Pennaal (Malayalam: പെണ്ണാൾ), meaning "The Woman," is also the title of a Malayalam music series that features five songs, each depicting a different stage in a woman's life - childhood, adolescence, youth, motherhood, and old age. The series was conceptualized by Shyla Thomas, a lyricist, media person, and technology entrepreneur, with contributions from Dr. Shani Hafees, a lyricist, author, entrepreneur and an Ayurveda doctor. Pennaal is noted as the first music series in Malayalam created entirely by women, and it explores various emotional and societal aspects of womanhood.
Stage 1 - Baalyam (ബാല്യം) Childhood
The first song, 'Baalyam', was sung by well-known child artist Sreya Jayadeep and was released on March 3, 2019, in connection with International Women's Day. The song, filmed in Kozhikode and surrounding areas, features Sreya herself on screen.
Basic Information - Stage One - Baalyam Lyrics Shyla Thomas Singer & Artist Sreya Jayadeep Music Gayathri Suresh DOP Chinnu Kuruvilla & Sumesh Sukumaran Programming Jecin George Mixing & Mastering Renjith Rajan Released by M.Jayachandran (Music Director) Release date 3 March 2019 Song Link Pennaal on YouTube
Stage 2 - Kaumaaram (കൗമാരം) Adolescence
After Baalyam, Kaumaaram (Adolescence) was released on July 26, 2019, under the direction of National award-winning actress Surabhi Lakshmi, marking her directorial debut. The song portrays a girl's surreal thoughts, influenced by the traditional art form Nangiarkoothu. Promoted by prominent artists, the production featured contributions from cinematographer Pappinu and sound designer Renganath Ravee. Written by Shyla Thomas and composed by Gayathri Suresh, it was performed by Dr. Shani Hafees and filmed in Edamalayar and Kakkayam.
Basic Information - Stage Two - Kaumaaram Direction Surabhi Lakshmi (Debut Direction) Lyrics Shyla Thomas Singer Dr. Shani Hafees Music Gayathri Suresh DOP Pappinu Programming Jecin George Sound Design Renganath Ravee Sound Engineer Vaitheeswaran Sankaran Mixing & Mastering Renjith Rajan On Screen artists Meenakshi Binesh, Dr. Indhu G, Kalamandalam Aswathy Aneesh, Margi Visishta, Margi Aswathy Released by Tovino Thomas, Miya, Anu Sithara, Aishwarya Lakshmi, Nimisha Sajayan and Samyuktha Menon Release date 26 July 2019 Song Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em9Lyq16GR4
Stage 3 - Youvanam (യൗവനം) Youth
Youvanam is the third song in the Pennaal series, focusing on the life of a village girl working in the handloom industry, who reflects on a past love affair. The visuals highlight the weaving process, while also paying tribute to the declining handloom industry. Directed by Shyla Thomas, the song was written and sung by Dr. Shani Hafees with music by Maduvanthi Narayan. Actress Asha Sarath released the first look poster, and Malayalam actor Mohanlal launched the song on March 1, 2020.
Basic Information - Stage Three - Youvanam Direction Shyla Thomas Lyrics & Singer Dr. Shani Hafees Music Madhuvanthi Narayan DOP Pappinu Programming Vijay Sound Design Renganath Ravee Sound Engineer Vaitheeswaran Sankaran Mixing & Mastering Sujith Sreedhar, 2BQ Studios, Chennai Flute Vishnu Vijay Location & Support Shobha Viswanath, Weaver's Village On Screen artists Dhanya Ananya, Aami, Shini V, Anamika V Roy Released by Mohanlal Release date 1 March 2020 Song Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xD3Nvo-JnI
Stage 4 - Maathruthvam (മാതൃത്വം) Motherhood Maathruthvam is the fourth song in the Pennaal series, exploring the theme of motherhood. The song depicts a daughter reminiscing about her mother's care and affection through a series of scenes, as she revisits her now-empty ancestral home to relive the past. Maathruthvam has received attention in Malayalam media for its portrayal of these emotional memories and its unique features.
Basic Information - Stage Four - Maathruthvam Lyrics & Direction Shyla Thomas Singer Dr.Shani Hafees Creative Director Surabhi Lakshmi Music Gayathri Suresh DOP Sumesh Sukumaran Chief Associate Director Jithu K Jayan Editing Rizal Jainy & Aravind Gopal Programming Jecin George Mixing & Mastering Renjith Rajan Violin Roopa Revathi Veena Vaibhavi R On Screen artists Savithri Sreedharan, Renju Govind, Sumitha Akhil, Baby Almithra Akhil Poster Released by Pearle Maaney Song Release date 16 October 2020 Song Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnOmrAoiBg4
Stage 5 - Vaardhakyam (വാർദ്ധക്യം) Old age Vaardhakyam (Old Age), the fifth stage of the Pennaal series, was released on March 15, 2023, by Kerala MLA and former Health Minister KK Shailaja at the Different Art Centre in Trivandrum. The song portrays an elderly woman, a cancer survivor, rediscovering her passion for dance while interacting with disabled children and their mothers. The transformation in her life is captured through soothing lyrics and music, emphasizing themes of nostalgia, resilience, and joy in old age.
Basic Information - Stage Five - Vaardhakyam Lyrics & Direction Shyla Thomas Music & Singer Sithara Krishnakumar On Screen artists Leela Samson, Shyla Thomas, RJ Sumi, Children and mothers of Different Art Centre Venue Different Art Centre (An initiative by Gopinath Muthukad for the disabled children) Release date 15 March 2023 Released by KK Shailaja Teacher Song Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKbtnxAcbXQ
The women within Pennaal A group of women collaborated on the Pennaal project, contributing to various aspects of its creation. Key contributors included Shyla Thomas, Dr. Shani Hafees, Surabhi Lakshmi, Gayathri Suresh, Chinnu Kuruvilla, Madhuvanthi Narayan, Smitha Saleem, Archana Gopinath, and Devi Manoj. These women played significant roles in writing, direction, music, and production, collectively shaping the project.
Trivia The Pennaal music series, consisting of five songs representing the major milestones of a woman's life, is considered the first of its kind in the Malayalam music industry. Each stage is depicted through a thematic video that highlights either a traditional art form or a specific industry.
References
Teen singer Sreya lauds woman's childhood in latest album... Sreya Jayadeep's song about woman's childhood impresses music lovers Her multihued dreams Shades of womanhood | Deccan Chronicle Sreya Jayadeep's song Pennaal is about woman's childhood | Mathrubhumi First song of Pennaal - Baalyam released | Vanitha വനിതാദിനത്തില് 'പെണ്ണാളു'മായി ശ്രേയ ജയദീപ് | Mathrubhumi വ്യത്യസ്ത ജീവിത ഘട്ടങ്ങളിലെ 'പെണ്ണാൾ'; സുരഭി ലക്ഷ്മിയുടെ സംവിധാനത്തിൽ | News18 വ്യത്യസ്ത ജീവിത ഘട്ടങ്ങളിലെ 'പെണ്ണാൾ'; Surabhi Lakshmi's 'Kaumaaram' gains acclaim | The Hindu ‘പെണ്ണാൾ’ മ്യൂസിക് സിരീസിലെ യൗവന ഗാനം എത്തി. | Madhyamam Daily Kaumaaram song directed by actress Surabhi Lakshmi is aesthetic in every sense | Times of India Interview with Pennaal team on News18 channel പാട്ടിന്റെ പിന്നണിയിൽ സ്ത്രീകൾ മതിയെന്നു ഞങ്ങൾ തീരുമാനിച്ചു'; 'പെണ്ണാൾ' പിറന്നതിനു പിന്നിൽ... | Manorama Online Young and in love - The Hindu newspaper report Pennaal-Shyla Thomas in spotlight - Vanitha Magazine article Pennaal-മാതൃത്വത്തിന്റെ മഹനീയത ഓർമിപ്പിച്ച് പെണ്ണാൾ... - Malayala Manorama പെണ്ണാള് മ്യൂസിക് സീരീസിലെ നാലാമത് ഗാനം പുറത്ത് | PENNAL MUSIC ALBUM | മാതൃത്വം - Media One Channel Surabhi’s directorial debut “Kaumaaram” – music video launched - surabhilakshmi.com See the world of a woman through series of music videos by Shyla Thomas - The New Indian Express ബാല്യവും കൗമാരവും യൗവനവും മാതൃത്വവും കഴിഞ്ഞു ഇനി വാർധക്യം; വിശേഷങ്ങളുമായി 'പെണ്ണാള്' സംഘം - Samayam - Times of India Malayalam Interview with Shyla Thomas about Pennaal project on News18 Kerala channel