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Mohana Punnagai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalyanamam Kacheriyam

From Mohana Punnagai · 1981

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Mohana Punnagai
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
21 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalyaanamaam katcheriyaam
Ponnoonjalaam poo maalaiyaam
Jo jo jo jojajo
Kalyaanamaam katcheriyaam
Ponnoonjalaam poo maalaiyaam
Jo jo jo jojajo
Kalyaaniyil aalaapanai
Kanneeril aaraathanai
Naan valarththa poonguruvi veridanthedi
Naan valarththa poonguruvi veridanthedi
Solla ninaiththa udan
Amainthathammaa atharkoru jodi
Solla ninaiththa udan
Amainthathammaa atharkoru jodi
Nizhal padamaai oduthu
En ninaivugal kodi
Antha ninaivugalaal
Vaazhkkaiyilae kaaviyam paadi
Kalyaanamaam katcheriyaam
Ponnoonjalaam poo maalaiyaam
Jo jo jo jojajo
Yaededuththaen ezhuthi vaiththaen naanoru paattu
Yaededuththaen ezhuthi vaiththaen naanoru paattu
Adhai unakkaliththaen paaduka nee raagaththai pottu
Amaithiyai naan vaangi kolven
Iravanai kettu avan ninaippathu pol
Manam mudippaan maalaiyai sootti
Kalyaanamaam katcheriyaam
Ponnoonjalaam poo maalaiyaam
Jo jo jo jojajo
Kalyaaniyil aalaapanai
Kanneeril aaraathanai
Kaaviyaththil oviyaththil iruppathu kadhal
Kaaviyaththil oviyaththil iruppathu kadhal
Adhu nadaimuraiyil en varaiyil oru vagai kadhal
Thanimaramaai iruppatharkkae piranthavan naanae
Unathan thalaivanudan nalam pera nee vaazhiyammaanae
Kalyaanamaam katcheriyaam
Ponnoonjalaam poo maalaiyaam
Jo jo jo jojajo
Kalyaaniyil aalaapanai
Kanneeril aaraathanai
There is a wedding, there is a music concert,
A golden swing, and flower garlands...
Jo jo jo jojajo...
There is a wedding, there is a music concert,
A golden swing, and flower garlands,
Jo jo jo jojajo...
A soulful melody sung in raga Kalyani (a classical melodic scale),
And an offering made in tears...
The little bird I raised looked for another home,
The little bird I raised looked for another home,
The moment she thought of flying away,
She found a partner of her own.
The moment she thought of flying away,
She found a partner of her own.
Playing like scenes in a movie,
Millions of my memories flash by.
With all those memories,
Singing a poetic tale of life...
There is a wedding, there is a music concert,
A golden swing, and flower garlands,
Jo jo jo jojajo...
I took a sheet of paper and wrote a song,
I took a sheet of paper and wrote a song,
I gave it to you; set it to a tune and sing.
I will find my peace
By praying to God; as He wills,
He will unite you in marriage with a garland...
There is a wedding, there is a music concert,
A golden swing, and flower garlands,
Jo jo jo jojajo...
A soulful melody sung in raga Kalyani,
And an offering made in tears...
Love exists in epics and in paintings,
Love exists in epics and in paintings,
In real life, for me, it is a different kind of love.
I was born to stand alone like a solitary tree,
May you live well and happily with your beloved!
There is a wedding, there is a music concert,
A golden swing, and flower garlands,
Jo jo jo jojajo...
A soulful melody sung in raga Kalyani,
And an offering made in tears...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses selfless love, sacrifice, and deep sorrow amidst a celebratory setting. The narrator reflects on the wedding of his beloved or someone he lovingly nurtured, watching her embark on a new chapter with her partner. While the surroundings are filled with auspicious festivities like raga renditions, garlands, and swings, his heart performs a tearful prayer of farewell. He accepts his lonely destiny, comparing himself to a solitary tree ('Thanimaram'), and blesses the newly married bride for a prosperous and happy life. Vaali's lyrics brilliantly contrast outer wedding joy with inner tragic heartbreak, rendered powerfully through T. M. Soundararajan's emotional vocals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Naan valarththa poonguruvi veridanthedi”

Compares the beloved girl to a bird raised with care that leaves for another branch ('Naan valarththa poonguruvi veridanthedi').

Juxtaposition / Antithesis

“Kalyaaniyil aalaapanai / Kanneeril aaraathanai”

Contrasts the festive musical elaboration in Kalyani raga with tearful emotional worship.

Symbolism

“Thanimaramaai iruppatharkkae piranthavan naanae”

'Thanimaram' (solitary tree) symbolizes complete isolation, loneliness, and resignation to fate.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Kalyaanamaam katcheriyaam / Ponnoonjalaam poo maalaiyaam”

Repetition of the rhythmic suffix '-aam' creates a playful yet ironic musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the film 'Mohana Punnagai' (1981) starring Sivaji Ganesan, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and lyrics by Vaali. The iconic combination of TMS and MSV created several legendary tragic ballads for Sivaji Ganesan, and this track stands out for blending wedding rhythms with melos and deep melancholy.

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