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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyana Thirukovil Deiveegame

From Oomai Kanavu Kandal · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, A. V. Ramanan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Oomai Kanavu Kandal1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kalyaana thirukkolam dheiveegamaeThe divine appearance of a wedding is sacred
Kaiyodu kai saerkkum manakkolamaeIt is the wedding attire that joins hand in hand
Thaanaaga thunai thedum ondruOne is seeking a life partner on one's own
Thaai thanthai manam pesum ondruThe other is a match negotiated by parents' hearts
Male
Naal seivathaa illai naam seivathaaDoes the day decide it or do we decide it?
Naal seivathaa illai naam seivathaaDoes the day decide it or do we decide it?
Male
Pettravargal penn paarththuIf parents choose the bride
Periyorkal naal kuriththuAnd elders fix the auspicious date
Kalyaanam seithaal ennaWhat if the marriage is conducted that way?
Male
Kangalai thoodhu vittuOr sending eyes as messengers
Kadhal enum perai sollumAnd calling it by the name of love
Kadhaigalaiyae ninaiththaalennaWhat if one thinks of those romantic stories?
Niraiverum kadhal endrum kavithai androIs not fulfilled love always a poem?
Niraiverum kadhal endrum kavithai androIs not fulfilled love always a poem?
Male
Kalyaana thirukkolam dheiveegamaeThe divine appearance of a wedding is sacred
Kaiyodu kai saerkkum manakkolamaeIt is the wedding attire that joins hand in hand
Thaanaaga thunai thedum ondruOne is seeking a life partner on one's own
Thaai thanthai manam pesum ondruThe other is a match negotiated by parents' hearts
Male
Kadhal sorkka panthamLove is a heavenly bond
Kadavul thantha sonthamA relationship bestowed by God
Thaanae thedi kondaalIf one finds a partner by oneself
Sariththiram piranthuvidumHistory will be created
Uravilum sugam irukkumThere will be sweet joy in relationships
Male
Kalyaana thirukkolam dheiveegamaeThe divine appearance of a wedding is sacred
Kaiyodu kai saerkkum manakkolamaeIt is the wedding attire that joins hand in hand
Thaanaaga thunai thedum ondruOne is seeking a life partner on one's own
Thaai thanthai manam pesum ondruThe other is a match negotiated by parents' hearts
Male
Sri raman seedhaiyaithaan thedi kondathillaiLord Rama did not go searching for Sita himself
Palar seitha mudivallavaaWas it not a decision made by many elders?
Kamban magan kadhalukku vambinilae mudintha kadhaiThe love story of poet Kamban's son ending in trouble
Avan seitha thavarallavaaWas that not a mistake committed by him?
Thaai thanthai penn paarththaal thavaraathaiyyaaIf parents choose the bride, is that wrong, sir?
Thaai thanthai penn paarththaal thavaraathaiyyaaIf parents choose the bride, is that wrong, sir?
Male
Kadhal paavam allaLove is not a sin
Edhuvum paavam allaNothing is a sin
Ellaam vaazha vaikkumEverything makes life worth living
Iru manangal inaiyumTwo hearts will unite
Endrum thirumanaththil mudiyumAnd will always end in marriage
Male
Kalyaana thirukkolam dheiveegamaeThe divine appearance of a wedding is sacred
Kaiyodu kai saerkkum manakkolamaeIt is the wedding attire that joins hand in hand
Thaanaaga thunai thedum ondruOne is seeking a life partner on one's own
Thaai thanthai manam pesum ondru…..The other is a match negotiated by parents' hearts...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a debate comparing arranged marriages blessed by parents with love marriages chosen independently. The chorus emphasizes that the sacred union of marriage itself is divine regardless of how it comes about. One perspective argues that falling in love creates history and turns life into poetry, while the counter-argument cites cultural examples such as Rama and Sita to show that parental choices bring stability, whereas impulsive love can lead to tragedy like that of Kamban's son. Ultimately, the song reconciles both viewpoints by affirming that love and parental blessings both serve to unite two hearts in holy matrimony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme (Ethukai)

Pettravargal penn paarththu / Periyorkal naal kuriththu

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines such as 'Pettravargal' and 'Periyorkal'.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kadhal sorkka pantham / Kadavul thantha sontham

Repetition of initial 'Ka' sound across lines in 'Kadhal' and 'Kadavul'.

Rhetorical Question

Naal seivathaa illai naam seivathaa

Using questions to stimulate philosophical debate on whether fate or human choice drives marriage.

Allusion (Historical/Mythological)

Sri raman seedhaiyaithaan thedi kondathillai

Referencing Lord Rama and Sita as well as Ambakapathi (son of Tamil poet Kamban) to support arguments.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features a classic lyrical debate structure (Pattimandram style) written by Kavinar Kannadasan, contrasting arranged marriage with love marriage through mythological and historical references.

Keep listening

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