Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Ponnukku Thanga Manasu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pennullame Ponnanadhu

From Ponnukku Thanga Manasu · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Movie name
Ponnukku Thanga Manasu
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
12 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pennullame ponnanadhu
Perumaikkendrae uruvaanadhu
Adhu kondaadum nannaalidhu
Pennullame ponnanadhu
Pennaiyae ulagin
Kannena solli nalvazhi kaatuvom
Thannaiyae nambum thairiyam kondu
Penmaiyae pottruvom
Pennullame ponnanadhu
Panaththaalae ulagathai vilai pesadi
Panpaadu enborkku bathil kooradi
Panaththaalae ulagathai vilai pesadi
Panpaadu enborkku bathil kooradi
Naanam enbaar atcham enbaar namakkennadi
Adimai nilai andha kaalam
Pudumai nilai indha kolam
Adimai nilai andha kaalam
Pudumai nilai indha kolam
Kaalam maarum velaiyilae kolam maarumadi
Melai naattu uravinilae aaval meerudhadi
Vaa pudhu ulagaiyae naan uruvakkuvom
Ennaalum munneruvom
Paar ennum sollum ulagaiyae
Suttri paaradi poongodi
Bharathi sonna pennaiyum
Konjam minjinaal ennadi
Pennullame …Chorus :Lalalalalalaaa
Female :Ponnanadhu…Chorus :Lalalalalalaaa
Pennullame ponnanadhu
Perumaikkendrae uruvaanadhu
Chorus :Adhu kondaadum nannaalidhu
Verum kaiyil muzham poda koodadhadi
Veli vesham vazhvukku udhavaadhadi
Verum kaiyil muzham poda koodadhadi
Veli vesham vazhvukku udhavaadhadi
Nadai maaralaam idam maaralaam nilai maaralaama
Ullapadi ondrae ondru
Unadhu vizhi engae sollu
Ullapadi ondrae ondru
Unadhu vizhi engae sollu
Aasai valarum manadhinilae thaevai adhigamadi
Aadai kuraiyum pudhumaiyilae mogam koodumadi
Vaa anbu vazhiyai naan uruvakkuvom
Ennaalum munneruvom
Bharathi kanda pennidam nalla
Panbaiyum paaradi
Panivudan nenjil kanivudan vaazha
Sonnadhai keladi
A woman's heart is pure gold
Created to be a matter of pride
This is the happy day to celebrate it
A woman's heart is pure gold
Calling a woman
The very eye of the world, let us show the right path
With the courage of self-belief
Let us honour womanhood
A woman's heart is pure gold
Put a price on the world with money, girl!
Answer back to those who preach about tradition!
Put a price on the world with money, girl!
Answer back to those who preach about tradition!
They talk of shyness and fear—what does that matter to us, girl?
Living as slaves belongs to the past
Embracing modernity is today's style
Living as slaves belongs to the past
Embracing modernity is today's style
As times change, styles change too, girl
In adopting Western ways, our excitement knows no bounds!
Come, let us create a brand new world
And move forward for all time
Look around at the whole wide world
Look around you, my delicate flower
Even beyond the woman Bharati envisioned
What is wrong if we go a little further, girl?
A woman's heart... Chorus: La la la la la aa
Female: ...is pure gold... Chorus: La la la la la aa
A woman's heart is pure gold
Created to be a matter of pride
Chorus: This is the happy day to celebrate it
You should not make empty boasts with nothing in hand, girl
Putting on a false show will not help you in life, girl
You should not make empty boasts with nothing in hand, girl
Putting on a false show will not help you in life, girl
Your stride may change, your place may change, but should your character change?
Tell me truly just one thing
Tell me, where are your eyes wandering?
Tell me truly just one thing
Tell me, where are your eyes wandering?
When desires grow in the mind, wants only multiply, girl
When clothes shrink in the name of fashion, lust only rises, girl
Come, let us create a path of love
And move forward for all time
In the modern woman Bharati envisioned
Look at her noble character too, girl
To live with humility and a gentle heart
Listen to what he taught us, girl
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Pennullame Ponnanadhu' explores the evolving identity of women in modern society by contrasting superficial Westernization with traditional values and Subramania Bharati's ideal of 'Pudhumai Penn' (Modern Woman). The lyrics present two perspectives: one advocating for total freedom, modern fashion, and breaking away from old constraints, and the counter-perspective reminding that true progress lies in character, humility, and genuine love rather than mere external pretense.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Pennullame ponnanadhu / Perumaikkendrae uruvaanadhu”

Matching initial consonants 'Pe' in 'Pennullame' and 'Perumaikkendrae' creates rhythmic emphasis on womanhood.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Adimai nilai andha kaalam / Pudumai nilai indha kolam”

Matching second consonants 'di' and 'du' in 'Adimai' and 'Pudumai' highlights the contrast between servitude and modernism.

Allusion (Literary Reference)

“Bharathi sonna pennaiyum / Konjam minjinaal ennadi”

Refers directly to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's feminist concept of 'Pudhumai Penn' (The New Woman).

Did you know?

Trivia

Ponnukku Thanga Manasu (1973) marked an important early entry in Tamil cinema's debate on modern western influence vs traditional values. The music was composed by G. Devarajan, with lyrics authored by the legendary poet Kannadasan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Azhagana Vazhai Marathottam1963
Dharmam Thalai KaakkumFemale EmpowermentCelebratory
Thangalaan War2024
ThangalaanIdentityResilience
Chera Chola Pandiyar1970
Raman Ethanai RamanadiIdentityFreedom
Valiyor Silar Eliyor Thamai1966
Mani MagudamDignityRebellious
Akadanu Naanga Udai Potta1996
IndianIdentityFemale Empowerment
Naan Natta Thiruthap Poren1975
Mannavan VanthaanadiConfidentIdentity

From the same album

More songs from Ponnukku Thanga Manasu

View album
Thaen Sinthuthe Vanam1973
Ponnukku Thanga ManasuRomantic
Neram Iravu Neram1973
Ponnukku Thanga ManasuTender

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.