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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyanam Katcheri

From Avvai Shanmughi · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Deva
Details
Avvai Shanmughi1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haaa….aaaa…..Haaa....aaaa.....
Male
Kalyanam kutcheryMarriage, musical concert,
Kaalkattu ellamaeAnd all the marital ties,
Rayil yeri poyaachidiHave taken a train and departed!
Chorus :Sam..sam..sam..sam..Chorus: Sam..sam..sam..sam..
Male
En veetu thottathilIn my house garden,
Ondralla rendallaNot one, not two,
Rojaakal yeraalandiThere are abundant roses!
Chorus :Sam..sam..sam..sam..Chorus: Sam..sam..sam..sam..
Male
En vaazhvil vandhaachuIt has arrived in my life,
August padhinanjuAugust 15th (Independence Day)!
Malini hei moginiMalini, oh charming maiden,
Maampinju nee poo panju neeYou are a tender raw mango, a soft cotton flower,
Kuyil kunju nee vaa konju neeYou are a cuckoo chick, come and fondle me!
Male
Kalyanam kutcheryMarriage, musical concert,
Kaalkattu ellamaeAnd all the marital ties,
Rayil yeri poyaachidiHave taken a train and departed!
Chorus :Sam..sam..sam..sam..Chorus: Sam..sam..sam..sam..
Male
Haaa….aaaa…..Haaa....aaaa.....
Chorus
{Thu..thu..thuthu…Thu..thu..thuthu...
Thu..thu..thuthu…thu..thu..thuthu} (3)Thu..thu..thuthu...thu..thu..thuthu
Yelae yelae yelae laelaelae…Yelae yelae yelae laelaelae...
Yelae yelae yelae laelaelaeYelae yelae yelae laelaelae
Male
Haa..ha…ha.ha…Haa..ha...ha.ha...
Male
Ki ezhuththuEven if a signature
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Potaal ennaIs written,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Thalai ezhuththu maarumaWill destiny ever change?
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Male
Uyir ezhuththuThe soul (vowel),
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Ennai vittuLeaving me,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Mei ezhuththu vaazhumaaCan the body (consonant) live?
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Male
Eththanai naalFor how many days
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
SonnadhunduI have sung
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Palliarai kaaviyamThe epic of the bedchamber!
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Male
SonnadharkuFor what was spoken,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
SaatchiyunduThere is a witness,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Chinnanjiru oviyamThis tiny portrait of a child!
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Male
Odaiku thendral meedhuWhy is the stream today
Indru enna kobamAngry at the gentle breeze?
Ottaamal etti sendraalIf it moves away without clinging,
Yaarukenna laabamWho gains what benefit?
Nee chinna maanYou are a little deer,
En sondha maanMy own beloved deer!
Male
Kalyanam kutcheryMarriage, musical concert,
Kaalkattu ellamaeAnd all the marital ties,
Rayil yeri poyaachidiHave taken a train and departed!
Chorus :Sam..sam..sam..sam..Chorus: Sam..sam..sam..sam..
Male :Haaa….aaaa…..Male: Haaa....aaaa.....
Chorus
………………………………………..Instrumental Music
Male
Alli alliGathering and scooping,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Naan edukaFor me to lift,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Velli radham vandhadhuA silver chariot arrived!
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Male
Solli solliRepeatedly expressing,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Naan padikkaFor me to recite,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Paateduthu thandhadhuIt gave me a song!
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Male
Alli vizhiLily-like eyes,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Killai mozhiParrot-like speech,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Pillai manam vendradhuConquered this innocent child-like heart!
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Male
Velevettu polLike smooth velvet,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Vanna mugamThe vibrant face,
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Kalvettu pol nindradhuStood etched like a stone inscription!
Chorus :Ho..hoChorus: Ho..ho
Male
Sikkendra naanum neeyumTrimming together, you and I
Rekkai katta vendumShould strap on wings,
Sittu pol ettu dhikkumLike a bird in all eight directions,
Sutri paarka vendumWe must fly and explore around!
Ah…mella vaa…Ah... come slowly...
Naan allavaAm I not your own?
Male
Kalyanam kutcheryMarriage, musical concert,
Kaalkattu ellamaeAnd all the marital ties,
Rayil yeri poyaachidiHave taken a train and departed!
Chorus :Sam..sam..sam..sam..Chorus: Sam..sam..sam..sam..
Male
En veetu thottathilIn my house garden,
Ondralla rendallaNot one, not two,
Rojaakal yeraalandiThere are abundant roses!
Chorus :Sam..sam..sam..sam..Chorus: Sam..sam..sam..sam..
Male
En vaazhvil vandhaachuIt has arrived in my life,
August padhinanjuAugust 15th (Independence Day)!
Malini hei moginiMalini, oh charming maiden,
Maampinju nee poo panju neeYou are a tender raw mango, a soft cotton flower,
Kuyil kunju nee vaa konju neeYou are a cuckoo chick, come and fondle me!
Male
Kalyanam kutcheryMarriage, musical concert,
Kaalkattu ellamaeAnd all the marital ties,
Rayil yeri poyaachidiHave taken a train and departed!
Chorus :Sam..sam..sam..sam..Chorus: Sam..sam..sam..sam..
Male
Haaa….aaaa…..Haaa....aaaa.....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kalyanam Kutchery' from Avvai Shanmughi expresses a celebratory mood of emotional freedom, romantic longing, and reconciliation. The protagonist rejoices that old restrictions and formal social ties ('kaalkattu') have departed, bringing a sense of liberation akin to 'August 15' (Independence Day). He expresses his deep affection for his partner through playful metaphors, calling her a flower, a raw mango, and a tender bird, while lamenting any distance or misunderstanding between them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Wordplay / Linguistic Metaphor

Uyir ezhuththu... Mei ezhuththu vaazhumaa

Vaali brilliantly uses Tamil grammar terms 'Uyir Ezhuthu' (vowels / life-letters) and 'Mei Ezhuthu' (consonants / body-letters) as a metaphor for soul and body.

Simile (Upamai)

Chinnanjiru oviyam

Compares the child to an epic's living witness and a tiny portrait ('Chinnanjiru oviyam').

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

En vaazhvil vandhaachu August padhinanju

Compares gaining freedom from marital constraints to 'August 15' (Indian Independence Day).

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethirai)

Maampinju nee poo panju nee

Rhythmic pairing of 'Maampinju' and 'Poo panju' alongside 'Kuyil kunju'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva with lyrics by Vaali, 'Kalyanam Kutchery' features in the iconic comedy film 'Avvai Shanmughi' (1996), directed by K. S. Ravikumar and starring Kamal Haasan. The song was sung by Hariharan and K. S. Chithra.

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