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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyaana Maalai 1

From Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Ilayaraja, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Kalyaana maalai kondaadum pennaeOh woman celebrating with a wedding garland,
En paattai kelu unmaigal sonnen} (2)Listen to my song, I spoke truths. (Repeat)
Suruthiyodu layam polavaeJust like melody and rhythm aligning,
Inaiyaagum thunaiyaagum samsaara sangeedhamaeDomestic life's music becomes a suitable and supporting companion.
Male
Kalyaana maalai kondaadum pennaeOh woman celebrating with a wedding garland,
En paattai kelu unmaigal sonnenListen to my song, I spoke truths.
Male
Vaalibangal odum vayadhaaga koodumYouth will fade and age will advance,
Aanaalum anbu maaraadhathuYet love remains unchanged.
Maalaiyidum sondham mudipotta bandhamThe relation forged by exchanging garlands, a bond tied by a knot,
Pirivennum sollae ariyaadhathuKnows not the word called separation.
Male
Azhagaana manaivi anbaana thunaiviIf one gets a beautiful wife and a loving companion,
Amaindhaalae perinbamaeIt is supreme bliss.
Madimeedhu thuyila sarasangal payilaTo sleep on her lap, to indulge in romance,
Moghangal aarambamaePassions begin there.
Male
Nalla manaiyaalin nesam oru kodiA good wife's affection is worth ten million,
Nenjamenum veenai paadumae thodiThe veena called the heart will sing the raga Thodi.
Sandhoosha saamraajyamae…It is a kingdom of happiness...
Male
Kalyaana maalai kondaadum pennaeOh woman celebrating with a wedding garland,
En paattai kelu unmaigal sonnenListen to my song, I spoke truths.
Suruthiyodu layam polavaeJust like melody and rhythm aligning,
Inaiyaagum thunaiyaagum samsaara sangeedhamaeDomestic life's music becomes a suitable and supporting companion.
Male
Kalyaana maalai kondaadum pennaeOh woman celebrating with a wedding garland,
En paattai kelu unmaigal sonnenListen to my song, I spoke truths.
Male
Koovugindra kuyilai koottukkul vaithuKeeping a singing cuckoo inside a cage,
Paadendru sonnaal paadaadhamaaIf told to sing, won't it sing?
Solaimayil thannai siraivaithu poottiLocking up the garden peacock in imprisonment,
Aadendru sonnaal aadaadhamaaIf told to dance, won't it dance?
Male
Naaldhorum rasigan paarattum kalainjanAn artist praised every day by fans,
Kaavalgal enakillaiyaeHas no guards or restrictions.
Sogangal enakum nenjodu irukkumI too have sorrows residing in my heart,
Sirikaadha naalillaiyaeYet there is no day I do not smile.
Male
Thukkam silaneram pongivarumbodhumEven when grief overflows at times,
Makkal manampolae paaduven kannaeI will sing according to the audience's wish, my dear.
En sogham ennodudhaan…My sorrow remains strictly with me...
Male
Kalyaana maalai kondaadum pennaeOh woman celebrating with a wedding garland,
En paattai kelu unmaigal sonnenListen to my song, I spoke truths.
Suruthiyodu layam polavaeJust like melody and rhythm aligning,
Inaiyaagum thunaiyaagum samsaara sangeedhamaeDomestic life's music becomes a suitable and supporting companion.
Male
Kalyaana maalai kondaadum pennaeOh woman celebrating with a wedding garland,
En paattai kelu unmaigal sonnenListen to my song, I spoke truths.
Hmmm..mmmm..mmmmm…mmmmmm..Hmmm..mmmm..mmmmm…mmmmmm..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kalyaana Maalai is a iconic philosophical and emotional composition from the 1989 Tamil film 'Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal', directed by K. Balachander. Set during a wedding performance, the song duals as an ode to marital harmony and a poignant commentary on the duties of an artist. In the first stanza, the singer celebrates marriage as a divine symphony where husband and wife tune together like pitch (sruti) and rhythm (laya), emphasizing that while youth fades, true companionate love endures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile (உவமை & உருவகம்)

Suruthiyodu layam polavae / Inaiyaagum thunaiyaagum samsaara sangeedhamae

Comparing married life (Samsaaram) to music (Sangeedham), and husband and wife to melody (Suruthi) and rhythm (Layam).

Uruvagamy / Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Nenjamenum veenai paadumae thodi

Comparing the human heart to a Veena instrument playing the classic raga Thodi when blessed with love.

Emona / Rhyme & Alliteration (எதுகை / மோனை)

Koovugindra kuyilai koottukkul vaithu / Solaimayil thannai siraivaithu pootti

Use of second-letter rhyming (Edhugai) in 'Koovugindra' and 'Solaimayil', alongside internal rhythm.

Contrast / Antithesis

Sogangal enakum nenjodu irukkum / Sirikaadha naalillaiyae

Juxtaposing personal grief with professional obligations to smile and entertain the public.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung brilliantly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, this song is famous for its intricate use of the Carnatic raga Sindhu Bhairavi. In the film, the scene features actor Rahman playing a singer performing at a wedding while concealing his own personal tragedy, mirroring the tragicomic duty of a performing artist.

Keep listening

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