Neram Poy Neram Poye: Song of an exploited worker

Pappan Kavil, an award-winning folk song proponent from Calicut, Kerala,  sings a folk song from Kerala that talks about how a lower caste worker was physically exploited by his feudal lord, making him do hard labour even after sunset.

The song says that even the birds have roosted after sunset but the man is made to drink some intoxicating toddy to  make him forget about his tiredness and squeeze more strength out of him. The man is underfed and over-exploited.

If you want to really appreciate a folk song, you should really understand the meaning and context of the song, says Pappan Kavil, who won a folklore academy award recently

Watch the video: