Draft:Pennaal (music series)

Pennaal (പെണ്ണാൾ) is a Malayalam word meaning "The Woman". The name Pennaal is now also associated with a Malayalam music series that consists of 5 songs that depicts the 5 stages in a woman's life - from Childhood, Adolescence, Youth, Motherhood to Old age. The theme of Pennaal was conceptualized by Shyla Thomas, who is a lyricist, media person and technology entrepreneur. Shyla was joined by Dr.Shani Hafees, an ayurvedic doctor and medical entrepreneur. Pennaal has been hailed by the Malayalam media as the first of this kind in Malayalam music industry. Apart from presenting a series of songs totally made by women, the initiative focuses on bringing into light, various aspects related a woman's multitude of emotions and the influence of women in the society.

Stage 1 - Baalyam (ബാല്യം) Childhood
The first song 'Baalyam’ was sung by the well-known child artist Sreya Jayadeep. This was released on 03 March 2019 in connection with Women's Day. . The song, which was shot in Kozhikode city and surroundings, featured the singer Sreya herself on screen.

Basic Information - Stage One - Baalyam

Stage 2 - Kaumaaram (കൗമാരം) Adolescence
After the success of the Baalyam project, 'Kaumaaram' (Adolescence) under the direction of National award-winning actress Surabhi Lakshmi  was released on 26 July 2019. Kaumaaram marked Surabhi's debut as a director. The song portrayed a girl's surrealistic thoughts after she is taken away by "Nangiarkoothu", a traditional artform and the associated elements.

The releases of these songs on Youtube were announced via social channels by the leading artists like M Jayachandran, Anoop Menon, Tovino Thomas, Miya, Anu Sithara, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nimisha Sajayan and Samyuktha Menon.



Apart from Surabhi Lakshmi, Kaumaaram carried several industry stalwarts like Cinematographer Pappinu, Sound designer Renganath Ravee and Colorist Remesh CP. Shyla Thomas penned Kaumaaram and Baalyam to Gayathri Suresh's soulful music. The song Kaumaaram was rendered by Dr.Shani Hafees. The song was shot in Edamalayar, Bhoothathankettu and Kakkayam.

Basic Information - Stage Two - Kaumaaram

Stage 3 - Youvanam (യൗവനം) Youth
Youvanam (Youth) is the third in the Pennaal Series. The song revolves on the story of a village girl who works as a weaver and is mind-engulfed in her memories of a love affair. The visuals colorfully depict and represents the story and affection, while presenting looms and the weaving process to viewers. The song is also a delightful tribute to uphold the dying Handloom industry which is badly in need of a revival. .

Directed by Shyla Thomas, the song is written and sung by Dr. Shani Hafees under the music direction from Maduvanthi Narayan. Actress and dancer Asha Sarath released the first look poster and the song was released by Malayalam Actor Padmashree Mohanlal on 01 March 2020.

Basic Information - Stage Three - Youvanam

Stage 4 - Maathruthvam (മാതൃത്വം) Motherhood
Maathruthvam (Motherhood) is the fourth stage in the series from Pennaal. The song takes audience through the memories of a daughter depicted through a sequence of scenes showing the passionate care and affection that her mother showered on her. She visits her ancestral home in its emptiness to relive the past. The song has been featured for its various specialties and featured in the Malayalam media.

Basic Information - Stage Four - Maathruthvam

Stage 5 - Vaardhakyam (വാർദ്ധക്യം) Old age
Stage 5 of Pennaal - Vaardhakyam was released on 15 Mar 2023 by MLA and former Health minister of Kerala, KK Shailaja Teacher  at the Different Art Centre, Trivandrum, Kerala. The release function was graced by the presence of Gopinath Muthukad, M Jayachandran, RJ Sumi, artists and media persons. Several women artists like Leela Samson  and  Sithara Krishnakumar  have lined up along with a committment to the betterment of society and improving the lives of the elderly and differently abled people.

Vaardhakyam (വാർദ്ധക്യം) presents the fifth stage which is the “old age”. The concept of the song and video revolves around the life of an elderly woman who is also a cancer survivor. She becomes nostalgic and moves into her once-hidden passion of dancing while she is being taken to the comfort of a home and exposed to a world of opportunities and challenges. Her life takes a melodious change when she passes through the lives of differently abled children and their mothers – and their determination to win. She gets to a rejuvenated life enriched with happiness and joy. The transformation is sketched through lyrics that embraces a soothing video with befitting melodious music.

Basic Information - Stage Five - Vaardhakyam

The women within Pennaal
Associating for the works on this project, a group of women collaborated as members of "Pennaal" as a project. This include the major contributors of the project - namely Shyla Thomas, Dr. Shani Hafees, Surabhi Lakshmi, Gayathri Suresh, Chinnu Kuruvilla, Madhuvanthi Narayan, Smitha Saleem, Archana Gopinath and Devi Manoj.



Trivia
Pennaal music series - comprising of 5 songs portraying the 5 major milestones of a woman's life - is the first of its kind in Malayalam music industry. . Each milestone is depicted through a thematic video that inherently promotes either an artform or a specific industry.