Deviyar Maanam
From Rayilukku Neramachu · 1988
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- Rajkumar Bharathi
- Music director
- S. A. Rajkumar
- Details
- Rayilukku Neramachu1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Deviyar maanam endrum | They always speak of women's honor, |
| Dheivaththin bakthi endrum | And talk of devotion to God, |
| Naavinaar solva thallaal | Yet except for uttering words with their tongue, |
| Kiliyae nambuthalattraaradi | O parrot, they lack true belief. |
| Male | |
| Maadharai karpazhiththu | When others destroy the dignity of women, |
| Vankanmai pirar seiyya | And execute extreme cruelty, |
| Pedhaigal pol uyirai | Like helpless fools, their own precious lives, |
| Kiliyae peni irunthaaradi | O parrot, they merely protected. |
| Male | |
| Achchamum pedimaiyum | Fear and utter ignorance, |
| Adimai siru madhiyum | Slavery and narrow-mindedness, |
| Utchaththir kondaaradi | They possessed at the highest peak, |
| Kiliyae oomai sanangaladi | O parrot, these mute, silent people! |
தேவியர் மானம் என்றும்
தெய்வத்தின் பக்தி என்றும்
நாவினாற் சொல்வ தல்லால்
கிளியே நம்புதலற்றாரடி
They always speak of women's honor,
And talk of devotion to God,
Yet except for uttering words with their tongue,
O parrot, they lack true belief.
மாதரைக் கற்பழித்து
வன்கண்மை பிறர் செய்யப்
பேதைகள் போல் உயிரைக்
கிளியே பேணி இருந்தாரடி
When others destroy the dignity of women,
And execute extreme cruelty,
Like helpless fools, their own precious lives,
O parrot, they merely protected.
அச்சமும் பேடிமையும்
அடிமைச் சிறு மதியும்
உச்சத்திற் கொண்டாரடி
கிளியே ஊமைச் சனங்களடி
Fear and utter ignorance,
Slavery and narrow-mindedness,
They possessed at the highest peak,
O parrot, these mute, silent people!
Deviyar maanam endrum
They always speak of women's honor,
Dheivaththin bakthi endrum
And talk of devotion to God,
Naavinaar solva thallaal
Yet except for uttering words with their tongue,
Kiliyae nambuthalattraaradi
O parrot, they lack true belief.
Maadharai karpazhiththu
When others destroy the dignity of women,
Vankanmai pirar seiyya
And execute extreme cruelty,
Pedhaigal pol uyirai
Like helpless fools, their own precious lives,
Kiliyae peni irunthaaradi
O parrot, they merely protected.
Achchamum pedimaiyum
Fear and utter ignorance,
Adimai siru madhiyum
Slavery and narrow-mindedness,
Utchaththir kondaaradi
They possessed at the highest peak,
Kiliyae oomai sanangaladi
O parrot, these mute, silent people!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this powerful poem written in the traditional 'Kili Kanni' format, Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar sharply critiques the hypocrisy and cowardice of contemporary society. He condemns people who boast about women's honor and religious devotion but fail to stand up against injustice. When women are abused and oppressed, people act like fearful fools, prioritizing their own survival over righteousness. Bharathiyar laments that fear, ignorance, a slave mentality, and narrow-mindedness have rendered the populace effectively mute and powerless against systemic cruelty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Apostrophe / Kili Kanni
“Kiliyae nambuthalattraaradi”
The poet uses 'Kiliyae' (O parrot) as a personified listener to express intense social commentary and emotion.
Simile (Upamai)
“Pedhaigal pol uyirai”
The poet compares cowardly citizens to ignorant, helpless fools ('Pedhaigal pol') who only worry about preserving their own lives.
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Achchamum pedimaiyum”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'ch' in consecutive lines ('Achchamum' and 'Utchaththir').
Did you know?
Trivia
This poem belongs to Bharathiyar's 'Kili Kanni' (Parrot Verses) collection. While classical Tamil poets used the parrot motif for romantic messages (Thoodhu), Bharathiyar innovatively adapted it to deliver sharp political critiques, promote women's liberation, and incite social reform.
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