Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanmani Un Thirumanam

From Raja Veettu Kannukkutty · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Raja Veettu Kannukkutty1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kanmani un thirumanam oru inba thearthaladiOh darling, your marriage is a joyful election.
Kanmani un thirumanam oru inba thearthaladiOh darling, your marriage is a joyful election.
Un veatpaalarai nee thaernthedadiChoose your candidate yourself, my dear.
Yaarukku nee vazhangum vote urimaiTo whom will you give your right to vote?
Adi avanaa ivanaa sol un urimaiHey, is it him or him? Speak up, it is your right.
Female
Kanmani un thirumanam oru inba thearthaladiOh darling, your marriage is a joyful election.
Oru inba thearthaladi un anbai thaernthedadiIt is a joyful election; choose your love.
Female
Antha murai maappillai kaaththirukkaThe groom arranged by custom is waiting,
Avan santhega paarvai paarththirukkaLooking at you with a suspicious gaze.
Antha murai maappillai kaaththirukkaThe groom arranged by custom is waiting,
Avan santhega paarvai paarththirukkaLooking at you with a suspicious gaze.
Female
Maalayittu enna sodhanaithaanWhat a trial it is after exchanging garlands!
Maalayittu enna sodhanaithaanWhat a trial it is after exchanging garlands!
Antha manavaalan uravu vedhanaithaanA relationship with that groom brings only pain.
Antha manavaalan uravu vedhanaithaanA relationship with that groom brings only pain.
Female
Kanmani un thirumanam oru inba thearthaladiOh darling, your marriage is a joyful election.
Oru inba thearthaladi un anbai thaernthedadiIt is a joyful election; choose your love.
Female
Unnai inai saeraththaan orr manathuTo unite with you, there is one heart,
Thaan santhiththa naalaai yaengiyathuWhich has yearned ever since the day it met you.
Unnai inai saeraththaan orr manathuTo unite with you, there is one heart,
Thaan santhiththa naalaai yaengiyathuWhich has yearned ever since the day it met you.
Female
Nee virumbum vannam antha manamJust the way you desire, that heart remains,
Nee virumbum vannam antha manamJust the way you desire, that heart remains,
Oru pizhaiyindri pazhagum anbu manamA loving heart that interacts without a single fault.
Oru pizhaiyindri pazhagum anbu manamA loving heart that interacts without a single fault.
Female
Idhu vilaiyattalla vaazhkkaiyadiThis is not a game, my dear, this is life,
Iru ullangal kaanum saerkkaiyadiIt is a union witnessed by two souls.
Vaakkalikkum munbu sinthanai seiThink carefully before you cast your vote,
Pin varugindra vilaivai ninaivil vaiKeep the consequences that follow in mind.
Pin varugindra vilaivai ninaivil vaiKeep the consequences that follow in mind.
Female
Kanmani un thirumanam oru inba thearthaladiOh darling, your marriage is a joyful election.
Un veatpaalarai nee thaernthedadiChoose your candidate yourself, my dear.
Yaarukku nee vazhangum vote urimaiTo whom will you give your right to vote?
Adi avanaa ivanaa sol un urimaiHey, is it him or him? Speak up, it is your right.
Female
Kanmani un thirumanam oru inba thearthaladiOh darling, your marriage is a joyful election.
Oru inba thearthaladi un anbai thaernthedadiIt is a joyful election; choose your love.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song playfully yet thoughtfully compares a young woman's decision to get married to a democratic election. The speaker urges her to view her choice of a life partner as her personal 'vote', advising her to evaluate her 'candidates' carefully rather than yielding blindly to traditional or unsuitable choices. It contrasts an ill-suited groom filled with suspicion against a truly loving partner who respects her and yearns for a faultless, harmonious life together. Emphasizing that marriage is a serious life event rather than a game, the lyricist reminds her to think deeply about future consequences before committing her heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor (Uruvam)

Kanmani un thirumanam oru inba thearthaladi

Marriage ('thirumanam') is allegorized as an election ('thearthal'), where suitors are candidates ('veatpaalar') and marriage choice is voting rights ('vote urimai').

Esubhu (Rhyming / Iyaippu)

Antha murai maappillai kaaththirukka / Avan santhega paarvai paarththirukka

End rhymes using '-thirukka' across successive lines to build rhythmic flow.

Contrast (Muran)

Oru pizhaiyindri pazhagum anbu manam

Contrasts a doubtful suitor ('santhega paarvai') with a faultless loving heart ('pizhaiyindri pazhagum anbu manam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary lyricist Vaali and set to tune by M. S. Viswanathan, this song creatively incorporates democratic voting terms like 'candidate' and 'vote urimai' into a film song context to advocate for a woman's right to choose her own spouse.

Keep listening

More from Raja Veettu Kannukkutty