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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Opaari

From Saithan · 2016

Lyricist
Chinna Ponnu
Singer
Chinna Ponnu
Music director
Vijay Antony
Details
Saithan2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………………………
Female
Naan petha makkaOh my child whom I gave birth to,
Enna vittu poriyaeAre you leaving me behind?
Nee paradesam porathukkaaWas it to go off to a distant foreign land
Paavi maga petheduthenThat I, a wretched mother, gave birth to you?
Female
En nenjukkulla irukkumResiding deep inside my heart
Unna petha inbamIs the pure joy of having birthed you.
Unna konjum munnae adangaBefore I could even cuddle and cherish you,
Nee enna vittu poriyaeYou are leaving me and going away!
Naan petha makkaOh my child whom I gave birth to,
Enna vittu poriyaeAre you leaving me behind?
Enna vittu poriyaeAre you leaving me behind?
Female
…………………………………….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional lyric represents a mother's heartbreaking lament (written in the traditional Tamil folk 'Oppari' style) as she watches her child leave or pass away. She expresses deep grief, questioning her fate as a mother who gave birth to a child only to face separation. She holds onto the maternal joy of bringing her child into the world, yet grieves that she was not given enough time to shower her love and affection before fate tore them apart. The repetition of 'Enna vittu poriyae' (Are you leaving me behind?) underscores her profound loneliness and helpless sorrow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme / Epiphora)

Enna vittu poriyae / Nee enna vittu poriyae

The deliberate repetition of the phrase 'poriyae' at the end of multiple lines creates a rhythmic, mournful cadence characteristic of Tamil folk laments.

Pathos (Sogamaruthal / Grief)

Paavi maga petheduthen

The speaker uses self-deprecating emotional language ('paavi maga' - wretched/sinful woman) to express intense grief and frustration over her helplessness.

Anaphora / Repetition

Naan petha makka / Enna vittu poriyae

Repeated lines emphasize the central emotional conflict and tragic shock of a mother being separated from her child.

Did you know?

Trivia

This poignant bit from 'Saithan' (2016) reflects the film's eerie psychological atmosphere. Although Vijay Antony composed the overall soundtrack for the film, rustic folk singer Chinna Ponnu contributed her raw and authentic voice/lyrics to evoke traditional Tamil folk grief (Oppari) in key emotional sequences.

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