- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Deva
- Movie name
- Annamalai
- Movie release year
- 1992
- Lyrics added on
- 7 Jun 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'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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