Pengal Mattum
From Devaki (1951) · 1951
- Lyricist
- Ka. Mu. Sheriff
- Singer
- Jikki
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Devaki (1951)1951
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Muzhu thundu idai vesti kudumiyodu | Those who lived with a waist dhoti, full towel, and a traditional hair tuft, |
| Muga savaram Illaathu vazhnthavargal | Living without even shaving their faces, |
| Azhagaaga full shoot-u pottukkondu | Are now stylishly wearing full suits, |
| American grap thalaiyargal pogindeegal | And walking around with American crop haircuts! |
| Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa… | Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa… |
| Female | |
| Pengal mattum | Is there a law saying only women |
| Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo | Should never change? |
| Pengal mattum | Is there a law saying only women |
| Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo | Should never change? |
| Female | |
| Kaalai oottum kaiyaalae | With the very hands that fed the bulls, |
| Car-yaiyum ootti thurai polae | Now driving cars like wealthy lords, |
| Kaalai oottum kaiyaalae | With the very hands that fed the bulls, |
| Car-yaiyum ootti thurai polae | Now driving cars like wealthy lords, |
| Vaayinil cigerate pugaiyodae | With cigarette smoke in your mouth, |
| Vaazhum aiyaave | O respected gentleman who lives so! |
| Vaayinil cigerate pugaiyodae | With cigarette smoke in your mouth, |
| Vaazhum aiyaave | O respected gentleman who lives so! |
| Female | |
| Pengal mattum | Is there a law saying only women |
| Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo | Should never change? |
| Female | |
| Koozh kudiththa kaalamellaam | The days of drinking simple porridge are all past, |
| Maari ippo kudikkiraarkal | Now changed, what are they drinking? |
| Enna Bed cofee | What else? Bed coffee! |
| Yaer uzhuthu payir seiyyum thozhilai vittu | Leaving behind the profession of plowing fields and farming, |
| Engineer doctor-raaga maarugindraar…aa…aa… | Men are turning into engineers and doctors... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Paarinil aanai pettraethaan | In this world, isn't it a woman who gives birth to man, |
| Paangudan parppathu penn andro | And rears him with grace and devotion? |
| Paarinil aanai pettraethaan | In this world, isn't it a woman who gives birth to man, |
| Paangudan parppathu penn andro | And rears him with grace and devotion? |
| Aaangalin vaazhvil munnettram | In these modern times when we witness |
| Kaanum innaalil… | Progress in the lives of men... |
| Female | |
| Pengal mattum | Is there a law saying only women |
| Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo | Should never change? |
| Pengal mattum | Is there a law saying only women |
| Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo | Should never change? |
முழுத் துண்டு இடை வேஷ்டி குடுமியோடு
முக சவரம் இல்லாது வாழ்ந்தவர்கள்
அழகாக புல்ஷூட்டு போட்டுக் கொண்டு
அமெரிக்கன் கிராப் தலையர்கள் போகின்றீகள்
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ......ஆ.....
Those who lived with a waist dhoti, full towel, and a traditional hair tuft,
Living without even shaving their faces,
Are now stylishly wearing full suits,
And walking around with American crop haircuts!
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
பெண்கள் மட்டும்
மாறக்கூடாதென்றே சட்டம் உண்டோ
பெண்கள் மட்டும்
மாறக்கூடாதென்றே சட்டம் உண்டோ
Is there a law saying only women
Should never change?
Is there a law saying only women
Should never change?
காளை ஓட்டும் கையாலே
காரையும் ஓட்டி துரை போலே
காளை ஓட்டும் கையாலே
காரையும் ஓட்டி துரை போலே
வாயினில் சிகரெட் புகையோடே
வாழும் அய்யாவே.....
வாயினில் சிகரெட் புகையோடே
வாழும் அய்யாவே.....
With the very hands that fed the bulls,
Now driving cars like wealthy lords,
With the very hands that fed the bulls,
Now driving cars like wealthy lords,
With cigarette smoke in your mouth,
O respected gentleman who lives so!
With cigarette smoke in your mouth,
O respected gentleman who lives so!
பெண்கள் மட்டும்
மாறக்கூடாதென்றே சட்டம் உண்டோ
Is there a law saying only women
Should never change?
கூழ் குடித்த காலமெல்லாம்
மாறி இப்போ குடிக்கிறார்கள்
என்ன...... பெட்...காபி...
ஏர் உழுது பயிர் செய்யும் தொழிலை விட்டு
இன்ஜீனியர் டாக்டராக மாறுகின்றார் ஆ..ஆஆ..
The days of drinking simple porridge are all past,
Now changed, what are they drinking?
What else? Bed coffee!
Leaving behind the profession of plowing fields and farming,
Men are turning into engineers and doctors... aa... aa...
பாரினில் ஆணை பெற்றேதான்
பாங்குடன் பார்ப்பது பெண் அன்றோ
பாரினில் ஆணை பெற்றேதான்
பாங்குடன் பார்ப்பது பெண் அன்றோ
ஆண்களின் வாழ்வில் முன்னேற்றம்
காணும் இந்நாளில்........
ஆண்களின் வாழ்வில் முன்னேற்றம்
காணும் இந்நாளில்........
In this world, isn't it a woman who gives birth to man,
And rears him with grace and devotion?
In this world, isn't it a woman who gives birth to man,
And rears him with grace and devotion?
In these modern times when we witness
Progress in the lives of men...
பெண்கள் மட்டும்
மாறக்கூடாதென்றே சட்டம் உண்டோ
பெண்கள் மட்டும்
மாறக்கூடாதென்றே சட்டம் உண்டோ
Is there a law saying only women
Should never change?
Is there a law saying only women
Should never change?
Muzhu thundu idai vesti kudumiyodu
Those who lived with a waist dhoti, full towel, and a traditional hair tuft,
Muga savaram Illaathu vazhnthavargal
Living without even shaving their faces,
Azhagaaga full shoot-u pottukkondu
Are now stylishly wearing full suits,
American grap thalaiyargal pogindeegal
And walking around with American crop haircuts!
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Pengal mattum
Is there a law saying only women
Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo
Should never change?
Pengal mattum
Is there a law saying only women
Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo
Should never change?
Kaalai oottum kaiyaalae
With the very hands that fed the bulls,
Car-yaiyum ootti thurai polae
Now driving cars like wealthy lords,
Kaalai oottum kaiyaalae
With the very hands that fed the bulls,
Car-yaiyum ootti thurai polae
Now driving cars like wealthy lords,
Vaayinil cigerate pugaiyodae
With cigarette smoke in your mouth,
Vaazhum aiyaave
O respected gentleman who lives so!
Vaayinil cigerate pugaiyodae
With cigarette smoke in your mouth,
Vaazhum aiyaave
O respected gentleman who lives so!
Pengal mattum
Is there a law saying only women
Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo
Should never change?
Koozh kudiththa kaalamellaam
The days of drinking simple porridge are all past,
Maari ippo kudikkiraarkal
Now changed, what are they drinking?
Enna Bed cofee
What else? Bed coffee!
Yaer uzhuthu payir seiyyum thozhilai vittu
Leaving behind the profession of plowing fields and farming,
Engineer doctor-raaga maarugindraar…aa…aa…
Men are turning into engineers and doctors... aa... aa...
Paarinil aanai pettraethaan
In this world, isn't it a woman who gives birth to man,
Paangudan parppathu penn andro
And rears him with grace and devotion?
Paarinil aanai pettraethaan
In this world, isn't it a woman who gives birth to man,
Paangudan parppathu penn andro
And rears him with grace and devotion?
Aaangalin vaazhvil munnettram
In these modern times when we witness
Kaanum innaalil…
Progress in the lives of men...
Pengal mattum
Is there a law saying only women
Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo
Should never change?
Pengal mattum
Is there a law saying only women
Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo
Should never change?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This progressive and satirical track from the 1951 film 'Devaki' questions societal double standards regarding modern westernization and equal progress. Sung with energetic conviction by Jikki, the song highlights how men in Tamil society rapidly adopted modern western clothes (suits, crop haircuts), western habits (drinking bed coffee, smoking cigarettes, driving cars), and modern professions (engineering, medicine) while expecting women to remain traditional.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (வினா அணி)
“Pengal mattum / Maarakoodathendrae sattam undo”
The refrain repeatedly asks if there is an explicit law forbidding women alone from progressing or changing, driving home the social critique.
Antithesis / Contrast (முரண் அணி)
“Muzhu thundu idai vesti kudumiyodu... / Azhagaaga full shoot-u pottukkondu”
Contrasts traditional rustic lifestyle (tuft hair, dhotis, farming, porridge) with modern westernized lifestyle (suits, American crop haircuts, driving cars, bed coffee).
Satire / Irony (எள்ளல் நகை)
“Vaayinil cigerate pugaiyodae / Vaazhum aiyaave”
Uses playful satire to expose how men embrace modern eccentricities like smoking and bed coffee while restricting female empowerment.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Devaki' (1951) was produced by Jupiter Pictures and starred V. N. Janaki, S. N. Lakshmi, and M. G. Ramachandran in a supporting role. Lyricist Ka. Mu. Sheriff wrote this track as a witty commentary on social reform and women's rights during the post-independence early 1950s era in South India.
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