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Isaimozhi
Saithan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Opaari

From Saithan · 2016

Lyricist
Chinna Ponnu
Singer
Chinna Ponnu
Music director
Vijay Antony
Movie name
Saithan
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
4 Apr 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………………………
Naan petha makka
Enna vittu poriyae
Nee paradesam porathukkaa
Paavi maga petheduthen
En nenjukkulla irukkum
Unna petha inbam
Unna konjum munnae adanga
Nee enna vittu poriyae
Naan petha makka
Enna vittu poriyae
Enna vittu poriyae
…………………………………….
...
Oh child born of my womb,
are you leaving me behind?
Was it only to go to a foreign land
that a sinner like me gave birth to you?
Deep within my heart lies
the joy of having given birth to you;
before I could even fondle and cherish you,
you are leaving me behind.
Oh child born of my womb,
are you leaving me behind?
Are you leaving me behind?
...
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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