Ketti Melam Kotta
From Guru Dhatchanai · 1969
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- T. Pugazhenthi
- Details
- Guru Dhatchanai1969
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ketti melam kotta vechi | Making the auspicious drums beat loudly |
| Katta soli thaali thandhu | Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied |
| Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae | The groom is going to come close and stand |
| Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae | Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song |
| Male | |
| Ketti melam kotta vechi | Making the auspicious drums beat loudly |
| Katta soli thaali thandhu | Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied |
| Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae | The groom is going to come close and stand |
| Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae | Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song |
| Male | |
| Panchakacham katti vittu | Draping him in the traditional Panchakacham attire |
| Pandhalukku ooti vandhu | Escorting him joyfully to the wedding canopy |
| Panchakacham katti vittu | Draping him in the traditional Panchakacham attire |
| Pandhalukku ooti vandhu | Escorting him joyfully to the wedding canopy |
| Manjal neerada veippen manaiyilae | I will make him bathe in turmeric water on the marriage platform |
| Namma maappillaiyai nadunga veippen kulirilae | I will make our groom shiver in the chilly water |
| Manjal neerada veippen manaiyilae | I will make him bathe in turmeric water on the marriage platform |
| Namma maappillaiyai nadunga veippen kulirilae | I will make our groom shiver in the chilly water |
| Male | |
| Ketti melam kotta vechi | Making the auspicious drums beat loudly |
| Katta soli thaali thandhu | Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied |
| Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae | The groom is going to come close and stand |
| Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae | Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song |
| Male | |
| Naala perae aada solli | Asking a few people to dance |
| Nalungu paattu paada solli | Asking them to sing the Nalungu wedding song |
| Naala perae aada solli | Asking a few people to dance |
| Nalungu paattu paada solli | Asking them to sing the Nalungu wedding song |
| Paalum pazhamum kodukka solven jodikku | I will ask them to serve milk and fruit to the newlywed couple |
| Appuram pallanguzhi aada solven kaelikku | Then I will ask them to play the game of Pallanguzhi for fun |
| Paalum pazhamum kodukka solven jodikku | I will ask them to serve milk and fruit to the newlywed couple |
| Appuram pallanguzhi aada solven kaelikku | Then I will ask them to play the game of Pallanguzhi for fun |
| Male | |
| Mappillaiyai nikka vechi | Making the groom stand in place |
| Manamagala pakkam vechi | Placing the bride right beside him |
| Mappillaiyai nikka vechi | Making the groom stand in place |
| Manamagala pakkam vechi | Placing the bride right beside him |
| Malaraalae seidhiduven archanai | I will perform a gentle ritual offering made of flowers |
| Naan manamaara koduthiduven thatchanai | I will whole-heartedly offer my tribute as a guru's fee |
| Malaraalae seidhiduven archanai | I will perform a gentle ritual offering made of flowers |
| Naan manamaara koduthiduven thatchanai | I will whole-heartedly offer my tribute as a guru's fee |
| Gurudhatchanai gurudhatchanai | Guru's offering, guru's offering |
| Male | |
| Ketti melam kotta vechi | Making the auspicious drums beat loudly |
| Katta soli thaali thandhu | Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied |
| Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae | The groom is going to come close and stand |
| Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae | Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song |
கெட்டி மேளம் கொட்ட வச்சி
கட்டச் சொல்லித் தாலி தந்து
கிட்ட வந்து நிக்கப் போறார் மாப்பிள்ளே
அப்போ எட்டி நின்னு கேலி செய்வேன் பாட்டிலே..
Making the auspicious drums beat loudly
Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied
The groom is going to come close and stand
Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song
கெட்டி மேளம் கொட்ட வச்சி
கட்டச் சொல்லித் தாலி தந்து
கிட்ட வந்து நிக்கப் போறார் மாப்பிள்ளே
அப்போ எட்டி நின்னு கேலி செய்வேன் பாட்டிலே..
Making the auspicious drums beat loudly
Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied
The groom is going to come close and stand
Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song
பஞ்ச கச்சம் கட்டிவிட்டு
பந்தலுக்கு கூட்டி வந்து
பஞ்ச கச்சம் கட்டிவிட்டு
பந்தலுக்கு கூட்டி வந்து
மஞ்சள் நீராட வைப்பேன் மனையிலே
நம்ம மாப்பிள்ளையை நடுங்க வைப்பேன் குளிரிலே
மஞ்சள் நீராட வைப்பேன் மனையிலே
நம்ம மாப்பிள்ளையை நடுங்க வைப்பேன் குளிரிலே
Draping him in the traditional Panchakacham attire
Escorting him joyfully to the wedding canopy
Draping him in the traditional Panchakacham attire
Escorting him joyfully to the wedding canopy
I will make him bathe in turmeric water on the marriage platform
I will make our groom shiver in the chilly water
I will make him bathe in turmeric water on the marriage platform
I will make our groom shiver in the chilly water
கெட்டி மேளம் கொட்ட வச்சி
கட்டச் சொல்லித் தாலி தந்து
கிட்ட வந்து நிக்கப் போறார் மாப்பிள்ளே
அப்போ எட்டி நின்னு கேலி செய்வேன் பாட்டிலே..
Making the auspicious drums beat loudly
Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied
The groom is going to come close and stand
Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song
நாலு பேரை ஆடச் சொல்லி
நலங்கு பாட்டுப் பாடச் சொல்லி
நாலு பேரை ஆடச் சொல்லி
நலங்கு பாட்டுப் பாடச் சொல்லி
பாலும் பழமும் கொடுக்கச் சொல்வேன் ஜோடிக்கு
அப்புறம் பல்லாங்குழி ஆடச் சொல்வேன் கேலிக்கு
பாலும் பழமும் கொடுக்கச் சொல்வேன் ஜோடிக்கு
அப்புறம் பல்லாங்குழி ஆடச் சொல்வேன் கேலிக்கு
Asking a few people to dance
Asking them to sing the Nalungu wedding song
Asking a few people to dance
Asking them to sing the Nalungu wedding song
I will ask them to serve milk and fruit to the newlywed couple
Then I will ask them to play the game of Pallanguzhi for fun
I will ask them to serve milk and fruit to the newlywed couple
Then I will ask them to play the game of Pallanguzhi for fun
மாப்பிள்ளையை நிக்க வச்சி
மணமகள பக்கம் வச்சி
மாப்பிள்ளையை நிக்க வச்சி
மணமகள பக்கம் வச்சி
மலராலே செய்திடுவேன் அர்ச்சனை
நான் மனமார கொடுத்திடுவேன் தட்சணை
மலராலே செய்திடுவேன் அர்ச்சனை
நான் மனமார கொடுத்திடுவேன் தட்சணை
குரு தட்சணை குரு தட்சணை
Making the groom stand in place
Placing the bride right beside him
Making the groom stand in place
Placing the bride right beside him
I will perform a gentle ritual offering made of flowers
I will whole-heartedly offer my tribute as a guru's fee
I will perform a gentle ritual offering made of flowers
I will whole-heartedly offer my tribute as a guru's fee
Guru's offering, guru's offering
கெட்டி மேளம் கொட்ட வச்சி
கட்டச் சொல்லித் தாலி தந்து
கிட்ட வந்து நிக்கப் போறார் மாப்பிள்ளே
அப்போ எட்டி நின்னு கேலி செய்வேன் பாட்டிலே
Making the auspicious drums beat loudly
Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied
The groom is going to come close and stand
Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song
Ketti melam kotta vechi
Making the auspicious drums beat loudly
Katta soli thaali thandhu
Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied
Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae
The groom is going to come close and stand
Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae
Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song
Ketti melam kotta vechi
Making the auspicious drums beat loudly
Katta soli thaali thandhu
Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied
Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae
The groom is going to come close and stand
Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae
Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song
Panchakacham katti vittu
Draping him in the traditional Panchakacham attire
Pandhalukku ooti vandhu
Escorting him joyfully to the wedding canopy
Panchakacham katti vittu
Draping him in the traditional Panchakacham attire
Pandhalukku ooti vandhu
Escorting him joyfully to the wedding canopy
Manjal neerada veippen manaiyilae
I will make him bathe in turmeric water on the marriage platform
Namma maappillaiyai nadunga veippen kulirilae
I will make our groom shiver in the chilly water
Manjal neerada veippen manaiyilae
I will make him bathe in turmeric water on the marriage platform
Namma maappillaiyai nadunga veippen kulirilae
I will make our groom shiver in the chilly water
Ketti melam kotta vechi
Making the auspicious drums beat loudly
Katta soli thaali thandhu
Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied
Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae
The groom is going to come close and stand
Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae
Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song
Naala perae aada solli
Asking a few people to dance
Nalungu paattu paada solli
Asking them to sing the Nalungu wedding song
Naala perae aada solli
Asking a few people to dance
Nalungu paattu paada solli
Asking them to sing the Nalungu wedding song
Paalum pazhamum kodukka solven jodikku
I will ask them to serve milk and fruit to the newlywed couple
Appuram pallanguzhi aada solven kaelikku
Then I will ask them to play the game of Pallanguzhi for fun
Paalum pazhamum kodukka solven jodikku
I will ask them to serve milk and fruit to the newlywed couple
Appuram pallanguzhi aada solven kaelikku
Then I will ask them to play the game of Pallanguzhi for fun
Mappillaiyai nikka vechi
Making the groom stand in place
Manamagala pakkam vechi
Placing the bride right beside him
Mappillaiyai nikka vechi
Making the groom stand in place
Manamagala pakkam vechi
Placing the bride right beside him
Malaraalae seidhiduven archanai
I will perform a gentle ritual offering made of flowers
Naan manamaara koduthiduven thatchanai
I will whole-heartedly offer my tribute as a guru's fee
Malaraalae seidhiduven archanai
I will perform a gentle ritual offering made of flowers
Naan manamaara koduthiduven thatchanai
I will whole-heartedly offer my tribute as a guru's fee
Gurudhatchanai gurudhatchanai
Guru's offering, guru's offering
Ketti melam kotta vechi
Making the auspicious drums beat loudly
Katta soli thaali thandhu
Handing over the sacred thread and asking it to be tied
Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae
The groom is going to come close and stand
Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae
Then I will stand at a distance and tease him through a song
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This lively song from 'Guru Dhatchanai' captures the playful spirit and joyful festivities of a traditional South Indian wedding. The singer describes the sequence of marriage rituals—from beating the ceremonial drums (Ketti Melam) and wearing traditional Panchakacham attire to the customary turmeric bath (Manjal Neer) and post-wedding games like Nalungu and Pallanguzhi. Throughout these rituals, the speaker lightheartedly teases the groom while celebrating the union.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaich Chol (Initial Alliteration)
“Ketti melam kotta vechi / Katta soli thaali thandhu / Kitta vandhu nikka poraar”
Repetition of the initial letter 'K' in consecutive lines creating a rhythmic beat: Ketti / Katta / Kitta.
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ketti melam kotta vechi”
Rhyming of the second consonant 'tt' across lines 'Ketti', 'Katta', and 'Kitta'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Manjal neerada veippen manaiyilae / Namma maappillaiyai nadunga veippen kulirilae”
Matching end suffixes '-ilae' across multiple lines: 'manaiyilae', 'kulirilae', 'paatilae'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Music director T. Pugazhenthi, who spent years as a prominent associate to legendary composer K. V. Mahadevan, crafted this energetic track utilizing folk-wedding percussion beats rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan.
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