Tamil people live with music from birth to death. There are lullabies for infants, songs to entertain a growing child, songs that teach language when a child starts to speak, songs for games, songs accompanying professions, songs for celebrations and likewise, songs for loss.

Folk songs are created to serve a purpose. They spread among people and take various forms. They exist as long as they fulfil a need. They are shaped by social mores. With urbanisation, most songs lose their context. Oppari-s are songs that arise out of the intense sorrow of death. Though they are also known as Pilakkanam, Pulambal, etc, it is the term Oppari that is most easily recognised. The loss caused by someone’s death is expressed by the oppari and though it may begin as a solo, it invariably becomes a chorus. Though we often imagine they were sung just after a death occurred, oppari was sung even months afterwards. In a way, they were necessary – they helped people overcome grief.