Penn Ninaithal Kaaman
From Meenatchi Kungumam · 1978
- Lyricist
- Karaikudi Narayanan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Meenatchi Kungumam1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai | If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love. |
| Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai | If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies. |
| Antharangam en madiyil | Intimacy resides in my lap. |
| Senthoora kolam vizhigalil | Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes. |
| Antharangam en madiyil | Intimacy resides in my lap. |
| Munnae pinnae paaththu nada | Look ahead and behind before you step forward. |
| Female | |
| Koottu paravai paadiya paadal | The song sung by the bird in the cage, |
| Kettathai maranthathammaa | It forgot all that it had heard, oh my! |
| Poo naagam koottukkul pugunthathammaa | A flower serpent entered into the nest, oh my! |
| Kaattu paathaiyil vedanai kandu | Seeing the hunter on the forest path, |
| Kadhal kondathammaa | It fell in love, oh dear! |
| Anbodu kaavalil nindrathathammaa | It stood guard with affection, oh dear! |
| Kanavo kadhaiyo yaar saatchi solvathu | Is it a dream or a story, who will bear witness? |
| Kanavo kadhaiyo yaar saatchi solvathu | Is it a dream or a story, who will bear witness? |
| Oo….ooo….oo……oo…… | Oo....ooo....oo......oo...... |
| Female | |
| Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai | If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love. |
| Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai | If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies. |
| Female | |
| Ottai kappal onbathu naalumae | A leaking ship, for all nine days, |
| Payanam puriyavillai | Could not complete its voyage. |
| Megaththin idiyum kuraiyavillai | The thunder in the clouds did not abate. |
| Engo poguthu engo modhuthu | Where is it going, where is it crashing, |
| Edhuvum theriyavillai | Nothing is known at all. |
| Ammammaa idhuthaan enathu nilai | Oh my, this indeed is my plight! |
| Vidiyum vaanam adhu endru varumo | When will the sky finally dawn? |
| Vidiyum vaanam adhu endru varumo | When will the sky finally dawn? |
| Aa….aah….haa….aa…. | Aa....aah....haa....aa.... |
| Female | |
| Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai | If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love. |
| Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai | If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies. |
| Female | |
| Azhukku koodaiyil archanai poovaai | Like a holy offering flower kept inside a basket of dirt, |
| Aandavan padaththaanae | The Almighty drew this picture. |
| En vaazhvai thoondilil vaiththaanae | He hooked my life like bait on a line! |
| Pennil vanthavan pennai kedukkum | Born of a woman, yet destroying a woman, |
| Bedhamai seithaanae | He committed such foolish discrimination. |
| Kanneerai panneer endraanae | He called my tears rosewater. |
| Padaiththavan thavaru naan enna seivathu | It is the Creator's mistake, what can I do? |
| Padaiththavan thavaru naan enna seivathu | It is the Creator's mistake, what can I do? |
| Oo….ooo….oo……oo…… | Oo....ooo....oo......oo...... |
| Female | |
| Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai | If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love. |
| Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai | If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies. |
| Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai | If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love. |
| Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai | If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies. |
| Female | |
| Antharangam en madiyil | Intimacy resides in my lap. |
| Senthoora kolam vizhigalil | Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes. |
| Antharangam en madiyil | Intimacy resides in my lap. |
| Senthoora kolam vizhigalil | Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes. |
பெண் நினைத்தால் காமன் தேவதை
பெண் அணைத்தால் ராகமாலிகை
அந்தரங்கம் என் மடியில்
செந்தூரக் கோலம் விழிகளில்....
அந்தரங்கம் என் மடியில்
செந்தூரக் கோலம் விழிகளில்....
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
Intimacy resides in my lap.
Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes.
Intimacy resides in my lap.
Look ahead and behind before you step forward.
கூட்டுப் பறவை பாடிய பாடல்
கேட்டதை மறந்ததம்மா
பூ நாகம் கூட்டுக்குள் புகுந்ததம்மா
காட்டுப் பாதையில் வேடனைக் கண்டு
காதல் கொண்டதம்மா
அன்போடு காவலில் நின்றததம்மா
கனவோ கதையோ யார் சாட்சி சொல்வது
கனவோ கதையோ யார் சாட்சி சொல்வது
ஓ.....ஓஒ.....ஓ.....ஓ.......
The song sung by the bird in the cage,
It forgot all that it had heard, oh my!
A flower serpent entered into the nest, oh my!
Seeing the hunter on the forest path,
It fell in love, oh dear!
It stood guard with affection, oh dear!
Is it a dream or a story, who will bear witness?
Is it a dream or a story, who will bear witness?
Oo....ooo....oo......oo......
பெண் நினைத்தால் காமன் தேவதை
பெண் அணைத்தால் ராகமாலிகை
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
ஓட்டைக் கப்பல் ஒன்பது நாளுமே
பயணம் புரியவில்லை
மேகத்தின் இடியும் குறையவில்லை
எங்கோ போகுது எங்கோ மோதுது
எதுவும் தெரியவில்லை
அம்மம்மா இதுதான் எனது நிலை
விடியும் வானம் அது என்று வருமோ
விடியும் வானம் அது என்று வருமோ
ஆ....ஆஹ்.....ஹா....ஆ......
A leaking ship, for all nine days,
Could not complete its voyage.
The thunder in the clouds did not abate.
Where is it going, where is it crashing,
Nothing is known at all.
Oh my, this indeed is my plight!
When will the sky finally dawn?
When will the sky finally dawn?
Aa....aah....haa....aa....
பெண் நினைத்தால் காமன் தேவதை
பெண் அணைத்தால் ராகமாலிகை
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
அழுக்குக் கூடையில் அர்ச்சனை பூவாய்
ஆண்டவன் படைத்தானே
என் வாழ்வை தூண்டிலில் வைத்தானே
பெண்ணில் வந்தவன் பெண்ணை கெடுக்கும்
பேதமை செய்தானே
கண்ணீரை பன்னீர் என்றானே
படைத்தவன் தவறு நான் என்ன செய்வது
படைத்தவன் தவறு நான் என்ன செய்வது
ஓ.....ஓஒ.....ஓ.....ஓ.......
Like a holy offering flower kept inside a basket of dirt,
The Almighty drew this picture.
He hooked my life like bait on a line!
Born of a woman, yet destroying a woman,
He committed such foolish discrimination.
He called my tears rosewater.
It is the Creator's mistake, what can I do?
It is the Creator's mistake, what can I do?
Oo....ooo....oo......oo......
பெண் நினைத்தால் காமன் தேவதை
பெண் அணைத்தால் ராகமாலிகை
பெண் நினைத்தால் காமன் தேவதை
பெண் அணைத்தால் ராகமாலிகை
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
அந்தரங்கம் என் மடியில்
செந்தூரக் கோலம் விழிகளில்....
அந்தரங்கம் என் மடியில்
செந்தூரக் கோலம் விழிகளில்....
Intimacy resides in my lap.
Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes.
Intimacy resides in my lap.
Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes.
Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
Antharangam en madiyil
Intimacy resides in my lap.
Senthoora kolam vizhigalil
Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes.
Antharangam en madiyil
Intimacy resides in my lap.
Munnae pinnae paaththu nada
Look ahead and behind before you step forward.
Koottu paravai paadiya paadal
The song sung by the bird in the cage,
Kettathai maranthathammaa
It forgot all that it had heard, oh my!
Poo naagam koottukkul pugunthathammaa
A flower serpent entered into the nest, oh my!
Kaattu paathaiyil vedanai kandu
Seeing the hunter on the forest path,
Kadhal kondathammaa
It fell in love, oh dear!
Anbodu kaavalil nindrathathammaa
It stood guard with affection, oh dear!
Kanavo kadhaiyo yaar saatchi solvathu
Is it a dream or a story, who will bear witness?
Kanavo kadhaiyo yaar saatchi solvathu
Is it a dream or a story, who will bear witness?
Oo….ooo….oo……oo……
Oo....ooo....oo......oo......
Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
Ottai kappal onbathu naalumae
A leaking ship, for all nine days,
Payanam puriyavillai
Could not complete its voyage.
Megaththin idiyum kuraiyavillai
The thunder in the clouds did not abate.
Engo poguthu engo modhuthu
Where is it going, where is it crashing,
Edhuvum theriyavillai
Nothing is known at all.
Ammammaa idhuthaan enathu nilai
Oh my, this indeed is my plight!
Vidiyum vaanam adhu endru varumo
When will the sky finally dawn?
Vidiyum vaanam adhu endru varumo
When will the sky finally dawn?
Aa….aah….haa….aa….
Aa....aah....haa....aa....
Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
Azhukku koodaiyil archanai poovaai
Like a holy offering flower kept inside a basket of dirt,
Aandavan padaththaanae
The Almighty drew this picture.
En vaazhvai thoondilil vaiththaanae
He hooked my life like bait on a line!
Pennil vanthavan pennai kedukkum
Born of a woman, yet destroying a woman,
Bedhamai seithaanae
He committed such foolish discrimination.
Kanneerai panneer endraanae
He called my tears rosewater.
Padaiththavan thavaru naan enna seivathu
It is the Creator's mistake, what can I do?
Padaiththavan thavaru naan enna seivathu
It is the Creator's mistake, what can I do?
Oo….ooo….oo……oo……
Oo....ooo....oo......oo......
Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai
If a woman desires, she is the goddess of love.
Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai
If a woman embraces, she is a garland of melodies.
Antharangam en madiyil
Intimacy resides in my lap.
Senthoora kolam vizhigalil
Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes.
Antharangam en madiyil
Intimacy resides in my lap.
Senthoora kolam vizhigalil
Red vermilion designs bloom in my eyes.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Pen Ninaiththaal Kaaman Devathai from Meenatchi Kungumam (1978) expresses the contrast between the sublime, divine potential of a woman's love and the tragic reality of her suffering. The refrain celebrates womanhood as the goddess of love and a sweet musical garland, while the verses reveal deep sorrow and existential despair through vivid allegories of caged birds, leaky ships, and sacred flowers trapped in dirt baskets. Ultimately, the song laments the cruelty of fate and the hypocrisy of men who mistreat women, questioning why destiny subjects a pure soul to endless tears and tribulation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai”
Compares a woman's affectionate embrace to a garland of musical ragas (Raagamaaligai).
Allegory & Metaphor
“Ottai kappal onbathu naalumae payanam puriyavillai”
Uses the metaphor of a leaky ship ('Ottai kappal') unable to navigate a stormy sea to symbolise a life in turmoil and distress.
Simile / Contrast
“Azhukku koodaiyil archanai poovaai aandavan padaththaanae”
Compares a noble life trapped in miserable circumstances to a divine worship flower ('Archanai poo') kept inside a filthy basket ('Azhukku koodai').
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Pen ninaiththaal kaaman devathai / Pen anaiththaal raagamaaligai”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Pen' across opening lines to create rhythmic symmetry.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and rendered with emotional depth by S. Janaki, the song highlights lyricist Karaikudi Narayanan's talent for weaving deep philosophical grief into accessible cinematic poetry.
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