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Uthiri Pookkal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyanam Paaru Appavoda

From Uthiri Pookkal · 1979

Lyricist
M. G. Vallaban
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Uthiri Pookkal
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
29 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………………….
Kalyaanam paaru appavoda kalyanam paaru
Hae amma appa kalyanatha yaaru paappa
Hae unnakkadichadu yogam
Nee paarka koduthu vecha hae
Kalyaanam paaru appavoda kalyanam paaru
Naalum moonum ezhu endru
Palli kanakku solli koduppar
Naalu moonum onbathunnu
Veettu kanakkil kottai viduvaar
Appa munnaal appa munaal thaanae
Pillagal ellam kalyanam aagum
Meladhaala oorkolam pogum
Hae petha pulla munnalae
Kalyanam seithaaraiyaa hae
Kalyaanam paaru appavoda kalyanam paaru
Veetil irundha pen deivatha
Viratti adicha maapaaviyae
Soodi konda muthaaratha
Suzhattri potta maapillaiyae
Oiyarammaa oiyaramma vanga
Oorellam onnaaga kooda
Paadhaiellam poovai alli poda
Hae aarathi edukka un ponnu kathirukku hae
Kalyaanam paaru appavoda kalyanam paaru
Kodiyil pootha mullaigalae
Koovi thiriyum killaigalae
Alli anaikka naanirukken
Anbu vaeli katti veippen
Vaazhaikandru vaazhaikkandru rendu
Padaichavalum ponaalae andru
Kaathavanum maranthaanae indru
Adhai kaakkavum pakkavum
Nadhiyaaga naaniruppen hae
Kalyaanam paaru appavoda kalyanam paaru
Hae amma appa kalyanatha yaaru paappa
Hae unnakkadichadu yogam
Nee paarka koduthu vecha hae
Kalyaanam paaru appavoda kalyanam paaru
...
Look at the wedding, look at father's wedding!
Hey, who ever gets to see their parents' wedding?
Hey, what a stroke of luck you have!
You are truly blessed to witness this, hey!
Look at the wedding, look at father's wedding!
Four and three make seven,
Is the math he teaches at school.
Saying four and three make nine,
He completely ruins his own home's accounts!
Right in front of a father, isn't it true,
That children are the ones who get married,
And march in a procession with beating drums?
Hey, right in front of his own children,
He went and got married himself, hey!
Look at the wedding, look at father's wedding!
The gentle goddess who once lived in your home,
You drove her away, you wretched sinner!
The garland of pearls you once wore with pride,
You threw it away, you shameless bridegroom!
Come along now, walking in grand style,
While the whole town gathers together,
And scatters flowers all along your path,
Hey, your own daughter is waiting to perform the welcome ritual (aarathi), hey!
Look at the wedding, look at father's wedding...
O jasmine flowers blooming on the vine,
O little parrots calling out as you wander,
I am here to gather you in my arms and hold you close,
I will build a protective fence of love around you.
Here are two tender banana saplings,
The mother who gave them life left back then,
And the father who should protect them forgot them today.
To guard them and look after them,
I will flow beside them like a nurturing river, hey!
Look at the wedding, look at father's wedding...
Hey, who ever gets to see their parents' wedding?
Hey, what a stroke of luck you have!
You are truly blessed to witness this, hey!
Look at the wedding, look at father's wedding!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the landmark Tamil film 'Uthiri Pookkal' (1979) carries intense sarcasm, irony, and emotional turmoil. Sung during a wedding procession, it mockingly celebrates a villainous father remarrying in front of his own young children after abusing and driving his first wife to death. The lyrics contrast societal norms—where children marry after their parents—with the twisted reality of a callous father prioritizing his own desires over his family's welfare.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irony / Sarcasm (Iraiporul)

“Hae unnakkadichadu yogam / Nee paarka koduthu vecha hae”

The speaker mockingly congratulates the child on being 'lucky' to witness their father's wedding, highlighting the absurd and painful situation.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Kodiyil pootha mullaigalae / Vaazhaikandru vaazhaikkandru rendu”

The children are poetically compared to tender jasmine flowers ('mullaigalae') and little banana saplings ('vaazhaikkandru').

Contrast (Ethirsol)

“Palli kanakku solli koduppar / Veettu kanakkil kottai viduvaar”

The lyrics contrast exact school mathematics (4+3=7) with the messy, ruined calculation of home life (4+3=9).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Uthiri Pookkal', directed by J. Mahendran and based on Pudhumaipithan's short story 'Chittannai', is widely regarded as one of the greatest classics of Tamil cinema. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, and this particular song highlights the cruel nature of the protagonist Sundaravadivelu (played brilliantly by Vijayan).

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