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Lyrics & meaning

Kalyanam Katcheri

From Sollathan Ninaikkiren · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Sollathan Ninaikkiren1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oh marriage marriage marriageOh marriage marriage marriage
Take it easy why equal as so crazyTake it easy, why act so crazy about it?
Male
Kalyaanam katcheri kondaattam ellaamaeMarriage, concert, celebration, and all...
Kalyaanam katcheri kondaattam ellaamaeMarriage, concert, celebration, and all...
Vedikkai namakku adhil verenna irukkuIs just entertainment for us, what else is in it?
Aah vedikkai namakku adhil verenna irukkuAah, it is just entertainment for us, what else is in it?
Male
Take it easyTake it easy
Female :You teenage teenage teenageYou teenage teenage teenage
Don’t be silly sing about it nicelyDon't be silly, sing about it nicely
Male
Kalyaanam katcheri kondaattam ellaamaeMarriage, concert, celebration, and all...
Kalyaanam katcheri kondaattam ellaamaeMarriage, concert, celebration, and all...
Vazhi vazhi vanthirukku adhil vaazhum panpirukkuHas come down through generations, holding living culture within
Ha….vazhi vazhi vanthirukku adhil vaazhum panpirukkuHa... has come down through generations, holding living culture within
Female
Don’t be crazyDon't be crazy
Male :Take it easyTake it easy
Female
Kovil kaalai polae thirinthaalIf you wander around like a temple bull
Kalyaanam puriyaathuYou won't understand marriage
Adhu kaval thaandi meyumIt grazes beyond the boundaries of protection
Angae kaalkattu kidaiyaathuThere are no leg-shackles there
Female
Kalyaanam katcheri kondaattam ellaamaeMarriage, concert, celebration, and all...
Vazhi vazhi vanthirukku adhil vaazhum panpirukkuHas come down through generations, holding living culture within
Don’t be crazyDon't be crazy
Male
Naalthorum naam kaanum kalyaanam enbathuThe marriage that we see every day
Innaalil theruvoram theermaanam seivathuIs decided nowadays at the street corner
Naalthorum naam kaanum kalyaanam enbathuThe marriage that we see every day
Innaalil theruvoram theermaanam seivathuIs decided nowadays at the street corner
Now a days you knowNowadays you know
Marriages are made in street corner ha haaMarriages are made in street corner, ha haa
Female :Foolish you don’t knowFoolish, you don't know
Marriages are made in heaven..nnuThey say marriages are made in heaven
Female
Deivam sollum theerppaiWith the judgment pronounced by God
Kondae thirumanam mudikirathuMarriage is completed
Adhan ichaipadiyaeAccording to His divine desire
Sorkkamthanilae nichayam aagirathuIt is finalized right in heaven
Female
Deivam sollum theerppaiWith the judgment pronounced by God
Kondae thirumanam mudikirathuMarriage is completed
Adhan ichaipadiyaeAccording to His divine desire
Sorkkamthanilae nichayam aagirathuIt is finalized right in heaven
Female
Kalyaanam katcheri kondaattam ellaamaeMarriage, concert, celebration, and all...
Vazhi vazhi vanthirukku adhil vaazhum panpirukkuHas come down through generations, holding living culture within
Don’t be crazyDon't be crazy
Male
Hae….haehaehae…yaa…yaayaayaayaaHae... haehaehae... yaa... yaayaayaayaa
Ammaadi kalayaanamOh my, marriage
Aangalukkor siraichaalaiIs a prison for men
Pondaatti pillaigakalA factory that manufactures
Undaakkum thozhirsaalaiWives and children
Marriage dont dareMarriage, don't dare
Female
Maalaigal soodum manavaraiThe decorative wedding dais where garlands are exchanged
Kolam mangaiyiin latchiyamaeIs a young maiden's true ambition
Adhai keligal seiyum vaaliparThe mockery made by youthful men
Pechu engalukkalatchiyamae we dont careAnd their speech is worthless care to us, we don't care
Male
Kalyaanam katcheri kondaattam ellaamaeMarriage, concert, celebration, and all...
Vedikkai namakkuIs just entertainment for us
Female :Haa haaHaa haa
Male :Adhil verenna irukkuWhat else is in it?
Female :Haa haaHaa haa
Male :Take it easyTake it easy
Female :Dont be crazyDon't be crazy

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively duet from the film 'Sollathan Ninaikkiren' (1973) presents a spirited debate on marriage between a cynical young man (sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam) and a traditional young woman (sung by L. R. Eswari). The male protagonist views marriage as a foolish trap, a prison for men, and a street-corner arrangement that strips away freedom. He advises taking life easy and treating marriage as mere entertainment. Conversely, the female protagonist strongly defends marriage as a sacred, traditional institution passed down through generations. She asserts that marriages are destined in heaven by God's divine command and represent a woman's true ambition in life, brushing off cynical young men's mockery. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with playful lyrics by Vaali, the song masterfully blends English pop slang with Tamil cultural idioms.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Vazhi vazhi vanthirukku adhil vaazhum panpirukku

The phrase 'Vazhi vazhi' repeats the word 'vazhi' to emphasize continuity across long generations.

Upamai (Simile)

Kovil kaalai polae thirinthaal

Compares an uncommitted, free-roaming man to a 'Kovil kaalai' (temple bull) that wanders without boundaries or leg-shackles.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Aangalukkor siraichaalai / Undaakkum thozhirsaalai

Metaphorically describes marriage as a 'siraichaalai' (prison) for men and a 'thozhirsaalai' (factory) that yields domestic burdens.

Code-Switching / Colloquial Rhyme

Take it easy / Dont be crazy

Vaali blends English colloquialism ('Take it easy', 'Don't be crazy') with Tamil folk rhythms to highlight the modern vs. traditional clash.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sollathan Ninaikkiren' (1973) was directed by K. Balachander, starring Sivakumar, Kamal Haasan, Jayasudha, and Srividya. Lyricist Vaali cleverly incorporated popular 1970s youth slang and Western catchy phrases alongside traditional Tamil metaphors, creating a memorable debate song beautifully set to music by M. S. Viswanathan.

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