Kalyana Ponnu
From Padagotti · 1964
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Viswanathan Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Padagotti1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hmmm…mmm…mmm.. | Humming... |
| Hmmm…mmm…mmm.. | Humming... |
| Hmmm…mmm…mmm.. | Humming... |
| Male | |
| {Kalyaana ponnu | { The bride-to-be |
| Kannana kannu | Precious as the apple of an eye |
| Kondadi varum valayal }(2) | Bangles arriving in grand celebration } (x2) |
| Male | |
| Amma poovodu varumae | Oh mother, coming with flowers |
| Pottodu varumae | Coming with auspicious bindi |
| Singara thanga valayal | Beautiful golden bangles |
| Male | |
| {Vangi valayal | { Curved armlets and bangles |
| Sangu valayal | Conch-shell bangles |
| Muthu muthaana valayalunga }(2) | Pearl-like exquisite bangles } (x2) |
| Male | |
| {Aththaanin kaadhal | { If cousin's love |
| Muthaama irunthaal | Remains without a kiss |
| Pithaaga seiyum valayal | Bangles that drive one mad with longing |
| Sila sithaanai udambu | If a slender master-like body |
| Vathaamal irunthaal | Does not wither away |
| Othaasai seiyum valayal }(2) | Bangles that render help } (x2) |
| Male | |
| Anna nadai pinni vara | Walking gracefully like a swan |
| Chinna idai minni vara | Slender waist glittering bright |
| Munnadi varum valayal | Bangles leading the way ahead |
| Idhu aththai mava rethinathin | This belongs to the precious cousin |
| Achaditha chithirathin | Like a perfectly printed picture |
| Kaiyodu varum valayal… | Bangles adorning the hand... |
| Male | |
| Ahaa…haa…aaa | Aha... ha... aaa |
| Ahaa…haa…aaa | Aha... ha... aaa |
| Haa..aa…aaaa | Haa... aa... aaaa |
| Haa…ahaaa…aaa… | Haa... ahaaa... aaa... |
| Male | |
| Kalyaana ponnu | The bride-to-be |
| Kannana kannu | Precious as the apple of an eye |
| Kondadi varum valayal | Bangles arriving in grand celebration |
| Male | |
| Amma poovodu varumae | Oh mother, coming with flowers |
| Pottodu varumae | Coming with auspicious bindi |
| Singara thanga valayal | Beautiful golden bangles |
| Male | |
| Vangi valayal | Curved armlets and bangles |
| Sangu valayal | Conch-shell bangles |
| Muthu muthaana valayalunga | Pearl-like exquisite bangles |
| Male | |
| Pendaati purusan | Wife and husband |
| Rendaaga irunthaa | If they remain separate as two |
| Moonaaga seiyum valayal | Bangles that turn them into three (a family) |
| Idhu ottatha manasil | In hearts that have not bonded |
| Kittatha sugathai | Joy that was elusive |
| Kattaayam tharum valayal | Bangles that surely grant happiness |
| Male | |
| Maamiyaarai | Mother-in-law |
| Maaamanaarai | Father-in-law |
| Saamiyaara maathi vida | To turn them calm like saints |
| Mandhirichu thantha valayal | Bangles given like a chanted charm |
| Ilan kaalaiyargal kenji vara | As young men come begging |
| Kanniyargal konji vara | As young maidens fondle playfully |
| Thoodhaaga vantha valayal… | Bangles that came as a messenger... |
| Male | |
| {Kalyaana ponnu | { The bride-to-be |
| Kannana kannu | Precious as the apple of an eye |
| Kondadi varum valayal }(2) | Bangles arriving in grand celebration } (x2) |
| Male | |
| Amma poovodu varumae | Oh mother, coming with flowers |
| Pottodu varumae | Coming with auspicious bindi |
| Singara thanga valayal | Beautiful golden bangles |
| Male | |
| {Vangi valayal | { Curved armlets and bangles |
| Sangu valayal | Conch-shell bangles |
| Muthu muthaana valayalunga }(2) | Pearl-like exquisite bangles } (x2) |
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்..ம்ம்...
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்..ம்ம்...
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்..ம்ம்...
Humming...
Humming...
Humming...
{கல்யாணப் பொண்ணு
கண்ணான கண்ணு
கொண்டாடி வரும் வளையல்} (2)
{ The bride-to-be
Precious as the apple of an eye
Bangles arriving in grand celebration } (x2)
அம்மா பூவோடு வருமே
பொட்டோடு வருமே
சிங்காரத் தங்க வளையல்
Oh mother, coming with flowers
Coming with auspicious bindi
Beautiful golden bangles
{வங்கி வளையல்
சங்கு வளையல்
முத்து முத்தான வளையலுங்க} (2)
{ Curved armlets and bangles
Conch-shell bangles
Pearl-like exquisite bangles } (x2)
{அத்தானின் காதல்
முத்தாமல் இருந்தால்
பித்தாக செய்யும் வளையல்
சில சித்தானை உடம்பு
வத்தாமல் இருந்தால்
ஒத்தாசை செய்யும் வளையல்} (2)
{ If cousin's love
Remains without a kiss
Bangles that drive one mad with longing
If a slender master-like body
Does not wither away
Bangles that render help } (x2)
அன்ன நடை பின்னி வர
சின்ன இடை மின்னி வர
முன்னாடி வரும் வளையல்
இது அத்தை மகள் ரத்தினத்தின்
அச்சடித்த சித்திரத்தின்
கையோடு வரும் வளையல்.....
Walking gracefully like a swan
Slender waist glittering bright
Bangles leading the way ahead
This belongs to the precious cousin
Like a perfectly printed picture
Bangles adorning the hand...
ஆஹா..ஹா....ஆஆ..
ஆஹா..ஹா....ஆஆ..
ஹா...ஆஆ.....ஆஅ...
ஹா.....ஆஹா...ஆஆ...
Aha... ha... aaa
Aha... ha... aaa
Haa... aa... aaaa
Haa... ahaaa... aaa...
கல்யாணப் பொண்ணு
கண்ணான கண்ணு
கொண்டாடி வரும் வளையல்
The bride-to-be
Precious as the apple of an eye
Bangles arriving in grand celebration
அம்மா பூவோடு வருமே
பொட்டோடு வருமே
சிங்காரத் தங்க வளையல்
Oh mother, coming with flowers
Coming with auspicious bindi
Beautiful golden bangles
வங்கி வளையல்
சங்கு வளையல்
முத்து முத்தான வளையலுங்க.....
Curved armlets and bangles
Conch-shell bangles
Pearl-like exquisite bangles
பெண்டாட்டி புருஷன்
ரெண்டாக இருந்தா
மூணாகச் செய்யும் வளையல்
இது ஒட்டாத மனசில்
கிட்டாத சுகத்தைக்
கட்டாயம் தரும் வளையல்
Wife and husband
If they remain separate as two
Bangles that turn them into three (a family)
In hearts that have not bonded
Joy that was elusive
Bangles that surely grant happiness
மாமியாரை மாமனாரை
சாமியாரா மாத்திவிட
மந்திரிச்சுத் தந்த வளையல்
காளையர்கள் கெஞ்சி வர
கன்னியர்கள் கொஞ்சி வர
தூதாக வந்த வளையல்.....
Mother-in-law
Father-in-law
To turn them calm like saints
Bangles given like a chanted charm
As young men come begging
As young maidens fondle playfully
Bangles that came as a messenger...
{கல்யாணப் பொண்ணு
கண்ணான கண்ணு
கொண்டாடி வரும் வளையல்} (2)
{ The bride-to-be
Precious as the apple of an eye
Bangles arriving in grand celebration } (x2)
அம்மா பூவோடு வருமே
பொட்டோடு வருமே
சிங்காரத் தங்க வளையல்
Oh mother, coming with flowers
Coming with auspicious bindi
Beautiful golden bangles
{வங்கி வளையல்
சங்கு வளையல்
முத்து முத்தான வளையலுங்க} (2)
{ Curved armlets and bangles
Conch-shell bangles
Pearl-like exquisite bangles } (x2)
Hmmm…mmm…mmm..
Humming...
Hmmm…mmm…mmm..
Humming...
Hmmm…mmm…mmm..
Humming...
{Kalyaana ponnu
{ The bride-to-be
Kannana kannu
Precious as the apple of an eye
Kondadi varum valayal }(2)
Bangles arriving in grand celebration } (x2)
Amma poovodu varumae
Oh mother, coming with flowers
Pottodu varumae
Coming with auspicious bindi
Singara thanga valayal
Beautiful golden bangles
{Vangi valayal
{ Curved armlets and bangles
Sangu valayal
Conch-shell bangles
Muthu muthaana valayalunga }(2)
Pearl-like exquisite bangles } (x2)
{Aththaanin kaadhal
{ If cousin's love
Muthaama irunthaal
Remains without a kiss
Pithaaga seiyum valayal
Bangles that drive one mad with longing
Sila sithaanai udambu
If a slender master-like body
Vathaamal irunthaal
Does not wither away
Othaasai seiyum valayal }(2)
Bangles that render help } (x2)
Anna nadai pinni vara
Walking gracefully like a swan
Chinna idai minni vara
Slender waist glittering bright
Munnadi varum valayal
Bangles leading the way ahead
Idhu aththai mava rethinathin
This belongs to the precious cousin
Achaditha chithirathin
Like a perfectly printed picture
Kaiyodu varum valayal…
Bangles adorning the hand...
Ahaa…haa…aaa
Aha... ha... aaa
Ahaa…haa…aaa
Aha... ha... aaa
Haa..aa…aaaa
Haa... aa... aaaa
Haa…ahaaa…aaa…
Haa... ahaaa... aaa...
Kalyaana ponnu
The bride-to-be
Kannana kannu
Precious as the apple of an eye
Kondadi varum valayal
Bangles arriving in grand celebration
Amma poovodu varumae
Oh mother, coming with flowers
Pottodu varumae
Coming with auspicious bindi
Singara thanga valayal
Beautiful golden bangles
Vangi valayal
Curved armlets and bangles
Sangu valayal
Conch-shell bangles
Muthu muthaana valayalunga
Pearl-like exquisite bangles
Pendaati purusan
Wife and husband
Rendaaga irunthaa
If they remain separate as two
Moonaaga seiyum valayal
Bangles that turn them into three (a family)
Idhu ottatha manasil
In hearts that have not bonded
Kittatha sugathai
Joy that was elusive
Kattaayam tharum valayal
Bangles that surely grant happiness
Maamiyaarai
Mother-in-law
Maaamanaarai
Father-in-law
Saamiyaara maathi vida
To turn them calm like saints
Mandhirichu thantha valayal
Bangles given like a chanted charm
Ilan kaalaiyargal kenji vara
As young men come begging
Kanniyargal konji vara
As young maidens fondle playfully
Thoodhaaga vantha valayal…
Bangles that came as a messenger...
{Kalyaana ponnu
{ The bride-to-be
Kannana kannu
Precious as the apple of an eye
Kondadi varum valayal }(2)
Bangles arriving in grand celebration } (x2)
Amma poovodu varumae
Oh mother, coming with flowers
Pottodu varumae
Coming with auspicious bindi
Singara thanga valayal
Beautiful golden bangles
{Vangi valayal
{ Curved armlets and bangles
Sangu valayal
Conch-shell bangles
Muthu muthaana valayalunga }(2)
Pearl-like exquisite bangles } (x2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This lively track from the classic 1964 Tamil film 'Padagotti' is a traditional bangle-seller song composed to celebrate womanhood, romance, and marriage. Sung as a vendor hawks various bangles, the lyrics paint a rich picture of Tamil wedding customs where bangles symbolize prosperity, marital bliss, and auspiciousness (sumangali ethos marked by flowers and bindi). The bangles are playfully described as catalysts that spark love between couples, unite distant hearts, bring peace to in-laws, and act as silent messengers of romance for young maidens.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kalyaana ponnu / Kannana kannu”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'K' in adjacent words.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Anna nadai pinni vara / Chinna idai minni vara”
Matching second letter 'nna' creating rhythmic flow across lines.
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Pithaaga seiyum valayal / Othaasai seiyum valayal”
Consistent repetition of the word 'valayal' (bangles) at the end of lines to keep the motif central.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Padagotti' (1964) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi in lead roles, with iconic music composed by the duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics written by Vaali. The song 'Kalyana Ponnu' is sung by T. M. Soundararajan and remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous bangle-seller songs, celebrated for Vaali's clever wordplay and rhythmic folk cadence.
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