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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Penn Ponaal

From Enga Veettu Pillai · 1965

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Enga Veettu Pillai1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Indha penn ponaal…If this woman leaves...
Ival pinnaalae en kann pogumMy eyes follow right behind her.
Male
Penn ponaal…If a woman leaves...
Indha penn ponaal…If this woman leaves...
Ival pinnaalae en kann pogumMy eyes follow right behind her.
Female
Vandhaaiyo… kooda vandhaaiyo..Did you come... did you come along with me?
Munbu illaadha sugam thandhaaiyo…Did you grant me an unprecedented bliss?
Male
Oh my sweet heartOh my sweet heart
Arugil vaa urugugirenCome closer, I am melting with love
Alli thaa parugugirenGather and give it to me, I shall sip it
Female
Oh my sweetOh my sweet
Wait wait i will give with loveWait, wait, I will give with love
Male
Penn ponaal…If a woman leaves...
Indha penn ponaal…If this woman leaves...
Ival pinnaalae en kann pogumMy eyes follow right behind her.
Female
Vandhaaiyo… kooda vandhaaiyo..Did you come... did you come along with me?
Munbu illaadha sugam thandhaaiyo…Did you grant me an unprecedented bliss?
Male
Paadhi nilaavai vinnil vaithuPlacing half of the moon in the sky
Meedhi nilaavai mannil vaithuAnd placing the remaining moon on the earth
Paadhi nilaavai vinnil vaithuPlacing half of the moon in the sky
Meedhi nilaavai mannil vaithuAnd placing the remaining moon on the earth
Mannil vaithadhai mangai unadhuDid he place the moon brought to earth
Kannil vaithaano…oohoooIn your eyes, my dear maiden?
Kannil vaithaanoo…Did he place it in your eyes?
Female
Aayiram poovai alli eduthuScooping up a thousand flowers
Alli eduthadhai killi eduthuPlucking and choosing from what was gathered
Aayiram poovai alli eduthuScooping up a thousand flowers
Alli eduthadhai killi eduthuPlucking and choosing from what was gathered
Konjam konjamaai thaenai eduthuExtracting honey little by little
Nenjil vaithaano…oohooDid he store it in your heart?
Nenjil vaithaanoo…Did he store it in your heart?
Male
Penn ponaal…If a woman leaves...
Indha penn ponaal…If this woman leaves...
Ival pinnaalae en kann pogumMy eyes follow right behind her.
Female
Vandhaaiyo… kooda vandhaaiyo..Did you come... did you come along with me?
Munbu illaadha sugam thandhaaiyo…Did you grant me an unprecedented bliss?
Female
Hooo hoo hoo hoo ooo oooHooo hoo hoo hoo ooo ooo
Hooo ooo ooo ooooHooo ooo ooo oooo
Male
Vaanavil pennaai vandhadhindruSaying a rainbow came disguised as a woman today
Vaarthaiyil bodhai thandhadhendruSaying her words provided intoxicating pleasure
Vaanavil pennaai vandhadhindruSaying a rainbow came disguised as a woman today
Vaarthaiyil bodhai thandhadhendruSaying her words provided intoxicating pleasure
Annam nadandhaal aadi kidandhaalAs the swan walked, she swayed gently
Innum sollavo…oohoooShall I describe even more?
Innum sollavo…Shall I describe even more?
Female
Kaadhalan perai sollikkonduUttering the name of her lover
Kaathirundhaalaam alli thanduThe tender lotus stem waited eagerly
Kaadhalan perai sollikkonduUttering the name of her lover
Kaathirundhaalaam alli thanduThe tender lotus stem waited eagerly
Thendral adikka thaavi anaikkaWhen the southern breeze blows and embraces tightly
Enna sugamo…oohooWhat sweet bliss it must be...
Enna sugamo…What sweet bliss it must be...
Male
Penn ponaal…If a woman leaves...
Indha penn ponaal…If this woman leaves...
Ival pinnaalae en kann pogumMy eyes follow right behind her.
Female
Vandhaaiyo… kooda vandhaaiyo..Did you come... did you come along with me?
Munbu illaadha sugam thandhaaiyo…Did you grant me an unprecedented bliss?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful romantic song from the blockbuster film 'Enga Veettu Pillai' features a joyous back-and-forth dialogue between two lovers expressing their deep affection and awe of each other. The hero admires the heroine's enchanting beauty, comparing her eyes to the moon, her heart to gathered honey, and her grace to a walking swan and a rainbow brought to earth. The heroine responds in kind with affectionate words, promising her devotion and love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Hyperbole

Paadhi nilaavai vinnil vaithu / Meedhi nilaavai mannil vaithu

The lyricist poetically splits the moon into two halves—one placed in the sky and the other placed in the maiden's eyes.

Emona / Rhyme (Initial Assonance)

Paadhi nilaavai vinnil vaithu / Meedhi nilaavai mannil vaithu

Matching starting phonemes across lines creates a rhythmic cadence (Paadhi / Meedhi).

Anaphora / Repetition

Aayiram poovai alli eduthu / Alli eduthadhai killi eduthu

Repetition of phrase patterns creates musicality and underscores the intensity of attraction.

Code-mixing / Bilingual Lyricism

Wait wait i will give with love

Blend of conversational English phrases ('Oh my sweet heart', 'Wait wait i will give with love') within Tamil lyrics to reflect modern romantic banter.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Penn Ponaal Indha Penn Ponaal' is a celebrated romantic duet from the 1965 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi starrer 'Enga Veettu Pillai'. Composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Vaali, the song was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The film was one of the biggest silver-jubilee hits in Tamil cinema history.

Keep listening

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