- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- L. Vaithiya Nathan
- Movie name
- Yer Munai
- Movie release year
- 1992
- Lyrics added on
- 18 Mar 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This emotional lullaby sung by a resilient mother to her infant daughter highlights the deep-rooted patriarchal biases and social hardships faced by women, particularly regarding the birth of a female child. After being abandoned or neglected by her husband for giving birth to a girl, the mother declares that she will fulfill the roles of both mother and father, encouraging her daughter to grow strong and self-reliant. The lyrics lament how society treats women unfairly and how affection fades once a female child is born, while tenderly comforting the infant with a soothing song for the troubles that lie ahead in life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Kiliyae kiliyae yaezhai kiliyae”
Addressing the infant daughter as 'kiliyae' (little parrot) and 'ponmayilae' (golden peacock) to express affection and gentleness.
Analogy / Simile (Uvamai)
“Vaazhai oru kulai thallinaal vaazha vaikkamaattaanga”
Comparing the fate of a mother giving birth to a female child with a banana tree that gets chopped down once it yields fruit.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Pottachchiya yaarum ingae peththu vaikkakooaathu”
Repetition of initial phonetic sounds such as 'Po' in 'Pottachchiya' and 'Peththaalum' to create rhythmic emphasis.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist Vairamuthu for the 1992 film Yer Munai, the song sharply addresses social issues surrounding gender discrimination and rural female infanticide attitudes prevailing during that era.
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