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Lyrics & meaning

Pesu Maname Pesu

From Pudhiya Vazhkai · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Pudhiya Vazhkai1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pesu manamae pesu…Speak, oh heart, speak...
Paedhai manamae pesu…Speak, oh innocent heart, speak...
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Male
Pesu manamae pesu…Speak, oh heart, speak...
Paedhai manamae pesu…Speak, oh innocent heart, speak...
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Male
Karai yeri aadidum alaigalThe waves that dance upon reaching the shore,
Kadalodu marubadi odumRun back into the ocean again.
Karai yeri aadidum alaigalThe waves that dance upon reaching the shore,
Kadalodu marubadi odumRun back into the ocean again.
Alai kooda naanam kondaadumEven the waves celebrate bashfulness,
Adhu pola penmai kondaadumSimilarly, womanhood celebrates it.
Male
Moodiya aadaiyumModest attire,
Naaniya paarvai naadagamumThe drama of shy glances,
Maunamum penmaiyinAnd silence are womanhood's
Seedhana selvamandroDowry of priceless treasures, isn't it?
Male
Pesu manamae pesu…Speak, oh heart, speak...
Paedhai manamae pesu…Speak, oh innocent heart, speak...
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Male
Kodiyodu thondriya malargalWhy do flowers born on vines
Kuzhalodu seruvadhennaJoin together with women's tresses?
Kodiyodu thondriya malargalWhy do flowers born on vines
Kuzhalodu seruvadhennaJoin together with women's tresses?
Oru veettil thondriya pengalWhy do women born in one home
Maru veedu thaeduvadhennaSeek out another household?
Male
Bandhamum paasamumBonds, affection,
Nesamum annai illathilaeAnd love reside in the mother's home;
Sondhamum kaadhalumKinship, romance,
Inbamum konda ullathilaeAnd bliss lie in the heart of the beloved.
Male
Pesu manamae pesu…Speak, oh heart, speak...
Paedhai manamae pesu…Speak, oh innocent heart, speak...
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Male
Malai pola thondriya thunbamSorrow that appeared as huge as a mountain
Pani pola maaruvadhunduCan melt away like dew.
Malai pola thondriya thunbamSorrow that appeared as huge as a mountain
Pani pola maaruvadhunduCan melt away like dew.
Kanavaaga thondriya vaazhvuA life that seemed like a dream
Ninaivaaga kaanuvadhunduCan indeed be realized in reality.
Male
Ponadhu pogattumLet bygones be bygones,
Paarvaiyai indru maatri viduChange your perspective today.
Boomiyil nee oruUpon this earth, light up
Aanandha dheebam yaetri viduA lamp of joy!
Male
Pesu manamae pesu…Speak, oh heart, speak...
Paedhai manamae pesu…Speak, oh innocent heart, speak...
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Naalu vagai gunamumImbued with fourfold virtues,
Niraindhae nadai poduWalk forward with grace.
Pesu manamae…Speak, oh heart...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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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