Pen Endral
From Vetri Mugam · 1996
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Jolly Abraham
- Music director
- Vasantha Rajan
- Details
- Vetri Mugam1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ooo….deva devaa devaa aaa….aa….. | Ooo... Oh God Deva... |
| Pen endraal peyum iranggum | Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman, |
| Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam | Yet where is compassion in women? |
| Maarbodu saainthu kondu | While leaning against the chest, |
| Maarbodu saainthu kondu | While leaning against the chest, |
| Mudhukodu vaalai paaichchum | They plunge a sword into the back; |
| Koottam penn koottam | That group is the group of women. |
| Male | |
| Pen endraal peyum iranggum | Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman, |
| Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam | Yet where is compassion in women? |
| Male | |
| Pookkalukku naagam undu | Flowers hold hidden serpents, |
| Idhuvaraikkum paarththathillai | Which I have never seen until now. |
| Pengalukkul thurogam undu | Treachery exists within women, |
| Adhil irandu vaadham illai | There are no two opinions about that. |
| Male | |
| Penn seitha soozhchchithaanae idhikaasam enbathu | Great epics themselves are conspiracies spun by women. |
| Pengalukku aangal endraal parigaasamaanathu | For women, men are merely a subject of mockery. |
| Manathai koduththaen vaazhvai tholaiththaen | I gave my heart and lost my life; |
| Dheiveega kadhal endru yaedhum kidaiyaathu | There is no such thing as divine love. |
| Male | |
| Pen endraal peyum iranggum | Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman, |
| Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam | Yet where is compassion in women? |
| Male | |
| Koondhaloru paasa kayiru | Her hair is a rope of attachment, |
| Adhil evanum meendathillai | From which no man has ever escaped. |
| Kangal rendum neela kadalgal | Both eyes are deep blue oceans, |
| Adhai evanum thaandavillai | Which no man has ever managed to cross. |
| Male | |
| Aan sinthum eera kanneer | The moist tears shed by a man, |
| Penn thanthathallavaa | Were they not given by a woman? |
| Avamaanam pengal thantha | Is humiliation not the reward |
| Vegumaanam allavaa | Bestowed upon us by women? |
| Amutha kinnaththil visaththai koduththu | Giving poison in a cup of nectar, |
| Vilaiyaadi paarkkum jaadhi intha penn jaadhi | This breed of women loves to play and watch. |
| Male | |
| Pen endraal peyum iranggum | Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman, |
| Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam | Yet where is compassion in women? |
| Maarbodu saainthu kondu | While leaning against the chest, |
| Maarbodu saainthu kondu | While leaning against the chest, |
| Mudhukodu vaalai paaichchum | They plunge a sword into the back; |
| Koottam penn koottam | That group is the group of women. |
| Male | |
| Pen endraal peyum iranggum | Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman, |
| Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam | Yet where is compassion in women? |
| Pen endraal peyum iranggum | Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman, |
| Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam | Yet where is compassion in women? |
ஓஓ......தேவா தேவா தேவா ஆ....ஆ.....
பெண் என்றால் பேயும் இரங்கும்
பெண்களுக்கு ஏது இரக்கம்
மார்போடு சாய்ந்து கொண்டு
மார்போடு சாய்ந்து கொண்டு
முதுகோடு வாளைப் பாய்ச்சும்
கூட்டம் பெண் கூட்டம்
Ooo... Oh God Deva...
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Yet where is compassion in women?
While leaning against the chest,
While leaning against the chest,
They plunge a sword into the back;
That group is the group of women.
பெண் என்றால் பேயும் இரங்கும்
பெண்களுக்கு ஏது இரக்கம்.....
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Yet where is compassion in women?
பூக்களுக்குள் நாகம் உண்டு
இதுவரைக்கும் பார்த்ததில்லை
பெண்களுக்குள் துரோகம் உண்டு
அதில் இரண்டு வாதம் இல்லை
Flowers hold hidden serpents,
Which I have never seen until now.
Treachery exists within women,
There are no two opinions about that.
பெண் செய்த சூழ்ச்சிதானே இதிகாசம் என்பது
பெண்களுக்கு ஆண்கள் என்றால் பரிகாசமானது
மனதை கொடுத்தேன் வாழ்வை தொலைத்தேன்
தெய்வீக காதல் என்று ஏதும் கிடையாது
Great epics themselves are conspiracies spun by women.
For women, men are merely a subject of mockery.
I gave my heart and lost my life;
There is no such thing as divine love.
பெண் என்றால் பேயும் இரங்கும்
பெண்களுக்கு ஏது இரக்கம்
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Yet where is compassion in women?
கூந்தலொரு பாசக் கயிறு
அதில் எவனும் மீண்டதில்லை
கண்கள் ரெண்டும் நீலக் கடல்கள்
அதை எவனும் தாண்டவில்லை
Her hair is a rope of attachment,
From which no man has ever escaped.
Both eyes are deep blue oceans,
Which no man has ever managed to cross.
ஆண் சிந்தும் ஈரக் கண்ணீர்
பெண் தந்ததல்லவா
அவமானம் பெண்கள் தந்த
வெகுமானம் அல்லவா
அமுதக் கிண்ணத்தில் விஷத்தை கொடுத்து
விளையாடி பார்க்கும் ஜாதி இந்த பெண் ஜாதி
The moist tears shed by a man,
Were they not given by a woman?
Is humiliation not the reward
Bestowed upon us by women?
Giving poison in a cup of nectar,
This breed of women loves to play and watch.
பெண் என்றால் பேயும் இரங்கும்
பெண்களுக்கு ஏது இரக்கம்
மார்போடு சாய்ந்து கொண்டு
மார்போடு சாய்ந்து கொண்டு
முதுகோடு வாளைப் பாய்ச்சும்
கூட்டம் பெண் கூட்டம்
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Yet where is compassion in women?
While leaning against the chest,
While leaning against the chest,
They plunge a sword into the back;
That group is the group of women.
பெண் என்றால் பேயும் இரங்கும்
பெண்களுக்கு ஏது இரக்கம்.....
பெண் என்றால் பேயும் இரங்கும்
பெண்களுக்கு ஏது இரக்கம்.......
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Yet where is compassion in women?
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Yet where is compassion in women?
Ooo….deva devaa devaa aaa….aa…..
Ooo... Oh God Deva...
Pen endraal peyum iranggum
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam
Yet where is compassion in women?
Maarbodu saainthu kondu
While leaning against the chest,
Maarbodu saainthu kondu
While leaning against the chest,
Mudhukodu vaalai paaichchum
They plunge a sword into the back;
Koottam penn koottam
That group is the group of women.
Pen endraal peyum iranggum
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam
Yet where is compassion in women?
Pookkalukku naagam undu
Flowers hold hidden serpents,
Idhuvaraikkum paarththathillai
Which I have never seen until now.
Pengalukkul thurogam undu
Treachery exists within women,
Adhil irandu vaadham illai
There are no two opinions about that.
Penn seitha soozhchchithaanae idhikaasam enbathu
Great epics themselves are conspiracies spun by women.
Pengalukku aangal endraal parigaasamaanathu
For women, men are merely a subject of mockery.
Manathai koduththaen vaazhvai tholaiththaen
I gave my heart and lost my life;
Dheiveega kadhal endru yaedhum kidaiyaathu
There is no such thing as divine love.
Pen endraal peyum iranggum
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam
Yet where is compassion in women?
Koondhaloru paasa kayiru
Her hair is a rope of attachment,
Adhil evanum meendathillai
From which no man has ever escaped.
Kangal rendum neela kadalgal
Both eyes are deep blue oceans,
Adhai evanum thaandavillai
Which no man has ever managed to cross.
Aan sinthum eera kanneer
The moist tears shed by a man,
Penn thanthathallavaa
Were they not given by a woman?
Avamaanam pengal thantha
Is humiliation not the reward
Vegumaanam allavaa
Bestowed upon us by women?
Amutha kinnaththil visaththai koduththu
Giving poison in a cup of nectar,
Vilaiyaadi paarkkum jaadhi intha penn jaadhi
This breed of women loves to play and watch.
Pen endraal peyum iranggum
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam
Yet where is compassion in women?
Maarbodu saainthu kondu
While leaning against the chest,
Maarbodu saainthu kondu
While leaning against the chest,
Mudhukodu vaalai paaichchum
They plunge a sword into the back;
Koottam penn koottam
That group is the group of women.
Pen endraal peyum iranggum
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam
Yet where is compassion in women?
Pen endraal peyum iranggum
Even a ghost would show mercy to a woman,
Pengalukku yaedhu irakkam
Yet where is compassion in women?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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