Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyana Pudava Katti

From Kalyaniyin Kanavan · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Suseela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Kalyaniyin Kanavan
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
23 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalyaana pudaivai katti
Kaaleduththu manaiyil vaiththu
Kalyaana pudaivai katti
Kaaleduththu manaiyil vaiththu
Pallaakku polae nindren nerilae
Antha paruva magan paranthu vittaan thaerilae
Antha paruva magan paranthu vittaan thaerilae
Uruvamendra mullaiyilae
Ullamendra thaenaiyalli
Uruvamendra mullaiyilae
Ullamendra thaenaiyalli
Oruvanukku vaiththirunthaen uravilae
Avan odameri sendru vittan iravilae
Kalyaana pudaivai katti
Kaaleduththu manaiyil vaiththu
Pallaakku polae nindren nerilae
Antha paruva magan paranthu vittaan thaerilae
Seppu silai maeni endru
Seppi vantha deva magan
Seppu silai maeni endru
Seppi vantha deva magan
Seppiyathu yaavumindru poimaiyae
Naan seppu silai aanathuthaan unmaiyae
Naan seppu silai aanathuthaan unmaiyae
Maanda udal marainthaalum
Mannil sendru olinthaalum
Maanda udal marainthaalum
Mannil sendru olinthaalum
Meendum vanthu piranthaalum uravilae
Enthan maeni kaanum thalaivanavan oruvanae
Enthan maeni kaanum thalaivanavan oruvanae
Kalyaana pudaivai katti
Kaaleduththu manaiyil vaiththu
Pallaakku polae nindren nerilae
Antha paruva magan paranthu vittaan thaerilae
Antha paruva magan paranthu vittaan thaerilae…ae….
Dressed in my wedding saree,
stepping onto the wedding stage,
Dressed in my wedding saree,
stepping onto the wedding stage,
I stood right there waiting like a palanquin,
but that young man flew away in a chariot.
That young man flew away in a chariot.
In the jasmine flower of my form,
gathering the honey of my heart,
In the jasmine flower of my form,
gathering the honey of my heart,
I kept it all for one man in love,
but he sailed away on a boat into the night.
Dressed in my wedding saree,
stepping onto the wedding stage,
I stood right there waiting like a palanquin,
but that young man flew away in a chariot.
Saying my body was like a bronze statue,
that handsome youth who spoke sweet words—
Saying my body was like a bronze statue,
that handsome youth who spoke sweet words—
all that he spoke has turned out to be a lie,
and only my turning into a lifeless statue is real.
And only my turning into a lifeless statue is real.
Even if this dead body perishes,
even if it disappears into the earth,
Even if this dead body perishes,
even if it disappears into the earth,
even if I am reborn into this bond of love,
he is the only man who can ever claim my body.
He is the only man who can ever claim my body.
Dressed in my wedding saree,
stepping onto the wedding stage,
I stood right there waiting like a palanquin,
but that young man flew away in a chariot.
That young man flew away in a chariot...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional song expresses the sorrow and tragic plight of a bride who was abandoned or left behind right after her wedding rituals. Dressed in her finest bridal attire and waiting in anticipation, she watches her beloved husband depart unexpectedly. She reflects on how he used to praise her beauty like a bronze statue and adore her heart's sweetness, only for his vows to crumble into falsehoods while leaving her literally turned into a motionless bronze statue of grief. Despite the heart-wrenching betrayal and abandonment, her devotion remains absolute and eternal. She vows that even in death, burial, or future reincarnations, he remains the sole lord who possesses her heart and body.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Pallaakku polae nindren nerilae”

Compares her decorated, waiting bridal posture directly to a palanquin using the word 'polae'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Uruvamendra mullaiyilae Ullamendra thaenaiyalli”

Metaphorically equates her form to a jasmine flower (mullai) and her heart's love to honey (thaen).

Wordplay / Irony (Sledai)

“Naan seppu silai aanathuthaan unmaiyae”

Plays on the term 'seppu silai' (bronze statue); initially used as a compliment for her beauty, it ironically comes to mean her becoming frozen and motionless like a statue in sorrow.

Alliteration (Monaai)

“Maanda udal marainthaalum Mannil sendru olinthaalum”

Repetition of the 'Ma' sound across words in consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kalyaniyin Kanavan' (1963) stars Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. The lyrics were penned by the legendary Kannadasan, who masterfully used tragic imagery and irony around wedding rituals to heighten the emotional drama.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Yaaro Thavamirundhu1966
Petralthan PillaiyaSeparationMournful
Pogum Paathai1990
Amma PillaiMortalityMelancholic
Uruttu2021
Enna Solla PogiraiMarriageWedding Attire
Jalakku Jalakku1999
Endrendrum KadhalMarriageDevotion
Sembattu Vetti Katti1960
Ivan AvanethanSeparationDramatic
Aasai Adhigam Vechu1993
MarupadiyumRomanticChariots And Journeys

From the same album

More songs from Kalyaniyin Kanavan

View album
Indha Maanilathai1963
Kalyaniyin KanavanHopeful
Aanantham Indru1963
Kalyaniyin KanavanTender
Enakku Vaikkum Maappillai1963
Kalyaniyin KanavanCheerful
Kallirukkum Malar1963
Kalyaniyin KanavanDevotional
Unakka Theriyadhu1963
Kalyaniyin KanavanMelancholic
Thottathu Poovula Vasam1963
Kalyaniyin KanavanPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.