Oomai Pennai Pesa Sonnaal
From Alaigal · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Alaigal1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa….aa….aah…..aa….aa… | Aa... aa... aah... aa... aa... |
| Aa….aa….aah…..aa….aa… | Aa... aa... aah... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Oomai pennai | If a mute woman... |
| Pesa sonnaal uravo | ...is asked to speak, is that a relationship? |
| Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo | Is this reality or just a dream? |
| Female | |
| Oomai pennai | If a mute woman... |
| Pesa sonnaal uravo | ...is asked to speak, is that a relationship? |
| Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo | Is this reality or just a dream? |
| Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo | Is this reality or just a dream? |
| Verum kanavo….oo….oo…oo…oo… | Just a dream... oo... oo... oo... oo... |
| Female | |
| Koondu kili pola vaazha ninaiththaen | I wished to live like a sheltered caged parrot, |
| Thaangum kaiyondru kandaen | And I found a supporting hand. |
| Koondu kili pola vaazha ninaiththaen | I wished to live like a sheltered caged parrot, |
| Thaangum kaiyondru kandaen | And I found a supporting hand. |
| Female | |
| Mendana sorkkangal en vaazhvil endru | Believing that heavenly joys would enter my life, |
| Vendi varam kettu nindren | I stood praying and asking for a boon. |
| Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo…. | Is this reality or just a dream? |
| Female | |
| Oomai pennai | If a mute woman... |
| Pesa sonnaal uravo | ...is asked to speak, is that a relationship? |
| Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo | Is this reality or just a dream? |
| Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo | Is this reality or just a dream? |
| Verum kanavo….oo….oo…oo…oo… | Just a dream... oo... oo... oo... oo... |
| Female | |
| Pennin manasaatchi pesumpozhuthu | When a woman's conscience speaks, |
| Ennai nee kaana mudiyum | You will be able to see who I truly am. |
| Kannin theerthangal abhishegamaanaal | When the holy water of tears performs a ritual bath, |
| Unmai unai thedi adaiyum | The truth will seek you out and reach you. |
| Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo….. | Is this reality or just a dream? |
| Female | |
| Paalum silar kannil neeraga theriyum | To some eyes, even pure milk looks like mere water, |
| Kaanum kan seitha thavaru | That is a flaw in the eyes that look. |
| Paalum silar kannil neeraga theriyum | To some eyes, even pure milk looks like mere water, |
| Kaanum kan seitha thavaru | That is a flaw in the eyes that look. |
| Paarththidum paavangal yaethenum irunthaal | If there are any sins in how things are perceived, |
| Yaavum naan konda azhagu | All of it is the beauty I possess. |
| Female | |
| Oomai pennai | If a mute woman... |
| Pesa sonnaal uravo | ...is asked to speak, is that a relationship? |
| Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo | Is this reality or just a dream? |
| Ninaivo kanavo kanavo kanavo | Is it reality, a dream, a dream, a dream? |
ஆ....ஆ....ஆஹ்.....ஆ....ஆ....
ஆ....ஆ....ஆஹ்.....ஆ....ஆ....
Aa... aa... aah... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aah... aa... aa...
ஊமைப் பெண்ணைப்
பேசச் சொன்னால் உறவோ
இது நினைவோ வெறும் கனவோ
If a mute woman...
...is asked to speak, is that a relationship?
Is this reality or just a dream?
ஊமைப் பெண்ணைப்
பேசச் சொன்னால் உறவோ
இது நினைவோ வெறும் கனவோ
இது நினைவோ வெறும் கனவோ
வெறும் கனவோ ஒ...ஒ....ஒ...ஒ...
If a mute woman...
...is asked to speak, is that a relationship?
Is this reality or just a dream?
Is this reality or just a dream?
Just a dream... oo... oo... oo... oo...
கூண்டுக் கிளிப் போல வாழ நினைத்தேன்
தாங்கும் கையொன்று கண்டேன்
கூண்டுக் கிளிப் போல வாழ நினைத்தேன்
தாங்கும் கையொன்று கண்டேன்
I wished to live like a sheltered caged parrot,
And I found a supporting hand.
I wished to live like a sheltered caged parrot,
And I found a supporting hand.
மீண்டன சொர்க்கங்கள் என் வாழ்வில் என்று
வேண்டி வரம் கேட்டு நின்றேன்
இது நினைவோ வெறும் கனவோ.....
Believing that heavenly joys would enter my life,
I stood praying and asking for a boon.
Is this reality or just a dream?
ஊமைப் பெண்ணைப்
பேசச் சொன்னால் உறவோ
இது நினைவோ வெறும் கனவோ
இது நினைவோ வெறும் கனவோ
வெறும் கனவோ ஒ...ஒ....ஒ...ஒ...
If a mute woman...
...is asked to speak, is that a relationship?
Is this reality or just a dream?
Is this reality or just a dream?
Just a dream... oo... oo... oo... oo...
பெண்ணின் மனசாட்சி பேசும் பொழுது
என்னை நீ காண முடியும்
கண்ணின் தீர்த்தங்கள் அபிஷேகமானால்
உண்மை உனைத் தேடி அடையும்
இது நினைவோ வெறும் கனவோ....
When a woman's conscience speaks,
You will be able to see who I truly am.
When the holy water of tears performs a ritual bath,
The truth will seek you out and reach you.
Is this reality or just a dream?
பாலும் சிலர் கண்ணில் நீராக தெரியும்
காணும் கண் செய்த தவறு
பாலும் சிலர் கண்ணில் நீராக தெரியும்
காணும் கண் செய்த தவறு
பார்த்திடும் பாவங்கள் ஏதேனும் இருந்தால்
யாவும் நான் கொண்ட அழகு
To some eyes, even pure milk looks like mere water,
That is a flaw in the eyes that look.
To some eyes, even pure milk looks like mere water,
That is a flaw in the eyes that look.
If there are any sins in how things are perceived,
All of it is the beauty I possess.
ஊமைப் பெண்ணைப்
பேசச் சொன்னால் உறவோ
இது நினைவோ வெறும் கனவோ
நினைவோ கனவோ கனவோ கனவோ
If a mute woman...
...is asked to speak, is that a relationship?
Is this reality or just a dream?
Is it reality, a dream, a dream, a dream?
Aa….aa….aah…..aa….aa…
Aa... aa... aah... aa... aa...
Aa….aa….aah…..aa….aa…
Aa... aa... aah... aa... aa...
Oomai pennai
If a mute woman...
Pesa sonnaal uravo
...is asked to speak, is that a relationship?
Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo
Is this reality or just a dream?
Oomai pennai
If a mute woman...
Pesa sonnaal uravo
...is asked to speak, is that a relationship?
Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo
Is this reality or just a dream?
Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo
Is this reality or just a dream?
Verum kanavo….oo….oo…oo…oo…
Just a dream... oo... oo... oo... oo...
Koondu kili pola vaazha ninaiththaen
I wished to live like a sheltered caged parrot,
Thaangum kaiyondru kandaen
And I found a supporting hand.
Koondu kili pola vaazha ninaiththaen
I wished to live like a sheltered caged parrot,
Thaangum kaiyondru kandaen
And I found a supporting hand.
Mendana sorkkangal en vaazhvil endru
Believing that heavenly joys would enter my life,
Vendi varam kettu nindren
I stood praying and asking for a boon.
Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo….
Is this reality or just a dream?
Oomai pennai
If a mute woman...
Pesa sonnaal uravo
...is asked to speak, is that a relationship?
Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo
Is this reality or just a dream?
Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo
Is this reality or just a dream?
Verum kanavo….oo….oo…oo…oo…
Just a dream... oo... oo... oo... oo...
Pennin manasaatchi pesumpozhuthu
When a woman's conscience speaks,
Ennai nee kaana mudiyum
You will be able to see who I truly am.
Kannin theerthangal abhishegamaanaal
When the holy water of tears performs a ritual bath,
Unmai unai thedi adaiyum
The truth will seek you out and reach you.
Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo…..
Is this reality or just a dream?
Paalum silar kannil neeraga theriyum
To some eyes, even pure milk looks like mere water,
Kaanum kan seitha thavaru
That is a flaw in the eyes that look.
Paalum silar kannil neeraga theriyum
To some eyes, even pure milk looks like mere water,
Kaanum kan seitha thavaru
That is a flaw in the eyes that look.
Paarththidum paavangal yaethenum irunthaal
If there are any sins in how things are perceived,
Yaavum naan konda azhagu
All of it is the beauty I possess.
Oomai pennai
If a mute woman...
Pesa sonnaal uravo
...is asked to speak, is that a relationship?
Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo
Is this reality or just a dream?
Ninaivo kanavo kanavo kanavo
Is it reality, a dream, a dream, a dream?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In 'Oomai Pennai Pesa Sonnaal', the protagonist voices her profound distress and feelings of helplessness in a relationship plagued by misunderstanding and mistrust. Comparing herself to a mute woman forced to defend herself, she constantly questions whether her plight is a harsh reality or a bad dream. She recounts her simple wish for security and happiness—likening herself to a caged bird seeking protection—only to find her hopes shattered.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Koondu kili pola vaazha ninaiththaen”
Compares her desire for protection and a secure life to that of a parrot living safely inside a cage ('koondu kili pola').
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Kannin theerthangal abhishegamaanaal”
Metaphorically equates tears ('kannin neer') to sacred temple water ('theertham') used for ritual bathing ('abhishegam').
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Idhu ninaivo verum kanavo”
Repetition of the rhyming end sound '-avo' across 'uravo' and 'kanavo' creates a musical, melancholic refrain.
Metaphor / Allegory
“Paalum silar kannil neeraga theriyum”
Uses the metaphor of milk appearing as plain water to describe cynicism and how flawed perception distorts goodness.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Oomai Pennai Pesa Sonnaal' is a classic track from the 1973 film Alaigal, directed by C. V. Sridhar. Featuring music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics by Kannadasan, the song is renowned for S. Janaki's emotive vocal performance, which captures the delicate pathos and quiet resilience of a woman facing emotional trauma.
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