- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- S. Janaki, B. S. Sasirekha
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Chakkalathi
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 9 Jul 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This folk-style song from 'Chakkalathi' uses agricultural and everyday rural metaphors to express a woman's claim of sole ownership over her love and home, while lamenting the intrusion of a rival woman (a co-wife or 'chakkalathi'). Imagery such as planting rice saplings, catching a fish only to have a cat steal it, and nurturing a rose bush that gets ruined by an evil woman serves as an allegory for her devotion being threatened or stolen by another.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)
“Naan vecha naathukku naanae sondham”
The speaker uses agricultural saplings ('naathu'), a caught fish ('meen'), and a rose ('rosaa') as metaphors for her cherished relationship and hard work, which are encroached upon by an intruder.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Chinna chinna paathi katti / Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen”
The second consonant 'n' (ன) matches across consecutive lines, creating a classic Tamil poetic rhythm.
Onomatopoeia / Folk Refrain
“Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so…”
The 'So...so...' sound mimics the traditional rhythmic chant used by farmers in Tamil Nadu while tending crops or herding.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film title 'Chakkalathi' translates to 'co-wife' or 'female rival in love'. Written by Pulamaipithan, the song relies heavily on authentic Tamil Naattupura Paatu (folk song) structure and rural idioms to convey domestic jealousy and grief.
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