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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pen Maanam Kakkum

From Soolam · 1980

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. Janaki, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Soolam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
23 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Soolam soolam soolam soolam
Soolam soolam soolam soolam
Penn maanam kaakkum engal soolam
Chorus :Soolam
Female :Thanmaanamthaanae engal vaedham
Chorus :Vaedham
Penn maanam kaakkum engal soolam
Chorus :Soolam
Female :Thanmaanamthaanae engal vaedham
Chorus :Vaedham
Raaniyallavo ennai vellavo
Vittil ondru theeyai sudavo
Penn maanam kaakkum engal soolam
Chorus :Soolam
Female :Thanmaanamthaanae engal vaedham
Chorus :Vaedham
Kaalikkum thotram undu
Thottraththilum seettram undu
Chorus :Thaananaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Female :Thogaikkum maattram undu
Vaagai soodum aatral undu
Chorus :Thaananaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Soolam ondru moondrallavaa
Pennukku athu saandrallavaa
Veeram onnu
Chorus :Hae hae hae
Female :Maanam rendu
Chorus :Hae hae hae
Female :Nyaanam moonu
Chorus :Thanthana thanthana thanthana thanthana
Thanthananaanaa
Penn maanam kaakum engal soolam
Chorus :Soolam
Female :Thanmaanamthaanae engal vaedham
Chorus :Vaedham
……………..
Aadavar pengalukku
Soodum poovil mul irukum
Chorus :Thaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Female :Kanneeril moozhgum munnaae
Maadhar kulam vil edukkum
Chorus :Thaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Kanni pennin penmai thottaal
Thotta pinnae vittu vittaal
Vel eduppom
Chorus :Hae hae hae
Female :Kaal eduppom
Chorus :Hae hae hae
Female :Haei kai eduppom
Chorus :Thanthana thanthana thanthana thanthana
Thanthananaanaa
Penn maanam kaakum engal soolam
Chorus :Soolam
Female :Thanmaanamthaanae engal vaedham
Chorus :Vaedham
Vambulla kaattu vaengai
Koondukulla poottaporean
Chorus :Thaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Female :Vaengaiyin thooluriththu
Veettukullae maattaporaen
Chorus :Thaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Penn enbaval aalae alla
Tharmaththirkku vaeli alla
Soolam edu…
Chorus :Hae hae hae
Female :Aanaiyidu….
Chorus :Hae hae hae
Female :Aanaiyidu…haei
Chorus :Thanthana thanthana thanthana thanthana
Thanthananaanaa
Penn maanam kaakum engal soolam
Chorus :Soolam
Female :Thanmaanamthaanae engal vaedham
Chorus :Vaedham
Raaniyallavo ennai vellavo
Vittil ondru theeyai sudavo
Penn maanam kaakum engal soolam
Chorus :Soolam
Female :Thanmaanamthaanae engal vaedham
Chorus :Vaedham
Trident, trident, trident, trident!
Trident, trident, trident, trident!
Our trident protects a woman's honour!
Chorus: Trident!
Female: Self-respect is our sacred scripture!
Chorus: Scripture!
Our trident protects a woman's honour!
Chorus: Trident!
Female: Self-respect is our sacred scripture!
Chorus: Scripture!
Am I not a queen? Who can conquer me?
Can a moth ever burn the flame?
Our trident protects a woman's honour!
Chorus: Trident!
Female: Self-respect is our sacred scripture!
Chorus: Scripture!
Even Kali has a form,
and within that form burns fierce rage!
Chorus: Thaananaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Female: Even a gentle woman can transform,
she has the power to claim victory!
Chorus: Thaananaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
The trident is one, but has three prongs, doesn't it?
Isn't that proof of a woman's strength?
Courage is one!
Chorus: Hey hey hey!
Female: Honour is two!
Chorus: Hey hey hey!
Female: Wisdom is three!
Chorus: Thanthana thanthana thanthana thanthana
Thanthananaanaa
Our trident protects a woman's honour!
Chorus: Trident!
Female: Self-respect is our sacred scripture!
Chorus: Scripture!
...
In the flowers that men
place in a woman's hair, there are thorns!
Chorus: Thaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Female: Before drowning in tears,
women will raise their bows!
Chorus: Thaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
If anyone violates a maiden's dignity,
and abandons her after touching her,
we will take up spears!
Chorus: Hey hey hey!
Female: We will sever his legs!
Chorus: Hey hey hey!
Female: Hey, we will cut off his hands!
Chorus: Thanthana thanthana thanthana thanthana
Thanthananaanaa
Our trident protects a woman's honour!
Chorus: Trident!
Female: Self-respect is our sacred scripture!
Chorus: Scripture!
That troublesome wild beast,
I will lock it inside a cage!
Chorus: Thaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
Female: I will skin that beast
and hang its hide inside my home!
Chorus: Thaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaanaa
A woman is not to be underestimated,
is she not the shield of justice?
Pick up the trident!
Chorus: Hey hey hey!
Female: Give the command!
Chorus: Hey hey hey!
Female: Give the command, hey!
Chorus: Thanthana thanthana thanthana thanthana
Thanthananaanaa
Our trident protects a woman's honour!
Chorus: Trident!
Female: Self-respect is our sacred scripture!
Chorus: Scripture!
Am I not a queen? Who can conquer me?
Can a moth ever burn the flame?
Our trident protects a woman's honour!
Chorus: Trident!
Female: Self-respect is our sacred scripture!
Chorus: Scripture!
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a fierce feminist anthem centered on women's dignity, self-respect, and righteous anger. The trident (Soolam) serves as the primary metaphor representing the three pillar attributes of an empowered woman: valor (veeram), self-respect (maanam), and wisdom (nyaanam). The lyrics challenge patriarchal dominance and warn that women will no longer suffer in silence or weep; instead, they will channel Goddess Kali's fury to rise against deception and injustice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Thanmaanamthaanae engal vaedham

Equating self-respect (Thanmaanam) directly to the sacred Vedas (Vaedham), establishing self-dignity as divine law.

Rhetorical Question & Analogy

Vittil ondru theeyai sudavo

Asks if a moth can burn a fire, highlighting the absurdity and impossibility of an oppressor trying to conquer a fiery, self-aware woman.

Symbolism

Soolam ondru moondrallavaa

The three prongs of the trident are used symbolically to represent three virtues of women: Veeram (Valor), Maanam (Honor/Self-respect), and Nyaanam (Wisdom).

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Veeram onnu / Maanam rendu / Nyaanam moonu

Repetition of initial consonants/vowel sounds in words like 'Veeram', 'Maanam', and 'Nyaanam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the renowned Tamil lyricist Pulamaipithan for the 1980 film 'Soolam', the song uses the weapon associated with Goddess Shakti/Kali as an emblem of rural female empowerment and resistance against exploitation.

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