- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- Manoj – Gyan
- Movie name
- Megam Karuththirukku
- Movie release year
- 1987
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Jun 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This powerful feminist anthem sung by K. S. Chithra challenges societal double standards surrounding female chastity and virtue ('karpu'). The speaker, a sex worker forced into her profession, questions the physical abstract definition imposed on women by patriarchal traditions, arguing that true purity resides in one's mind and character rather than physical anatomy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Karpaa adhu karuppaa sivappaa / Pennae adhu unakkaa enakkaa”
Matching second consonants across lines: 'Karpaa' / 'Pennae', 'Karpu' / 'Nam karppapaiyil'.
Metaphor (Uruvagamaana Sangathi)
“Idi thaangum pookkal ingae vaazhvathu engae”
'Idi thaangum pookkal' (flowers enduring thunderbolts) metaphorically compares vulnerable women to fragile flowers forced to endure severe societal oppression.
Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)
“Kannagiyai andru azha vaiththaar / Vara sollu pennae antha valluvan engae”
Refers to Kannagi from Silappatikaram and Thiruvalluvar, questioning traditional literary depictions of female virtue.
Did you know?
Trivia
This bold track from 'Megam Karuththirukku' (1987), composed by Manoj-Gyan with lyricist Vairamuthu, stands out for its progressive, thought-provoking lyrics challenging double standards on chastity, delivered soulfully by K. S. Chithra.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Megam Karuththirukku
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.