Oomai Penn Oru
From Vanambadi · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Vanambadi1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Oomai penn oru kanavu | If a mute girl has a dream, |
| Kandaal adhai | She sees it, |
| Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal} (2) | And keeps it within her heart, withering away |
| Female | |
| {Veliaye sollavum | To speak it out, |
| Mozhi illai | There are no words |
| Vedhanai theeravum vazhi illai} (2) | There is no way to end her pain |
| Female | |
| Oomai penn oru kanavu | If a mute girl has a dream, |
| Kandaal adhai | She sees it, |
| Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal | And keeps it within her heart, withering away |
| Female | |
| Paravaigal ninaipathai | What the birds think, |
| Yaar arivaar | Who will know? |
| Antha paramporul idhayathai | The heart of the Supreme God, |
| Yaar arivaar yaar arivaar | Who will know? Who will know? |
| Female | |
| Paravaigal ninaipathai | What the birds think, |
| Yaar arivaar | Who will know? |
| Antha paramporul idhayathai | The heart of the Supreme God, |
| Yaar arivaar | Who will know? |
| Kulandhaigal ennaththai | The thoughts of children, |
| Yaar arivaar | Who will know? |
| Andha kulamagal aasaiyai | The desires of that noble family's daughter, |
| Yaar arivaar | Who will know? |
| Female | |
| Oomai penn oru kanavu | If a mute girl has a dream, |
| Kandaal adhai | She sees it, |
| Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal | And keeps it within her heart, withering away |
| Female | |
| Uyirattra chediyil | On a lifeless plant, |
| Malarnthirunthaal | If she had blossomed, |
| Aval oru naal aavadhu | She, for at least one day, |
| Magizhndhirupaal magizhndhirupaal | Would have been happy, would have been happy |
| Female | |
| Uyirattra chediyil | On a lifeless plant, |
| Malarnthirunthaal | If she had blossomed, |
| Aval oru naal aavadhu | She, for at least one day, |
| Magizhndhirupaal | Would have been happy |
| Ulavum kaatraai | As a wandering wind, |
| Piranthirunthaalum | Even if she were born, |
| Aval ovvoru naalum | She, every single day, |
| Vaazhnthirupaal | Would have lived freely |
| Female | |
| Oomai penn oru kanavu | If a mute girl has a dream, |
| Kandaal adhai | She sees it, |
| Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal | And keeps it within her heart, withering away |
| Female | |
| Maanida jaadhiyil | In the human race, |
| Pirandhu vittaal | She was born, |
| Avalmaanida tharmathil | And into human societal rules, |
| Kalandhuvittaal kalandhuvittaal | She has merged, she has merged |
| Female | |
| Maanida jaadhiyil | In the human race, |
| Pirandhu vittaal | She was born, |
| Avalmaanida tharmathil | And into human societal rules, |
| Kalandhuvittaal | She has merged |
| Mannil vaazhavum mudiyavillai | She cannot live on this earth, |
| Andha vaanathil parakkavum | And to fly in that sky, |
| Siragu illai | She has no wings |
| Female | |
| Oomai penn oru kanavu | If a mute girl has a dream, |
| Kandaal adhai | She sees it, |
| Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal | And keeps it within her heart, withering away |
| Female | |
| Veliaye sollavum | To speak it out, |
| Mozhi illai | There are no words |
| Vedhanai theeravum vazhi illai | There is no way to end her pain |
| Female | |
| Oomai penn oru kanavu | If a mute girl has a dream, |
| Kandaal adhai | She sees it, |
| Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal | And keeps it within her heart, withering away |
{ஊமை பெண் ஒரு கனவு
கண்டாள் அதை
உள்ளத்தில் வைத்தே வாடுகின்றாள்} (2)
If a mute girl has a dream,
She sees it,
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
{வெளியே சொல்லவும்
மொழி இல்லை
வேதனை தீரவும் வழி இல்லை} (2)
To speak it out,
There are no words
There is no way to end her pain
ஊமை பெண் ஒரு கனவு
கண்டாள் அதை
உள்ளத்தில் வைத்தே வாடுகின்றாள்
If a mute girl has a dream,
She sees it,
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
பறவைகள் நினைப்பதை
யார் அறிவார்
அந்த பரம்பொருள் இதயத்தை
யார் அறிவார் யார் அறிவார்
What the birds think,
Who will know?
The heart of the Supreme God,
Who will know? Who will know?
பறவைகள் நினைப்பதை
யார் அறிவார்
அந்த பரம்பொருள் இதயத்தை
யார் அறிவார்
குழந்தைகள் எண்ணத்தை
யார் அறிவார்
அந்த குலமகள் ஆசையை
யார் அறிவார்
What the birds think,
Who will know?
The heart of the Supreme God,
Who will know?
The thoughts of children,
Who will know?
The desires of that noble family's daughter,
Who will know?
ஊமை பெண் ஒரு கனவு
கண்டாள் அதை
உள்ளத்தில் வைத்தே வாடுகின்றாள்
If a mute girl has a dream,
She sees it,
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
உயிரற்ற கொடியில்
மலர்ந்திருந்தால்
அவள் ஒரு நாள் ஆவது
மகிழ்ந்திருப்பாள் மகிழ்ந்திருப்பாள்
On a lifeless plant,
If she had blossomed,
She, for at least one day,
Would have been happy, would have been happy
உயிரற்ற கொடியில்
மலர்ந்திருந்தால்
அவள் ஒரு நாள் ஆவது
மகிழ்ந்திருப்பாள்
உலவும் காற்றாய்
பிறந்திருந்தாலும்
அவள் ஒவ்வொரு நாளும்
வாழ்ந்திருப்பாள்
On a lifeless plant,
If she had blossomed,
She, for at least one day,
Would have been happy
As a wandering wind,
Even if she were born,
She, every single day,
Would have lived freely
ஊமை பெண் ஒரு கனவு
கண்டாள் அதை
உள்ளத்தில் வைத்தே வாடுகின்றாள்
If a mute girl has a dream,
She sees it,
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
மானிட ஜாதியில்
பிறந்து விட்டாள்
அவள் மானிட தர்மத்தில்
கலந்து விட்டாள் கலந்து விட்டாள்
In the human race,
She was born,
And into human societal rules,
She has merged, she has merged
மானிட ஜாதியில்
பிறந்து விட்டாள்
அவள் மானிட தர்மத்தில்
கலந்து விட்டாள்
மண்ணில் வாழவும் முடியவில்லை
அந்த வானத்தில் பறக்கவும்
சிறகு இல்லை
In the human race,
She was born,
And into human societal rules,
She has merged
She cannot live on this earth,
And to fly in that sky,
She has no wings
ஊமை பெண் ஒரு கனவு
கண்டாள் அதை
உள்ளத்தில் வைத்தே வாடுகின்றாள்
If a mute girl has a dream,
She sees it,
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
வெளியே சொல்லவும்
மொழியில்லை
வேதனை தீரவும் வழி இல்லை
To speak it out,
There are no words
There is no way to end her pain
ஊமை பெண் ஒரு கனவு
கண்டாள் அதை
உள்ளத்தில் வைத்தே வாடுகின்றாள்
If a mute girl has a dream,
She sees it,
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
{Oomai penn oru kanavu
If a mute girl has a dream,
Kandaal adhai
She sees it,
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal} (2)
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
{Veliaye sollavum
To speak it out,
Mozhi illai
There are no words
Vedhanai theeravum vazhi illai} (2)
There is no way to end her pain
Oomai penn oru kanavu
If a mute girl has a dream,
Kandaal adhai
She sees it,
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
Paravaigal ninaipathai
What the birds think,
Yaar arivaar
Who will know?
Antha paramporul idhayathai
The heart of the Supreme God,
Yaar arivaar yaar arivaar
Who will know? Who will know?
Paravaigal ninaipathai
What the birds think,
Yaar arivaar
Who will know?
Antha paramporul idhayathai
The heart of the Supreme God,
Yaar arivaar
Who will know?
Kulandhaigal ennaththai
The thoughts of children,
Yaar arivaar
Who will know?
Andha kulamagal aasaiyai
The desires of that noble family's daughter,
Yaar arivaar
Who will know?
Oomai penn oru kanavu
If a mute girl has a dream,
Kandaal adhai
She sees it,
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
Uyirattra chediyil
On a lifeless plant,
Malarnthirunthaal
If she had blossomed,
Aval oru naal aavadhu
She, for at least one day,
Magizhndhirupaal magizhndhirupaal
Would have been happy, would have been happy
Uyirattra chediyil
On a lifeless plant,
Malarnthirunthaal
If she had blossomed,
Aval oru naal aavadhu
She, for at least one day,
Magizhndhirupaal
Would have been happy
Ulavum kaatraai
As a wandering wind,
Piranthirunthaalum
Even if she were born,
Aval ovvoru naalum
She, every single day,
Vaazhnthirupaal
Would have lived freely
Oomai penn oru kanavu
If a mute girl has a dream,
Kandaal adhai
She sees it,
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
Maanida jaadhiyil
In the human race,
Pirandhu vittaal
She was born,
Avalmaanida tharmathil
And into human societal rules,
Kalandhuvittaal kalandhuvittaal
She has merged, she has merged
Maanida jaadhiyil
In the human race,
Pirandhu vittaal
She was born,
Avalmaanida tharmathil
And into human societal rules,
Kalandhuvittaal
She has merged
Mannil vaazhavum mudiyavillai
She cannot live on this earth,
Andha vaanathil parakkavum
And to fly in that sky,
Siragu illai
She has no wings
Oomai penn oru kanavu
If a mute girl has a dream,
Kandaal adhai
She sees it,
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
Veliaye sollavum
To speak it out,
Mozhi illai
There are no words
Vedhanai theeravum vazhi illai
There is no way to end her pain
Oomai penn oru kanavu
If a mute girl has a dream,
Kandaal adhai
She sees it,
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
And keeps it within her heart, withering away
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Oomai Penn Oru Kanavu' is a deeply poignant song from the 1963 film 'Vanambadi', written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan. The song uses the metaphor of a mute woman dreaming to articulate profound helplessness, emotional suppression, and the burden of societal expectations placed upon women. Just as no one can truly read the minds of wild birds, God, or innocent infants, no one understands the quiet longing hidden within a woman who is unable to express her true feelings. The song highlights the tragedy of being trapped by human societal norms ('maanida tharmathil kalandhuvittaal'). The protagonist laments that even a flower on a withered plant gets to experience a moment of joy, and a free-roaming breeze lives a liberated life every day. Trapped on an unlivable earth yet lacking wings to fly into the sky, she endures a silent, suffocating anguish.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Oomai penn oru kanavu”
The 'mute girl' serves as an extended metaphor for a person—particularly a woman in traditional society—who possesses deep emotions and dreams but lacks the voice or agency to express them.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / மோனை)
“Veliaye sollavum / Vedhanai theeravum”
Both lines share the initial 'Ve' sound, creating a rhythmic and melancholic flow.
Muran (Contrast / முரண்)
“Mannil vaazhavum mudiyavillai / Andha vaanathil parakkavum siragu illai”
Contrasts 'earth' (Mannil) and 'sky' (Vaanathil) to highlight the total helplessness of being unable to live on earth nor escape into the sky.
Personification
“Ulavum kaatraai piranthirunthaalum... vaazhnthirupaal”
Personifies the wandering breeze as an entity that lives a life of complete freedom, contrasting it with human confinement.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Oomai Penn Oru Kanavu' from the 1963 movie 'Vanambadi' features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and was sung by the legendary playback singer P. Susheela. The film starred S. S. Rajendran and Devika in lead roles. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song are widely celebrated for using subtle natural imagery to portray silent grief and existential confinement.
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