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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh Penne Thamizh Penne

From Vaanavil · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Unni Menon, Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Vaanavil
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
2 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………..
Oh pennae tamizh pennae
Senkadal muththu un kannae
Oh pennae tamizh pennae
Senkadal muththu un kannae
Kalavaiyil enna kalathaano
Bramman unnai padaikka
Kadalil nuraiyinai eduththaano
Azhage unnai vadikka
Idhalil pazharasam vadiththaano
Dhinamum naan suvaikka
Adadaa adadaa azhagidhuvaa
Alaikadal modhum idai idhuvaa
Adadaa adadaa azhagidhuvaa
Alaikadal modhum idai idhuvaa
Oh pennae tamizh pennae
Senkadal muththu un kannae
……………….
Kaattrum veyilum thudiththaalum
Kadalin alavu kuraivathillai
Pala pala kodi uyir thugiththaalum
Innum kadhalum kuraivathillai
Kadalin neelam illaamal
Vaanam vannam peruvathillai
Manam udainthaalum kadhal illaa vannam
Vaazhvukku vannam illai
Kadalukku keezhum bhoogambam nadakkum
Kadhalar vaazhvodum hoogambam vedikkum
Kadalin tharkolai athigamthaan
Kadhalin kadhaiyum athuvaethaan
Kadalin tharkolai athigamthaan
Kadhalin kadhaiyum athuvaethaan
Oh pennae tamizh pennae
Senkadal muththu un kannae
Kadalil odi kalappathirkku
Kaatril nadhigal ootredukkum
Ada kaadhal karai saernthu kalapathirkku
Mannil uyirkal pirapedukkum
Moondru paagam kadal irunthum
Nilaththil thaagam theeravillai
Nam vazhithorum kadhal irunthaalum
Innum vaazhkkai niraiyavillai
Meenavarukkellam kadalthaan deivam
Maanidarkellam kadhalthaan deivam
Kadalai kadainthaal amirtham undo
Kadhalai kadanthaal amirtham undu
Female :Kadalai kadainthaal amirtham undo
Kadhalai kadanthaal amirtham undu
Oh pennae tamizh pennae
Senkadal muththu un kannae
Oh pennae tamil pennae
Senkadal muththu un kannae
Kalavaiyil enna kalathaano
Bramman unnai padaikka
Kadalil nuraiyinai eduththaano
Azhage unnai vadikka
Idhalil pazharasam vadiththaano
Dhinamum naan suvaikka
Adadaa adadaa azhagidhuvaa
Alaikadal modhum idai idhuvaa
Adadaa adadaa azhagidhuvaa
Alaikadal modhum idai idhuvaa
Oh pennae tamil pennae
Senkadal muththu un kannae
...
Oh woman, Tamil maiden,
Your eyes are pearls from the deep red sea.
Oh woman, Tamil maiden,
Your eyes are pearls from the deep red sea.
What mixture did he blend in the mix,
For Brahma to create you?
Did he gather the foam from the ocean,
To sculpt you, my beauty?
Did he distil fruit nectar onto your lips,
For me to taste every single day?
Ah, my, my, is this what beauty is?
Is this the waist over which the surging sea lashes?
Ah, my, my, is this what beauty is?
Is this the waist over which the surging sea lashes?
Oh woman, Tamil maiden,
Your eyes are pearls from the deep red sea.
...
Even if the wind and hot sun rage,
The ocean's level never diminishes.
Even if many millions of lives are born,
Love still never wanes.
Without the blue of the ocean,
The sky does not gain its colour.
Though hearts break, without love's hue,
Life has no colour.
Earthquakes occur beneath the sea too,
Earthquakes erupt in lovers' lives as well.
The sea's self-destruction is vast indeed,
And the story of love is just the same.
The sea's self-destruction is vast indeed,
And the story of love is just the same.
Oh woman, Tamil maiden,
Your eyes are pearls from the deep red sea.
To rush and merge into the ocean,
Rivers spring forth in the wind.
Ah, to reach love's shore and merge,
Lives take birth on earth.
Though three parts of the world are ocean,
The thirst of the land remains unquenched.
Though love lies all along our path,
Life is still not fulfilled.
For all fishermen, the ocean is God,
For all humans, love is God.
If you churn the ocean, do you get nectar?
If you transcend into love, nectar is yours.
Female: If you churn the ocean, do you get nectar?
If you transcend into love, nectar is yours.
Oh woman, Tamil maiden,
Your eyes are pearls from the deep red sea.
Oh woman, Tamil maiden,
Your eyes are pearls from the deep red sea.
What mixture did he blend in the mix,
For Brahma to create you?
Did he gather the foam from the ocean,
To sculpt you, my beauty?
Did he distil fruit nectar onto your lips,
For me to taste every single day?
Ah, my, my, is this what beauty is?
Is this the waist over which the surging sea lashes?
Ah, my, my, is this what beauty is?
Is this the waist over which the surging sea lashes?
Oh woman, Tamil maiden,
Your eyes are pearls from the deep red sea.
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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