- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal
- Movie release year
- 1989
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Mar 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Kalyana Maalai is a philosophical and deeply emotional song from K. Balachander's 1989 film 'Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal'. Written by Vaali and composed by Ilaiyaraaja, the song operates on two contrasting thematic levels: the ideal beauty of marital harmony and the hidden sorrow of a performing artist. In the first half, the narrator reflects on matrimony, likening a husband and wife to pitch (sruti) and rhythm (laya) in music. He highlights how true love endures beyond youth and aging. In the second half, the narrative shifts to the performer's inner torment. Likening himself to a caged bird forced to entertain on command, the singer conceals his personal heartbreaks behind a warm smile to fulfill his duty to his audience.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Upamai)
“Suruthiyodu layam polavae / Inaiyaagum thunaiyaagum / Samsaara sangeedhamae”
Compares marriage/family life to musical harmony between pitch (sruti) and rhythm (laya).
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Nenjamenum veenai”
Compares the human heart directly to a musical instrument, the veena.
Analogy & Imagery
“Koovugindra kuyilai koottukkul vaithu paadendru sonnaal paadaadhamaa”
Uses the vivid image of a caged cuckoo and imprisoned peacock to illustrate how an artist must perform on demand despite losing personal freedom and experiencing grief.
Ethirai (Second letter rhyming)
“Maalaiyidum sondham / Mudipotta bandham”
The second consonant sound 'd' matches in consecutive lines (Maalaiyidum / Mudipotta).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, 'Kalyana Maalai' is set in the poignant Carnatic raga Sindhu Bhairavi. In the movie, actor Rahman plays a famous singer whose personal marital life is fraught with strain, matching the tragic subtext of Vaali's lyrics.
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