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Isaimozhi
Dharma Durai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aanenna Pennenna

From Dharma Durai · 1991

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Dharma Durai
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
18 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaaaaaaaaaaa…haa…aaa…
Aaaaa….haaa…aaa….aaaa….
Aaa…aaa…aaa…
Aanenna pennenna
Nee enna naan enna
Ellaam or inam dhaan
Ada naadenna veedenna
Kaadenna maedenna
Ellaam or nilam dhaan
Neeyum paththu maasam
Naanum paththu maasam
Maarum indha vaesham
Aanenna pennenna
Nee enna naan enna
Ellaam or inam dhaan
Ada naadenna veedenna
Kaadenna maedenna
Ellaam or nilam dhaan
Onnukkonnu aadharavu
Ullaththilae yen pirivu
Kannukkullae baedham illae
Paarppadhilae yen pirivu
Ponnum porul pogum varum
Anbu mattum povadhillae
Thaedum panam odividum
Deivam vittu povadhillae
{Maedaikkum maalaikkum
Kodikkum aasaippattu…uu…
Vettukkal kuththukkal
Raththangal povadhenna..aa…} (2)
Idha purinjum unma therinjum
Innum mayakkamaa…aaa….
……………………………
Sondham bandham
Saerndhirundhaa
Soththu sugam thaevai illae
Bandham vittu pochudhunnaa
Vaazhvadhilae laabam illae
Ennam mattum saerndhirundhaa
Indrum endrum sogamillae
Kandrai vittu thaai pirinju
Kaanum sugam yedhumillae
{Oorukkum perukkum
Car ukkum ishtapattu
Vaazhgindra vaazhkkaikku
Endrendum arthamilla…aaa} (2)
Idha purinjum unma therinjum
Innum mayakkamaa…aaa….
Aah... ha... aah...
Aah... ha... aah... aah...
Aah... aah... aah...
What is man, what is woman?
Who are you, who am I?
We all belong to one human race.
What is country, what is home?
What is forest, what is high ground?
It is all just one earth.
You were carried in the womb for ten months,
and I was carried for ten months too.
These disguises we wear will soon pass.
What is man, what is woman?
Who are you, who am I?
We all belong to one human race.
What is country, what is home?
What is forest, what is high ground?
It is all just one earth.
We are meant to support one another,
so why this division in our hearts?
Our eyes hold no prejudice,
so why do we divide people by what we see?
Gold and possessions will come and go,
but true love will never leave.
The wealth we chase will slip away,
but God never abandons us.
Craving the stage and garlands of praise,
and longing for power and political flags...
with slashes, stabbings, and fights,
why must blood be shed like this?
Even after knowing this and seeing the truth,
why are you still lost in this illusion?
...
When family and loved ones
stand together as one,
there is no need for riches and comforts.
If those bonds are broken and lost,
there is no value in living.
If our minds and hearts remain united,
there will never be any sorrow.
Separated from her calf,
a mother finds no happiness at all.
Chasing after status and name,
and lusting after luxury cars,
the kind of life lived like that
has no real meaning at all...
Even after knowing this and seeing the truth,
why are you still lost in this illusion?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aanenna Pennenna from the film Dharma Durai is a powerful philosophical track that calls for universal equality, unity, and humanism. The song questions artificial societal divisions such as gender, nationality, property, and status, reminding humanity that everyone undergoes the same journey of birth and inhabits the same single earth. It emphasizes that physical forms and social statuses are mere temporary disguises in the grand scheme of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second letter rhyming) & Monaai (Alliteration)

Neeyum paththu maasam / Naanum paththu maasam

Tamil poetic rhyming scheme where the second letter of consecutive lines match, seen in 'Neeyum paththu' and 'Naanum paththu'.

Rhetorical Question

Aanenna pennenna / Nee enna naan enna

The lyricist uses rhetorical questions to challenge societal prejudices and urge self-reflection on human divisions.

Metaphor

Maarum indha vaesham

Human life and social identities are compared to temporary costumes or disguises ('vaesham') worn on stage.

Analogy / Imagery

Kandrai vittu thaai pirinju / Kaanum sugam yedhumillae

Paints a vivid emotional image comparing human distress caused by broken bonds to the pain of a cow separated from her calf.

Keep listening

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