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Lyrics & meaning

Engaathu Mappillai Nee

From Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam · 1981

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Engaaththukku mappilla neeYou are the son-in-law for our house,
Ongaaththukku maattuponnu naanI am the daughter-in-law for your house.
Engaaththukku mappilla neeYou are the son-in-law for our house,
Ongaaththukku maattuponnu naanI am the daughter-in-law for your house.
Female
Anthaaththu mami inthaaththu mamaThe aunt from that house, the uncle from this house,
Avaa ellaarukkum santhosamthaan…besh…They are all so very happy... superb!
Nannaarukkum sambanthamthaanThis marital alliance will be wonderful,
Jaanvaasam oorkolamWith the wedding procession in full swing.
Female
Engaaththukku mappilla neeYou are the son-in-law for our house,
Ongaaththukku maattuponnu naanI am the daughter-in-law for your house.
Male
Mamakkalthaan koshtti seruvaaThe uncles will group together,
Maalai maththa potti poduvaaThey will playfully compete during the garland exchange!
Ammaadi poraattamthaan….haa…aaOh my, what a playful struggle it will be... ha... aa...
Mamigal kummaalamthaan…aa….haa….The aunts will celebrate with joy... aa... ha...
Male
Mamakkalthaan koshtti seruvaaThe uncles will group together,
Maalai maththa potti poduvaaThey will playfully compete during the garland exchange!
Ammaadi poraattamthaan….haa…aaOh my, what a playful struggle it will be... ha... aa...
Maamigal kummaalamthaan…aa….haa….The aunts will celebrate with joy... aa... ha...
Female
Sumangali pongal velakkudan vanthuMarried women arriving with lamps and Pongal,
Pachchai podi suththi poda kannoonjal naamaadaWarding off evil eyes with turmeric water as we swing on the swing.
Sumangali pongal velakkudan vanthuMarried women arriving with lamps and Pongal,
Pachchai podi suththi poda kannoonjal naamaadaWarding off evil eyes with turmeric water as we swing on the swing.
Female
Engaaththukku mappilla neeYou are the son-in-law for our house,
Ongaaththukku maattuponnu naanI am the daughter-in-law for your house.
Male
Anthaaththu mami inthaaththu mamaThe aunt from that house, the uncle from this house,
Avaa ellaarukkum santhosamthaan…besh…They are all so very happy... superb!
Nannaarukkum sambanthamthaanThis marital alliance will be wonderful,
Jaanvaasam oorkolamWith the wedding procession in full swing.
Male
Panjakachcham angavasthiramDressed in a traditional Panchakacham and shoulder cloth,
Unna paaththaa kannupattudumAnyone looking at you will cast an evil eye!
Santhosa sowbaakkiyamae…yae….Oh, my bliss and divine fortune... ye...
Neen thantha maangalyamaeIt is the sacred thali string you tied for me!
Male
Aambadaiyaanum aambadaiyaalumThe husband and the wife,
Ammiyai midhichchaachu arunthathi paaththachchuStepped on the grinding stone and spotted the Arundhati star.
Male
Vaadi ingae maithili kuttyCome here, my dear little Maithili!
Vekkam enna sakkaraikattiWhy are you shy, my sweet sugar cube?
Appaavum ammaavumaa…aaa….Becoming a father and mother...
Aaganum seekkiramaa…aaa….We must achieve that very soon...
Female
Varaenae irungo medhuvaa thodungoI am coming, wait, touch me gently,
Vedukkunnu izhukkaathaelDon't pull me abruptly!
Velichchaththil anaikkaathaelDon't embrace me under the bright light!
Male
Ungaaththukku maappilla naanI am the son-in-law for your house,
Female :Ungaaththukku maattu ponnu naanFemale: I am the daughter-in-law for your house.
Female
Thaalaelo thaalaelo thaachchukkodaa seemaachchooLullaby, sleep tight my dear child,
Thaalaelo thaalaelo thaachchukkodaa seemaachchooLullaby, sleep tight my dear child.
Thaaippaala kudichchaachchu thoongeandaa time aachchuYou've drunk your mother's milk, it's time to sleep now!
Unnaala nekkumthaan raaththiriyil thookkam illaBecause of you, I get no sleep at night continually,
Ennaala mudiyaathu varushaththukkoru pillaI cannot handle bearing a child every single year!
Male
Ne yaendi aluththukkara ippothaanae rendaachchuWhy do you complain, dear? We only have two so far!
Aasa vechcha kaaranaththaal avasthaigal undaachchuBecause of our romantic desires, these troubles have arisen,
Avasthaigal undaachchuThese troubles have arisen!
Kannaana kanmaniyae ponmaniyae pichchumaniyaeMy precious darling, my golden jewel, my little jewel,
Thanga onnu venumunnu enna rompa paduththaraiyaeYou are teasing me so much just asking for one more golden baby!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Engaaththukku Mappilla Nee' is a lively and humorous duet depicting the domestic evolution of a Tamil Brahmin couple across different milestones of married life. The initial verses celebrate traditional wedding rituals—including the groom's procession (Jaanvaasam), the playful garland exchange competition between families, swinging on the ritual swing (Oonjal), and sacred rites like stepping on the grinding stone (Ammi Midhithal). As the song progresses, the tone shifts into romantic honeymoon intimacy, before culminating in a realistic yet comic portrayal of parenthood. The wife humorously complains about sleep deprivation and frequent pregnancies, while the husband playfully tries to coax her into expanding their family further. Lyricist Vaali weaves authentic Tamil Brahmin socio-lect and cultural nuances into MSV's lighthearted, multi-tempo musical arrangement.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Engaaththukku mappilla nee / Ongaaththukku maattuponnu naan

The second consonant 'nga' rhymes between 'Engaaththukku' and 'Ongaaththukku'.

Iyaipu (End-rhyme)

Ammaadi poraattamthaan / Maamigal kummaalamthaan

Both lines end with the rhyming suffix 'thaan'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vekkam enna sakkaraikatti

The husband affectionately addresses his wife as 'sakkaraikatti' (sugar cube) to denote sweetness.

Socio-dialectal Vocabulary (Iyalbu Navitchi)

Panjakachcham angavasthiram... Aambadaiyaanum aambadaiyaalum

Uses specific colloquial Brahminical Tamil vocabulary ('Aaththu', 'Aambadaiyaan', 'Panjakachcham') to ground the song in its cultural context.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the film 'Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam' (1981) directed by S. P. Muthuraman and written by renowned playwright Visu, the song picturizes Pratap Pothen and Suhasini. It stands out for its unique multi-stage narrative structure—moving from wedding to romance to parenthood within a single song track composed by M. S. Viswanathan.

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