Kalyana Agathigal
From Kalyana Agathigal · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. S. Narasimhan
- Details
- Kalyana Agathigal1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Hae hae…. | Hae hae… |
| Female :Hae hae…. | Female: Hae hae… |
| Female :Hae hae…. | Female: Hae hae… |
| Female | |
| ……………… | [Interlude] |
| Female | |
| Kalyana agathigal naangal | We are refugees of marriage, |
| Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal | We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything. |
| Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu | Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread, |
| Chorus :Vetkam vetkam | Chorus: Shame, shame! |
| Female | |
| Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu | Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread, |
| Dharmamaanathingae | Has become considered a charitable act here. |
| Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu | And watching all this happen, the law, |
| Chorus :Shame Shame | Chorus: Shame, shame! |
| Female | |
| Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu | And watching all this happen, the law, |
| Salaam poduthingae | Salutes and bows down to it here. |
| Female | |
| Kalyana agathigal naangal | We are refugees of marriage, |
| Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal | We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything. |
| Female | |
| ……………… | [Interlude] |
| Female | |
| Samsaara sumaigalai | The heavy burdens of family life, |
| Irakki vittom | We have set down. |
| Kanneerai kannai vittu | The tears from our eyes, |
| Thuraththi vittom | We have chased away. |
| Chorus :Welldone | Chorus: Well done! |
| Female | |
| Maappillai jaadhigalai | The whole breed of prospective grooms, |
| Maranthuvittom | We have forgotten. |
| Maangalyam paaramendru | Considering the sacred thali to be a burden, |
| Maruththuvittom | We have rejected it. |
| Chorus :Welldone | Chorus: Well done! |
| Female | |
| Appaavaal thittapattom | We were scolded by fathers, |
| Ammaavaal kuttappattom | We were reprimanded by mothers, |
| Em kaigal kattapattom | Our hands were tied, |
| Aanukku kattupattom | We were made subservient to men. |
| Innum ingae kanneer vittu | We have no desire to suffer losses anymore, |
| Nastappada istamillaiyae….hae….ae… | By shedding tears in this place... hae... ae... |
| Female | |
| Ho ho ho ho…. | Ho ho ho ho… |
| Female | |
| Kalyana agathigal naangal | We are refugees of marriage, |
| Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal | We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything. |
| Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu | Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread, |
| Chorus :Vetkam vetkam | Chorus: Shame, shame! |
| Female | |
| Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu | Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread, |
| Dharmamaanathingae | Has become considered a charitable act here. |
| Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu | And watching all this happen, the law, |
| Chrous : Shame Shame | Chorus: Shame, shame! |
| Female | |
| Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu | And watching all this happen, the law, |
| Salaam poduthingae | Salutes and bows down to it here. |
| Female | |
| Kalyana agathigal naangal | We are refugees of marriage, |
| Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal | We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything. |
| Female | |
| ……………… | [Interlude] |
| Female | |
| Poovellam thaalikatti | Flowers do not tie a marital thread, |
| Manapathillai | To get married, |
| Endraalum poovukenna | Yet, does a flower ever lack, |
| Manamaa illai | Fragrance or charm? |
| Chorus :Once more | Chorus: Once more! |
| Female | |
| Poovellam thaalikatti | Flowers do not tie a marital thread, |
| Manapathillai | To get married, |
| Endraalum poovukenna | Yet, does a flower ever lack, |
| Manamaa illai | Fragrance or charm? |
| Female | |
| Enaalum paravaikku | Birds never grow gray hair, |
| Naraipathillai | No matter what day it is. |
| Paravaikku maamiyaar | And for birds, a mother-in-law, |
| Iruppathillai | Does not exist! |
| Chorus :Hahahahaa | Chorus: Hahahaha! |
| Female | |
| Kalyaana paaramillai | There is no burden of marriage, |
| Kanneerin eeramillai | There is no wetness of tears, |
| Maappillai peramillai | There is no price-bargaining for grooms, |
| Naththanaar yaarumillai | There are no troubling sisters-in-law. |
| Pattam petra pengal | Women who hold degrees, |
| Ingu palliyarai kaithi illaiyae hae….ae… | Are not prisoners in the bedchamber here... hae... ae... |
| Female | |
| Ho ho ho ho…. | Ho ho ho ho… |
| Female | |
| Kalyana agathigal naangal | We are refugees of marriage, |
| Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal | We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything. |
| Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu | Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread, |
| Chorus :Vetkam vetkam | Chorus: Shame, shame! |
| Female | |
| Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu | Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread, |
| Dharmamaanathingae | Has become considered a charitable act here. |
| Female :Vetkam vetkam | Female: Shame, shame! |
| Female :Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu | Female: And watching all this happen, the law, |
| Chorus :Shame Shame | Chorus: Shame, shame! |
| Female | |
| Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu | Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu |
| Salaam poduthingae | Salutes and bows down to it here. |
| Female | |
| Kalyana agathigal naangal | We are refugees of marriage, |
| Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naang | We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything. |
| Female | |
| Ohho | Ohho |
| Female :Aehae | Female: Aehae |
| Female :Ohho | Female: Ohho |
| Female :Aehae hae…. | Female: Aehae hae… |
ஹே ஹே....
ஹே ஹே....
ஹே ஹே....
Hae hae…
Female: Hae hae…
Female: Hae hae…
.........................
[Interlude]
கல்யாண அகதிகள் நாங்கள்
எதற்கும் கலங்காத யுவதிகள் நாங்கள்
தாலி கட்டவும் கூலி கேட்பது
குழு :
வெட்கம் வெட்கம்
We are refugees of marriage,
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Chorus: Shame, shame!
தாலி கட்டவும் கூலி கேட்பது
தர்மமானதிங்கே
சட்டம் அதையும் பார்த்துக் கொண்டு
குழு :
ஷேம் ஷேம்
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Has become considered a charitable act here.
And watching all this happen, the law,
Chorus: Shame, shame!
சட்டம் அதையும் பார்த்துக் கொண்டு
சலாம் போடுதிங்கே
And watching all this happen, the law,
Salutes and bows down to it here.
கல்யாண அகதிகள் நாங்கள்
எதற்கும் கலங்காத யுவதிகள் நாங்கள்.....
We are refugees of marriage,
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
............................
[Interlude]
சம்சார சுமைகளை
இறக்கிவிட்டோம்
கண்ணீரை கண்ணை விட்டு
துரத்திவிட்டோம்
குழு :
வெல்டன்
The heavy burdens of family life,
We have set down.
The tears from our eyes,
We have chased away.
Chorus: Well done!
மாப்பிள்ளை ஜாதிகளை
மறந்துவிட்டோம்
மாங்கல்யம் பாரமென்று
மறுத்துவிட்டோம்
குழு : வெல்டன்
The whole breed of prospective grooms,
We have forgotten.
Considering the sacred thali to be a burden,
We have rejected it.
Chorus: Well done!
அப்பாவால் திட்டப்பட்டோம்
அம்மாவால் குட்டுப்பட்டோம்
எம் கைகள் கட்டப்பட்டோம்
ஆணுக்கு கட்டுப்பட்டோம்
இன்னும் இங்கே கண்ணீர் விட்டு
நஷ்டப்பட இஷ்டமில்லையே........ஹே.....ஏ......
We were scolded by fathers,
We were reprimanded by mothers,
Our hands were tied,
We were made subservient to men.
We have no desire to suffer losses anymore,
By shedding tears in this place... hae... ae...
ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ.......
Ho ho ho ho…
கல்யாண அகதிகள் நாங்கள்
எதற்கும் கலங்காத யுவதிகள் நாங்கள்
தாலி கட்டவும் கூலி கேட்பது
குழு :
வெட்கம் வெட்கம்
We are refugees of marriage,
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Chorus: Shame, shame!
தாலி கட்டவும் கூலி கேட்பது
தர்மமானதிங்கே
சட்டம் அதையும் பார்த்துக் கொண்டு
குழு :
ஷேம் ஷேம்
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Has become considered a charitable act here.
And watching all this happen, the law,
Chorus: Shame, shame!
சட்டம் அதையும் பார்த்துக் கொண்டு
சலாம் போடுதிங்கே
And watching all this happen, the law,
Salutes and bows down to it here.
கல்யாண அகதிகள் நாங்கள்
எதற்கும் கலங்காத யுவதிகள் நாங்கள்.....
We are refugees of marriage,
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
...........................
[Interlude]
பூவெல்லாம் தாலிக் கட்டி
மணப்பதில்லை
என்றாலும் பூவுக்கென்ன
மணமா இல்லை
குழு :
ஒன்ஸ்மோர்
Flowers do not tie a marital thread,
To get married,
Yet, does a flower ever lack,
Fragrance or charm?
Chorus: Once more!
பூவெல்லாம் தாலிக் கட்டி
மணப்பதில்லை
என்றாலும் பூவுக்கென்ன
மணமா இல்லை
Flowers do not tie a marital thread,
To get married,
Yet, does a flower ever lack,
Fragrance or charm?
எந்நாளும் பறவைக்கு
நரைப்பதில்லை
பறவைக்கு மாமியார்
இருப்பதில்லை
குழு :
ஹஹஹஹா
Birds never grow gray hair,
No matter what day it is.
And for birds, a mother-in-law,
Does not exist!
Chorus: Hahahaha!
கல்யாண பாரமில்லை
கண்ணீரின் ஈரமில்லை
மாப்பிள்ளை பேரமில்லை
நாத்தனார் யாருமில்லை
பட்டம் பெற்ற பெண்கள்
இங்கு பள்ளியறை கைதி இல்லையே ஹே.....ஏ......
There is no burden of marriage,
There is no wetness of tears,
There is no price-bargaining for grooms,
There are no troubling sisters-in-law.
Women who hold degrees,
Are not prisoners in the bedchamber here... hae... ae...
ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ.......
Ho ho ho ho…
கல்யாண அகதிகள் நாங்கள்
எதற்கும் கலங்காத யுவதிகள் நாங்கள்
தாலி கட்டவும் கூலி கேட்பது
குழு :
வெட்கம் வெட்கம்
We are refugees of marriage,
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Chorus: Shame, shame!
தாலி கட்டவும் கூலி கேட்பது
தர்மமானதிங்கே
வெட்கம் வெட்கம்
சட்டம் அதையும் பார்த்துக் கொண்டு
குழு :
ஷேம் ஷேம்
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Has become considered a charitable act here.
Female: Shame, shame!
Female: And watching all this happen, the law,
Chorus: Shame, shame!
சட்டம் அதையும் பார்த்துக் கொண்டு
சலாம் போடுதிங்கே
Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu
Salutes and bows down to it here.
கல்யாண அகதிகள் நாங்கள்
எதற்கும் கலங்காத யுவதிகள் நாங்கள்.....
We are refugees of marriage,
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
ஓஹோ
ஏஹே
ஓஹோ
ஏஹே ஹே.......
Ohho
Female: Aehae
Female: Ohho
Female: Aehae hae…
Hae hae….
Hae hae…
Female :Hae hae….
Female: Hae hae…
Female :Hae hae….
Female: Hae hae…
………………
[Interlude]
Kalyana agathigal naangal
We are refugees of marriage,
Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Chorus :Vetkam vetkam
Chorus: Shame, shame!
Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Dharmamaanathingae
Has become considered a charitable act here.
Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu
And watching all this happen, the law,
Chorus :Shame Shame
Chorus: Shame, shame!
Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu
And watching all this happen, the law,
Salaam poduthingae
Salutes and bows down to it here.
Kalyana agathigal naangal
We are refugees of marriage,
Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
………………
[Interlude]
Samsaara sumaigalai
The heavy burdens of family life,
Irakki vittom
We have set down.
Kanneerai kannai vittu
The tears from our eyes,
Thuraththi vittom
We have chased away.
Chorus :Welldone
Chorus: Well done!
Maappillai jaadhigalai
The whole breed of prospective grooms,
Maranthuvittom
We have forgotten.
Maangalyam paaramendru
Considering the sacred thali to be a burden,
Maruththuvittom
We have rejected it.
Chorus :Welldone
Chorus: Well done!
Appaavaal thittapattom
We were scolded by fathers,
Ammaavaal kuttappattom
We were reprimanded by mothers,
Em kaigal kattapattom
Our hands were tied,
Aanukku kattupattom
We were made subservient to men.
Innum ingae kanneer vittu
We have no desire to suffer losses anymore,
Nastappada istamillaiyae….hae….ae…
By shedding tears in this place... hae... ae...
Ho ho ho ho….
Ho ho ho ho…
Kalyana agathigal naangal
We are refugees of marriage,
Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Chorus :Vetkam vetkam
Chorus: Shame, shame!
Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Dharmamaanathingae
Has become considered a charitable act here.
Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu
And watching all this happen, the law,
Chrous : Shame Shame
Chorus: Shame, shame!
Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu
And watching all this happen, the law,
Salaam poduthingae
Salutes and bows down to it here.
Kalyana agathigal naangal
We are refugees of marriage,
Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
………………
[Interlude]
Poovellam thaalikatti
Flowers do not tie a marital thread,
Manapathillai
To get married,
Endraalum poovukenna
Yet, does a flower ever lack,
Manamaa illai
Fragrance or charm?
Chorus :Once more
Chorus: Once more!
Poovellam thaalikatti
Flowers do not tie a marital thread,
Manapathillai
To get married,
Endraalum poovukenna
Yet, does a flower ever lack,
Manamaa illai
Fragrance or charm?
Enaalum paravaikku
Birds never grow gray hair,
Naraipathillai
No matter what day it is.
Paravaikku maamiyaar
And for birds, a mother-in-law,
Iruppathillai
Does not exist!
Chorus :Hahahahaa
Chorus: Hahahaha!
Kalyaana paaramillai
There is no burden of marriage,
Kanneerin eeramillai
There is no wetness of tears,
Maappillai peramillai
There is no price-bargaining for grooms,
Naththanaar yaarumillai
There are no troubling sisters-in-law.
Pattam petra pengal
Women who hold degrees,
Ingu palliyarai kaithi illaiyae hae….ae…
Are not prisoners in the bedchamber here... hae... ae...
Ho ho ho ho….
Ho ho ho ho…
Kalyana agathigal naangal
We are refugees of marriage,
Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naangal
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Chorus :Vetkam vetkam
Chorus: Shame, shame!
Thaali kattavum kooli ketpathu
Demanding a wage just to tie the sacred marital thread,
Dharmamaanathingae
Has become considered a charitable act here.
Female :Vetkam vetkam
Female: Shame, shame!
Female :Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu
Female: And watching all this happen, the law,
Chorus :Shame Shame
Chorus: Shame, shame!
Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu
Sattam athaiyum paarththu kondu
Salaam poduthingae
Salutes and bows down to it here.
Kalyana agathigal naangal
We are refugees of marriage,
Edhrkkum kalangaatha uvathigal naang
We are young women who do not get unnerved by anything.
Ohho
Ohho
Female :Aehae
Female: Aehae
Female :Ohho
Female: Ohho
Female :Aehae hae….
Female: Aehae hae…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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