♫ Tanglish lyrics	↻ English translation
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan	Every woman is a Kannagi,
Ovvoru nadhiyum kaverithaan	Every river is a Kaveri.
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan	Every woman is a Kannagi,
Ovvoru nadhiyum kaverithaan	Every river is a Kaveri.
Samuthaayam jaadai seithaal	If society casts a mocking glance,
Kalaimagal kooda verum magalthaan	Even the Goddess of Learning becomes merely an ordinary woman.
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan	Every woman is a Kannagi,
Ovvoru nadhiyum kaverithaan	Every river is a Kaveri.
Samuthaayam jaadai seithaal	If society casts a mocking glance,
Kalaimagal kooda verum magalthaan	Even the Goddess of Learning becomes merely an ordinary woman.
Samuthaayam jaadai seithaal	If society casts a mocking glance,
Kalaimagal kooda verum magalthaan	Even the Goddess of Learning becomes merely an ordinary woman.
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan…	Every woman is a Kannagi...
Female
Panpaadu paarkkindra tamilnadadi	This is Tamil Nadu, which boasts of culture, my friend,
Pen paaduthaan ingu perumpaadadi	Yet the plight of women here is a constant struggle, my friend.
Thanmaanam vayittrodu poraaduthu	Self-respect battles against an empty stomach,
Sattangal pennodu vilaiyaaduthu	While laws play cruel games with women.
Idhu oru dharmam idhu oru needhi	Is this righteousness? Is this justice?
Intha idaththil naam oru jaathi	In a place like this, we all share the same destiny and plight.
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan	Every woman is a Kannagi,
Ovvoru nadhiyum kaverithaan	Every river is a Kaveri.
Samuthaayam jaadai seithaal	If society casts a mocking glance,
Kalaimagal kooda verum magalthaan	Even the Goddess of Learning becomes merely an ordinary woman.
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan…	Every woman is a Kannagi...
Female
Thaayaagi kuzhanthaikku paal thedinaen	As a mother, I searched for milk for my child,
Paal vaanga vazhiyindri panam thaedinaen	Lacking the means to buy milk, I searched for money.
Thaayaagi kuzhanthaikku paal thedinaen	As a mother, I searched for milk for my child,
Paal vaanga vazhiyindri panam thaedinaen	Lacking the means to buy milk, I searched for money.
Female
Panam thaedi adharkaga vilai pesinaen	In search of money, I bargained myself for a price,
Panam thaedi adharkaga vilai pesinaen	In search of money, I bargained myself for a price.
Bhagavaanum en meethu pazhi pesinaan	Even God cast blameworthy judgment upon me,
Bhagavaanum en meethu pazhi pesinaan	Even God cast blameworthy judgment upon me.
Vasathi irunthaal oruvanin thaaram	If wealthy, a woman is honored as a man's wife,
Varumaiyil veezhnthaal veliyin oram	If fallen into poverty, she is cast aside to the margins.
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan	Every woman is a Kannagi,
Ovvoru nadhiyum kaverithaan	Every river is a Kaveri.
Samuthaayam jaadai seithaal	If society casts a mocking glance,
Kalaimagal kooda verum magalthaan	Even the Goddess of Learning becomes merely an ordinary woman.
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan…	Every woman is a Kannagi...
Female
Pala saatchi illaamal vazhakkaethadi	How can a case stand without multiple witnesses, my friend?
Manasaatchi needhikku pothaathadi	One's own conscience is not deemed sufficient for human justice.
Pala saatchi illaamal vazhakkaethadi	How can a case stand without multiple witnesses, my friend?
Manasaatchi needhikku pothaathadi	One's own conscience is not deemed sufficient for human justice.
Female
Oru saatchi avanindri piragaaradi	Who else is the witness besides Him?
Avan saatchi court-kku vaaraathadi	Yet His witness will never arrive in a legal court!
Mandiyittazhuthaal mandalam sirikkum	If she kneels and weeps, the world will laugh,
Seeri ezhunthaal deivam nadungum	If she rises in fury, even the Divine will tremble!
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan	Every woman is a Kannagi,
Ovvoru nadhiyum kaverithaan	Every river is a Kaveri.
Samuthaayam jaadai seithaal	If society casts a mocking glance,
Kalaimagal kooda verum magalthaan	Even the Goddess of Learning becomes merely an ordinary woman.
Samuthaayam jaadai seithaal	If society casts a mocking glance,
Kalaimagal kooda verum magalthaan	Even the Goddess of Learning becomes merely an ordinary woman.
Female
Ovvoru pennum kannagithaan…	Every woman is a Kannagi...

Lyrics & meaning

Song interpretation

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Contrast / Antithesis

Trivia

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