- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Mano
- Music director
- Deva
- Movie name
- Bharathi Kannamma
- Movie release year
- 1997
- Lyrics added on
- 23 Oct 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This energetic celebratory song from the film Bharathi Kannamma depicts the grand coming-of-age ceremony (Manjal Neerattu Vizha) of a young woman born into the respected Thevar community. The lyrics extol the noble heritage, generosity, courage, and divine benevolence of the village chief (Thevar), recounting legendary tales of his altruism—feeding thousands, helping the needy, and standing as a pillar of strength for his community. The song vividly illustrates traditional Tamil customs, including weaving golden attire, decorating with marudha-jasmine flowers, sounding joyful ululations (kolavai), and organizing community feasts. Hyperbolic metaphors compare her beauty to poetic perfection beyond Kamban's verses, creating a atmosphere filled with village pride, familial affection, and festive exuberance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitci Ani)
“Sooriyana rathiriku Vizhika sonnavaru thevaru”
Exaggerates the chief's authority and strength by claiming he could command the sun to rise at night and push a wild cheetah away with his left hand.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Oru thaer pola singarachu”
Compares the festive ornamentation of the young woman directly to a decorated temple chariot (thaer).
Alliteration (Monai)
“Poovukellam athisayama Poothu vantha kannamma”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('P') enhancing the melodic rhythm of the verse.
Classical Literary Allusion
“Kampan tamil pothuma”
Invokes Kamban, the legendary author of the Tamil Kamba Ramayanam, suggesting even his rich vocabulary falls short of describing her beauty.
Did you know?
Trivia
Bharathi Kannamma (1997), directed by Cheran, features a memorable soundtrack composed by Deva with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song showcases authentic South Tamil Nadu rural traditions and folklore culture surrounding auspicious family milestones.
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