- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Unnikrishnan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Pavithra
- Movie release year
- 1994
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Feb 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Uyirum Neeye is a deeply moving ode celebrating the unparalleled devotion, sacrifice, and divine stature of a mother. The song posits that a mother is the very foundation of an individual's existence—giving both body and spirit, sharing her own life force to nurture her child. In comparison to a mother's grace, traditional concepts of heaven are rendered meaningless.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole (Atisayokthi)
“Un kannil vazhiyum oru thuli pothum / Kadalum urugum thaayae”
Exaggerating that a single teardrop from a mother is powerful enough to melt an entire ocean to highlight the depth of maternal emotion.
Second-letter Rhyme (Ethukai)
“Vinnai padaithaan mannai padaithaan”
The second consonant sound 'nn' matches in 'Vinnai' and 'Mannai', establishing classic Tamil poetic rhythm.
Anaphora / Epistrophe (Repetition)
“Uyirum neeyae udalum neeyae / Uravum neeyae thaayae”
The recurring emphasis on 'neeyae' at the end of clauses reinforces the central theme that the mother is everything.
Metaphor
“Un kaaladi mattum tharuvai thaayae / Sorgam enbathu poiyae….”
Comparing the mother's feet to true paradise while dismissing the mythic concept of heaven as false.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman for the 1994 film Pavithra, this iconic song was sung by P. Unnikrishnan with lyrics by Vairamuthu. Unnikrishnan won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for his rendition of songs in 1994, which included tracks from Pavithra and Karuthamma.
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