Oru Pen Pura
From Annamalai · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Annamalai1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oru pen pura | A female dove |
| Kanneeril thallaada | Is tottering in tears, |
| Ennullam thindaada | And my heart is struggling. |
| Enna vaazhkaiyo… | What kind of a life is this... |
| Male | |
| Sumai thaangi | The resting stone that supports burdens |
| Sumaiyaanathae | Has itself become a heavy burden. |
| Enthan nimmathi ponathae | My peace of mind is gone, |
| Manam vaaduthae | My heart wilts away. |
| Male | |
| Oru pen pura …. | A female dove... |
| Male | |
| Kattantharaiyil | On the bare floor, |
| Oru thundai virithen | I spread out a simple towel, |
| Thookkam kanna sokkumae | And sleep would overpower my eyes. |
| Adhu antha kaalamae | That was back in those days. |
| Male | |
| Meththai virithum | Even after spreading a luxurious mattress, |
| Sutha panneer thelithum | And sprinkling pure rosewater, |
| Kannil thookkam illaiyae | There is no sleep in my eyes. |
| Adhu intha kaalamae | That is how these present days are. |
| Male | |
| En devanae… oh | Oh my God... oh, |
| Thookkam kodu | Grant me sleep, |
| Meendum antha ..oh.. | Give me once again, oh... |
| Vaazhkai kodu | Give me back that life. |
| Male | |
| Paalaivanam | Having crossed a desert, |
| Kadanthu vanthen | I have come this far. |
| Paadhangalai | Allow my weary feet |
| Aara vidu | To cool down and rest. |
| Male | |
| Oru pen pura | A female dove |
| Kanneeril thallaada | Is tottering in tears, |
| Ennullam thindaada | And my heart is struggling. |
| Enna vaazhkaiyo… | What kind of a life is this... |
| Male | |
| Sumai thaangi | The resting stone that supports burdens |
| Sumaiyaanathae | Has itself become a heavy burden. |
| Enthan nimmathi ponathae | My peace of mind is gone, |
| Manam vaaduthae | My heart wilts away. |
| Male | |
| Oru pen pura …. | A female dove... |
| Male | |
| Kozhi midhithu | When stepped on by a mother hen, |
| Oru kunju saaguma | Will a chick ever die? |
| Andru paadam padithen | That was the lesson I learned back then, |
| Adhu pazhaiya pazhamozhi | That is an old proverb. |
| Male | |
| Kunju midhithu | Stepped on by the chick, |
| Intha kozhi nonthathae | This mother hen was broken and pained. |
| Ithai nenjil niruthu | Keep this in your heart, |
| Ithu pudhiya pazhamozhi | This is a new proverb. |
| Male | |
| Aanpillaiyo saagum varai | A male child suffers until death, |
| Pen pillaiyo pogum varai | A female child is a responsibility until she leaves. |
| Vizhi irandum kaayum varai | Until both my eyes dried up, |
| Azhuthuvitten aanavarai | I wept to my heart's content. |
| Male | |
| Oru pen pura | A female dove |
| Kanneeril thallaada | Is tottering in tears, |
| Ennullam thindaada | And my heart is struggling. |
| Enna vaazhkaiyo… | What kind of a life is this... |
| Male | |
| Sumai thaangi | The resting stone that supports burdens |
| Sumaiyaanathae | Has itself become a heavy burden. |
| Enthan nimmathi ponathae | My peace of mind is gone, |
| Manam vaaduthae | My heart wilts away. |
| Male | |
| Oru pen pura …. | A female dove... |
ஒரு பெண்
புறா கண்ணீரில் தள்ளாட
என் உள்ளம் திண்டாட
என்ன வாழ்க்கையோ
A female dove
Is tottering in tears,
And my heart is struggling.
What kind of a life is this...
சுமை தாங்கி
சுமை ஆனதே எந்தன்
நிம்மதி போனதே
மனம் வாடுதே
ஒரு பெண் புறா
The resting stone that supports burdens
Has itself become a heavy burden.
My peace of mind is gone,
My heart wilts away.
கட்டாந் தரையில்
ஒரு துண்டை விரித்தேன்
தூக்கம் கண்ண சொக்குமே
அது அந்த காலமே
A female dove...
மெத்தை விரித்தும்
சுத்த பன்னீர் தெளித்தும்
கண்ணில் தூக்கம் இல்லையே
அது இந்த காலமே
On the bare floor,
I spread out a simple towel,
And sleep would overpower my eyes.
That was back in those days.
என் தேவனே
ஓ தூக்கம் கொடு
மீண்டும் அந்த ஓ
வாழ்க்கை கொடு
Even after spreading a luxurious mattress,
And sprinkling pure rosewater,
There is no sleep in my eyes.
That is how these present days are.
பாலைவனம்
கடந்து வந்தேன்
பாதங்களை ஆறவிடு
Oh my God... oh,
Grant me sleep,
Give me once again, oh...
Give me back that life.
ஒரு பெண்
புறா கண்ணீரில் தள்ளாட
என் உள்ளம் திண்டாட
என்ன வாழ்க்கையோ
Having crossed a desert,
I have come this far.
Allow my weary feet
To cool down and rest.
சுமை தாங்கி
சுமை ஆனதே எந்தன்
நிம்மதி போனதே
மனம் வாடுதே
ஒரு பெண் புறா
A female dove
Is tottering in tears,
And my heart is struggling.
What kind of a life is this...
கோழி மிதித்து
ஒரு குஞ்சு சாகுமா
அன்று பாடம் படித்தேன்
அது பழைய பழமொழி
The resting stone that supports burdens
Has itself become a heavy burden.
My peace of mind is gone,
My heart wilts away.
குஞ்சு மிதித்து
இந்த கோழி நொந்ததே
இதை நெஞ்சில் நிறுத்து
இது புதிய பழமொழி
A female dove...
ஆண் பிள்ளையோ
சாகும் வரை பெண் பிள்ளையோ
போகும் வரை விழி இரண்டும்
காயும்வரை அழுதுவிட்டேன்
ஆனவரை
When stepped on by a mother hen,
Will a chick ever die?
That was the lesson I learned back then,
That is an old proverb.
ஒரு பெண்
புறா கண்ணீரில் தள்ளாட
என் உள்ளம் திண்டாட
என்ன வாழ்க்கையோ
Stepped on by the chick,
This mother hen was broken and pained.
Keep this in your heart,
This is a new proverb.
சுமை தாங்கி
சுமை ஆனதே எந்தன்
நிம்மதி போனதே
மனம் வாடுதே
ஒரு பெண் புறா
A male child suffers until death,
A female child is a responsibility until she leaves.
Until both my eyes dried up,
I wept to my heart's content.
A female dove
Is tottering in tears,
And my heart is struggling.
What kind of a life is this...
The resting stone that supports burdens
Has itself become a heavy burden.
My peace of mind is gone,
My heart wilts away.
A female dove...
Oru pen pura
A female dove
Kanneeril thallaada
Is tottering in tears,
Ennullam thindaada
And my heart is struggling.
Enna vaazhkaiyo…
What kind of a life is this...
Sumai thaangi
The resting stone that supports burdens
Sumaiyaanathae
Has itself become a heavy burden.
Enthan nimmathi ponathae
My peace of mind is gone,
Manam vaaduthae
My heart wilts away.
Oru pen pura ….
A female dove...
Kattantharaiyil
On the bare floor,
Oru thundai virithen
I spread out a simple towel,
Thookkam kanna sokkumae
And sleep would overpower my eyes.
Adhu antha kaalamae
That was back in those days.
Meththai virithum
Even after spreading a luxurious mattress,
Sutha panneer thelithum
And sprinkling pure rosewater,
Kannil thookkam illaiyae
There is no sleep in my eyes.
Adhu intha kaalamae
That is how these present days are.
En devanae… oh
Oh my God... oh,
Thookkam kodu
Grant me sleep,
Meendum antha ..oh..
Give me once again, oh...
Vaazhkai kodu
Give me back that life.
Paalaivanam
Having crossed a desert,
Kadanthu vanthen
I have come this far.
Paadhangalai
Allow my weary feet
Aara vidu
To cool down and rest.
Oru pen pura
A female dove
Kanneeril thallaada
Is tottering in tears,
Ennullam thindaada
And my heart is struggling.
Enna vaazhkaiyo…
What kind of a life is this...
Sumai thaangi
The resting stone that supports burdens
Sumaiyaanathae
Has itself become a heavy burden.
Enthan nimmathi ponathae
My peace of mind is gone,
Manam vaaduthae
My heart wilts away.
Oru pen pura ….
A female dove...
Kozhi midhithu
When stepped on by a mother hen,
Oru kunju saaguma
Will a chick ever die?
Andru paadam padithen
That was the lesson I learned back then,
Adhu pazhaiya pazhamozhi
That is an old proverb.
Kunju midhithu
Stepped on by the chick,
Intha kozhi nonthathae
This mother hen was broken and pained.
Ithai nenjil niruthu
Keep this in your heart,
Ithu pudhiya pazhamozhi
This is a new proverb.
Aanpillaiyo saagum varai
A male child suffers until death,
Pen pillaiyo pogum varai
A female child is a responsibility until she leaves.
Vizhi irandum kaayum varai
Until both my eyes dried up,
Azhuthuvitten aanavarai
I wept to my heart's content.
Oru pen pura
A female dove
Kanneeril thallaada
Is tottering in tears,
Ennullam thindaada
And my heart is struggling.
Enna vaazhkaiyo…
What kind of a life is this...
Sumai thaangi
The resting stone that supports burdens
Sumaiyaanathae
Has itself become a heavy burden.
Enthan nimmathi ponathae
My peace of mind is gone,
Manam vaaduthae
My heart wilts away.
Oru pen pura ….
A female dove...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Oru Pen Pura' from the 1992 blockbuster film 'Annamalai' is a poignant, melancholic song centered around sorrow, parental pain, and the ironic contrast between material wealth and inner peace. The speaker expresses deep anguish over the plight of a loved female figure (a daughter/young woman portrayed metaphorically as a 'female dove') and reflects on how achieving worldly success has ironically stripped away his tranquility and restful sleep. Through evocative cultural imagery and subversion of traditional Tamil proverbs, lyricist Vairamuthu captures the heartbreak of a guardian whose efforts to shield others have turned into an overwhelming burden. The song captures a moment of emotional burnout, where the protagonist pleads for simple peace over luxurious discomfort, marking an emotionally heavy and introspective moment in the movie's narrative.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Oru pen pura”
The phrase 'pen pura' (female dove) is used as a tender metaphor for a innocent young woman or daughter in distress.
Muran (Contrast)
“Kattantharaiyil ... Adhu antha kaalamae / Meththai virithum ... Adhu intha kaalamae”
Contrasts the peaceful sleep enjoyed on a bare floor during poorer days ('antha kaalam') with the sleeplessness experienced on a soft bed during prosperous times ('intha kaalam').
Subversion of Proverb (Pazhamozhi)
“Kunju midhithu intha kozhi nonthathae”
Subverts the famous traditional Tamil proverb 'Kozhi midhithu kunju saaguma' (A chick doesn't die when stepped on by a hen) to create a new insight: when the chick steps on the mother hen, the hen suffers deeply.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Paalaivanam / Paadhangalai”
The second letter 'la/da' sound creates a rhythmic phonetic harmony across the lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Though listed with unknown credits in some song indexes, 'Oru Pen Pura' was composed by Deva and masterfully rendered by the legendary playback singer K. J. Yesudas. 'Annamalai' (1992), directed by Suresh Krissna and starring Superstar Rajinikanth, was a massive turning point in Tamil cinema history, establishing Rajinikanth's iconic 'Superstar' title card and becoming the highest-grossing Tamil film of its time.
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