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Lyrics & meaning

Penne Maanthartham (Penmai Endra)

From Motor Sundaram Pillai · 1966

Lyricist
Kothamangalam Subbu
Singer
Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Motor Sundaram Pillai1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Penney maantharthamOh woman, for human beings,
Perumaikku kaarnamaamYou are the very reason for honor and pride.
Penne thiyaagaththin per uruvamWoman is the grand embodiment of sacrifice,
Penne thiyaagaththin per uruvamWoman is the grand embodiment of sacrifice.
Male
Penmai endra piravi indrelIf the birth called womanhood did not exist,
Perumai yaethu paarileWhere would greatness be in this world?
Unamai yaethu uzhaippu yaethuWhere would truth be, where would hard work be,
Uravu yaethu oorile uravu yaethu oorileWhere would relationships be in society? Where would relationships be in society?
Male
Man padaiththu vin padaiththuAfter creating the earth and creating the sky,
Malar padaiththu saliththa pinAnd after growing weary of creating flowers,
Pen padaiththu thanniththaaneBy creating woman, He exalted...
Uyarththi kondaan paramporul...His own self, the Supreme Almighty.
Pen padaiththu thanniththaaneBy creating woman, He exalted...
Uyarththi kondaan paramporul...His own self, the Supreme Almighty.
Male
Petra thaayin perumai sollaTo extol the glory of the mother who gave birth,
Katra viththai pothumaaIs all the learned knowledge and art ever enough?
Pesum deivam annaiyai polLike the mother who is a living, speaking deity,
Periya deivam yaeahammaIs there any greater god, oh dear?
Periya deivam yaeahammaIs there any greater god, oh dear?
Male
Penmai endra piravi indrelIf the birth called womanhood did not exist,
Perumai yaethu paarileWhere would greatness be in this world?
Unamai yaethu uzhaippu yaethuWhere would truth be, where would hard work be,
Uravu yaethu oorile uravu yaethu oorileWhere would relationships be in society? Where would relationships be in society?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song pays a rich tribute to womanhood and motherhood, hailing women as the fundamental pillar of human civilization, truth, dedication, and familial love. The lyricist poetically describes that after God created nature—the earth, sky, and flowers—He created woman as His ultimate masterpiece, elevating His own divine status through her creation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Petra thaayin perumai solla / Katra viththai pothumaa

The second consonant 'tra' rhymes between 'Petra' and 'Katra', creating melodic continuity.

Moonaal / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Man padaiththu vin padaiththu / Malar padaiththu saliththa pin

Repetition of the initial 'Ma' sound in 'Man', 'Malar', and 'vin' within the line sequence creates poetic rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Pesum deivam annaiyai pol

Describing the mother as a 'speaking deity' (Pesum deivam) metaphorically elevates a mother's status to that of God.

Rhetorical Question

Perumai yaethu paarile / Katra viththai pothumaa

Using questions like 'where would greatness be?' and 'is all learned wisdom enough?' to emphasize that womanhood's value is beyond measure.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the distinguished writer and lyricist Kothamangalam Subbu, this song appears in the 1966 Sivaji Ganesan starrer 'Motor Sundaram Pillai'. The film's music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.

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