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Lyrics & meaning

Pennille Nee Pennille

From Aalukkoru Veedu · 1960

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
A. L. Raghavan, K. Jamunarani
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Aalukkoru Veedu1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pennillae nee pennillaeYou are not a woman, you are not a woman
Kadhal panna theriyaavittaal pennillaeIf you do not know how to love, you are not a woman
Kadhal panna theriyaavittaal pennillaeIf you do not know how to love, you are not a woman
Female
Kadhal…….aahaa haa kadhalLove... aha ha love
Male :Aamam kadhalMale: Yes, love
Female :Kaadhalo kadhalFemale: Oh love, love
Athu enge kidaikkum eppadi kidaikkumWhere is it available, how is it obtained?
Inippaa pilippaa kasappaa kadhal kasappaIs love sweet, sour, or bitter? Is love bitter?
Male
Aahaahaa haa haaAahaahaa haa haa
Onbathu suvaiyum onnaa kalanthMixing all nine tastes together
Unbathuthaan mei kadhalConsuming it is true love
Intha ulagaththai thookki urutti vilaiyaadumPlaying by lifting and rolling this world
Uravukku perthaan kadhalLove is the name of that relationship
Female
PuriyalaiyeI do not understand it
Female
Kannirendum moodamal kaaththirunthenI waited without closing both my eyes
Iravil kaaththirunthenI waited through the night
Kadhavai thiranthu vaiththu paarththirunthenI kept the door open and watched
Ethir paarththirunthenI was eagerly waiting
Male
Ahaa haa haaa kadhal vanthathaaAha ha ha, did love arrive?
Female :Illai poonai vanthathuFemale: No, a cat came!
Male
Hae pennillae nee pennillaeHey, you are not a woman, you are not a woman
Kadhal panna theriyaavittaal pennillaeIf you do not know how to love, you are not a woman
Female
Aanillae nee AanillaeYou are not a man, you are not a man
Athai kattru kodukka mudiyavittaalIf you cannot teach that
AanillaeYou are not a man
Male
Ennai paar kannai paarLook at me, look at my eyes
Yaekkam kalanthu paarLook with a blend of longing
Both :Aaa……aaaa…..aa….aa…Both: Aaa... aaaa... aa... aa...
Ennai paar kannai paarLook at me, look at my eyes
Yaekkam kalanthu paarLook with a blend of longing
Male
Iduppai valaiththu vettippaarCurve your waist and strike a pose
Idhayam suduthaa thottuppaarTouch my heart to see if it feels warm
Pinnae po….Go behind...
Munnae vaa…..pesu paadu aaduCome forward... speak, sing, dance!
Male
Naesam vai nee naesam vaiShow affection, you show affection
Nenjukulle ennai niruththi naesam vaiHold me inside your heart and show affection
Female :Naesamthaan un naesamthaanFemale: Affection indeed, your affection
Naesam muththi kadhalaanaal laabamthaanIf affection matures into love, it is a profit
Male
Eppadi irukkuHow does it feel?
Female :Mayakkama irukkuFemale: It feels dizzy and intoxicating!
Male :Aaha vanthuruchhcu kadhalMale: Aha, love has finally arrived!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pennillae Nee Pennillae from the 1960 movie Aalukkoru Veedu is a playful duet formatted as a witty romantic banter between a young man and woman exploring the true nature of love. The male lead teasingly claims that a woman who doesn't understand romance isn't a true woman, while the female lead innocently questions where love is found and what taste it possesses. He responds by explaining that love is an all-encompassing experience blending the nine dynamic emotions (navarasa) that moves the world. Through lighthearted exchanges, romantic glances, and teaching her how to feel affection, the lovers break down each other's resistance. By the end of the song, as affection deepens into genuine love, the female lead experiences a joyful sense of intoxication, celebrating love's sweet arrival.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Wordplay (Sollani)

Pennillae nee pennillae

Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram uses clever wordplay on 'Pennillae' which functions both as 'You are not a woman' (Penn + illai) and 'Aanillae' as 'You are not a man' (Aan + illai).

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Onbathu suvaiyum onnaa kalanth / Unbathuthaan mei kadhal

Love is metaphorically compared to a meal consisting of all nine traditional tastes (Navarasa), symbolizing the full spectrum of human emotions.

Repetition / Rhythm (Irattai Kilavi / Anaphora)

Ennai paar kannai paar

Rhythmic repetition of 'paar' and 'naesam vai' adds a catchy, conversational tempo to the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the iconic poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for the film Aalukkoru Veedu (1960), this song features music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. Pattukkottai was famous for introducing everyday conversational Tamil and clever linguistic puns into mainstream Tamil film lyrics.

Keep listening

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