- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. S. Narasimhan
- Movie name
- Kalyana Agathigal
- Movie release year
- 1985
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Aug 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This anthem from the film 'Kalyana Agathigal' (Marriage Refugees) is a powerful feminist critique against the societal evils of the dowry system, male chauvinism, and oppressive marital structures. A group of independent young women declare themselves 'marriage refugees' who choose to abandon societal expectations rather than succumb to extortion and subjection disguised as holy matrimony. They mock the legal and cultural system that tolerates dowry demands, metaphorically equating dowry to demanding wages for tying a thali. The second half celebrates women's autonomy and freedom using nature imagery. Just as flowers bloom with natural fragrance without needing a marriage bond and birds live untethered without human familial conflicts, degree-educated women deserve to live on their own terms rather than becoming literal prisoners in marital homes. The song serves as a fiery declaration of self-respect, emancipation, and unity among women standing up against systemic patriarchal oppression.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Kalyana agathigal naangal”
Describing unmarried, oppressed women escaping dowry demands as 'Kalyana Agathigal' (Marriage Refugees).
Satire / Irony
“Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu / Dharmamaanathingae”
Ironically comparing dowry demanded by the groom's family to 'kooli' (daily wages) and 'dharmam' (charity/alms).
Nature Imagery & Metaphor
“Poovellam thaalikatti / Manapathillai / Endraalum poovukenna / Manamaa illai”
Comparing women's intrinsic beauty and dignity to flowers that bloom delightfully without requiring a thali.
Emoni (Rhyme Scheme / Monorhyme)
“Kalyaana paaramillai / Kanneerin eeramillai / Maappillai peramillai”
Consonant end-rhyming using 'illai' across consecutive lines (paaramillai, eeramillai, peramillai, yaarumillai).
Etukai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Appaavaal thittapattom / Ammaavaal kuttappattom”
Tamil poetic second-letter rhyming pattern: 'Appaavaal', 'Ammaavaal', 'Em kaigal'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Directed by legendary filmmaker K. Balachander, 'Kalyana Agathigal' (1985) is a bold social drama focusing on six women living together after rejecting traditional marriage due to dowry and abuse. The film marked the acting debut of popular actress Nassar. The lyrics by Vairamuthu and music by V. S. Narasimhan provided a fierce feminist voice ahead of its time in 1980s Tamil cinema.
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