Penn Manam
From Kanniyin Kadhali · 1949
- Lyricist
- Boomi Balakadas
- Singer
- K. Sarangapani
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Kanniyin Kadhali1949
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu | A woman's mind never remains steadfast. |
| Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu | That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable. |
| Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu | A woman's mind never remains steadfast. |
| Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu | That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable. |
| Perr perum gnyaanigal devargal moovargal | Great renowned sages, the celestial gods, and the divine trinity, |
| Perr perum gnyaanigal devargal moovargal | Great renowned sages, the celestial gods, and the divine trinity, |
| Yaavarum kaamanin maaigaiyil veezhndhanar | Everyone succumbed to the enchantments of the God of Love. |
| Yaavarum kaamanin maaigaiyil veezhndhanar | Everyone succumbed to the enchantments of the God of Love. |
| Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu | A woman's mind never remains steadfast. |
| Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu | That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable. |
| Female | |
| Venmadhi mandalam maevi nee irundhaalum | Even if you go and live in the realm of the white moon, |
| Veera vairaagiya viradham nee purindhaalum | Even if you practice strict vows of courageous renunciation, |
| Kadalukkul arankatti kanni nee marainthaalum | Even if you build a fortress inside the ocean and hide yourself as a maiden, |
| Kadalukkul arankatti kanni nee marainthaalum | Even if you build a fortress inside the ocean and hide yourself as a maiden, |
| Udalukkullae maaran udhayam aavadhu thinnam | It is certain that desire will awaken within the body. |
| Pennae udalukkullae maaran udhayam aavadhu thinnam | O woman, it is certain that desire will awaken within the body. |
| Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu | A woman's mind never remains steadfast. |
| Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu | That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable. |
| Female | |
| Veeenaaga pidivaadham seiyaadhae summa | Do not remain obstinate in vain, |
| Vaanaalai viruthaavil kazhikadhae amma | Do not waste your lifetime fruitlessly, my dear, |
| Yegaandha vaazhkkaiyai ennaadhae sadhama | Do not consider a life of solitude to be permanent or true, |
| Yegaandha vaazhkkaiyai ennaadhae sadhama | Do not consider a life of solitude to be permanent or true, |
| Irudhiyil avamaanam adaivaai nee thagumaa | In the end, you will suffer humiliation; is that appropriate? |
| Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu | A woman's mind never remains steadfast. |
| Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu | That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable. |
| Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu | A woman's mind never remains steadfast. |
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லாது
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லாது
பேர் பெரும் ஞானிகள் தேவர்கள் மூவர்கள்
பேர் பெரும் ஞானிகள் தேவர்கள் மூவர்கள்
யாவரும் காமனின் மாய்கையில் வீழ்ந்தனர்
யாவரும் காமனின் மாய்கையில் வீழ்ந்தனர்
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லாது
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
Great renowned sages, the celestial gods, and the divine trinity,
Great renowned sages, the celestial gods, and the divine trinity,
Everyone succumbed to the enchantments of the God of Love.
Everyone succumbed to the enchantments of the God of Love.
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
வெண்மதி மண்டலம் மேவி நீ இருந்தாலும்
வீர வைராக்கிய விரதம் நீ புரிந்தாலும்
கடலுக்குள் அரண் கட்டி கன்னி நீ மறைந்தாலும்
கடலுக்குள் அரண் கட்டி கன்னி நீ மறைந்தாலும்
உடலுக்குள்ளே மாரன் உதயமாவது திண்ணம்
பெண்னே உடலுக்குள்ளே மாரன் உதயமாவது திண்ணம்
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லாது
Even if you go and live in the realm of the white moon,
Even if you practice strict vows of courageous renunciation,
Even if you build a fortress inside the ocean and hide yourself as a maiden,
Even if you build a fortress inside the ocean and hide yourself as a maiden,
It is certain that desire will awaken within the body.
O woman, it is certain that desire will awaken within the body.
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
வீணாகப் பிடிவாதம் செய்யாதே சும்மா
வானாளை விருதாவில் கழிக்காதே அம்மா
ஏகாந்த வாழ்க்கையை எண்ணாதே சதமா
ஏகாந்த வாழ்க்கையை எண்ணாதே சதமா
இறுதியில் அவமானம் அடைவாய் நீ தகுமா
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
அந்த மன்மத பாணம் பொல்லாது
பெண் மனம் ஓர் நிலை நில்லாது
Do not remain obstinate in vain,
Do not waste your lifetime fruitlessly, my dear,
Do not consider a life of solitude to be permanent or true,
Do not consider a life of solitude to be permanent or true,
In the end, you will suffer humiliation; is that appropriate?
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
Perr perum gnyaanigal devargal moovargal
Great renowned sages, the celestial gods, and the divine trinity,
Perr perum gnyaanigal devargal moovargal
Great renowned sages, the celestial gods, and the divine trinity,
Yaavarum kaamanin maaigaiyil veezhndhanar
Everyone succumbed to the enchantments of the God of Love.
Yaavarum kaamanin maaigaiyil veezhndhanar
Everyone succumbed to the enchantments of the God of Love.
Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
Venmadhi mandalam maevi nee irundhaalum
Even if you go and live in the realm of the white moon,
Veera vairaagiya viradham nee purindhaalum
Even if you practice strict vows of courageous renunciation,
Kadalukkul arankatti kanni nee marainthaalum
Even if you build a fortress inside the ocean and hide yourself as a maiden,
Kadalukkul arankatti kanni nee marainthaalum
Even if you build a fortress inside the ocean and hide yourself as a maiden,
Udalukkullae maaran udhayam aavadhu thinnam
It is certain that desire will awaken within the body.
Pennae udalukkullae maaran udhayam aavadhu thinnam
O woman, it is certain that desire will awaken within the body.
Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
Veeenaaga pidivaadham seiyaadhae summa
Do not remain obstinate in vain,
Vaanaalai viruthaavil kazhikadhae amma
Do not waste your lifetime fruitlessly, my dear,
Yegaandha vaazhkkaiyai ennaadhae sadhama
Do not consider a life of solitude to be permanent or true,
Yegaandha vaazhkkaiyai ennaadhae sadhama
Do not consider a life of solitude to be permanent or true,
Irudhiyil avamaanam adaivaai nee thagumaa
In the end, you will suffer humiliation; is that appropriate?
Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
Andha manmadha baanam pollaadhu
That arrow of Cupid is cruel and formidable.
Penn manam orr nilai nillaadhu
A woman's mind never remains steadfast.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song reflects on the overwhelming and inescapable force of love and desire, symbolized by Manmadhan (Cupid). It asserts that a woman's heart is naturally inclined toward affection and cannot remain indefinitely detached or rigid. The lyrics emphasize that even mighty ascetics, devas, and gods have surrendered to the spell of love. The song cautions a young woman against retreating into extreme asceticism or stubborn isolation. Even if one tries to hide on the moon or beneath the sea, love will inevitably blossom within. It encourages embracing natural emotional bonds rather than wasting one's life in vain solitude.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Perr perum gnyaanigal devargal moovargal”
Repetition of the initial letter 'P' in 'Perr perum' creates a rhythmic cadence in the line.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Venmadhi mandalam maevi nee irundhaalum / Kadalukkul arankatti kanni nee marainthaalum”
The lyrics use extreme scenarios—living on the moon or building an underwater fortress—to emphasize that no place is far enough to escape romantic feelings.
Metaphor
“Udalukkullae maaran udhayam aavadhu thinnam”
'Maaran udhayam' (the rising of Kama/Cupid) is used as a metaphor for the awakening of romantic desire within human consciousness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kanniyin Kadhali (1949), directed by K. Ramnoth and A. Kashturi Subba Rao, was an adaptation of William Shakespeare's famous play 'Twelfth Night'. It was one of the early Tamil films to adapt Western literary classics to the local cinematic landscape, produced under the Jupiter Pictures banner.
Keep listening
More from Kanniyin Kadhali
Kanniyin Kadhali
Kanniyin Kadhali
Kanniyin Kadhali
Kanniyin Kadhali
Kanniyin Kadhali
Kanniyin Kadhali