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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kumari Pennin Ullathile

From Enga Veettu Pillai · 1965

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Enga Veettu Pillai1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kumari penninIn a young maiden's
Ullathilae kudiyirukaheart to reside,
Naan vara vendumI must come.
Male
Kudiyiruka naanTo reside there,
Varuvadhendral vaadagaiif I come, rent
Enna thara vendumwhat must I pay?
Female
{ Kumari pennin{ In a young maiden's
Kaigalilae kaadhalhands, a loving
Nenjai thara vendumheart must be given.
Female
Kaadhal nenjaiA loving heart
Thandhu vitu kudi irukahaving given, to reside
Nee vara vendum } (2)you must come } (2)
Male
Kumari penninIn a young maiden's
Ullathilae kudiyirukaheart to reside,
Naan vara vendumI must come.
Male
Kudiyiruka naanTo reside there,
Varuvadhendral vaadagaiif I come, rent
Enna thara vendumwhat must I pay?
Female
………………..[Interlude]
Female
Kumari penninIn a young maiden's
Kaigalilae kaadhalhands, a loving
Nenjai thara vendumheart must be given.
Female
Kaadhal nenjaiA loving heart
Thandhu vitu kudi irukahaving given, to reside
Nee vara vendumyou must come
Male
{ Thingal thangaiyam{ Sister to the moon,
Thendral thozhiyaamfriend to the gentle breeze,
Kanni oorvalam varuvaal } (2)the maiden comes in procession } (2)
Female
{ Aval unnai kandu{ Seeing you,
Uyir kaadhal kondu thanwith deep love,
Ullam thannaiyae tharuvaal } (2)she will surrender her heart } (2)
Male
{ Naan alli kolla{ As I embrace her,
Aval palli kolla sugamas she slumbers, the bliss
Mella mellavae puriyum } (2)will slowly unfold } (2)
Female
Kai thoduvaarWithout a tender touch,
Thodaamal thookam varumocan sleep ever come?
Thunaiyai thedi nee varalaamSeeking a companion, you may come.
Female
ThoduvaarA tender touch,
Thodaamal thookam varumowithout touch can sleep ever come?
Thunaiyai thedi nee varalaamSeeking a companion, you may come.
Male
Kumari penninIn a young maiden's
Ullathilae kudiyirukaheart to reside,
Naan vara vendumI must come.
Male
Kudiyiruka naanTo reside there,
Varuvadhendral vaadagaiif I come, rent
Enna thara vendumwhat must I pay?
Male
Poovai enbadhorSeeing a flower-like
Poovai kandadhummaiden,
Thevai thevai endru varuvensaying "I need you, I need you", I will come.
Female
Idai minnalHer waist like lightning,
Ketka nadai annam ketkaher walk like a swan,
Adhai unnai ketu naan tharuvenasking you for those, I shall offer them.
Male
KoduthaalumEven if given,
Enna eduthaalum ennaor taken away,
Oru naalum azhagu kuraiyaadhuthe beauty will never diminish for even a single day.
Female
Andha azhagaeUnless that beauty
Varaamal aasai varumoarrives, can desire arise?
Amudhum thenum nee peralaamYou shall receive nectar and honey.
Male
Kumari penninIn a young maiden's
Ullathilae kudiyirukaheart to reside,
Naan vara vendumI must come.
Male
Kudiyiruka naanTo reside there,
Varuvadhendral vaadagaiif I come, rent
Enna thara vendumwhat must I pay?
Female
Kumari penninIn a young maiden's
Kaigalilae kaadhalhands, a loving
Nenjai thara vendumheart must be given.
Female
Kaadhal nenjaiA loving heart
Thandhu vitu kudi irukahaving given, to reside
Nee vara vendumyou must come.
Female
…………………………[Outro]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Kumari Pennin" is a romantic duet from the 1965 Tamil cinema classic "Enga Veettu Pillai", composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and written by Vaali. The song uses an extended metaphor where the male lover asks what rent he must pay to reside inside the young maiden's heart, to which she replies that giving his loving heart in return is the only payment required. The lovers exchange playful expressions of affection and yearning, highlighting mutual devotion. Throughout the track, Vaali employs evocative imagery comparing the maiden to the moon, breeze, lightning, and swans. The lyrics celebrate love, intimacy, and eternal charm, framing true love as a blissful experience filled with sweet delight.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kudiyiruka naan varuvadhendral vaadagai enna thara vendum

The song frames residing in a lover's heart as renting a room or home ('kudiyiruka', 'vaadagai'), turning emotional intimacy into a playful contractual dialogue.

Alliteration & Assonance (Monai)

Thingal thangaiyam Thendral thozhiyaam

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Th' creates a musical rhythm in the line ('Thingal', 'Thangaiyam', 'Thendral', 'Thozhiyaam').

Imagery & Simile (Upamai)

Idai minnal ketka nadai annam ketka

Comparing the slender waist to lightning ('idai minnal') and the graceful gait to a swan ('nadai annam').

Did you know?

Trivia

"Enga Veettu Pillai" (1965) is an iconic M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) film featuring him in a dual role opposite B. Saroja Devi. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, this soundtrack was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and remains one of Vaali's most evergreen romantic compositions.

Keep listening

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