Penn Manam Or nilai
From Kanniyin Kathali · 1949
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. L. Vasanthakumari
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Kanniyin Kathali1949
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu | A woman's heart never stays constant in one state. |
| Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu | That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked. |
| Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu | A woman's heart never stays constant in one state. |
| Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu | That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked. |
| Female | |
| Paer perum nyaanigal devarkal moovarkal | Great acclaimed sages, celestial gods, and the holy trinity... |
| Paer perum nyaanigal devarkal moovarkal | Great acclaimed sages, celestial gods, and the holy trinity... |
| Yaavarum kaamanin maaykaiyil veezhnthanar | All of them fell into the illusionary spell of the god of love. |
| Yaavarum kaamanin maaykaiyil veezhnthanar | All of them fell into the illusionary spell of the god of love. |
| Female | |
| Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu | A woman's heart never stays constant in one state. |
| Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu | That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked. |
| Female | |
| Venmathu mandalam maevi nee irunthaalum | Even if you go and reside upon the sphere of the white moon, |
| Veera vairaakkiya viratham nee purinthaalum | Even if you practice vows of heroic detachment and austere discipline, |
| Kadalukkul aran katti kanni nee marainthaalum | Even if you hide yourself as a maiden inside a fortress deep beneath the sea, |
| Kadalukkul aran katti kanni nee marainthaalum | Even if you hide yourself as a maiden inside a fortress deep beneath the sea, |
| Udalukullae maaran udhayamaavathu thinnam | It is certain that Kamadeva will awaken inside your body. |
| Udalukullae maaran udhayamaavathu thinnam | It is certain that Kamadeva will awaken inside your body. |
| Female | |
| Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu | A woman's heart never stays constant in one state. |
| Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu | That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked. |
| Female | |
| Veenaaga pidivaatham seiyaathae summaa | Do not engage in useless stubbornness for no reason. |
| Vaanaalai viruthaavil kazhikkaathae ammaa | Do not waste your lifetime carelessly, my dear girl. |
| Yeagaantha vaazhkkaiyai ennaathae sadhamaa | Do not imagine that a life of lonely solitude is permanent. |
| Yeagaantha vaazhkkaiyai ennaathae sadhamaa | Do not imagine that a life of lonely solitude is permanent. |
| Iruthiyil avamaanam adaivaai nee thagumaa | In the end you will suffer humiliation; is this proper for you? |
| Female | |
| Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu | A woman's heart never stays constant in one state. |
| Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu | That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked. |
| Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu | A woman's heart never stays constant in one state. |
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லா.......ஆ.....து
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லா......ஆ.....து
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
பேர் பெரும் ஞானிகள் தேவர்கள் மூவர்கள்
பேர் பெரும் ஞானிகள் தேவர்கள் மூவர்கள்
யாவரும் காமனின் மாய்கையில் வீழ்ந்தனர்
யாவரும் காமனின் மாய்கையில் வீழ்ந்தனர்
Great acclaimed sages, celestial gods, and the holy trinity...
Great acclaimed sages, celestial gods, and the holy trinity...
All of them fell into the illusionary spell of the god of love.
All of them fell into the illusionary spell of the god of love.
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லா.......ஆ.....து
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
வெண்மதி மண்டலம் மேவி நீ இருந்தாலும்
வீர வைராக்கிய விரதம் நீ புரிந்தாலும்
கடலுக்குள் அரண் கட்டி கன்னி நீ மறைந்தாலும்
கடலுக்குள் அரண் கட்டி கன்னி நீ மறைந்தாலும்
உடலுக்குள்ளே மாறன் உதயமாவது திண்ணம்
உடலுக்குள்ளே மாறன் உதயமாவது திண்ணம்
Even if you go and reside upon the sphere of the white moon,
Even if you practice vows of heroic detachment and austere discipline,
Even if you hide yourself as a maiden inside a fortress deep beneath the sea,
Even if you hide yourself as a maiden inside a fortress deep beneath the sea,
It is certain that Kamadeva will awaken inside your body.
It is certain that Kamadeva will awaken inside your body.
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லா.......ஆ.....து
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
வீணாகப் பிடிவாதம் செய்யாதே சும்மா
வானாளை விருதாவில் கழிக்காதே அம்மா
ஏகாந்த வாழ்க்கையை எண்ணாதே சதமா
ஏகாந்த வாழ்க்கையை எண்ணாதே சதமா
இறுதியில் அவமானம் அடைவாய் நீ தகுமா
Do not engage in useless stubbornness for no reason.
Do not waste your lifetime carelessly, my dear girl.
Do not imagine that a life of lonely solitude is permanent.
Do not imagine that a life of lonely solitude is permanent.
In the end you will suffer humiliation; is this proper for you?
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லா.......ஆ.....து
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
Paer perum nyaanigal devarkal moovarkal
Great acclaimed sages, celestial gods, and the holy trinity...
Paer perum nyaanigal devarkal moovarkal
Great acclaimed sages, celestial gods, and the holy trinity...
Yaavarum kaamanin maaykaiyil veezhnthanar
All of them fell into the illusionary spell of the god of love.
Yaavarum kaamanin maaykaiyil veezhnthanar
All of them fell into the illusionary spell of the god of love.
Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
Venmathu mandalam maevi nee irunthaalum
Even if you go and reside upon the sphere of the white moon,
Veera vairaakkiya viratham nee purinthaalum
Even if you practice vows of heroic detachment and austere discipline,
Kadalukkul aran katti kanni nee marainthaalum
Even if you hide yourself as a maiden inside a fortress deep beneath the sea,
Kadalukkul aran katti kanni nee marainthaalum
Even if you hide yourself as a maiden inside a fortress deep beneath the sea,
Udalukullae maaran udhayamaavathu thinnam
It is certain that Kamadeva will awaken inside your body.
Udalukullae maaran udhayamaavathu thinnam
It is certain that Kamadeva will awaken inside your body.
Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
Veenaaga pidivaatham seiyaathae summaa
Do not engage in useless stubbornness for no reason.
Vaanaalai viruthaavil kazhikkaathae ammaa
Do not waste your lifetime carelessly, my dear girl.
Yeagaantha vaazhkkaiyai ennaathae sadhamaa
Do not imagine that a life of lonely solitude is permanent.
Yeagaantha vaazhkkaiyai ennaathae sadhamaa
Do not imagine that a life of lonely solitude is permanent.
Iruthiyil avamaanam adaivaai nee thagumaa
In the end you will suffer humiliation; is this proper for you?
Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
Antha manmatha paanam pollaa….aa….thu
That arrow of Kamadeva is dangerous and wicked.
Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu
A woman's heart never stays constant in one state.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song explores the inescapable force of love and desire, illustrating how human emotions cannot be suppressed by sheer stubbornness or ascetic detachment. It asserts that a woman's mind naturally yields to love's subtle power, comparing Cupid's arrows to an unyielding force of nature. Even renowned sages, celestial beings, and gods have surrendered to the spell of Kamadeva, showing that retreat to the moon or concealment in undersea fortresses cannot prevent romance from awakening inside the human heart. The lyrics urge a young woman not to waste her youth in rigid solitude or false pride, warning that denying natural emotional longing leads only to ultimate regret and humiliation. It serves as a romantic yet philosophical call to embrace love as an integral part of life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kadalukkul aran katti / Udalukullae maaran”
The second consonants rhyme across consecutive lines, such as 'da' in 'Kadalukkul' and 'Udalukullae'.
Moonaai (Alliteration)
“Veenaaga pidivaatham seiyaathae summaa / Vaanaalai viruthaavil kazhikkaathae ammaa”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds within a line, such as 'V' in 'Veenaaga' and 'Vaanaalai'.
Mythological Metaphor
“Antha manmatha paanam pollaa....aa....thu”
Using 'Manmatha paanam' (Cupid's arrow) and 'Maaran' as metaphors for the uncontrollable onset of love and passion inside the body.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kanniyin Kathali' (1949) holds historical significance as it marks the cinematic debut of Kaviarasu Kannadasan. The track 'Pen manam orr nilai nillaathu' is recognized as the very first song penned by Kannadasan for a feature film, launching his legendary career in Tamil cinema.
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