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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyanam Ennai Mudikka

From Metti · 1982

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Radhika, Jency, Rajesh Krishnan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Metti1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Laalaalalalaalaa lalallalaaLa-la-la-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la
Kalyaanam ennai mudikkaTo marry me,
Kalyaanam ennai mudikkaTo marry me,
Avasthai unakku athigam irukkuYou are in a state of great distress!
Aiyyo paavam adhu yaen umakkuOh poor thing, why do you suffer like that?
Female
Kalyaanam ennai mudikkaTo marry me,
Female
En kalaanaththila yaarIn my wedding, who
Naathasaram vaasikkanum theriyumaashould play the nadaswaram, do you know?
Male :Yaaru rajaraththinam pillaiyaaMale: Who, Rajarathinam Pillai?
Female :Illa maappillaiyaethaan vaasichchukittu varanumFemale: No, the groom himself must play it while walking in!
Male :AiyaiyoMale: Oh dear me!
Adhu sari kalyaanaththa enga vachchigirathuAlright, where should we hold the wedding?
Mappillai veettilaa ponnu veettilaaAt the groom's house or the bride's house?
Female :No….no….Female: No... no...
Female
Odidum rayililae uravinar soozhnthidaIn a moving train surrounded by relatives,
Manavarai amaikkanum…mm…a wedding stage must be set up... mm...
Odidum rayililae uravinar soozhnthidaIn a moving train surrounded by relatives,
Manavarai amaikkanum…mm…a wedding stage must be set up... mm...
Progithar velinaattinarThe priest must be a foreigner,
Pudhithoru paaniyil manthiram sollanumand he must chant mantras in a novel style!
Chorus
Maangalyam thanthunaanaeThis sacred thread for my life's purpose...
Mamajeevana haedhunaafor my life's sustenance,
Kandae pathnaami subakaeI tie around your neck, blessed one,
Thavama jeeva sarathasathmmay you live for a hundred autumns!
Female
Rayil varum vazhiyilae thoranam aadanumFestoons should sway along the route the train travels,
Idhuvum enathu iniya manathu virumbuvathuthis too is what my sweet heart desires!
Female
Kalyaanam ennai mudikkaTo marry me,
Avasthai unakku athigam irukkuYou are in a state of great distress!
Aiyyo paavam adhu yaen umakkuOh poor thing, why do you suffer like that?
Female
Kalyaanam ennai mudikkaTo marry me...
Male
Sari maappillai azhaippu illaamaAlright, without a groom's procession,
Kalyaanam mudinjuthu aduththathuthe wedding ended! What's next?
Female :Shsho…. avasarapadatheengaFemale: Shsho... don't be in a rush!
Shanthi mukoorthathirkkuFor the nuptial night,
Maapillai azhaippu unduthere IS a groom procession!
Male :NaathaswaraththodavaaMale: With nadaswaram music?
Female
KandippaaFemale: Definitely!
Nochikuppam pachchaiyappamWith Nochikuppam Pachaiyappan's
Group-oda mappillai azhaipputroupe, the groom procession will happen!
Chorus
Vaaraai en thozhaai vaaraayoCome, my friend, won't you come?
Malar manjam kaana vaaraayoWon't you come to see the flower bed?
Cinima-vil neeyum dhinasari paarththaAll those scenes you watch daily in movies,
Scene ellaam kaan vaaraayo vaaraayowon't you come to see them live?
Chorus
Vaaraai en thozhaai vaaraayoCome, my friend, won't you come?
Malar manjam kaana vaaraayoWon't you come to see the flower bed?
HahahahahahaahaahHahahahahahaahaah
Female
Maappillai kaigalil paal pazha thattudanWith a tray of milk and fruits in the groom's hands,
Palliyarai seranumhe must enter the bedchamber!
Maappillai kaigalil paal pazha thattudanWith a tray of milk and fruits in the groom's hands,
Palliyarai seranumhe must enter the bedchamber!
Manamagl kaalgalil manamagan vanangiyaeThe groom must bow at the bride's feet,
Aasiyum vaanganumand seek her blessings too!
Female
Manaiviyin manamathu kulirnthidum vagaiyilIn a manner that gladdens his wife's heart,
Kaalam muzhuthum irunthu vaazhkkai nadaththanumhe must spend his whole life living with her!
Female
Kalyaanam ennai mudikkaTo marry me,
Avasthai unakku athigam irukkuYou are in a state of great distress!
Aiyyo paavam adhu yaen umakkuOh poor thing, why do you suffer like that?
Female
Kalyaanam ennai mudikka….To marry me...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kalyaanam Ennai Mudikka' is a playful, humorous duet from the 1982 Tamil movie 'Metti', scored by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. In the song, the bride lightheartedly sets absurdly demanding and comic conditions for the groom to marry her, systematically subverting conventional Indian marriage customs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Role Reversal / Satire

Female :Illa maappillaiyaethaan vaasichchukittu varanum

The lyrics invert traditional wedding customs for comedic effect—such as demanding that the groom play his own nadaswaram, enter the bedchamber carrying milk and fruits, and bow at the bride's feet to seek blessings.

Intertextuality / Parody

Maangalyam thanthunaanae Mamajeevana haedhunaa

The song playfully quotes the traditional Sanskrit wedding mantra 'Mangalyam Thantunanena' and explicitly references movie clichés ('Cinima-vil neeyum dhinasari paarththa scene').

Emonai / Alliteration (Tamil Poetic Meter)

Vaaraai en thozhaai vaaraayo / Malar manjam kaana vaaraayo

Repetition of initial/secondary consonants across contiguous lines, enhancing musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Directed by J. Mahendran, 'Metti' features a unique soundtrack where Ilaiyaraaja experimentated with folk, classical, and modern comedic duet arrangements. Lyricist Gangai Amaran wrote this song as a humorous dialogue track highlighting the playful banter between modern young couples.

Keep listening

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