Not so long ago, the whole lot was buzzing with the Kolaveri
craze. As the excitement for Soup Songs slowly receded, it got me to pay a
little more attention to the lyrics of the songs. As explained by Dhanush, the
man who coined the term or brought it to the notice of a wider audience, it is
about love failure. As a member of the women folk, I fail to understand why
this concept has been claimed only by men, let alone be claimed, I wonder why
they begin to imprecate the beloved damsel they were swooning around all along.
Well, there may be many women who may deserve the whip but why generalize it?
Calling all women as a curse cast upon the innocent men of the world, lying
cheats, sadistic beast and what not. So here, I would like to stand up, not for
all the women, but for at least the ones whom these songs of accusations where
composed on, for I think they deserve some hearing as well for these songs are
mostly unfair.
Pengal endral – Neethane En Ponvasantham – One of the most
selfish heroes of the Tamil films, accuses the girl who was an amazing girlfriend,
whom he had ditched conveniently for a record 3rd time for his
family and his future. Now seriously, do you guys even use your head before
singing such songs?
Venam Machan Venam- OK OK – Well the girl clearly states
that she is not in love with the hero and even if she has to fall for someone,
what are the qualities she is looking for .Even though the hero does not satisfy
a single expectation of hers, he goes on to accuse her of abandoning him and
sings praises for his friend, whom he conveniently ditches when the girl walks
into the frame in the very next scene. Neat!
Why This Kolaveri Di?- 3- The song that captured the global
audience about how a girl has descended from beloved high school crush and soul
mate to black hearted “girlu” with a murderous rage because he thought she had
ditched him for a life in US. Had he waited a day, he would have known that she
threw away not just hers but also her family's dream and had eloped so she
could be with him. Ironically he decides to slow things down when she proposes
marriage. Why this kolaveri da?
Kadhal En Kaadhal- Myakkam Enna - The song where the hero’s
friend urges the hero to hit and kick the girl who ditched him. Yet another song
to convey the message that men and their friendship are everlasting and a
woman's love is short lived, so choose friendship over love. Funnily the hero chooses
the friend’s girlfriend and the girl stays with him in all his highs and lows
despite his psychotic phase that drives away all the ones around him. Yeah kick
her I say.
Yemma Yemma - 7am Arivu- No matter what, the heroine must
reciprocate hero’s love because well he is the hero and he HAS to get the girl,
even if she is a genetic engineer and he is a circus performer. Complying with
the norms of Tamil films, she eventually does fall in love with him but he
cannot wait that long so he starts singing the string of accusations. Yeah
right.
Kadal Endral – Goa – The gorgeous girl is head over heels in
love with the normal village guy. She sings an absolutely romantic song where
there are no subtle hints but direct punch-to-the-stomach words expressing her
love. He ignores her proposal as his expectation in a girl is foreign
nationality. When he realizes the love for the girl, his lying friend says he
had a romantic encounter with her and BAM... women are deadly disease that kill
men. Wow, just Wow!
Kadhal Seithal Paavam - Mounam Pesiyathey – This misogynistic
snobbish hero who was not even sure which girl was in love with him and was
stalking him had to chime that love is a sin and women are deceiving. Good
going!
Pombalainga Kadhal – Unnai Ninaithu – Bunch o' 60 year old
men complaining about the whole female contingent because their love left them in the 60's..
where there were so many restrictions for women... when love was considered
taboo... Okay. Well the hero, who was back-stabbed by a selfish girl, stands up
for the ladies and when the hero is someone like Surya, sorry old men your
arguments are null and void!
Of course there are exceptions,
men who blame the world (Ulage Mayam- Devadas),
blame fate (Vaazhve Mayam- Vaazhve Mayam),
matured enough to wish the girl who left him goodluck
(Engirunthalum Vaazhga- Nenjil Oor Alayam),plead the girl not to leave for she has forgotten him due to a medical condition (Kadhal Konden- Moonram Pirai, Pogathey - Deepavali),
simply sulk and reminiscence the lost love (Vellai Pura
Onru- Pudhu Kavidhai, Venmathi – Minnale)
The lady mourners play a tone of mild bitterness in their songs
(Satru Munbu- NEP,
En nanbane- Mangatha,
Evano oruvan- Alaipayuthey,
Malai Neram- Aayirathil Oruvan,
Engey enathu Kavithai – Kandukondein Kandukondein,
Ninaika therintha maname - Aanandha jyothi).
There are a few songs that are not gender specific and plays
to blame both men and women (Aambalaikum pombalaikum – Kazhugu)
It’s just that, one of the reason for these songs to find a
place in chart busters is because they go on to taint the not just the girl who
ditched but the whole lot. Just because your girl ditched you do we all deserve
this? Just because you guys, who call yourselves hero, cannot choose the right
girl, don't go about blaming all the women.
