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
Movie name
Vai Pandal
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
19 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ketti melam kalyanamthaan
Ettu veedhi oorkoalamthaan
Naan nenachchom nallaavae mudichom
Pottathellaam vaaippanthalthaan
Paakka porom poo panthalthaan
Ketti melam kalyanamthaan
Ettu veedhi oorkoalamthaan
Naan nenachchom nallaavae mudichom
Pottathellaam vaaippanthalthaan
Paakka porom poo panthalthaan
Theyannaa duvanna daavannaa diyannaa
Dappaava kayil eduppaenae
Naan thappaama paattu padippaene
Theyannaa duvanna daavannaa diyannaa
Dappaava kayil eduppaenae
Naan thappaama paattu padippaene
Kalyaana soru vaazha ela
Kattaayam kedaikkum vaasalilae
Kalyaana soru vaazha ela
Kattaayam kedaikkum vaasalilae
Ketti melam kalyanamthaan
Ettu veedhi oorkoalamthaan
Naan nenachchom nallaavae mudichom
Pottathellaam vaaippanthalthaan
Paakka porom poo panthalthaan
Haa….aa….aa…..aaa….aaa….
Aaa…..aa…..aa…..aa…..ah….
Thaedi vathaenae pullimaanae
Thaedi vathaenae pullimaanae
Thevai enbathaal ingae naanae naanae
Thaedi vathaenae pullimaanae
Maalaiyidum thogaiyae…ae…
Aa….aah….aa…..
Maalaiyidum thogaiyae…ae…
Poovaiyae pen paavaiyae
Bhoomiyil oru thirumagalenavae
Paadinaen nalla marumagal vara ingae
Thaedi vathaenae pullimaanae
Jappan german ponavan
Gentlemanaa aanavan
Jappan german ponavan
Aamaandaa daa dei
Gentlemanaa aanavan
Tayottaaththaan car-ru tin-il vacha beer-ru
Tayottaaththaan car tin-il vacha beer
Kalyaana parisalippen dei mappila
Tayottaaththaan car-ru tin-il vacha beer-ru
Ennadaa appadi paakkuringa dei…
Nalla kaalam poranthudichchu aiyaa veetila
Naanum sonnaa palikkum athu sonna date-la
Oo saamiyae…
Nalla kaalam poranthiduchchi aiyaa veettila
Naanum sonnaa palikkum athu sonna date-la
Sattaithuni ellaam kedaikkum romba pazhasaa
Saami enakku kodukka venum paththu thinusaa
Yaei….solladiyae jakkammaa
Solla enna vetkkamaa
It is a wedding with loud, festive drums,
A grand procession through the eight streets!
What we dreamed of, we pulled off so well!
All we built before was just empty talk,
Now we are going to see a real canopy of flowers!
It is a wedding with loud, festive drums,
A grand procession through the eight streets!
What we dreamed of, we pulled off so well!
All we built before was just empty talk,
Now we are going to see a real canopy of flowers!
Thayanna, duwanna, daawanna, diyanna,
I will pick up the tin can in my hand,
And I will sing a song without missing a beat!
Thayanna, duwanna, daawanna, diyanna,
I will pick up the tin can in my hand,
And I will sing a song without missing a beat!
A wedding feast on a banana leaf,
Will surely be waiting right at the doorstep!
A wedding feast on a banana leaf,
Will surely be waiting right at the doorstep!
It is a wedding with loud, festive drums,
A grand procession through the eight streets!
What we dreamed of, we pulled off so well!
All we built before was just empty talk,
Now we are going to see a real canopy of flowers!
Haa... aa... aa... aaaa... aaaa...
Aaaa... aa... aa... aa... ah...
I came searching for you, my spotted deer,
I came searching for you, my spotted deer,
Because I need you, here I have come myself!
I came searching for you, my spotted deer,
O peacock who will exchange wedding garlands...
Aa... aah... aa...
O peacock who will exchange wedding garlands...
O gentle flower, O lovely girl,
Like the goddess of fortune on this earth,
I sang so a wonderful bride would arrive here!
I came searching for you, my spotted deer,
The man who traveled to Japan and Germany,
The man who became a true gentleman!
The man who traveled to Japan and Germany,
Yes indeed, hey buddy!
The man who became a true gentleman!
A Toyota car and canned beer,
A Toyota car and canned beer,
I will give as a wedding gift, hey groom!
A Toyota car and canned beer!
Hey, why are you all looking at me like that?
Good fortune has dawned in the master's house,
Whatever I predict will come true on the exact date I say!
Oh, divine mother...
Good fortune has dawned in the master's house,
Whatever I predict will come true on the exact date I say!
Old shirts and used clothes are all I usually get,
Lord, you must give me gifts in ten different varieties!
Hey, speak up, Goddess Jakkamma!
Why are you shy to say it?
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Vai Pandal

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.