Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ketti Melam Kalyanamthan

From Vai Pandal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Shailaja, Vivek Sarathy
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Vai Pandal1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ketti melam kalyanamthaanIt is a grand wedding with traditional drumbeats.
Ettu veedhi oorkoalamthaanIt is a street procession spanning eight streets.
Naan nenachchom nallaavae mudichomWhat I wished for, we completed successfully.
Pottathellaam vaaippanthalthaanWhatever was set up was just a canopy of mere words.
Paakka porom poo panthalthaanNow we are going to see a canopy made of real flowers.
Male
Ketti melam kalyanamthaanIt is a grand wedding with traditional drumbeats.
Ettu veedhi oorkoalamthaanIt is a street procession spanning eight streets.
Naan nenachchom nallaavae mudichomWhat I wished for, we completed successfully.
Pottathellaam vaaippanthalthaanWhatever was set up was just a canopy of mere words.
Paakka porom poo panthalthaanNow we are going to see a canopy made of real flowers.
Female
Theyannaa duvanna daavannaa diyannaaTheyannaa duvanna daavannaa diyannaa (rhythmic folk rhythm syllables)
Dappaava kayil eduppaenaeI will pick up the small tin box in my hands.
Naan thappaama paattu padippaeneI will sing a song without making any mistakes.
Theyannaa duvanna daavannaa diyannaaTheyannaa duvanna daavannaa diyannaa (rhythmic folk rhythm syllables)
Dappaava kayil eduppaenaeI will pick up the small tin box in my hands.
Naan thappaama paattu padippaeneI will sing a song without making any mistakes.
Female
Kalyaana soru vaazha elaWedding feast rice served on a banana leaf,
Kattaayam kedaikkum vaasalilaeWill surely be available at the doorstep.
Kalyaana soru vaazha elaWedding feast rice served on a banana leaf,
Kattaayam kedaikkum vaasalilaeWill surely be available at the doorstep.
Male
Ketti melam kalyanamthaanIt is a grand wedding with traditional drumbeats.
Ettu veedhi oorkoalamthaanIt is a street procession spanning eight streets.
Naan nenachchom nallaavae mudichomWhat I wished for, we completed successfully.
Pottathellaam vaaippanthalthaanWhatever was set up was just a canopy of mere words.
Paakka porom poo panthalthaanNow we are going to see a canopy made of real flowers.
Female
Haa….aa….aa…..aaa….aaa….Haa....aa....aa.....aaa....aaa....
Aaa…..aa…..aa…..aa…..ah….Aaa…..aa…..aa…..aa…..ah….
Female
Thaedi vathaenae pullimaanaeI came searching for you, spotted deer-like maiden.
Thaedi vathaenae pullimaanaeI came searching for you, spotted deer-like maiden.
Thevai enbathaal ingae naanae naanaeBecause of necessity, I came here myself.
Thaedi vathaenae pullimaanaeI came searching for you, spotted deer-like maiden.
Female
Maalaiyidum thogaiyae…ae…Oh peacock-like lady who garlands...
Aa….aah….aa…..Aa....aah....aa.....
Maalaiyidum thogaiyae…ae…Oh peacock-like lady who garlands...
Poovaiyae pen paavaiyaeOh flower-like maiden, gentle woman,
Bhoomiyil oru thirumagalenavaeAs if Goddess Lakshmi herself is on this earth,
Paadinaen nalla marumagal vara ingaeI sang so that a good daughter-in-law would arrive here.
Female
Thaedi vathaenae pullimaanaeI came searching for you, spotted deer-like maiden.
Male
Jappan german ponavanOne who traveled to Japan and Germany,
Gentlemanaa aanavanOne who turned into a sophisticated gentleman.
Jappan german ponavanOne who traveled to Japan and Germany,
Aamaandaa daa deiYes indeed, hey friend!
Gentlemanaa aanavanOne who turned into a sophisticated gentleman.
Male
Tayottaaththaan car-ru tin-il vacha beer-ruA Toyota car and canned beer,
Tayottaaththaan car tin-il vacha beerA Toyota car and canned beer,
Kalyaana parisalippen dei mappilaI will give as wedding gifts, hey groom!
Tayottaaththaan car-ru tin-il vacha beer-ruA Toyota car and canned beer,
Ennadaa appadi paakkuringa dei…Hey, why are you all looking at me like that?
Male
Nalla kaalam poranthudichchu aiyaa veetilaA good era has dawned in the master's house.
Naanum sonnaa palikkum athu sonna date-laWhatever I predict comes true on the exact date.
Oo saamiyae…Oh Lord...
Nalla kaalam poranthiduchchi aiyaa veettilaA good era has dawned in the master's house.
Naanum sonnaa palikkum athu sonna date-laWhatever I predict comes true on the exact date.
Male
Sattaithuni ellaam kedaikkum romba pazhasaaAll the clothes I receive are very old,
Saami enakku kodukka venum paththu thinusaaLord, you must grant me ten new varieties!
Yaei….solladiyae jakkammaaHey, tell me now, Goddess Jakkamma!
Solla enna vetkkamaaWhy are you shy to tell?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This festive song celebrates an upcoming wedding and the joy surrounding family ties and good fortune. The lyrics capture the bustling energy of marriage preparation, complete with music, traditional street processions, and grand feasting. Through vibrant metaphors, the singer praises the prospective bride while engaging in playful, modern fortune-telling banter, combining traditional folk tropes with contemporary humor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagathal)

Pottathellaam vaaippanthalthaan / Paakka porom poo panthalthaan

'Vaaippanthal' (canopy of words) contrasts with 'Poo panthal' (canopy of flowers), representing empty talk versus real action.

Anaphora / Repetition

Ketti melam kalyanamthaan / Ettu veedhi oorkoalamthaan

Repetition of chorus lines emphasizing the celebratory noise and street procession.

Folk Rhythm / Rhythm Syllables (Sollukattu)

Theyannaa duvanna daavannaa diyannaa

Use of folk rhythmic phrases like 'Theyannaa duvanna daavannaa diyannaa' to set the percussion beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Vaali for the 1984 Tamil film 'Vai Pandal', the song cleverly blends classic folk street-performer tropes (calling upon deity Jakkamma) with 1980s pop-culture references such as Toyota cars, travel to Japan/Germany, and canned beer.

Keep listening

More from Vai Pandal