண்ணல்லவே
Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband
A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all
A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all
நல்ல பேரோடு
புகழ் பெற்ற பெருமை
வீரப் பெண்ணாக
அவள் வாழ்ந்த மகிமை
இன்று நினைத்தாலும்
அழியாத புதுமை
அவள் நிலையான வரலாற்றுப் பெண்மை.....
With a good name
The pride of earning fame
As a brave woman
The majesty in which she lived
Even if thought of today
An undying novelty
She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood
Nalla paerodu
With a good name
Pugazh petra perumai
The pride of earning fame
Veerap pennaaga
As a brave woman
Aval vaazhndha magimai
The majesty in which she lived
Indru ninaithaalum
Even if thought of today
Azhiyaadha pudhumai
An undying novelty
Aval nilaiyaana varalaatru penmai
She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood
Nalla paerodu
With a good name
Pugazh petra perumai
The pride of earning fame
Veerap pennaaga
As a brave woman
Aval vaazhndha magimai
The majesty in which she lived
Indru ninaithaalum
Even if thought of today
Azhiyaadha pudhumai
An undying novelty
Aval nilaiyaana varalaatru penmai
She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood
Andha jhansi rani
That Rani of Jhansi
Perum saenai kondaal
Commanded a grand army
Poril thaanae sendraal
She personally went into battle
Padai thannai vendraal
She vanquished the enemy forces
Vettum vaalodu vilaiyaadalaam
One can play with a slashing sword
Vaelum villaenthi nadamaadalaam
One can dance wielding a spear and bow
Dharmam pennukku porallavae
Isn't righteousness a woman's true battle?
Thaaimai panpaadu adhuvallavae
Is not motherhood her ultimate virtue?
Andha vaasuki pol konda naayaganai
Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband
Andha vaasuki pol konda naayaganai
Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband
Thottu vanankaadha pen endrum pen allavae
A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all
Thottu vanankaadha pen endrum pen allavae
A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all
Nalla paerodu
With a good name
Pugazh petra perumai
The pride of earning fame
Veerap pennaaga
As a brave woman
Aval vaazhndha magimai
The majesty in which she lived
Indru ninaithaalum
Even if thought of today
Azhiyaadha pudhumai
An undying novelty
Aval nilaiyaana varalaatru penmai
She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood
Penmai vilaiyaadum bommai alla
Womanhood is not a plaything
Pillai perugindra silaiyum alla
Nor is it a statue merely meant for childbearing
Nam annai idhu pola
Our mothers were not like that
Ninaiththaal illai
If we reflect upon it
Andha panpaadu namakkaen illai
Why do we lack that culture now?
Andru jhaansiyilae
Back then in Jhansi
Vandha raaniyaip pol
Like the queen who emerged
Andru jhaansiyilae
Back then in Jhansi
Vandha raaniyaip pol
Like the queen who emerged
Pugazh kaanaadha pen endrum pen allavae
A woman who achieves no fame is no woman at all
Thottil thaalaattu pugazh illaiyo
Is there no fame in rocking the cradle with lullabies?
Tholil poo maalai pugazh illaiyo
Is there no fame in the floral garland on shoulders?
Thalaiyil pennukku malar illaiyoo
Are there no flowers for a woman's hair?
Aval thaanum paer vaanga manamillaiyo
Does she lack the desire to earn a good name?
Naanum paer vaanga manamillaiyoo
Do I lack the desire to earn a good name too?
Andha vaasuki pol konda naayaganai
Like that devotion of Vasuki to her husband
Thottu vanangaadha penn endrum penn allavae
A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all
Thottu vanangaadha penn endrum penn allavae
A woman who does not respect her companion is no woman at all
Nalla paerodu
With a good name
Pugazh petra perumai
The pride of earning fame
Veerap pennaaga
As a brave woman
Aval vaazhndha magimai
The majesty in which she lived
Indru ninaithaalum
Even if thought of today
Azhiyaadha pudhumai
An undying novelty
Aval nilaiyaana varalaatru penmai
She is an enduring historical icon of womanhood
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song serves as a powerful tribute to the ideal qualities and historic greatness of Indian womanhood, penned by the renowned lyricist Kannadasan. It contrasts and synthesizes two iconic female figures: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, who represents martial courage, leadership, and heroism, and Vasuki (the legendary wife of Thiruvalluvar), who represents domestic virtue, maternal warmth, and moral rectitude. The lyrics assert that womanhood is neither an object of amusement nor a mere vessel for childbearing. Instead, women hold the innate strength to conquer battlefields as well as nurture families, establishing that true glory lies in living courageously, preserving cultural virtues, and earning lasting fame in whatever path a woman walks.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Historical and Cultural Allusion
“Andha jhansi rani”
Refers to Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi (representing valour) and Vasuki (representing devotion and family ideal) to illustrate exemplary qualities of women.
Metaphor
“Penmai vilaiyaadum bommai alla”
Compares womanhood negatively to a plaything or a stone statue, emphasizing that female existence is active, purposeful, and dignified.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Thottil thaalaattu pugazh illaiyo”
Rhyming line endings featuring similar phonetics like 'illaiyo' to create rhythmic melodic flow.
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vettum vaalodu vilaiyaadalaam”
Repetition of initial consonants/vowels (Vettum / Vaelum) across lines to enhance poetic cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan frequently invoked classical Tamil moral archetypes alongside freedom fighters in film songs. By referencing both Vasuki (associated with Thiruvalluvar) and Rani Lakshmibai, he blended regional Tamil literary heritage with national historical pride to define the multifaceted empowerment of women.
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