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Lyrics & meaning

Aalanaalum Aalu

From Palaivana Solai · 1981

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Palaivana Solai1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aalanalum aaluShe is quite a person,
Iva azhuthamaana aaluShe is a steadfast and deep person,
Micha vevaram vaenumminnaaIf you want to know further details,
Machaana poyikkelu keluGo ask her cousin groom!
Male
Hey aalanalum aaluHey, she is quite a person,
Iva azhuthamaana aaluShe is a steadfast and deep person,
Micha vevaram vaenumminnaaIf you want to know further details,
Machaana poyikkelu keluGo ask her cousin groom!
Male
Aalanalum aaluShe is quite a person,
Iva azhuthamaana aaluShe is a steadfast and deep person,
Micha vevaram vaenumminnaaIf you want to know further details,
Machaana poyikkelu keluGo ask her cousin groom!
Male
Kaniyum kaalam varumThe ripe time will come,
Kaadhalukku aalum varumThe person for love will come,
Kannil naanam varumShyness will appear in her eyes,
Kaalviralum thaalamidumHer toes will tap a beat.
Male
Kaniyum kaalam varumThe ripe time will come,
Kaadhalukku aalum varumThe person for love will come,
Kaadhalukku aalum varumThe person for love will come,
Kannil naanam varumShyness will appear in her eyes,
Kaalviralum thaalamidumHer toes will tap a beat.
Male
Unakku maalai varumA wedding garland will come for you,
Oorukku ellam olai varumAn invitation will go to the whole town,
Thennambaalaiyilae thaen sidharum vaelaivarumThe time will come when honey drips from the coconut flower shoot.
Hei maalai soodum thaedhi enniHey, counting the days until wearing the wedding garland,
Paththu viralum thaeyumAll ten fingers will wear out.
Male
Aaa…aa….aaa…..aa….aa…aa…Aaa...aa....aaa.....aa....aa...aa...
Maalai soodum thaedhi enniCounting the days until wearing the wedding garland,
Paththu viralum thaeyumAll ten fingers will wear out.
Iva izhuthuvidum perumoochilIn the deep sigh that she lets out,
Eera saelai kaayumHer wet saree will dry up.
Male
Aalanalum aaluShe is quite a person,
Iva azhuthamaana aaluShe is a steadfast and deep person,
Micha vevaram vaenumminnaaIf you want to know further details,
Machaana poyikkelu kelu hhaa aaGo ask her cousin groom!
Male
Vairakkodi eduthu vaasal ellaam kolamiduTake diamond creepers and decorate the doorstep with Rangoli,
Vaana villeduthu thoaranamaai aadaviduTake the rainbow and let it hang as festive festoons,
Minnal keetreduthu maegamvarai pandhaliduTake streaks of lightning and build a canopy up to the clouds,
Vellippooparichi veedhiyellaam sindhividuPluck silver flowers and scatter them all across the streets!
Male
Hei ullappodi vellaththaayiHey, sweet lady with a tender heart,
Innum enna paechuWhat more talk is needed now?
Hae thannnanae thann naanae thannanae naanaeHae thannnanae thann naanae thannanae naanae
Ullappodi vellaththaayiSweet lady with a tender heart,
Innum enna paechuWhat more talk is needed now?
Varum vellikkezhamai kalyaanamThe wedding is set for coming Friday,
Veththalai maathiyaachuThe betel leaves have already been exchanged!
Male
Aalanalum aaluShe is quite a person,
Iva azhuthamaana aaluShe is a steadfast and deep person,
Micha vevaram vaenumminnaaIf you want to know further details,
Machaana poyikkelu kelu haa aaaGo ask her cousin groom!
Male
Hey korappaayikkumHey, there will be a woven mat,
Gundu mallippoovirukkumThere will be round jasmine flowers,
Kaiyil paalirukkum kadhavukku thaazhirukkumThere will be milk in hand, and the door will be locked,
Kannaadi valaiyal ippa kai ellaam nerainjirukkumHer hands will now be full of glass bangles,
Endhirichippaarkaiyila ennikkai korainjirukkumWhen waking up to check, the count of bangles will have decreased!
Male
Modhal modhalaa paarkkumboadhuWhen seeing each other for the very first time,
Achamaaga irukkumIt will feel scary.
Aaa….aa…..aaa….aa….haa….aa….aa…Aaa....aa.....aaa....aa....haa....aa....aa...
Modhal modhalaa paarkkumboadhuWhen seeing each other for the very first time,
Achamaaga irukkumIt will feel scary.
Aanaal vidiyumboadhu vilakkil ennaiBut when dawn breaks, in the lamp, the oil
Michamaaga irukkumWill only be left over in tiny amounts.
Male
Aalanalum aaluShe is quite a person,
Iva azhuthamaana aaluShe is a steadfast and deep person,
Micha vevaram vaenumminnaaIf you want to know further details,
Machaana poyikkelu kelu haa aaaGo ask her cousin groom!
Chorus
Aalanalum aaluShe is quite a person,
Iva azhuthamaana aaluShe is a steadfast and deep person,
Micha vevaram vaenumminnaaIf you want to know further details,
Machaana poyikkelu kelu haa aaaGo ask her cousin groom!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Aalanalum Aalu from Palaivana Solai (1981) is a playful folk-infused song sung in a traditional female bonding setting. Friends teasingly sing about a young woman who is coming of age and preparing for her upcoming wedding. They highlight her shyness, her deep romantic anxieties, and the eager anticipation of her groom. The lyrics switch between grand metaphorical descriptions of wedding decorations and affectionate teasing about the intimacy of the wedding night. Overall, the song celebrates youth, rural romance, and the joyful anticipation surrounding a traditional Tamil wedding celebration.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Athisayokthi / Hyperbolic Imagery)

Minnal keetreduthu maegamvarai pandhalidu

Extravagant imagery where streaks of lightning are used as a tent canopy up to the clouds and rainbows are hung as decorative festoons.

Moonaam / Ethukai (Tamil Rhyme and Alliteration)

Kaniyum kaalam varum / Kaadhalukku aalum varum / Kannil naanam varum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('K' sound) across consecutive lines creating melodic rhythm.

Metaphor / Sensual Imagery

Iva izhuthuvidum perumoochil eera saelai kaayum

Poetic hyperbole describing the heat of deep sighs drying up a wet saree, conveying intense emotional and physical longing.

Did you know?

Trivia

Palaivana Solai (1981) was a acclaimed hit film directed by the duo Robert-Rajasekar. The music for this song was composed by the popular duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics written by Vairamuthu in his early career. Sung primarily by S.P. Sailaja, this track remains a famous example of playful Tamil wedding-teasing folk numbers.

Keep listening

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