Lyrics of Longing, Lines of Control: Amatory Discourse and the Evolution of Malayalam Film Songs

Abstract: This paper explores the evolution and subsequent repression of amatory discourse in Keralam, with a specific focus on its expression through Malayalam film songs. Initially cultivated as a cultural instrument to support and naturalise the ideology of monogamous romantic love, amatory discourse emerged as a controlled emotional language with the socio-religious transformations of the colonial and early modern period in Keralam. It gave structure to desire by embedding it within the framework of exclusivity, fidelity, and moral legibility. However, as this discourse became increasingly stylized in popular culture, particularly in film songs, it was subjected to a process of aesthetic regulation and ideological containment. While these songs appear to celebrate romantic passion, they in fact operate within tight boundaries that domesticate desire, turning it into a predictable and harmless sentiment. This study argues that Malayalam film songs both preserve and suppress amorous expression, offering a mediated space where desire is visible yet tamed, emotionally charged yet socially sanctioned. Keywords: Amatory discourse, monogamous relation, romantic song, desire, Julia Kristeva