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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oomai Penn Oru

From Vanambadi · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Vanambadi
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
24 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Oomai penn oru kanavu
Kandaal adhai
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal} (2)
{Veliaye sollavum
Mozhi illai
Vedhanai theeravum vazhi illai} (2)
Oomai penn oru kanavu
Kandaal adhai
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
Paravaigal ninaipathai
Yaar arivaar
Antha paramporul idhayathai
Yaar arivaar yaar arivaar
Paravaigal ninaipathai
Yaar arivaar
Antha paramporul idhayathai
Yaar arivaar
Kulandhaigal ennaththai
Yaar arivaar
Andha kulamagal aasaiyai
Yaar arivaar
Oomai penn oru kanavu
Kandaal adhai
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
Uyirattra chediyil
Malarnthirunthaal
Aval oru naal aavadhu
Magizhndhirupaal magizhndhirupaal
Uyirattra chediyil
Malarnthirunthaal
Aval oru naal aavadhu
Magizhndhirupaal
Ulavum kaatraai
Piranthirunthaalum
Aval ovvoru naalum
Vaazhnthirupaal
Oomai penn oru kanavu
Kandaal adhai
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
Maanida jaadhiyil
Pirandhu vittaal
Avalmaanida tharmathil
Kalandhuvittaal kalandhuvittaal
Maanida jaadhiyil
Pirandhu vittaal
Avalmaanida tharmathil
Kalandhuvittaal
Mannil vaazhavum mudiyavillai
Andha vaanathil parakkavum
Siragu illai
Oomai penn oru kanavu
Kandaal adhai
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
Veliaye sollavum
Mozhi illai
Vedhanai theeravum vazhi illai
Oomai penn oru kanavu
Kandaal adhai
Ullathil veithae vaadugindraal
A mute girl had
a dream, and
keeping it within her heart, she suffers.
She has no words
to speak it out,
and no way to end her pain.
A mute girl had
a dream, and
keeping it within her heart, she suffers.
What the birds think,
who can know?
The heart of the Almighty,
who can know, who can know?
What the birds think,
who can know?
The heart of the Almighty,
who can know?
What little children feel,
who can know?
The desires of a modest woman,
who can know?
A mute girl had
a dream, and
keeping it within her heart, she suffers.
If on a lifeless vine
she had bloomed as a flower,
at least for a single day,
she would have been happy, she would have been happy.
If on a lifeless vine
she had bloomed as a flower,
at least for a single day,
she would have been happy.
As the wandering breeze,
if only she had been born,
then every single day,
she would have truly lived.
A mute girl had
a dream, and
keeping it within her heart, she suffers.
Into the human race,
she was born;
by human rules and duties,
she was bound, she was bound.
Into the human race,
she was born;
by human rules and duties,
she was bound.
She cannot live on this earth,
and to fly high in the sky,
she has no wings.
A mute girl had
a dream, and
keeping it within her heart, she suffers.
She has no words
to speak it out,
and no way to end her pain.
A mute girl had
a dream, and
keeping it within her heart, she suffers.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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.

Keep listening

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