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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Penne Neeyum Penna

From Priyamana Thozhi · 2003

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Unni Menon, Kalpana
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Details
Priyamana Thozhi2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Pennae neeyum pennaa{O girl, are you really a woman,
Pennaagiya oviyamor a painting come to life?
Rendae rendu kannaYou have just two eyes,
Ovvondrum kaaviyam} (2)yet each one is an epic poem.} (2)
Male
Oru moondramA forehead woven
Pirayai suttriwith golden lace
Thanga jarigaiaround a crescent moon
Neitha nettriof the third day.
Male
Pani pookal therthalIf an election of frozen flowers
Vaithaal adi unakaewere held, my dear,
Endrum vettrivictory would always be yours.
Male
Brahman seithaLord Brahma's greatest
Saadhanai unnil therigiradhuachievement is visible in you.
Unnai ezhudhum podhuthaanOnly when writing about you
Mozhigal inikkiradhudoes language taste sweet.
Male
Pennae neeyum pennaaO girl, are you really a woman,
Pennaagiya oviyamor a painting come to life?
Rendae rendu kannaYou have just two eyes,
Ovvondrum kaaviyamyet each one is an epic poem.
Male
Puraa iragil seidhaDid you know that your body
Putham pudhiya methaiis like a brand new mattress
Undhan meni endrumade from soft pigeon feathers?
Unaku theriyumaDo you know this?
Female
Cheena suvarai polaeLike the Great Wall of China,
Endhan kadhal koodamy love for you
Innum neelamaagumwill grow even longer.
Unaku theriyumaaDo you know that?
Male
Poonga enna vaasam endruWhat fragrance a garden has,
undhan meedhu theriyumcan be known from you.
Female
Thandham enna vannam endruWhat color ivory possesses,
Unnai paarka theriyumcan be known by looking at you.
Kadhal vandha PinnalaeEver since love arrived,
Kaalgal rendumboth my feet
Kaatril sellumwalk on air.
Male
Kamban shelliMerging with the poetic style of Kamban,
Seerndhu thaana poem was written,
Kavidhai ezhudhiyadhuand it came and stood before me
Endhan munbu vandhuthaantaking the form of a woman.
Pennai nirkkiradhuIt stands as a woman.
Male
Pennae neeyum pennaaO girl, are you really a woman,
Pennaagiya oviyamor a painting come to life?
Rendae rendu kannaYou have just two eyes,
Ovvondrum kaaviyamyet each one is an epic poem.
Female
Mazhai vandha pinnaalA rainbow appears after the rain,
Vaanavillum thondrumthe rainbow appears,
Unnai paartha pinnaalbut after seeing you,
Mazhai thondrudhaeeven the rain appears!
Male
Pookkal thedithanaeButterflies fly
Pattaampoochi parakkumin search of flowers,
Unnai thedi kondubut in search of you,
Pookkal parandhadhaethe flowers themselves flew!
Female
Minnum vindhai enna"What is this shining wonder?"
Endru minnal unnai ketkumthe lightning asks you.
Engae theenda vendum endru"Where should I touch you?"
Thendral unnai ketkumthe gentle breeze asks you.
Male
Unnai paartha poovellaamAll the flowers that gaze at you
Kaiezhuthu kettu nirkkumwill stand asking for your autograph.
Female
Neethan kadhal noolagamYou are the library of love,
Serndhen puthagamaaiand I have joined as a book within it.
Neethan kadhal poomazhaiYou are a shower of love flowers,
Nanaiven pathiramaaiand I drench myself safely.
Male
Pennae neeyum pennaaO girl, are you really a woman,
Pennaagiya oviyamor a painting come to life?
Rendae rendu kannaaYou have just two eyes,
Ovvondrum kaaviyamyet each one is an epic poem.
Female
Arai nodi thaanFor just half a second
Ennai paarthaaiyou looked at me,
Oru yugamaai thondrayet you made it feel like
Vaithaaian entire era had passed.
Male
Brahman seithaLord Brahma's greatest
Saadhanai unnil therigiradhuachievement is visible in you.
Unnai ezhudhum podhuthaanOnly when writing about you
Mozhigal inikkiradhudoes language taste sweet.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-concept romantic hyperbole where the protagonist expresses his deep admiration and awe for his beloved's beauty. He compares her physical features to cosmic and artistic marvels—her eyes are epic poems, her forehead resembles a crescent moon woven with gold, and her soft form is like pigeon feathers. Nature itself succumbs to her elegance: flowers seek her autograph, lightning seeks her secret to brilliance, and butterflies are outshone by flowers flying towards her. The song highlights how love turns reality into poetry, making the lover feel as though he is floating on air and experiencing eternity in a fraction of a second.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Pennaagiya oviyam / Rendae rendu kanna / Ovvondrum kaaviyam

Compares the woman to a living painting ('Pennaagiya oviyam') and her eyes directly to epic poems ('Ovvondrum kaaviyam').

Simile (Upamai)

Cheena suvarai polae / Endhan kadhal kooda / Innum neelamaagum

Compares the longevity and expanse of his love to the Great Wall of China ('Cheena suvarai polae').

Hyperbole (Athyokthi)

Unnai thedi kondu / Pookkal parandhadhae / Unnai paartha poovellaam / Kaiezhuthu kettu nirkkum

Exaggerates that flowers fly looking for her and ask her for autographs.

Personification

Minnum vindhai enna / Endru minnal unnai ketkum

Gives human qualities to lightning ('minnal unnai ketkum') and breeze ('thendral unnai ketkum') as if they speak and seek permission.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as Unknown in the song prompt, the music for 'Priyamana Thozhi' (2003) was composed by S. A. Rajkumar. The film stars R. Madhavan, Jyothika, and Sridevi Vijaykumar, and this song 'Pennae Neeyum Pennaa' features vocals by Unni Menon and Sujatha Mohan.

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