- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Penmani Aval Kanmani
- Movie release year
- 1988
- Lyrics added on
- 17 May 2021
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aarambamae ippaththaannu nenappom
Vaazhkka aarambamae ippaththaannu nenappom
Idhil arupathenna ezhupathennadaa
Haei aaru maasa pillaiyai pol sirippom
Ada sirippatharkku pallu edhukkudaa
Manasu vachchaa naama maarkkandaeyaen
Thevappattaa naama beemasanan
Narachchu pona mudiya katti malaiya izhuppom
Intha narachchu pona mudiya katti malaiya izhuppom
Kezhavaa aarambamae ippaththaannu nenappom
Idhil arupathenna ezhupathennadaa hei
Vaaraai….vaaraai nee vaaraai
En soga kadhai pirar kettathillai nee kelaai
Male :Aahaa ennaidam kooruvathaalae
Baaramum kuraiyutho manathilae…ae…ae..
Poruththamaana thunaiyirunthum
Pongi varum azhagirunthum
Poruththamaana thunaiyirunthum
Pongi varum azhagirunthum
Chinna veedu settap senjaan pillaiyae
Adha thatti kettaen thoraththiputtaan ennaiyae
Thaaraththavittu tharangketta veettukku
Ponavan porampokkaiyyaa
Ellum thanneerum thelichchidaiyaa
Thaaraththavittu tharangketta veettukku
Ponavan porampokkaiyyaa
Ellum thanneerum thelichchidaiyaa…
Bhoomiyil maanidar jenmam adainthumor
Punniyamindri thanniyadiththaen
Thaaramum pillaiyum thollai ozhinthida
Veettai vittae ennai virattinarae
Wiskey-yaa brandy-yaa pattaiyaa
Chicken-naa muttanaa muttaiyaa
Wiskey-yaa brandy-yaa pattaiyaa
Chicken-naa muttanaa muttaiyaa
Ondrillaamal mattrondru kushi yaerumaa
Vaai kazhuvaamal irukkiromaa oru maasamaa
Kazhuvinaal kickkuthaan poividum
Poattum naaththamthaan tholaiyumae
Ponaal pogattum podaa….intha
Male :Ooooohhh oo oo ooh oo oohh
Ponaal pogattum podaa….
Intha bhoomiyil naangal vaazhvathu veenadaa
Ponaal pogattum podaa….
Ravikkai saelai ull paavaadai
Avalukku thovaichhcu pottaanae
Male :Manaiviyin sollai ketta en pillai
Thaniyaai kudiththanam ponaanae
Soththukkum vazhiyum theriyavillai
Male :Pitchai edukkavum manasu varalla
Female :Emanum engalai azhaikkavillai
Ennadi muniyammaa un kannula thanni
Female :Idhu paththu maasa thanni peththa paasam thantha thanni
Naan munnaalae poraen neenga pinnaalae vaanga
Mandaikku mudi bharamaa
Mattaikku podi bharmaa
Beedikku pugai bharamaa
Puththi ketta pillaikku neenga bharamaaa
Naan dosai suttaal idiyaappam suttaal
Naan dosai suttaal idiyaappam suttaal
En purushanukkeno pudikkavillai
En samaiyalilae vantha nadukkaththillae
Vittu odi ponavar thirumppavillai
Engu thedi paarththum avar kidaikkavillai
Naan dosai suttaal idiyaappam suttaal
Samainjathathu sarithaana….aiyyayyyo
Samainjathathu sarithaana….
Sol sol sol sol kizhavi
Edhai maranthaayo yaen yaen pushikkavillai
Sampaar yaen rushikkavillai
Kizham neeyappa azhagu kizham neeyappaa
Perazhaku kizham neeyappa…
Male : Aiyayayo aala vidu
Let us think that life is only beginning now!
Let us think our life is just starting now!
What does it matter if we are sixty or seventy?
Hey, let us laugh like a six-month-old baby!
Hey, why do you need teeth just to laugh?
If we make up our minds, we are Markandeya (the ever-youthful)!
If needed, we are Bhimasena (strong as Bhima)!
We can tie our grey hair together and pull a mountain!
Tying this grey hair together, we can pull a mountain!
Old man, let us think life is just beginning now!
What does it matter if we are sixty or seventy, hey!
Come... come, please come!
No one else has heard my sorrowful tale, so you listen!
Male: Aha, by sharing it with me,
does the burden in your heart feel lighter?
Even with a well-matched wife,
and overflowing beauty,
even with a well-matched wife,
and overflowing beauty,
my son kept a mistress on the side!
When I questioned him, he chased me away!
Leaving his wife and going to a shameful house,
that fellow is completely worthless!
Sprinkle sesame seeds and water to disown him!
Leaving his wife and going to a shameful house,
that fellow is completely worthless!
Sprinkle sesame seeds and water to disown him...
Having taken birth as a human on this earth,
without doing any good deeds, I just drank alcohol!
To be rid of the nuisance,
my wife and son drove me out of the house!
Is it whisky, brandy, or local liquor?
Is it chicken, mutton, or eggs?
Is it whisky, brandy, or local liquor?
Is it chicken, mutton, or eggs?
Without one, does the other give any kick?
Have we gone without washing our mouths for a whole month?
If I wash it, the buzz will disappear!
Let it go, at least the bad smell will vanish!
Let it go if it is gone, man... this
Male: Ohhh oh oh oh oh...
Let it go if it is gone, man...
It is completely pointless for us to live on this earth!
Let it go if it is gone, man...
Blouse, saree, and petticoat—
he washed them all for her!
Male: Listening to his wife, my son
moved out to live on his own!
I see no way to claim any property,
Male: and I do not have the heart to beg!
Female: Even Yama (the god of death) has not summoned us!
Muniyamma, why are there tears in your eyes?
Female: These are tears from carrying him for ten months, born from a mother's love!
I will lead the way, you follow behind me!
Is hair a burden to the head?
Is tobacco powder a burden to the leaf?
Is smoke a burden to a beedi?
How can you be a burden to a foolish child?
Whether I made dosai or string hoppers,
whether I made dosai or string hoppers,
for some reason my husband did not like it!
Frightened by my cooking,
he ran away and never came back!
No matter where I searched, he could not be found!
Whether I made dosai or string hoppers...
Was the cooking done right? Oh no!
Was the cooking done right?
Tell me, tell me, old woman!
What did you forget? Why did he not eat?
Why did the sambar not taste good?
You are an old man, a charming old man!
You are a truly handsome old man...
Male: Oh no, please spare me and leave me alone!
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Penmani Aval Kanmani (1988) features a deeply satirical and tragicomic track written by Vaali. The song presents an exchange among elderly characters reflecting on aging, family abandonment, and society's harsh treatment of senior citizens. Through playful banter and philosophical cynicism, they mock the anxieties of growing old in their 60s and 70s, finding humor in toothless smiles and grey hair while lightheartedly comparing themselves to immortal and mighty mythological figures like Markandeya and Bhima.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mythological Allusion (Eyalbu / Uvamai)
“Manasu vachchaa naama maarkkandaeyaen”
Compares elderly individuals to Markandeya (blessed with eternal youth) and Bhimasena (known for colossal strength) to emphasize inner spirit over physical decay.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Ada sirippatharkku pallu edhukkudaa”
Uses a witty question questioning the need for teeth to laugh, highlighting resilience and joy regardless of age.
Anaphora and Parallelism (Emonai / Monai)
“Mandaikku mudi bharamaa / Mattaikku podi bharmaa / Beedikku pugai bharamaa”
Rhythmic repetition comparing natural pairings (hair to head, snuff to husk, smoke to beedi) to prove parents shouldn't be burdens to children.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by veteran lyricist Vaali, this song addresses the grim reality of elderly neglect and abandoned parents in Tamil society through a blend of folk rhythm, dark comedy, and emotional pathos.
Keep listening
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