Kalyana Melangale Kacheri
From Nellikani · 1981
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Nellikani1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kalyaana melangalae | O wedding drums playing, |
| Male :……………. | Male: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Female :Katcheri thaalangalae | Female: O concert rhythms beat, |
| Male :……………. | Male: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Female | |
| Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum | Always sweet to the eyes and the heart, |
| Kannaa nee nellikkani | Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry! |
| Male :……………. | Male: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Female | |
| Kalyaana melangalae katcheri thaalangalae | O wedding drums! O concert rhythms! |
| Female | |
| Thennai maram mannai thodum | The coconut palm touches the ground, |
| Thendral varum ennai thodum | The gentle breeze comes and touches me, |
| Ini unnai thodum | Now it will touch you too. |
| Unnai thoda ennai thoda | Touching you and touching me, |
| Ullaththinil inbam varum pin yaekkam varum | Happiness fills the heart, followed by longing. |
| Male | |
| Thodaththaan viral padaththaan | Just to touch, just as fingers meet, |
| Vetkkam vidaththaan sugam undaanathu | As shyness departs, pleasure is born. |
| Iduppa adhan madippa mella pidikka | To softly hold the waist and its slender fold, |
| Manam thindaadthu thaalaattthu vaalaatuthu | The heart struggles, sings a lullaby, and sways joyfully. |
| Male | |
| Kalyaana melangalae | O wedding drums playing, |
| Female :……………. | Female: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Male :Katcheri thaalangalae | Male: O concert rhythms beat, |
| Female :……………. | Female: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Male | |
| Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum | Always sweet to the eyes and the heart, |
| Kannaa nee nellikkani | Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry! |
| Female :………….. | Female: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Male | |
| Santhangalil paadal varum | Song arises from rhythmic meters, |
| Sonthangalil pantham varum un paasam varum | Bonds and your deep love arise from relationships. |
| Kannin vazhi kadhal varum | Love enters through the eyes, |
| Kadhal vazhi kattil varum pin thottil varum | Through love comes the marital bed, and then the cradle. |
| Male | |
| Varavum nee tharavum naan peravum | Your giving and my receiving, |
| Neram ponnaanath | Made this time truly golden. |
| Valainjaa chumma nelinjaa aasa koranjaa | If you bend and turn away, if desire dims, |
| Nenjam ennaavathu | What will happen to my heart? |
| Kattikkadi….ottikkadi | Embrace me tightly... cling to me close! |
| Haang….haang….haa… | Haang... haang... haa... |
| Female | |
| Kalyaana melangalae | O wedding drums playing, |
| Male :……………. | Male: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Female :Katcheri thaalangalae | Female: O concert rhythms beat, |
| Male :……………. | Male: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Female | |
| Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum | Always sweet to the eyes and the heart, |
| Kannaa nee nellikkani | Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry! |
| Male :……………. | Male: (Instrumental / vocalization) |
| Male | |
| Kalyaana melangalae | O wedding drums playing, |
| Female :Katcheri thaalangalae | Female: O concert rhythms beat, |
| Female | |
| Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum | Always sweet to the eyes and the heart, |
| Kannaa nee nellikkani | Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry! |
| Male :Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum | Male: Always sweet to the eyes and the heart, |
| Kannaa nee nellikkani | Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry! |
கல்யாண மேளங்களே
.......................
கச்சேரி தாளங்களே
.......................
O wedding drums playing,
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Female: O concert rhythms beat,
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
கண்ணோடும் நெஞ்சோடும் எந்நாளும் தித்திக்கும்
கண்ணா நீ நெல்லிக்கனி
.......................
Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
கல்யாண மேளங்களே கச்சேரி தாளங்களே.....
O wedding drums! O concert rhythms!
தென்னை மரம் மண்ணைத் தொடும்
தென்றல் வரும் என்னை தொடும்
இனி உன்னைத் தொடும்
உன்னைத் தொட என்னைத் தொட
உள்ளத்தினில் இன்பம் வரும் பின் ஏக்கம் வரும்
The coconut palm touches the ground,
The gentle breeze comes and touches me,
Now it will touch you too.
Touching you and touching me,
Happiness fills the heart, followed by longing.
தொடத்தான் விரல் படத்தான்
வெட்கம் விடத்தான் சுகம் உண்டானது
இடுப்ப அதன் மடிப்ப மெல்ல பிடிக்க
மனம் திண்டாடுது தாலாட்டுது வாலாட்டுது
Just to touch, just as fingers meet,
As shyness departs, pleasure is born.
To softly hold the waist and its slender fold,
The heart struggles, sings a lullaby, and sways joyfully.
கல்யாண மேளங்களே
.......................
கச்சேரி தாளங்களே
.......................
O wedding drums playing,
Female: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Male: O concert rhythms beat,
Female: (Instrumental / vocalization)
கண்ணோடும் நெஞ்சோடும் எந்நாளும் தித்திக்கும்
கண்ணா நீ நெல்லிக்கனி
.......................
Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Female: (Instrumental / vocalization)
சந்தங்களில் பாடல் வரும்
சொந்தங்களில் பந்தம் வரும் உன் பாசம் வரும்
கண்ணின் வழி காதல் வரும்
காதல் வழி கட்டில் வரும் பின் தொட்டில் வரும்
Song arises from rhythmic meters,
Bonds and your deep love arise from relationships.
Love enters through the eyes,
Through love comes the marital bed, and then the cradle.
வரவும் நீ தரவும் நான் பெறவும்
நேரம் பொன்னானது
வளஞ்சா சும்மா நெளிஞ்சா ஆச கொறஞ்சா
நெஞ்சம் என்னாவது
கட்டிக்கடி......ஒட்டிக்கடி......
ஹாங்..ஹாங்..ஹா...
Your giving and my receiving,
Made this time truly golden.
If you bend and turn away, if desire dims,
What will happen to my heart?
Embrace me tightly... cling to me close!
Haang... haang... haa...
கல்யாண மேளங்களே
.......................
கச்சேரி தாளங்களே
.......................
O wedding drums playing,
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Female: O concert rhythms beat,
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
கண்ணோடும் நெஞ்சோடும் எந்நாளும் தித்திக்கும்
கண்ணா நீ நெல்லிக்கனி
.......................
Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
கல்யாண மேளங்களே
கச்சேரி தாளங்களே
O wedding drums playing,
Female: O concert rhythms beat,
கண்ணோடும் நெஞ்சோடும் எந்நாளும் தித்திக்கும்
கண்ணா நீ நெல்லிக்கனி
கண்ணோடும் நெஞ்சோடும் எந்நாளும் தித்திக்கும்
கண்ணா நீ நெல்லிக்கனி
Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Male: Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
...................
Kalyaana melangalae
O wedding drums playing,
Male :…………….
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Female :Katcheri thaalangalae
Female: O concert rhythms beat,
Male :…………….
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum
Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Kannaa nee nellikkani
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Male :…………….
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Kalyaana melangalae katcheri thaalangalae
O wedding drums! O concert rhythms!
Thennai maram mannai thodum
The coconut palm touches the ground,
Thendral varum ennai thodum
The gentle breeze comes and touches me,
Ini unnai thodum
Now it will touch you too.
Unnai thoda ennai thoda
Touching you and touching me,
Ullaththinil inbam varum pin yaekkam varum
Happiness fills the heart, followed by longing.
Thodaththaan viral padaththaan
Just to touch, just as fingers meet,
Vetkkam vidaththaan sugam undaanathu
As shyness departs, pleasure is born.
Iduppa adhan madippa mella pidikka
To softly hold the waist and its slender fold,
Manam thindaadthu thaalaattthu vaalaatuthu
The heart struggles, sings a lullaby, and sways joyfully.
Kalyaana melangalae
O wedding drums playing,
Female :…………….
Female: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Male :Katcheri thaalangalae
Male: O concert rhythms beat,
Female :…………….
Female: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum
Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Kannaa nee nellikkani
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Female :…………..
Female: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Santhangalil paadal varum
Song arises from rhythmic meters,
Sonthangalil pantham varum un paasam varum
Bonds and your deep love arise from relationships.
Kannin vazhi kadhal varum
Love enters through the eyes,
Kadhal vazhi kattil varum pin thottil varum
Through love comes the marital bed, and then the cradle.
Varavum nee tharavum naan peravum
Your giving and my receiving,
Neram ponnaanath
Made this time truly golden.
Valainjaa chumma nelinjaa aasa koranjaa
If you bend and turn away, if desire dims,
Nenjam ennaavathu
What will happen to my heart?
Kattikkadi….ottikkadi
Embrace me tightly... cling to me close!
Haang….haang….haa…
Haang... haang... haa...
Kalyaana melangalae
O wedding drums playing,
Male :…………….
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Female :Katcheri thaalangalae
Female: O concert rhythms beat,
Male :…………….
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum
Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Kannaa nee nellikkani
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Male :…………….
Male: (Instrumental / vocalization)
Kalyaana melangalae
O wedding drums playing,
Female :Katcheri thaalangalae
Female: O concert rhythms beat,
Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum
Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Kannaa nee nellikkani
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Male :Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum
Male: Always sweet to the eyes and the heart,
Kannaa nee nellikkani
Oh my sweet, you are like a prized gooseberry!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kalyaana Melangalae from the 1981 Tamil film Nellikani is a joyful romantic duet composed by Shankar-Ganesh and written by Pulamaipithan. Sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jairam, the song celebrates wedded bliss, physical closeness, and the sweet progression of marital life from courtship to parenthood. The central metaphor of 'Nellikkani' (sweet gooseberry) represents a love that leaves a lingering, enriching sweetness in the soul.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kannaa nee nellikkani”
Comparing the beloved to 'Nellikkani' (Gooseberry), which leaves a lasting sweet aftertaste, symbolizing enduring romantic sweet bliss.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kannodum nenjodum ennaalum thiththikkum”
Rhyming second letters in 'Kannodum' and 'Nenjodum' creates a rhythmic poetic flow.
Climax / Narrative Progression
“Kadhal vazhi kattil varum pin thottil varum”
A natural progression of married life portrayed step-by-step: eyes -> love -> bed -> cradle.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Santhangalil paadal varum / Sonthangalil pantham varum”
Alliteration of the initial 'S' sound in 'Santhangalil' and 'Sonthangalil'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Nellikani (1981) features music by the duo Shankar-Ganesh. Lyricist Pulamaipithan incorporated traditional Tamil cultural motifs of marriage, such as the melam (wedding drums), 'kattil' (marriage bed), and 'thottil' (baby cradle), making it a popular track played during Tamil wedding celebrations in the 1980s.
Keep listening
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