- Lyricist
- Vivek
- Singers
- Brinda, Ananthu, Santhosh Narayanan
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Movie name
- Iraivi
- Movie release year
- 2016
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Mar 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Manidhi from the movie Iraivi is a fierce feminist anthem that calls upon women to break free from patriarchal constraints, social conditioning, and self-imposed limitations. The song asserts that freedom is not a gift bestowed by men or society, but a fundamental right that women must claim through self-realization and courage. By addressing systemic gender bias and victim-blaming culture, the song urges women to stand tall and step into the world as equal human beings.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Coining / Linguistic Innovation
“Manidhan endra sollukkullae / Adangathae pennae”
The lyricist uses 'Manidhi' as a distinct female counterpart to 'Manidhan' (human/man), challenging the linguistic bias where humanity is default-gendered male.
Metaphor
“Koondai koththi paar... Siragai neeti paar”
Comparing societal constraints and fear to a cage ('Koondai') and a prison ('Sirai'), while urging women to spread their wings ('Siragai neeti').
Contrast / Rhetorical Irony
“Aanukku thaai paal surandhidum kaambil / Unakku kalli paal kasindhidum kanmani”
Contrasting nourishing mother's milk given to a male child with poisonous cactus milk ('kalli paal', historically linked to female infanticide) symbolic of societal male bias.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Santhosh Narayanan with lyrics by Vivek for the 2016 film Iraivi directed by Karthik Subbaraj, the term 'Manidhi' was coined specifically to emphasize a feminine identity within humanity. The song features vocals by Santhosh Narayanan and Ananthu, serving as a central thematic motif for the film's narrative on women's liberation.
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