Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Nalla Thambi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyaana Ponnirukku

From Nalla Thambi · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nalla Thambi
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
4 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalyaana ponnirukku
Maappillaiyum kaathirukku
Eppodhu kalyaanam
Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Kalyaana ponnirukku
Maappillaiyum kaathirukku
Eppodhu kalyaanam
Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Eppodhu kalyaanam
Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Kalyaana ponnirukku
Maappillaiyum kaathirukku
Eppodhu kalyaanam
Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Eppodhu kalyaanam
Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Haaa…..
Haaa…haaa….haa…
Koiyaadha koiyaa pazham
Nee therinjukka ippodhu aiyaa balam
Female :Haan haa
Male :Koiyaadha koiyaa pazham
Nee therinjukka ippodhu aiyaa balam
Hae thaangaadhaiyaa
En maeni thaan
Unnoda naan jodi thaan
Thaangaadhaiyaa en maeni thaan
Unnoda naan jodi thaan
Koduthaa neraiyum
Thudikkira manasu
Kulirum kuraiyum
Anaikkira pozhudhu
Potta kozhi sevaloda
Thottukkittu ottikkittu
Mutham onnu vekka pogudhu
Haaaa
Kalyaana ponnirukku
Female :Maappillaiyum kaathirukku
Male :Eppodhu kalyaanamFemale :Haa
Male :Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Female :Haa
Eppodhu kalyaanam
Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Mel logam
Boologam thaan
Kai anaippila munnaadi
Naanum kanden
Hae mel logam
Boologam thaan
Kai anaippila munnaadi
Naanum kanden
Maamaa magaFemale :Haa
Male :Nee thaanammaaFemale :Haa
Male :Maappilla naan thaanammaa
Female :Haa haa
Male :Maamaa magaFemale :Hahaha
Male :Nee thaanammaaFemale :Haa
Male :Maappilla naan thaanammaa
Manasa izhutha
Manmadha raajaa
Mayangi irukku onakkunnu rojaa
Kattai nalla naattu katta
En kitta nee maattikkitta
Naala paaru melatha thatta
Haa haa haa
Kalyaana ponnirukku
Male :Maappillaiyum kaathirukku
Female :Eppodhu kalyaanam
Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Male :EppodhuFemale :Haa
Male :KalyaanamFemale :Haa
Male :Pippi pee dumdum dumdum
Female :Haaa…..
The bride is ready,
and the groom is waiting!
When is the wedding?
Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
The bride is ready,
and the groom is waiting!
When is the wedding?
Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
When is the wedding?
Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
The bride is ready,
and the groom is waiting!
When is the wedding?
Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
When is the wedding?
Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
Aah...
Ha... ha... ha...
You are an unplucked guava fruit!
Now you will discover this man's power!
Female: Haan ha!
Male: An unplucked guava fruit!
Now you will discover this man's power!
Hey, it cannot bear it, mister,
this tender body of mine!
Yet I am truly your perfect match!
My tender body cannot bear it, mister!
Yet I am truly your perfect match!
Only when fulfilled will it be calmed,
this pounding heart!
The cold will fade away
when we hold each other tight!
The hen with the rooster,
touching and snuggling close,
is about to plant a kiss!
Ha!
The bride is ready,
Female: and the groom is waiting!
Male: When is the wedding? Female: Ha!
Male: Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
Female: Ha!
When is the wedding?
Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
The heavens above
and this earth below,
right here in your embrace,
I have witnessed both!
Hey, the heavens above
and this earth below,
right here in your embrace,
I have witnessed both!
My uncle's daughter— Female: Ha!
Male: You are the one! Female: Ha!
Male: And I am your groom!
Female: Ha ha!
Male: My uncle's daughter— Female: Hahaha!
Male: You are the one! Female: Ha!
Male: And I am your groom!
You stole my heart,
my king of romance!
Enchanted by you is your rose!
Such a stunning, shapely country beauty,
you have now been caught by me!
Just watch the wedding drums beat tomorrow!
Ha ha ha!
The bride is ready,
Male: and the groom is waiting!
Female: When is the wedding?
Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
Male: When is... Female: Ha!
Male: ...the wedding? Female: Ha!
Male: Pip-pi pee, dhum-dhum dhum-dhum!
Female: Aah...
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful duet from the movie Nalla Thambi (1985) captures the joyous and romantic exchange between a young couple eagerly anticipating their wedding day. They tease each other using earthy metaphors of rural life and physical intimacy, expressing their mutual passion and desire to unite in marriage. The recurring refrain 'Pippi pee dumdum dumdum' rhythmically mimics the traditional sound of nadaswaram and thavil instruments played during Tamil weddings.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia

Pippi pee dumdum dumdum

The vocalization 'Pippi pee dumdum dumdum' mimics the sound of traditional Tamil wedding instruments, the Nadaswaram and Thavil.

Metaphor

Koiyaadha koiyaa pazham

Comparing the maiden to an unplucked guava fruit ('Koiyaadha koiyaa pazham') symbolizing youth and untouched beauty.

Imagery / Rhyme

Thottukkittu ottikkittu

The usage of 'Thottukkittu ottikkittu' creates rhythmic, physical imagery of closeness and touch through rhyming Tamil verbal participles.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song uses folk-style onomatopoeic refrains designed to evoke immediate festive imagery of a rural South Indian wedding ceremony.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Nalla Thambi

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.