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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Pen Endral

From Vetri Mugam · 1996

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singer: Jolly Abraham
Music director: Vasantha Rajan
Movie name: Vetri Mugam
Movie release year: 1996
Lyrics added on: 24 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Ooo….deva devaa devaa aaa….aa…..

Pen endraal peyum iranggum

Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam

Maarbodu saainthu kondu

Maarbodu saainthu kondu

Mudhukodu vaalai paaichchum

Koottam penn koottam

Pen endraal peyum iranggum

Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam

Pookkalukku naagam undu

Idhuvaraikkum paarththathillai

Pengalukkul thurogam undu

Adhil irandu vaadham illai

Penn seitha soozhchchithaanae idhikaasam enbathu

Pengalukku aangal endraal parigaasamaanathu

Manathai koduththaen vaazhvai tholaiththaen

Dheiveega kadhal endru yaedhum kidaiyaathu

Pen endraal peyum iranggum

Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam

Koondhaloru paasa kayiru

Adhil evanum meendathillai

Kangal rendum neela kadalgal

Adhai evanum thaandavillai

Aan sinthum eera kanneer

Penn thanthathallavaa

Avamaanam pengal thantha

Vegumaanam allavaa

Amutha kinnaththil visaththai koduththu

Vilaiyaadi paarkkum jaadhi intha penn jaadhi

Pen endraal peyum iranggum

Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam

Maarbodu saainthu kondu

Maarbodu saainthu kondu

Mudhukodu vaalai paaichchum

Koottam penn koottam

Pen endraal peyum iranggum

Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam

Pen endraal peyum iranggum

Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam

Oh... my Lord, my Lord, my Lord, ah... ah...

Even a ghost will take pity on a woman,

but what mercy do women ever have?

Leaning close against your chest,

Leaning close against your chest,

they will drive a sword into your back—

that is womankind!

Even a ghost will take pity on a woman,

but what mercy do women ever have?

They say a cobra hides inside flowers,

though I have never seen it so far.

Betrayal lives inside women,

and there is no doubt about it.

Aren't the great epics born of women's scheming?

To women, men are merely a joke.

I gave my heart and lost my life.

There is no such thing as divine love.

Even a ghost will take pity on a woman,

but what mercy do women ever have?

Her hair is a noose of love,

from which no man has ever escaped.

Her two eyes are deep blue seas,

that no man has ever crossed.

The tears that a man sheds,

weren't they given by a woman?

The humiliation a man faces,

isn't it the reward women give?

Serving poison in a cup of nectar,

this race of women loves to play with our lives.

Even a ghost will take pity on a woman,

but what mercy do women ever have?

Leaning close against your chest,

Leaning close against your chest,

they will drive a sword into your back—

that is womankind!

Even a ghost will take pity on a woman,

but what mercy do women ever have?

Even a ghost will take pity on a woman,

but what mercy do women ever have?

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses deep heartbreak, bitterness, and disillusionment after a betrayal in love. The male protagonist questions the authenticity of love and criticizes women for being deceptively affectionate while harboring treachery. Through harsh metaphors, he subverts traditional praises of female beauty, viewing long hair as a trap and eyes as inescapable oceans. Ultimately, the song portrays love as a tragic illusion that ends in sorrow and betrayal.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb Subversion (பழமொழி முரண்)

“Pen endraal peyum iranggum / Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam”

The lyrics take the famous Tamil proverb 'Pen endraal peyum iranggum' (Even a ghost will melt/feel pity for a woman) and ironically contrast it with 'Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam' (Where is pity in women?).

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

“Koondhaloru paasa kayiru / Adhil evanum meendathillai”

Compares a woman's long hair to a binding rope of attachment ('paasa kayiru') from which no man escapes.

Oxymoron / Paradox (முரண்)

“Amutha kinnaththil visaththai koduththu”

Contrasts nectar with poison ('Amutha kinnaththil visaththai') to highlight betrayal masked in sweetness.

Assonance / Monai (மோனை)

“Maarbodu saainthu kondu / Mudhukodu vaalai paaichchum”

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds across lines ('Maarbodu' / 'Mudhukodu').

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening line subverts the ancient Tamil adage 'Peium irangum pen endraal' to express tragic resentment. Such songs were a popular trope in 1990s Tamil cinema, often categorized as 'soup songs' or heartbreak anthems.

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