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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennai Kalyanam Pannikko

From Kudumbam · 1954

Lyricist
M. S. Balasubramaniyam
Singers
D. Srinivas, P. Susheela
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Details
Kudumbam1954

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ye kutti ennai kalayanam pannikkoHey girl, marry me!
Ye kutti ennai kalayanam pannikkoHey girl, marry me!
Unakkenna venum kettu vangikooAsk for whatever you want and take it from me.
Unakkenna venum kettu vangikooAsk for whatever you want and take it from me.
Nottu pavunu tharenI will give you cash notes and gold sovereigns,
Pattu pudavai thaarenI will give you rich silk sarees,
Ennai kalyanam pannikkooSo marry me!
Female
Aamaam unnaithaan naan kattikida venumYes, I ought to marry only you!
Enakku unnaithaan naan kattikida venumFor me, I ought to marry only you!
Onnum illaama poganuminnaIf I want to end up with nothing,
OttandiyaagamuninnaIf I want to become a penniless beggar,
Onnum illaama poganuminnaIf I want to end up with nothing,
OttandiyaagamuninnaIf I want to become a penniless beggar,
Unnaithan naan kattikida venumI should marry only you!
Unnaithan naan kattikida venumI should marry only you!
Male
Adi ponnae poovae poovin manamaeHey my gold, my flower, fragrance of a blossom!
Namma polaam aeroplanilae thinamaeWe can go on airplane rides every day!
Female :Ennai yemaathathae idhellam actuFemale: Don't fool me, all this is just an act!
Unnai enakku theriyum nee eempty pocketuI know all about you, you have empty pockets!
Male
Illae vairangalaa pottu carilNo, decked in diamonds, in a car,
Walking poi varlaamWe can go out for a ride and walk!
Vairangalaa pottu carilDecked in diamonds, in a car,
Walking poi varlaamWe can go out for a ride and walk!
Female :Aama vaai pandhal pottu summaaFemale: Oh yeah, building mouth-castles for free,
Vaari vaari tharalaamYou can lavishly dole out empty words!
Vaai pandhal pottu summaaOh yeah, building mouth-castles for free,
Vaari vaari tharalaamYou can lavishly dole out empty words!
Male
……………………….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet from the 1954 film Kudumbam is a humorous banter between a man trying to woo a woman with grand, exaggerated promises and a smart, skeptical woman who sees right through his bluff. The male protagonist promises cash, gold sovereigns, silk sarees, diamond jewelry, car rides, and daily airplane trips if she agrees to marry him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Nottu pavunu tharen / Pattu pudavai thaaren

The second consonant 'tt' in 'Nottu' and 'Pattu' rhymes across the consecutive lines.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Adi ponnae poovae poovin manamae

Repetition of the initial 'p' sound in 'ponnae', 'poovae', and 'poovin'.

Idioms / Colloquial Metaphor

Vaai pandhal pottu summaa

'Vaai pandhal' (mouth canopy) is a Tamil idiom referring to making empty verbal promises without any intention or ability to fulfill them.

Code-mixing / Tanglish Rhyme

Ennai yemaathathae idhellam actu / Unnai enakku theriyum nee eempty pocketu

Blends Tamil with English words like 'act' and 'empty pocket' adapted with Tamil phonetics ('actu', 'pocketu') for comic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Released in 1954, 'Kudumbam' was scored by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. The song stands out as an early example of playful, colloquial Tanglish comedy duets in Tamil cinema, highlighting everyday slang and social humor popular during the 1950s.

Keep listening

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