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Isaimozhi
Oppantham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalayana Melamadi

From Oppantham · 1983

Lyricist
Maari
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Oppantham
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
29 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thiruvalluvar paetta selvarathinam paiyan
Seenivaasan engura kannanukkum…
Thanjaavooru sillaa maayavaram pakkam
Mannaaru saami maga rukkumanikkum…
Naalaikku kalyaanam…
Innaikku oorkolam…
Kalyaana maelamadi maelamadi
Kaadhula kaekkudhadi kaekkudhadi
Ponnaala thaali senju
Nalla poo maala vaangi vandhu
En pondaatti kazhuthinilae
Poda vandhaen paada vandhaen
Kalyaana maelamadi maelamadi
Kaadhula kaekkudhadi haei kaekkudhadi
Kaettaa kodukkum kaamadhaenu
Koduthaa perugum kuviyum ponnu
Ellaam namakkaaga
Maari pol pozhiyanum
Manasellaam neraiyanum
Nadakkum… nadakkum
Nallaa kedaikkum
Saami ellaam kodukkum ezhaiya osathum
Kalyaana maelamadi maelamadi
Kaadhula kaekkudhadi kaekkudhadi
Paalaa perugi pongi vazhiyum
Pala naal kanavu indru vidiyum
Adiyae rukkumani
Aasaiyaa rusikkalaam
Aaraathi edukkalaam
Kanavaa… kanavaa illa nenavaa
Onna thodavaa medhuvaa sonnaen podhuvaa
Kalyaana maelamadi maelamadi
Kaadhula kaekkudhadi kaekkudhadi
Ponnaala thaali senju
Nalla poo maala vaangi vandhu
Un pondaatti kazhuthinilae
Pottu vidu pootti vidu
Kalyaana maelamadi maelamadi
Kaadhula kaekkudhadi kaekkudhadi
Vayaso sirusu vaala vayasu
Manso perusu aasa manasu
Rasikkum ena paathu
Kanavula medhakkuraen
Kavalaiya marakkuraen
Thaniyaa… thannam thaniyaa
Chinna paniyaa onakkae paninjnae irukkaen
Kalyaana maelamadi maelamadi
Kaadhula kaekkudhadi kaekkudhadi
Ponnaala thaali senju
Nalla poo maala vaangi vandhu
En pondaatti kazhuthinilae
Poda vandhaen paada vandhaen
To the son of Selvarathinam from Thiruvalluvar Pettai,
Srinivasan, who is also called Kannan...
Near Mayavaram in Thanjavur district,
and to Mannarusamy's daughter Rukmani...
Tomorrow is the wedding...
Today is the street procession...
The wedding drum is beating, my girl,
I can hear it in my ears, I hear it!
Making a thali (sacred wedding thread) of gold,
bringing a beautiful flower garland,
around my wife's neck,
I came to place it and sing!
The wedding drum is beating, my girl,
I can hear it in my ears, hey, I hear it!
Like the Kamadhenu (wish-granting cow) giving when asked,
giving wealth and heaps of gold that multiply,
all for our sake!
It should pour down like rain,
and fill all our hearts!
It will happen... it will happen,
we will receive good things!
God will grant everything and lift up the poor!
The wedding drum is beating, my girl,
I can hear it in my ears, I hear it!
Flowing and brimming over like milk,
our long-held dream comes true today!
Oh my dear Rukmani,
we can lovingly relish this,
and perform the aarathi (welcoming lamp ritual)!
Is this a dream... a dream or reality?
Can I touch you gently? I only asked casually!
The wedding drum is beating, my girl,
I can hear it in my ears, I hear it!
Making a thali (sacred wedding thread) of gold,
bringing a beautiful flower garland,
around your wife's neck,
tie it on and fasten it tight!
The wedding drum is beating, my girl,
I can hear it in my ears, I hear it!
My age is young, right in the bloom of youth,
yet my heart is vast, filled with longing!
Seeing you look at me with fondness,
I float away in dreams,
forgetting all my worries!
All alone... all by myself,
like a humble servant, I stay devoted to you!
The wedding drum is beating, my girl,
I can hear it in my ears, I hear it!
Making a thali (sacred wedding thread) of gold,
bringing a beautiful flower garland,
around my wife's neck,
I came to place it and sing!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This festive song opens in the style of a traditional Tamil village wedding announcement, explicitly listing the groom Kannan (Srinivasan) from Thiruvalluvar Pettai and the bride Rukmani from the Mayiladuthurai/Tanjore region. It captures the exuberant joy, anticipation, and community celebration surrounding the upcoming wedding ceremony and procession. The lyrics express deep affection, hope, and optimism for a blissful future. Using cultural motifs such as the sacred golden Mangalsutra, flower garlands, Kamadhenu (the divine wish-fulfilling cow), and the resonant beating of the wedding drums (Nadaswaram and Thavil), the protagonist envisions a prosperous life where hard work and faith bring joy and social elevation to the modest couple.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Kalyaana maelamadi maelamadi”

Repetition of words like 'maelamadi maelamadi', 'kaekkudhadi kaekkudhadi', and 'nadakkum... nadakkum' creates rhythmic energy and folk music cadence.

Iyaibu (Rhyme / End Rhyme)

“Kanavula medhakkuraen / Kavalaiya marakkuraen”

Rhyming endings across consecutive lines such as 'medhakkuraen' and 'marakkuraen' enhance the lyrical flow.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Vayaso sirusu vaala vayasu / Manso perusu aasa manasu”

Matching second consonants in words like 'Vayaso' and 'Manso' creates harmonious internal rhythm.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Kaettaa kodukkum kaamadhaenu”

Comparing generous giving and abundance to Kamadhenu, the mythological wish-fulfilling cow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening lines mimic the traditional formal announcement structure used by village criers and wedding invitations in rural Tamil Nadu, specifying families, towns, and real-sounding names to give the track an authentic, grounded folk atmosphere.

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