Pennaal - the music series

Pennaal (പെണ്ണാൾ) is a Malayalam word meaning "The Woman". The name Pennaal is also associated with a Malayalam music series that features the five stage of a woman's life. The Pennaal music series 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 is known and acclaimed to be the first of this kind in Malayalam music industry. Apart from presenting a series of songs totally made by women, the initiative focuses on various aspects of the influence of women in the society.Teen singer Sreya lauds woman's childhood in latest album...Sreya Jayadeep's song about woman's childhood impresses music loversHer multihued dreams
== Stage 1 - Baalyam (ബാല്യം)==
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.Shades of womanhood | Deccan ChronicleYoung and in love - The Hindu newspaper report 
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 	03 March 2019
Label 	Muzik247
== Stage 2 - Kaumaaram (കൗമാരം) ==
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.പാട്ടിന്റെ പിന്നണിയിൽ സ്ത്രീകൾ മതിയെന്നു ഞങ്ങൾ തീരുമാനിച്ചു'; 'പെണ്ണാൾ' പിറന്നതിനു പിന്നിൽ... | Manorama Onlineവ്യത്യസ്ത ജീവിത ഘട്ടങ്ങളിലെ 'പെണ്ണാൾ'; Surabhi Lakshmi's 'Kaumaaram' gains acclaim | The Hindu
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.വ്യത്യസ്ത ജീവിത ഘട്ടങ്ങളിലെ 'പെണ്ണാൾ'; സുരഭി ലക്ഷ്മിയുടെ സംവിധാനത്തിൽ | News18‘പെണ്ണാൾ’ മ്യൂസിക് സിരീസിലെ യൗവന ഗാനം എത്തി. | Madhyamam Daily
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.വനിതാദിനത്തില്‍ 'പെണ്ണാളു'മായി ശ്രേയ ജയദീപ്‌ | Mathrubhumi 
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
Label 	Muzik247
== Stage 3 - Youvanam (യൗവനം)==
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 Padmashree Mohanlal on 01 March 2020.Kaumaaram song directed by actress Surabhi Lakshmi is aesthetic in every sense | Times of IndiaSreya Jayadeep's song Pennaal is about woman's childhood | Mathrubhumi
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 	01 March 2020
Label 	Muzik247
== Next stages in the series ==
Stage 4: Motherhood (Maathruthvam) and
Stage 5: Old age (Vaardhakyam)
== The women within Pennaal ==
Post the works on this project, a group of women associated themselves to be called as Pennaal. They 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.First song of Pennaal - Baalyam released | VanithaPennaal-Shyla Thomas in spotlight - Vanitha Magazine article
== 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.Interview with Pennaal team on News18 channel 
==In the media==
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== References ==
==External links==
* pennaal music series | Madhyamam
* Her multihued dreams- The New Indian Express
* Young and in love - The Hindu
* Sreya Jayadeep's song Pennaal is about woman's childhood
* Her music calls upon women to rise - Deccan Chronicle
* Shades of womanhood - Deccan Chronicle
Category:Malayalam-language songs
Category:Malayalam-language lyricists
Category:Malayalam music
Category:Malayalam playback singers
Category:Malayalam film directors
Category:Songs with feminist themes