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Isaimozhi
Love Today album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yen Penn Endru Sad

From Love Today · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Unnikrishnan
Music director
Shiva
Movie name
Love Today
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
18 Dec 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yen pen endru piranthaai
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaai
Yen pen endru piranthaai
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaai
Naan thalai thaalndhu thozhudhen
En thalai meedhu nadanthaai
Ulagahai ulagahai unnaal veruthen
Uravaai uravaai unaiyae nenaithen
Intha ulagellam naan izhandhaalum
En pani poovae unnai paarthaal podhum
Yen pen endru piranthaai
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaai
Nee engae sendru serndhaalum
Un nizhal vazhiyae varuven
Theeyodu ennai erithaalum
Nee theendivitaal uyirpen
Orumurai unnai paarka
Thudikuthu ullam
Kaveri nadhi thaandum kangalin vellam
Kaadhal uravai erithiduma
Ithu thaan kaadhal saritharamaa
Yen pen endru piranthaai
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaai
Naan thalai thaalndhu thozhudhen
En thalai meedhu nadanthaai
Ulagahai ulagahai unnaal veruthen
Uravaai uravaai unaiyae nenaithen
Intha ulagellam naan izhandhaalum
En pani poovae unnai paarthaal podhum
Yen pen endru piranthaai
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaai
Why were you born as a woman?
Why did you enter my life?
Why were you born as a woman?
Why did you enter my life?
I bowed my head and worshipped you,
yet you walked all over my head.
Because of you, I hated the whole world,
and thought of only you as my own.
Even if I lose this entire world,
my dewy flower, it is enough just to see you.
Why were you born as a woman?
Why did you enter my life?
Wherever you may go,
I will follow in your shadow's path.
Even if I am burned to ashes in fire,
if you just touch me, I will come back to life.
Just to see you once,
my heart aches with longing.
The flood of tears from my eyes overflows like the Kaveri river.
Will it burn away the bond of love?
Is this the history of love?
Why were you born as a woman?
Why did you enter my life?
I bowed my head and worshipped you,
yet you walked all over my head.
Because of you, I hated the whole world,
and thought of only you as my own.
Even if I lose this entire world,
my dewy flower, it is enough just to see you.
Why were you born as a woman?
Why did you enter my life?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song captures the deep anguish and overwhelming devotion of a lover experiencing intense heartache. The protagonist questions why fate brought his beloved into his life, expressing sorrow over how his reverence and submission were met with emotional ruin. Despite the profound grief and feeling trampled by love, his devotion remains absolute and unconditional, elevating the beloved above all earthly possessions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uvamanai)

Kaveri nadhi thaandum kangalin vellam

Exaggerates the protagonist's weeping by comparing his stream of tears to a river flood overflowing the Kaveri.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En pani poovae unnai paarthaal podhum

Addresses the beloved tenderly as a delicate dew-covered flower (pani poo).

Paradox

Theeyodu ennai erithaalum / Nee theendivitaal uyirpen

Presents the paradoxical idea that even if destroyed by fire, the beloved's mere touch has the power to grant life again.

Anaphora / Repetition

Yen pen endru piranthaai / Yen en vazhvil pugundhaai

Repeats rhetorical questions to emphasize the intense pain and existential questioning caused by heartbreak.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1997 blockbuster romantic drama 'Love Today' starring Vijay and Suvaluxmi, this song was composed by music director Shiva with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song remains one of the iconic sad anthems of late 90s Tamil cinema, portraying the agony of unrequited affection.

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