- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Vaazhga Valarga
- Movie release year
- 1987
- Lyrics added on
- 21 Feb 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song captures the heart-wrenching climax of the traditional Tamil folk legend of Nallathangal. Overcome by extreme famine, poverty, and humiliation, the mother decides to throw her seven children into a well to end their suffering before ending her own life. In this excerpt, her eldest son desperately pleads for his life, offering to work hard grazing cattle to earn food for her, while lamenting how severe poverty drove his mother to lose her wisdom and commit such a tragic act.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Elang kodiyum…”
The phrase 'Elang kodi' (tender vine) is a traditional Tamil metaphor used to describe a gentle and delicate woman, contrasting her tender nature with her desperate actions.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Ezhu pillai petrumallo / Ezhai madhi aanaai ammaa”
The words 'Ezhu' and 'Ezhai' start with matching initial vowel sounds ('E'), adhering to classical Tamil poetic meter.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Ennai thaan kollaadhae / Ennai petra maadhaavae…”
The repetition of 'Ennai' (Me) at the beginning of consecutive lines underscores the child's raw, desperate plea for survival.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track is based on 'Nallathangal Kathai', a famous centuries-old Tamil folk ballad belonging to the oral storytelling tradition of Tamil Nadu, which depicts extreme drought, famine, and tragic grief.
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