Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Pen Manam Pesugirathu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Megamumilla Mazhai Peiyavumilla

From Pen Manam Pesugirathu · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Pen Manam Pesugirathu
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
17 Aug 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Megamumilla mazhai peiyyavumilla
Adi muththammaa…aa….aa…
Vanthathu ellaam sollaama ponathu engo
Kannula kanneeru adhu kaattukku ennaagum
Kaayuthu thannaalae payir pottathu ellaamae
Megamumilla mazhai peiyyavumilla
Adi muththammaa…aa….aa…
Vanthathu ellaam sollaama ponathu engo
Kannula kanneeru adhu kaattukku ennaagum
Kaayuthu thannaalae payir pottathu ellaamae
Rendu pakkam thoondil
Angae naanum oru meenaanae
Kaanalilae meen pidikka
Pona kadhai naanaen
Rendu pakkam thoondil
Angae naanum oru meenaanae
Kaanalilae meen pidikka
Pona kadhai naanaen
Aththi maram pookkaathu
Aasa vekkam paakkaathu
Aththi maram pookkaathu
Aasa vekkam paakkaathu
Kannu rendum ponapinnae
Dheepamum onnu vaikkavae
Megamumilla mazhai peiyyavumilla
Adi muththammaa…aa….aa…
Vanthathu ellaam sollaama ponathu engo
Kannula kanneeru adhu kaattukku ennaagum
Kaayuthu thannaalae payir pottathu ellaamae
Paaththi katti naaththu vachchen
Aththanaiyum mullaachchu
Paavi maga aasaipattu
Thottapakkam punnaachchu
Paaththi katti naaththu vachchen
Aththanaiyum mullaachchu
Paavi maga aasaipattu
Thottapakkam punnaachchu
Aadi vellaam poyaachchu
Aaru manal medaachchu
Aadi vellaam poyaachchu
Aaru manal medaachchu
Aaththukkulla thanniyilla
Odam onnu vittaenae
Megamumilla mazhai peiyyavumilla
Adi muththammaa…aa….aa…
Vanthathu ellaam sollaama ponathu engo
Kannula kanneeru adhu kaattukku ennaagum
Kaayuthu thannaalae payir pottathu ellaamae
Kaayuthu thannaalae payir pottathu ellaamae
Kaayuthu thannaalae payir pottathu ellaamae
There are no clouds, nor does rain fall,
Oh Muthamma... ah... ah...
Where did all that came go without a word?
With tears in my eyes, what good can they do for a barren forest?
All the crops that were planted are withering on their own.
There are no clouds, nor does rain fall,
Oh Muthamma... ah... ah...
Where did all that came go without a word?
With tears in my eyes, what good can they do for a barren forest?
All the crops that were planted are withering on their own.
With fishhooks on both sides,
I became a trapped fish.
Like going to catch fish in a mirage,
such has become my story.
With fishhooks on both sides,
I became a trapped fish.
Like going to catch fish in a mirage,
such has become my story.
The fig tree never blossoms,
and desire knows no shame.
The fig tree never blossoms,
and desire knows no shame.
After losing both my eyes,
what is the use of lighting a lamp...?
There are no clouds, nor does rain fall,
Oh Muthamma... ah... ah...
Where did all that came go without a word?
With tears in my eyes, what good can they do for a barren forest?
All the crops that were planted are withering on their own.
I prepared garden beds and planted saplings,
yet all of them turned into thorns.
Longing with desire, this wretched girl,
found wounds wherever she touched.
I prepared garden beds and planted saplings,
yet all of them turned into thorns.
Longing with desire, this wretched girl,
found wounds wherever she touched.
The Aadi flood (seasonal monsoon flood) has passed,
the river has turned into a mound of sand.
The Aadi flood (seasonal monsoon flood) has passed,
the river has turned into a mound of sand.
There is no water in the river,
yet I set a boat afloat...
There are no clouds, nor does rain fall,
Oh Muthamma... ah... ah...
Where did all that came go without a word?
With tears in my eyes, what good can they do for a barren forest?
All the crops that were planted are withering on their own.
All the crops that were planted are withering on their own.
All the crops that were planted are withering on their own.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses intense grief, helplessness, and emotional despair through rich rural agricultural metaphors. The protagonist laments how her hopes and desires have dried up like crops in a drought. She feels trapped between conflicting forces, comparing her situation to a fish caught between two hooks or someone attempting to catch fish in a mirage. Her efforts to build a life or nurture love have yielded only pain and thorns, rendering her sacrifices futile like sailing a boat in a dry, waterless riverbed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை)

“Kaanalilae meen pidikka”

Comparing futile hopes to fishing in a mirage ('Kaanalilae meen pidikka') and sailing a boat in a dry riverbed ('Aaththukkulla thanniyilla odam onnu vittaenae').

Emona / Rhyme (எதுகை)

“Paaththi katti naaththu vachchen”

The second letter harmony across lines, such as 'Paaththi' and 'Aththanaiyum' or 'Aadi' and 'Aaru'.

Paradox / Irony (முரண்)

“Kannu rendum ponapinnae”

Lighting a lamp after losing vision ('Kannu rendum ponapinnae dheepamum onnu vaikkavae'), highlighting the irony of delayed help or late realization.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and features lyrics by the legendary poet Kannadasan. S. Janaki's soulful rendition vividly conveys the tragic sorrow of rural life and heartbreak, utilizing Kannadasan's signature style of blending folk imagery with profound philosophical truths.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Vaadipatti Sandhaiyile1988
Namma Ooru NayaganGriefBittersweet
Madham Mummari1988
Sigappu ThaliMelancholicLoss
Kattukkulle Kadhal Kili1985
Karimedu KaruvayanLongingHeartbreak
Yerikkarai Orathilae1965
ThazhampooDesireNature
Neeyum Naanum Onnu Endra1978
Kizhakke Pogum RailMelancholicFate
Azhagam Kodi Sirithu1976
Sathyam – 1976 FilmNatureLonging

From the same album

More songs from Pen Manam Pesugirathu

View album
Paathappila Pesinappila1981
Pen Manam PesugirathuPlayful
Number Vanthachu Number1981
Pen Manam PesugirathuCheerful
Chinnanchiru Theraga Thennai1981
Pen Manam PesugirathuPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.