- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Deva Chorus : ……………………………
- Movie name
- Porkkaalam
- Movie release year
- 1997
- Lyrics added on
- 31 Dec 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This lively and celebratory song from the 1997 Tamil movie Porkkaalam pays rich homage to the traditional Indian saree, illustrating its central presence in every phase of a person's life. Lyricist Vairamuthu highlights how a saree is indispensable from birth—where it is tied to form a baby's cradle—to puberty, matchmaking, wedding rituals, daily comfort, and religious offerings to village deities. The song playfully contrasts modern clothing like salwar kameez with the timeless grace and cultural dignity of the saree. It highlights that the saree transcends age, class, and nationality, worn equally by rural working-class women, world leaders like Indira Gandhi, and even foreign visitors embracing Tamil tradition. Ultimately, it celebrates the saree as an enduring symbol of heritage that accompanies a woman through her entire life journey.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole / Imagery
“Vaanavilla puzhunjivandhu / Saayampotta saelaiga”
Describing saree dye as if liquid colors were squeezed directly out of a rainbow creates vivid poetic visual imagery.
Epistrophe (Repetition)
“Saeladhaan saeladhaan”
The repetition of 'Saeladhaan saeladhaan' at the end of consecutive lines emphasizes that the saree is the ultimate and irreplaceable element in every event.
Aedhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Saalvaar kameesu / Adhu ellaam thamaasu”
Rhyming second letters in adjacent lines, such as 'Saalvaar' and 'Adhu', or 'Engae' and 'Yaar', creating rhythmic flow.
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vanna vanna saelaiga / Vasadhiyaana saelaiga / Vaanavilla puzhunjivandhu”
Matching initial consonant sound 'V' across multiple consecutive descriptive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Porkkaalam' (1997), directed by Cheran, features music composed by Deva. The film's backdrop prominently features rural livelihood and handloom culture, making this celebratory song about sarees deeply resonant with the movie's core themes.
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