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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Penja Mazhai

From Kalavani · 2010

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
A. Devendren
Music director
S. S. Kumaran
Details
Kalavani2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Penja mazhai kaanja neramWhen the fallen rain dries up,
Pechu thunaikku aalum venumOne needs a companion to talk to.
Penja mazhai kaanja neramWhen the fallen rain dries up,
Pechu thunaikku aalum venumOne needs a companion to talk to.
Male
Kaayum vinnil thanni polaLike water under the scorching sky,
Manasum kedandhu kodhikkumMy heart simmers and boils.
Nee maratha thottu pesaadhediGirl, don't talk touching the tree,
Adhukkum kaaichal adikkum..heiEven that tree will catch a fever.. hei!
Male
Udhattoaram machcham paarkkaJust to see the mole near your lips,
Oththaiyadi paadhai pottenI beat down a narrow foot-path.
Un kannai paarththa piraguAfter looking into your eyes,
Kallukkadai marandhupputtenI completely forgot the liquor shop.
Male
Ye raani ennai nenaichikkoOh queen, keep me in your thoughts!
Adi ye raani ennai nenaichikkoHey queen, keep me in your thoughts!
Varappa vetti nelathai serkkumI cut the field ridges to expand my land,
Kuppai melum madhippu vachenI even valued compost and rubbish.
Male
Poaradichi viththa kaasilWith the money earned by threshing grain,
Unakku naanum ravikkai thechenI stitched a blouse for you.
Ye rani ellaam unakkuthaanOh queen, everything is for you alone!
Adi ye rani ellaam unakkuthaanHey queen, everything is for you alone!
Male
Penja mazhai kaanja neramWhen the fallen rain dries up,
Pechu thunaikku aalum venumOne needs a companion to talk to.
Male
Kaayum vinnil thanni polaLike water under the scorching sky,
Manasum kedandhu kodhikkumMy heart simmers and boils.
Nee maratha thottu pesaadhediGirl, don't talk touching the tree,
Adhukkum kaaichal adikkum..Even that tree will catch a fever..
Adhukkum kaaichal adikkum..heiEven that tree will catch a fever.. hei!
Adhukkum kaaichal adikkum..heiEven that tree will catch a fever.. hei!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Penja Mazhai Kaanja Neram from the movie Kalavani (2010) is a playful rural folk-romantic song expressing a young villager's yearning and tender affection for his beloved. Using rich agrarian imagery—such as dried post-rain earth, field ridges, threshing grain, and local toddy shops—the protagonist describes how love has completely taken over his thoughts and reshaped his priorities.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Nee maratha thottu pesaadhedi / Adhukkum kaaichal adikkum..hei

The lyricist playfully exaggerates the heroine's intense warmth/radiance by stating that even an inanimate tree will catch a fever if she touches it.

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Kaayum vinnil thanni pola / Manasum kedandhu kodhikkum

Compares the boiling, restless state of his longing heart to water evaporating under the blazing sun/sky.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Penja mazhai kaanja neram / Pechu thunaikku aalum venum

Repetition of the initial sound 'P' in 'Penja' and 'Pechu' at the start of consecutive lines.

Contrast / Character Arc Metaphor

Kallukkadai marandhupputten ... Unakku naanum ravikkai thechen

Contrasts his former bad habit of visiting liquor shops with his current devoted action of spending grain earnings to buy clothes for his beloved.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by S.S. Kumaran for the 2010 rural comedy-drama Kalavani, directed by A. Sarkunam and starring Vimal and Oviya. Lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar penned the track using authentic central Tamil Nadu (Thanjavur/Pudukkottai) dialectal terms to give it a realistic agrarian charm.

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