Yen Peru Meenatchi
From Kalyana Kacheri · 1987
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kalyana Kacheri1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| En peru meenaatchi | My name is Meenakshi, |
| En ooru pollaachi | My native town is Pollachi. |
| Maanai kettu thaan meenai kettu thaan | By asking the deer and asking the fish, |
| Kanna vaanginenga | You acquired these eyes. |
| Thaenai kettu thaan paalai kettu thaan | By asking the honey and asking the milk, |
| Sollai vaanginenga | You acquired these words. |
| Yaarai kettu naan maalai vaanguven | Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland? |
| Manasu thaangalinga | My heart cannot endure this agony! |
| Female | |
| En peru meenaatchi | My name is Meenakshi, |
| En ooru pollaachi | My native town is Pollachi. |
| Female | |
| Sodi serala | I haven't paired up yet, |
| Oru maamankaaran thaan | With a maternal uncle. |
| Vaadi poguren | I am wilting away in sadness, |
| Andhi maala neram thaan | Especially in the twilight hours of the evening. |
| Female | |
| Aaru maasamaa soru thingala | I haven't properly eaten rice for six months, |
| Thookkam pottadhilla | I haven't caught a wink of sleep. |
| Ada nooru maappilla ooril irukkuraan | Hey, there are a hundred potential grooms in town, |
| Yennu kettadhilla | Yet no one has asked about me! |
| Podala innum parisam thaan | The bridal token hasn't been presented yet, |
| Maattala nalla purusan thaan | I haven't snagged a good husband yet. |
| Ilan maan thaan naan thaan yenguguren | I, a tender young deer, am yearning in solitude. |
| Female | |
| En peru meenaatchi | My name is Meenakshi, |
| En ooru pollaachi | My native town is Pollachi. |
| Maanai kettu thaan meenai kettu thaan | By asking the deer and asking the fish, |
| Kanna vaanginenga | You acquired these eyes. |
| Thaenai kettu thaan paalai kettu thaan | By asking the honey and asking the milk, |
| Sollai vaanginenga | You acquired these words. |
| Yaarai kettu naan maalai vaanguven | Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland? |
| Manasu thaangalinga | My heart cannot endure this agony! |
| Female | |
| En peru meenaatchi | My name is Meenakshi, |
| En ooru pollaachi | My native town is Pollachi. |
| Female | |
| Naethu raathiri thookkam pochunnu | Saying, 'I lost my sleep last night,' |
| Paattu paaduraanga | They keep singing songs. |
| Ada kaala thookkiyae kamalahaasan pol | Hey, lifting their legs high like Kamal Haasan, |
| Aattam aaduraanga | They dance around with full energy! |
| Naanumae chinna ponnu thaan | I am also just a young girl, |
| Venumae sondham onnu thaan | I too desperately need a relation of my own! |
| Ada yaaro yaaro maappilla thaan | Ah, who will be that groom for me? |
| Female | |
| En peru meenaatchi | My name is Meenakshi, |
| En ooru pollaachi | My native town is Pollachi. |
| Maanai kettu thaan meenai kettu thaan | By asking the deer and asking the fish, |
| Kanna vaanginenga | You acquired these eyes. |
| Thaenai kettu thaan paalai kettu thaan | By asking the honey and asking the milk, |
| Sollai vaanginenga | You acquired these words. |
| Yaarai kettu naan maalai vaanguven | Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland? |
| Manasu thaangalinga | My heart cannot endure this agony! |
| Female | |
| En peru meenaatchi | My name is Meenakshi, |
| En ooru pollaachi | My native town is Pollachi. |
என் பேரு மீனாட்சி
என் ஊரு பொள்ளாச்சி
மானைக் கேட்டுதான்
மீனைக் கேட்டுதான்
கண்ண வாங்கினேங்க
My name is Meenakshi,
My native town is Pollachi.
By asking the deer and asking the fish,
You acquired these eyes.
By asking the honey and asking the milk,
You acquired these words.
Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland?
My heart cannot endure this agony!
தேனைக் கேட்டுதான்
பாலைக் கேட்டுதான்
சொல்லை வாங்கினேங்க
My name is Meenakshi,
My native town is Pollachi.
யாரைக் கேட்டு நான்
மாலை வாங்குவேன்
மனசு தாங்கலைங்க
I haven't paired up yet,
With a maternal uncle.
I am wilting away in sadness,
Especially in the twilight hours of the evening.
என் பேரு மீனாட்சி
என் ஊரு பொள்ளாச்சி
I haven't properly eaten rice for six months,
I haven't caught a wink of sleep.
Hey, there are a hundred potential grooms in town,
Yet no one has asked about me!
The bridal token hasn't been presented yet,
I haven't snagged a good husband yet.
I, a tender young deer, am yearning in solitude.
சோடி சேரலை
ஒரு மாமன்காரன்தான்
வாடிப் போகுறேன்
அந்தி மாலை நேரம்தான்
My name is Meenakshi,
My native town is Pollachi.
By asking the deer and asking the fish,
You acquired these eyes.
By asking the honey and asking the milk,
You acquired these words.
Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland?
My heart cannot endure this agony!
ஆறு மாசமா
சோறு திங்கலை
தூக்கம் போட்டதில்லை
அட நூறு மாப்பிள்ளை
ஊரில் இருக்குறான்
ஏன்னு கேட்டதில்லை
My name is Meenakshi,
My native town is Pollachi.
போடலை இன்னும் பரிசம்தான்
மாட்டலை நல்ல புருசன்தான்
இளமான்தான் நான்தான் ஏங்குகுறேன்
Saying, 'I lost my sleep last night,'
They keep singing songs.
Hey, lifting their legs high like Kamal Haasan,
They dance around with full energy!
I am also just a young girl,
I too desperately need a relation of my own!
Ah, who will be that groom for me?
என் பேரு மீனாட்சி
என் ஊரு பொள்ளாச்சி
மானைக் கேட்டுதான்
மீனைக் கேட்டுதான்
கண்ண வாங்கினேங்க
My name is Meenakshi,
My native town is Pollachi.
By asking the deer and asking the fish,
You acquired these eyes.
By asking the honey and asking the milk,
You acquired these words.
Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland?
My heart cannot endure this agony!
ஹே தேனைக் கேட்டுதான்
பாலைக் கேட்டுதான்
சொல்லை வாங்கினேங்க
My name is Meenakshi,
My native town is Pollachi.
யாரைக் கேட்டு நான்
மாலை வாங்குவேன்
மனசு தாங்கலைங்க
என் பேரு மீனாட்சி
என் ஊரு பொள்ளாச்சி...ஈ....
நாலு பேருங்க
நித்தம் நோட்டம் போடுறான்
அஹ வூட்டு வாசலில்
நின்னு கூட்டம் போடுறான்
நேத்து ராத்திரி
தூக்கம் போச்சுன்னு பாட்டுப் பாடுறாங்க
அட காலை தூக்கியே
கமலஹாசன் போல் ஆட்டம் ஆடுறாங்க
நானுமே சின்னப் பொண்ணுதான்
வேணுமே சொந்தம் ஒண்ணுதான்
அட யாரோ யாரோ மாப்பிள்ளைதான்
என் பேரு மீனாட்சி
என் ஊரு பொள்ளாச்சி
மானைக் கேட்டுதான்
மீனைக் கேட்டுதான்
கண்ண வாங்கினேங்க
தேனைக் கேட்டுதான்
பாலைக் கேட்டுதான்
சொல்லை வாங்கினேங்க
யாரைக் கேட்டு நான்
மாலை வாங்குவேன்
மனசு தாங்கலைங்க
என் பேரு மீனாட்சி
என் ஊரு பொள்ளாச்சி...ஈ...
En peru meenaatchi
My name is Meenakshi,
En ooru pollaachi
My native town is Pollachi.
Maanai kettu thaan meenai kettu thaan
By asking the deer and asking the fish,
Kanna vaanginenga
You acquired these eyes.
Thaenai kettu thaan paalai kettu thaan
By asking the honey and asking the milk,
Sollai vaanginenga
You acquired these words.
Yaarai kettu naan maalai vaanguven
Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland?
Manasu thaangalinga
My heart cannot endure this agony!
En peru meenaatchi
My name is Meenakshi,
En ooru pollaachi
My native town is Pollachi.
Sodi serala
I haven't paired up yet,
Oru maamankaaran thaan
With a maternal uncle.
Vaadi poguren
I am wilting away in sadness,
Andhi maala neram thaan
Especially in the twilight hours of the evening.
Aaru maasamaa soru thingala
I haven't properly eaten rice for six months,
Thookkam pottadhilla
I haven't caught a wink of sleep.
Ada nooru maappilla ooril irukkuraan
Hey, there are a hundred potential grooms in town,
Yennu kettadhilla
Yet no one has asked about me!
Podala innum parisam thaan
The bridal token hasn't been presented yet,
Maattala nalla purusan thaan
I haven't snagged a good husband yet.
Ilan maan thaan naan thaan yenguguren
I, a tender young deer, am yearning in solitude.
En peru meenaatchi
My name is Meenakshi,
En ooru pollaachi
My native town is Pollachi.
Maanai kettu thaan meenai kettu thaan
By asking the deer and asking the fish,
Kanna vaanginenga
You acquired these eyes.
Thaenai kettu thaan paalai kettu thaan
By asking the honey and asking the milk,
Sollai vaanginenga
You acquired these words.
Yaarai kettu naan maalai vaanguven
Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland?
Manasu thaangalinga
My heart cannot endure this agony!
En peru meenaatchi
My name is Meenakshi,
En ooru pollaachi
My native town is Pollachi.
Naethu raathiri thookkam pochunnu
Saying, 'I lost my sleep last night,'
Paattu paaduraanga
They keep singing songs.
Ada kaala thookkiyae kamalahaasan pol
Hey, lifting their legs high like Kamal Haasan,
Aattam aaduraanga
They dance around with full energy!
Naanumae chinna ponnu thaan
I am also just a young girl,
Venumae sondham onnu thaan
I too desperately need a relation of my own!
Ada yaaro yaaro maappilla thaan
Ah, who will be that groom for me?
En peru meenaatchi
My name is Meenakshi,
En ooru pollaachi
My native town is Pollachi.
Maanai kettu thaan meenai kettu thaan
By asking the deer and asking the fish,
Kanna vaanginenga
You acquired these eyes.
Thaenai kettu thaan paalai kettu thaan
By asking the honey and asking the milk,
Sollai vaanginenga
You acquired these words.
Yaarai kettu naan maalai vaanguven
Whose permission should I seek to accept a wedding garland?
Manasu thaangalinga
My heart cannot endure this agony!
En peru meenaatchi
My name is Meenakshi,
En ooru pollaachi
My native town is Pollachi.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'En Peru Meenaatchi' is a lively folk-style track sung from the perspective of a young rural woman named Meenakshi from Pollachi. She playfully laments her single status and her deep longing for marriage and companionship. Although her eyes are as captivating as a deer's or a fish's and her words are as sweet as honey and milk, she expresses frustration that no suitable groom or maternal uncle has come forward with a marriage proposal.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (Rhyming)
“En peru meenaatchi / En ooru pollaachi”
End-rhyme created by matching suffix sounds 'meenaatchi' and 'pollaachi'.
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Ilan maan thaan naan thaan yenguguren”
The speaker directly compares herself to a young, tender deer ('ilan maan') experiencing yearning.
Pop Culture Simile (Upama)
“Ada kaala thookkiyae kamalahaasan pol / Aattam aaduraanga”
A modern pop-culture simile comparing the dancers' energetic style and high leg kicks to the iconic dance moves of actor Kamal Haasan.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)
“Aaru maasamaa soru thingala / Thookkam pottadhilla”
Exaggeration describing her intense yearning and heart-sickness through claims of not eating or sleeping for six months.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1987 film 'Kalyana Kacheri', the song features a popular cultural reference to Kamal Haasan ('Kamalahaasan pol aattam aaduraanga'). This line reflects the massive craze surrounding Kamal Haasan's signature dance style during the 1980s in Tamil Nadu.
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