Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyana Sandhaiyile

From Then Mazhai · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
T. K. Ramamoorthy
Details
Then Mazhai1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kalyana sandhaiyilaeIn the marriage market,
Kaadhal vilai pogumaCan true love be sold for a price?
Kaadhal nilai maarivittaalIf the status of love changes,
Kappal moozhgi pogumaWill the ship sink into the depths?
Female
Panam midhakkum thottathilaeIn a garden floating on money,
Pasamalar malarumaWill the flower of affection bloom?
Pasa malar vaadi vittaalIf the flower of affection wilts,
Paaladainthu pogumaWill everything fall into ruin?
Female
Kalyana sandhaiyilaeIn the marriage market,
Kaadhal vilai pogumaCan true love be sold for a price?
Haa..aa…haa..aaa..haa..aaa..haaaa..Haa..aa…haa..aaa..haa..aaa..haaaa..
Female
{Kadalai vaanam muthamidumThe sky kisses the ocean,
Saera mudiyumaBut can they ever truly unite?
Malarai thendral muthamidumThe breeze kisses the flower,
Manakka mudiyuma} (2)But can it retain its fragrance forever?
Female
Iravai nilavu muthamidumThe sky kisses the ocean,
Inaikka mudiyumaBut can they ever truly unite?
Iravai nilavu muthamidumThe breeze kisses the flower,
Inaikka mudiyumaBut can it retain its fragrance forever?
Nenjai nenjam vilakkivittaalThe moon kisses the night,
Uravu vaazhumaaBut can they be permanently joined?
Female
Kalyana sandhaiyilaeThe moon kisses the night,
Kaadhal vilai pogumaBut can they be permanently joined?
Kaadhal nilai maarivittaalIf one heart pushes another away,
Kappal moozhgi pogumaWill that relationship survive?
Female
Haaa..aaa..haa..aaa…haa haaaIn the marriage market,
Female
{Neeyum naanum nadanthu vandhomCan true love be sold for a price?
Vaazhkai theruvilaeIf the status of love changes,
Naesam nenjam pirinthadhellaamWill the ship sink into the depths?
Nilaimai uruvilae} (2)Haaa..aaa..haa..aaa…haa haaa
Female
Neenda karaigal vilagiyadhaalYou and I walked together
Nadhiyum odumaeOn the street of life,
Neenda karaigal vilagiyadhaalAll the affection in our hearts separated
Nadhiyum odumaeBecause of the turn of circumstances,
Serndha manam pirindhadhellaamYou and I walked together
Vaazhvu perugavaeOn the street of life,
Female
Kalyana sandhaiyilaeAll the affection in our hearts separated
Kaadhal vilai pogumaBecause of the turn of circumstances,
Kaadhal nilai maarivittaalBecause the long riverbanks moved apart,
Kappal moozhgi pogumaThe river can flow freely,
Female
Panam midhakkum thottathilaeBecause the long riverbanks moved apart,
Pasamalar malarumaThe river can flow freely,
Pasa malar vaadi vittaalWhen united hearts part ways,
Paaladainthu pogumaIs it so that life can flourish?
Female
Kalyana sandhaiyilaeIn the marriage market,
Kaadhal vilai pogumaCan true love be sold for a price?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kalyana Sandhaiyilae is a deeply philosophical and melancholic song from the 1966 Tamil film Then Mazhai. Sung exquisitely by P. Susheela with lyrics by Vaali and music by T. K. Ramamoorthy, the song laments the commercialization of marriage and the tragic forces that separate true lovers. The protagonist questions whether true love can be bought, sold, or sustained in a world obsessed with material wealth. Through natural imagery—such as the illusion of the sky kissing the ocean, the breeze touching a flower, or riverbanks separating to allow the river to flow—the song poetically explores proximity versus true union. It reaches a bittersweet conclusion contemplating whether forced separation might ultimately be necessary for individuals to move forward on the path of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamanai)

Kalyana sandhaiyilae

Compares transactional modern marriage arrangements to a commercial marketplace ('Kalyana sandhaiyilae').

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

Kaadhal vilai poguma

Uses continuous rhetorical questions to highlight the impossibility of commodifying love or forcing deep bonds.

Paradox / Visual Illusion Imagery

Kadalai vaanam muthamidum / Saera mudiyuma

Illustrates how things appear close (the sky touching the ocean at the horizon) yet remain fundamentally separated.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Neenda karaigal vilagiyadhaal / Nadhiyum odumae

The second consonant 'da' rhymes in 'Neenda' and 'Nadhiyum' (or 'Serndha' and 'Vaazhvu' thematic structural rhyme).

Did you know?

Trivia

Then Mazhai (1966) holds historic significance in Tamil cinema soundtrack history as it featured music by T. K. Ramamoorthy working independently following the separation of the legendary composer duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.

Keep listening

More from Then Mazhai