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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yen Penn Endru Sad

From Love Today · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Unnikrishnan
Music director
Shiva
Details
Love Today1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yen pen endru piranthaaiWhy were you born as a woman?
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaaiWhy did you enter my life?
Male
Yen pen endru piranthaaiWhy were you born as a woman?
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaaiWhy did you enter my life?
Naan thalai thaalndhu thozhudhenI bowed my head and worshipped you,
En thalai meedhu nadanthaaiYet you walked right over my head.
Male
Ulagahai ulagahai unnaal veruthenBecause of you, I grew to detest the entire world,
Uravaai uravaai unaiyae nenaithenI thought of you alone as my true kin.
Intha ulagellam naan izhandhaalumEven if I lose this entire world,
En pani poovae unnai paarthaal podhumMy dew-drop flower, it is enough just to look at you.
Male
Yen pen endru piranthaaiWhy were you born as a woman?
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaaiWhy did you enter my life?
Male
Nee engae sendru serndhaalumWherever you go and reach,
Un nizhal vazhiyae varuvenI will follow along the path of your shadow.
Theeyodu ennai erithaalumEven if you burn me with fire,
Nee theendivitaal uyirpenIf you touch me, I will come back to life.
Male
Orumurai unnai paarkaTo see you just once,
Thudikuthu ullamMy heart aches with longing.
Kaveri nadhi thaandum kangalin vellamThe flood of tears from my eyes overflows like the Kaveri river.
Kaadhal uravai erithidumaWill it burn down the relationship of love?
Ithu thaan kaadhal saritharamaaIs this the true history of love?
Male
Yen pen endru piranthaaiWhy were you born as a woman?
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaaiWhy did you enter my life?
Naan thalai thaalndhu thozhudhenI bowed my head and worshipped you,
En thalai meedhu nadanthaaiYet you walked right over my head.
Male
Ulagahai ulagahai unnaal veruthenBecause of you, I grew to detest the entire world,
Uravaai uravaai unaiyae nenaithenI thought of you alone as my true kin.
Intha ulagellam naan izhandhaalumEven if I lose this entire world,
En pani poovae unnai paarthaal podhumMy dew-drop flower, it is enough just to look at you.
Male
Yen pen endru piranthaaiWhy were you born as a woman?
Yen en vazhvil pugundhaaiWhy did you enter my life?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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