- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Ninaive Oru Sangeetham
- Movie release year
- 1987
- Lyrics added on
- 23 Jun 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic folk-style duet from 'Ninaive Oru Sangeetham' presents a playful yet deep debate between traditional farming methods and modern technology. Set in a rural agricultural backdrop, the male protagonist sings traditional folk farming chants ('Yaethappattu') while drawing water using a traditional water-lift ('Yaetham'). He praises the sacred connection between human labor, ancestral heritage, and the mother earth, arguing that mechanized farming lacks soul and human emotion. The female protagonist playfully teases him about his poverty, idle talk, and romantic distractions, advocating for modern conveniences like electric pump sets that reduce manual toil.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Wordplay / Siledai (Double Entendre)
“Yaeththamaiyaa yaeththam / Unakku rompa yaeththamaiyaa yaeththam”
'Yaetham' refers to the traditional wooden water-picottah used for field irrigation, while also colloquially meaning 'pride', 'arrogance', or 'elevation', creating a playful double meaning throughout the song.
Simile (Upamai)
“Koyil silai pola unna kandathaal”
The male lead compares the beauty of his beloved to a carved temple idol ('Koyil silai pola').
Monai (Initial Rhyme)
“Munthu munthu vinaayagarae muppaththu mukkodi devargalae”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Mu' across words ('Munthu', 'muppaththu', 'mukkodi') creates a musical rhythm.
Metaphor (Uruvakam)
“Manushan manasu kooda mechinne aagipochchu”
The lyricist metaphorically describes how modern human hearts have turned cold and unfeeling like machines ('mechinne').
Did you know?
Trivia
In traditional Tamil rural culture, 'Yaethappattu' (Water-lift folk songs) were sung by farmers to pace their rhythmic physical exertion while lifting water manually from deep wells. Ilaiyaraaja, who composed the music and wrote the lyrics himself, blended authentic folk rhythms with film music sensibilities. The song showcases the famous vocal chemistry between Malaysia Vasudevan and K. S. Chithra, capturing authentic Tamil dialect and agricultural nuances.
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