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Pen Jenmam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Koyilin Iru Deepangal

From Pen Jenmam · 1977

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pen Jenmam
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
29 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru kovilin iru deepangal
Iru veru dhisai paarpadhenna
Oru paadal thaan naam paadinom
Iru veru isai kettpadhenna
Poovudan manjal nee koduthaai
Punniyan unnaal naan oru thaai
Nilaithu vaazhum kaaviyam
Neeyum naanum thaan
Irukkum poruththam idaiyen varutham
Oru kovilin iru deepangal
Iru veru dhisai paarpadhenna
Oru paadal thaan naam paadinom
Iru veru isai kettpadhenna
Kaadhali raadhai oru karaiyil
Kannanum nindraan maru karaiyil
Karaigal irandai vaguthathu
Kaalam neram thaan
Sumaigal kuraindhaal sugangal varalaam
Oru kovilin iru deepangal
Iru veru dhisai paarpadhenna
Oru paadal thaan naam paadinom
Iru veru isai kettpadhenna
Two lamps in the same temple,
why do they face different directions?
We sang only one song,
why do we hear two different tunes?
You gave me flowers and turmeric,
and thanks to you, noble one, I became a mother.
An everlasting love story,
that is what you and I truly are.
When we belong together, why is there sorrow between us?
Two lamps in the same temple,
why do they face different directions?
We sang only one song,
why do we hear two different tunes?
His beloved Radha stood on one riverbank,
and Krishna stood on the other.
What divided them into two separate banks
was only time and fate.
If our burdens lessen, happiness may return.
Two lamps in the same temple,
why do they face different directions?
We sang only one song,
why do we hear two different tunes?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses the deep pain of emotional distance between a husband and wife who were once united in love. Through powerful metaphors, the speaker compares their situation to two lamps lit in the same temple that point in opposite directions, or a single song that somehow produces two conflicting melodies. Despite being blessed with marriage and parenthood, cruel circumstances have driven an emotional wedge between them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Oru kovilin iru deepangal / Iru veru dhisai paarpadhenna

The couple's strained relationship is metaphorically described as two lamps lit inside one temple that face opposite directions.

Mythological Allusion

Kaadhali raadhai oru karaiyil / Kannanum nindraan maru karaiyil

Refers to the tragic separation of Radha and Krishna on opposite banks of a river to symbolize physical and emotional distance.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Poovudan manjal nee koduthaai / Punniyan unnaal naan oru thaai

The second letter 'oo'/'u' sound matches in 'Poovudan' and 'Punniyan'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1977 Tamil movie 'Pen Jenmam', penned by legendary lyricist Vaali. The music for the film was composed by G. K. Venkatesh, a veteran composer who was also a mentor to Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

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