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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pesu Maname Pesu

From Pudhiya Vazhkai · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Pudhiya Vazhkai
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
20 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pesu manamae pesu…
Paedhai manamae pesu…
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Pesu manamae pesu…
Paedhai manamae pesu…
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Karai yeri aadidum alaigal
Kadalodu marubadi odum
Karai yeri aadidum alaigal
Kadalodu marubadi odum
Alai kooda naanam kondaadum
Adhu pola penmai kondaadum
Moodiya aadaiyum
Naaniya paarvai naadagamum
Maunamum penmaiyin
Seedhana selvamandro
Pesu manamae pesu…
Paedhai manamae pesu…
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Kodiyodu thondriya malargal
Kuzhalodu seruvadhenna
Kodiyodu thondriya malargal
Kuzhalodu seruvadhenna
Oru veettil thondriya pengal
Maru veedu thaeduvadhenna
Bandhamum paasamum
Nesamum annai illathilae
Sondhamum kaadhalum
Inbamum konda ullathilae
Pesu manamae pesu…
Paedhai manamae pesu…
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Malai pola thondriya thunbam
Pani pola maaruvadhundu
Malai pola thondriya thunbam
Pani pola maaruvadhundu
Kanavaaga thondriya vaazhvu
Ninaivaaga kaanuvadhundu
Ponadhu pogattum
Paarvaiyai indru maatri vidu
Boomiyil nee oru
Aanandha dheebam yaetri vidu
Pesu manamae pesu…
Paedhai manamae pesu…
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Naalu vagai gunamum
Niraindhae nadai podu
Pesu manamae…
Speak, my heart, speak...
Speak, innocent heart, speak...
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Speak, my heart, speak...
Speak, innocent heart, speak...
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
The waves that dance onto the shore
run back into the ocean again.
The waves that dance onto the shore
run back into the ocean again.
Even the waves show a shy retreat,
and womanhood celebrates the very same modesty.
Modest clothing,
the drama of shy glances,
and gentle silence—
are they not the prized treasures of womanhood?
Speak, my heart, speak...
Speak, innocent heart, speak...
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Why do flowers born on a vine
go to rest in braided hair?
Why do flowers born on a vine
go to rest in braided hair?
Why do daughters born in one home
go seeking another home?
Family bonds, warmth, and affection
stay in the mother's home;
Kinship, true love,
and happiness live in the beloved's heart.
Speak, my heart, speak...
Speak, innocent heart, speak...
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Sorrows that seemed as big as a mountain
can melt away like mist.
Sorrows that seemed as big as a mountain
can melt away like mist.
A life that seemed to be only a dream
can become a reality.
Let the past be gone;
change your perspective today.
In this world,
light a lamp of joy!
Speak, my heart, speak...
Speak, innocent heart, speak...
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Filled with the four virtues,
walk ahead with grace.
Speak, my heart...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Pesu Manamae' from the film Pudhiya Vazhkai (1971) is an uplifting philosophical song composed by K. V. Mahadevan, written by Kannadasan, and rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The song encourages an anxious or hesitant mind to express itself and walk forward with poise, embodying essential virtues. Kannadasan uses poetic metaphors drawn from nature, such as ocean waves and flowers on vines, to illustrate life transitions, modesty, and the natural journey of women as they enter new homes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Malai pola thondriya thunbam / Pani pola maaruvadhundu”

Compares immense grief to a mountain that eventually melts away like delicate morning dew.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Maunamum penmaiyin seedhana selvamandro”

Refers to modesty, shy glances, and silence as the dowry or wealth of womanhood.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Bandhamum paasamum ... Sondhamum kaadhalum”

Classic Tamil rhyming scheme where the second letter of consecutive lines matches (e.g., Bandhamum / Sondhamum).

Did you know?

Trivia

The phrase 'Naalu vagai gunam' (fourfold virtues) in Tamil literature traditionally refers to 'Acham' (fear/modesty), 'Madam' (innocence), 'Naanam' (shyness), and 'Payirppu' (chastity/fastidiousness) attributed to traditional ideal womanhood.

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