Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Penn Vazha Vendumendral

From Nalvaravu · 1964

Lyricist
V. Lakshmanan
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
T. Chalapathi Rao
Details
Nalvaravu1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pen vaazha vendum endraalIf a woman is to live happily,
Thunai vaazha vendumHer companion must live long.
Kann vaazha kann serndhaFor the eye to flourish,
Mani vaazha vendumThe pupil within the eye must flourish.
Mani vaazha vendumThe pupil must flourish.
Female
Pen vaazha vendum endraalIf a woman is to live happily,
Thunai vaazha vendumHer companion must live long.
Female
Kann moodum naal mattumUntil the day her eyes close forever,
Pennaaga minnum…….She shines as a true woman...
Panthaanae….eppodhum neengamalLike a sacred bond that never departs,
Nee kaaka vendum nee kakka vendumYou must protect, you must protect.
Female
Pen vaazha vendum endraalIf a woman is to live happily,
Thunai vaazha vendumHer companion must live long.
Female
Saavodu poradi avar vaazhvukkaagaFighting against death for the sake of his life,
Poovana kodi naanumI, like a tender flowering vine,
En vaazhvai tharuvenWill give my very life.
En vaazhvai tharuvenWill give my very life.
Female
Pen vaazha vendum endraalIf a woman is to live happily,
Thunai vaazha vendumHer companion must live long.
Female
Vaazhamal naan vazhnthuIf I live without really living,
Payanaedhum illaiThere is no purpose at all.
Vaazhgindra vaazhkaikkuTo the life that is lived,
Vazhikatta vendum…vazhikatta vendumA proper path must be shown... a path must be shown.
Female
Pen vaazha vendum endraalIf a woman is to live happily,
Thunai vaazha vendumHer companion must live long.
Kann vaazha kann serndhaFor the eye to flourish,
Mani vaazha vendumThe pupil within the eye must flourish.
Mani vaazha vendumThe pupil must flourish.
Female
Avar vaazha vendum avar vaazha vendumHe must live long, he must live long.
Avar vaazha vendum avar vaazha vendumHe must live long, he must live long.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pen Vaazha Vendum Endraal from the 1964 film Nalvaravu is a emotional song centered on a wife's deep devotion and ardent prayers for her husband's health and long life. Using vivid imagery, the song conveys that a woman's fulfillment and dignity in life are intrinsically linked to the presence and well-being of her husband, comparing their bond to the eye and its pupil.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Kann vaazha kann serndha Mani vaazha vendum

Compares the husband to the pupil ('mani') of an eye ('kann'), highlighting how essential he is to her life's meaning.

Metaphor (Uvamanai)

Poovana kodi naanum

Compares herself to a delicate flowering vine ('poovana kodi') willing to give up everything for her partner.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Avar vaazha vendum avar vaazha vendum

Repetition of 'Avar vaazha vendum' and 'Nee kaaka vendum' emphasizes intense emotional yearning and prayerful urgency.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nalvaravu (1964) featured music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao with lyrics by V. Lakshmanan. This classical track is powerfully rendered by playback legend P. Leela, known for her emotive singing in vintage South Indian cinema.

Keep listening

More from Nalvaravu