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Lyrics & meaning

Oru Pechukku Sonnaen

From Anbukkor Annan · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Anbukkor Annan1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Adiyaei oru pechchukku sonnaen idhuHey girl, I just said it casually in conversation,
Pen buththithaanaeIsn't this just a woman's typical mindset?
Oru naayagan munnae naam naayagithaanaeBefore a husband, we are indeed the leading ladies.
Oru pechchukku sonnaen idhuI just said it casually in conversation,
Pen buththithaanaeIsn't this just a woman's typical mindset?
Oru naayagan munnae naam naayagithaanaeBefore a husband, we are indeed the leading ladies.
Female
Thangai enbathil sontha urimai undadiThere is a natural right and affection in being a younger sister, my dear.
Thangai enbathil sontha urimai undadiThere is a natural right and affection in being a younger sister, my dear.
Idhil thalaivi ennum payarilWhat pride is there in being called...
Enna perumai undadi...the mistress of the house here, my dear?
Idhail thalaivi ennum peyarilWhat pride is there in being called...
Enna perumai undadi...the mistress of the house here, my dear?
Female
Adiyaei oru pechchukku sonnaen idhuHey girl, I just said it casually in conversation,
Pen buththithaanaeIsn't this just a woman's typical mindset?
Oru aadavan vanthaal naam adimaigalthaanaeOnce a man enters our life, aren't we just made into subordinates?
Female
Thaayaarum unnai pol thaniyaaga vaazhnthaalIf our mother had also lived alone like you,
Nee yaethu un annan uravaethadiWhere would you be, and where would this bond with your brother be, my dear?
Maaraathu uravendru annaavai paadiIf you just keep singing about your brother as an unchanging bond,
Vaazhnthaalae kalyaana ninaivedhadiAnd live like that, where is the thought of marriage?
Female
Pentaatti aanaalthaan kondaattamaeOnly when you become a wife does life become a celebration!
Pala penn vaazhvil kalyaanam thindaattamaeIn many women's lives, marriage turns into a constant struggle.
Adiyaei oru pechchukku sonnaen idhuHey girl, I just said it casually in conversation,
Pen buththithaanaeIsn't this just a woman's typical mindset?
Oru aadavan vanthaal naam adimaigalthaanaeOnce a man enters our life, aren't we just made into subordinates?
Female
Inbangal saripaathi thunbangal paathiWith half joy and half sorrow,
Kondaadum ilvaazhvu kulavaazhvadiDomestic life celebrated together sustains the family lineage, my dear.
Inbangal saripaathi thunbangal paathiWith half joy and half sorrow,
Kondaadum ilvaazhvu kulavaazhvadiDomestic life celebrated together sustains the family lineage, my dear.
Female
Thallaadum kaalaththil arivaayadiYou will realize this in your old and frail age, my dear.
Adhil thaai veetu thunai pola thunai yaedhadiAt that time, what support can compare to the backing of a husband's home?
Female
Adiyaei oru pechchukku sonnaen idhuHey girl, I just said it casually in conversation,
Pen buththithaanaeIsn't this just a woman's typical mindset?
Oru naayagan munnae naam naayagithaanaeBefore a husband, we are indeed the leading ladies.
Female
Aadhaaram neeyendru aththaanin maarbilResting on your husband's chest saying 'You are my foundation',
Neeraadum nilai pola nilai yaedhadiWhat state of happiness can match that bliss, my dear?
Neeraada naam sendru poraada nernthaalIf we go seeking bliss and end up having to struggle and fight,
Vearodum kanneeril mudivedhadiWhat is the ultimate result except deep tearful sorrow?
Female
Kanneerum pen sollum kadhaithaanadiTears are also a familiar story told by women, my dear.
Adhu ennaalum en vaazhvil kidaiyaathadiThat will never happen in my life!
Adhu ennaalum en vaazhvil kidaiyaathadiThat will never happen in my life!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a lively and playful musical debate between two women regarding marriage, independence, and womanhood. One singer (P. Susheela) advocates for the traditional path of marriage, explaining that true fulfillment comes from building a home with a husband, sharing life's equal parts of joy and sorrow, and establishing a family lineage. She gently advises her companion to look beyond her devotion to her brother and embrace matrimony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Assonance / Second Letter Rhyming)

Pentaatti aanaalthaan kondaattamae / Pala penn vaazhvil kalyaanam thindaattamae

The end words 'kondaattamae' and 'thindaattamae' exhibit Ethugai-based internal rhyming with the second letter consonant harmony ('ndaa').

Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)

Inbangal saripaathi thunbangal paathi

Kannadasan juxtaposes contrasting emotions—'Inbangal' (joys) and 'Thunbangal' (sorrows)—to highlight the balanced dual nature of married life.

Iyaipu (End Rhyming)

Pentaatti aanaalthaan kondaattamae / Pala penn vaazhvil kalyaanam thindaattamae

Both lines end with the identical rhythmic suffix sound '-attamae', creating a pleasant musical cadence.

Monai (Initial Rhyming / Alliteration)

Neeraada naam sendru poraada nernthaal

The repetition of 'N' sounds ('Neeraada', 'nernthaal') creates initial alliteration across the phrase.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1971 movie 'Anbukkor Annan' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), Jayalalithaa, and Vennira Aadai Nirmala. The song is a rare 'patti-mandram' (debate) style duet between two legendary female playback singers, P. Susheela and L. R. Eswari. M. S. Viswanathan purposefully designed two distinct musical moods in the song—Susheela's sweet, traditional melody representing domestic warmth and L. R. Eswari's sharp, energetic delivery representing modern female independence. Lyricist Kannadasan effortlessly captured deep socio-cultural perspectives on marriage versus sisterhood in accessible, conversational Tamil.

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