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Lyrics & meaning

Oh Penne Thamizh Penne

From Vaanavil · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Unni Menon, Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Details
Vaanavil2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………..
Male
Oh pennae tamizh pennaeOh girl, Tamil girl
Senkadal muththu un kannaeYour eyes are pearls from the Red Sea
Oh pennae tamizh pennaeOh girl, Tamil girl
Senkadal muththu un kannaeYour eyes are pearls from the Red Sea
Male
Kalavaiyil enna kalathaanoWhat did Creator mix in the recipe
Bramman unnai padaikkaWhen Lord Brahma created you?
Kadalil nuraiyinai eduththaanoDid he take foam from the sea
Azhage unnai vadikkaTo sculpt your beauty?
Idhalil pazharasam vadiththaanoDid he pour fruit juice on your lips
Dhinamum naan suvaikkaFor me to taste every day?
Male
Adadaa adadaa azhagidhuvaaAh, ah, is this beauty?
Alaikadal modhum idai idhuvaaIs this a waist against which the wavy sea strikes?
Adadaa adadaa azhagidhuvaaAh, ah, is this beauty?
Alaikadal modhum idai idhuvaaIs this a waist against which the wavy sea strikes?
Male
Oh pennae tamizh pennaeOh girl, Tamil girl
Senkadal muththu un kannaeYour eyes are pearls from the Red Sea
Chorus
……………….
Male
Kaattrum veyilum thudiththaalumEven if wind and heat rage with fury
Kadalin alavu kuraivathillaiThe volume of the sea does not decrease
Pala pala kodi uyir thugiththaalumEven if millions of lives suffer
Innum kadhalum kuraivathillaiLove still never diminishes
Female
Kadalin neelam illaamalWithout the blue of the sea
Vaanam vannam peruvathillaiThe sky does not get its color
Manam udainthaalum kadhal illaa vannamEven if the heart breaks, without the color of love
Vaazhvukku vannam illaiThere is no color to life
Male
Kadalukku keezhum bhoogambam nadakkumEarthquakes occur even beneath the sea
Kadhalar vaazhvodum hoogambam vedikkumEarthquakes explode in the lives of lovers too
Female
Kadalin tharkolai athigamthaanThe self-destruction of the sea is high
Kadhalin kadhaiyum athuvaethaanThe story of love is the same too
Kadalin tharkolai athigamthaanThe self-destruction of the sea is high
Kadhalin kadhaiyum athuvaethaanThe story of love is the same too
Male
Oh pennae tamizh pennaeOh girl, Tamil girl
Senkadal muththu un kannaeYour eyes are pearls from the Red Sea
Female
Kadalil odi kalappathirkkuTo run and merge into the ocean
Kaatril nadhigal ootredukkumRivers spring up in the wind
Ada kaadhal karai saernthu kalapathirkkuAh, to reach the shores of love and unite
Mannil uyirkal pirapedukkumLiving beings take birth on this earth
Male
Moondru paagam kadal irunthumThough three parts of the world are ocean
Nilaththil thaagam theeravillaiThe thirst on land is not quenched
Nam vazhithorum kadhal irunthaalumThough love exists all along our path
Innum vaazhkkai niraiyavillaiLife is still not fully satisfied
Female
Meenavarukkellam kadalthaan deivamFor fishermen, the sea is God
Maanidarkellam kadhalthaan deivamFor all humanity, love is God
Male
Kadalai kadainthaal amirtham undoIf you churn the sea, do you get nectar?
Kadhalai kadanthaal amirtham unduIf you cross love, you get nectar
Female :Kadalai kadainthaal amirtham undoFemale: If you churn the sea, do you get nectar?
Kadhalai kadanthaal amirtham unduIf you cross love, you get nectar
Male
Oh pennae tamizh pennaeOh girl, Tamil girl
Senkadal muththu un kannaeYour eyes are pearls from the Red Sea
Oh pennae tamil pennaeOh girl, Tamil girl
Senkadal muththu un kannaeYour eyes are pearls from the Red Sea
Male
Kalavaiyil enna kalathaanoWhat did Creator mix in the recipe
Bramman unnai padaikkaWhen Lord Brahma created you?
Kadalil nuraiyinai eduththaanoDid he take foam from the sea
Azhage unnai vadikkaTo sculpt your beauty?
Idhalil pazharasam vadiththaanoDid he pour fruit juice on your lips
Dhinamum naan suvaikkaFor me to taste every day?
Male
Adadaa adadaa azhagidhuvaaAh, ah, is this beauty?
Alaikadal modhum idai idhuvaaIs this a waist against which the wavy sea strikes?
Adadaa adadaa azhagidhuvaaAh, ah, is this beauty?
Alaikadal modhum idai idhuvaaIs this a waist against which the wavy sea strikes?
Male
Oh pennae tamil pennaeOh girl, Tamil girl
Senkadal muththu un kannaeYour eyes are pearls from the Red Sea

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Oh Pennae Tamizh Pennae from the film Vaanavil (2000) is a romantic and philosophical song lyricized by Vairamuthu. The song weaves a elaborate tapestry of allegories comparing the vast, mysterious ocean with human love and passion. The protagonist praises the physical and spiritual beauty of his beloved, equating her features to ocean treasures and divine craftsmanship. Beyond simple romance, the lyricist delves into deep reflections on how love mirrors the sea—undiminished by adversity, possessing hidden emotional turmoils, and serving as the foundational essence of human life. Just as the ocean gives purpose to fishermen, love is portrayed as the ultimate spiritual deity for all humankind.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Senkadal muththu un kannae

Compares the maiden's eyes directly to precious pearls harvested from the sea.

Hyperbole (Athisayokthi)

Kadalil nuraiyinai eduththaano / Idhalil pazharasam vadiththaano

Exaggerates the creation of the heroine's physical beauty by suggesting Brahma used sea foam and sweet fruit juices.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kadalukku keezhum bhoogambam nadakkum / Kadhalar vaazhvodum hoogambam vedikkum

Rhyming of the second consonant in consecutive lines (Kadalukku / Kadhalar).

Parallelism & Analogy

Meenavarukkellam kadalthaan deivam / Maanidarkellam kadhalthaan deivam

Draws a direct parallel between the sea being divine for fishermen and love being divine for humanity.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for Vaanavil (2000) was composed by Deva. The song 'Oh Pennae Tamizh Pennae' features vocals by Hariharan and Anuradha Sriram, and remains popular for its unique oceanic metaphors crafted by lyricist Vairamuthu.

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