- Lyricist
- Udhayanan
- Singers
- S. C. Krishnan, B. S. Sasirekha
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Neer Nilam Neruppu
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 10 Jul 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from 'Neer Nilam Neruppu' (1980) is a lively folk snake-charmer duet. The lyrics address a snake in playful reverence, combining traditional snake-dance riddles and rhymes with a narrative of triumph. The singers praise the snake for scaring off arrogant opponents and helping unite the male protagonist with the woman he loves, ultimately making their adversaries harmless like 'dead snakes'.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Aththi maraththula muttai ittu / Aavaaram thoppukkullae kunju porichchu”
The second letters 'th/va' match in sound pattern across initial lines like 'Aththi' and 'Aavaaram', showcasing classic Tamil poetic structure.
Monaikal (Alliteration / First-letter Rhyming)
“Maraakku potta intha maamaayila enakku / Mana mudichchu vaikka vantha chella paambe”
Repetition of initial consonant 'M' in 'Maraakku' and 'Maamaayila', as well as 'Mana'.
Onomatopoeia (Anukaranai)
“Podu…jikku mukku jikku mukku jikku mukku”
Rhythmic folk sounds like 'Jikku mukku' and 'Jikkidi mukku' mimic the percussive snake-charmer beat.
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvakam)
“Ivanga seththa paambu aakki vachcha chella paambe”
Refers to the antagonists being rendered harmless as 'seththa paambu' (dead snakes) by the clever intervention.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Neer Nilam Neruppu' (1980) featured music by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and was known for incorporating energetic Tamil rural folk rhythms. S. C. Krishnan, a legendary singer known for his unique rustic voice in early Tamil cinema, rendered this upbeat snake-dance song alongside B. S. Sasireka.
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