Oppari

An oppari is a kind of folk song in southern India, especially in Tamil Nadu and in North-East Sri Lanka where Tamils live. It is sung by women during a death ceremony. Many communities use the oppari as a means to express their sadness at a person's death. The song does not follow a set pattern; rather, the lyrics are sung impromptu, mostly improvised, and speak about the life of the person who has died. Opparis are rich in wordplay relating to names and events associated with the deceased person. Colorful local idioms also decorate the lyrics. However, these days the tradition is dying out.