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Lyrics & meaning

Malaiyoram Kenaru Vetti

From Othaiyadi Paathaiyile · 1980

Lyricist
A. S. Prakasam
Singer
Asharani
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Othaiyadi Paathaiyile1980

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Female
Malaiyoram kenaru vettiDigging a well near the hillside,
Mamaraththula kamalam kattiTying a pulley system to the mango tree,
Malaiyoram kenaru vettiDigging a well near the hillside,
Mamaraththula kamalam kattiTying a pulley system to the mango tree,
Female
Malaiyoram kenaru vettiDigging a well near the hillside,
Mamaraththula kamalam kattiTying a pulley system to the mango tree,
Female
Malaiyoram kenaru vettiDigging a well near the hillside,
Koiyyaa maram yaeththam vachchuSetting up a water-lever using a guava tree,
Kozhunthanaaru eraikkum thanniMy brother-in-law draws out the water,
Pulla kiliyammaaOh young little parrot,
Koiyyaapazhamaa sakkaraiyaa kiliyammaIs it a guava fruit or sweet sugar, oh parrot?
Female
Malaiyoram kenaru vettiDigging a well near the hillside,
Mamaraththula kamalam kattiTying a pulley system to the mango tree,
Female
Malaiyoram kenaru vettiDigging a well near the hillside,
Mamaraththula kamalam kattiTying a pulley system to the mango tree.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a lively folk number set against a rural agricultural backdrop. It portrays the everyday life of village folk as they dig wells near mountains and use natural trees like mango and guava to set up traditional water-lifting mechanisms (yaetham) to irrigate the fields. Amidst this hard work, there is a playful and affectionate undercurrent where the singer addresses her young brother-in-law drawing water, equating the sweetness of the atmosphere and affection to sweet guava and sugar, addressed tenderly to a parrot.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Malaiyoram kenaru vetti / Mamaraththula kamalam katti”

The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes like 'vetti' and 'katti', adding a rhythmic cadence typical of folk dance songs.

Moonaikkal / Anaaphora (Repetition)

“Malaiyoram kenaru vetti”

Repetition of entire refrain lines ('Malaiyoram kenaru vetti') to reinforce the traditional work-song rhythm.

Kili Pattu Trope (Apostrophe)

“Pulla kiliyammaa / Koiyyaapazhamaa sakkaraiyaa kiliyamma”

Addressing a parrot ('kiliyamma') is a classical Tamil poetic trope used to express personal, romantic, or playful thoughts to a gentle listener in nature.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Othaiyadi Paathaiyile' (1980) features music by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and was directed by A. S. Prakasam, who also wrote lyrics for the film. The song extensively uses authentic rural Tamil folk metaphors and traditional water-drawing terminology like 'yaetham' and 'kamalam'.

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