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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ketti Melam Kotta

From Guru Dhatchanai · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. Pugazhenthi
Movie name
Guru Dhatchanai
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
28 Mar 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ketti melam kotta vechi
Katta soli thaali thandhu
Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae
Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae
Ketti melam kotta vechi
Katta soli thaali thandhu
Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae
Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae
Panchakacham katti vittu
Pandhalukku ooti vandhu
Panchakacham katti vittu
Pandhalukku ooti vandhu
Manjal neerada veippen manaiyilae
Namma maappillaiyai nadunga veippen kulirilae
Manjal neerada veippen manaiyilae
Namma maappillaiyai nadunga veippen kulirilae
Ketti melam kotta vechi
Katta soli thaali thandhu
Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae
Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae
Naala perae aada solli
Nalungu paattu paada solli
Naala perae aada solli
Nalungu paattu paada solli
Paalum pazhamum kodukka solven jodikku
Appuram pallanguzhi aada solven kaelikku
Paalum pazhamum kodukka solven jodikku
Appuram pallanguzhi aada solven kaelikku
Mappillaiyai nikka vechi
Manamagala pakkam vechi
Mappillaiyai nikka vechi
Manamagala pakkam vechi
Malaraalae seidhiduven archanai
Naan manamaara koduthiduven thatchanai
Malaraalae seidhiduven archanai
Naan manamaara koduthiduven thatchanai
Gurudhatchanai gurudhatchanai
Ketti melam kotta vechi
Katta soli thaali thandhu
Kitta vandhu nikka poraar maapilae
Appo etti ninnu kaeli seiven paatilae
With the wedding drums beating loud and fast,
handing him the thaali (sacred wedding thread) to tie,
the groom will come and stand close by,
and I will stand from a distance and tease him in a song!
With the wedding drums beating loud and fast,
handing him the thaali (sacred wedding thread) to tie,
the groom will come and stand close by,
and I will stand from a distance and tease him in a song!
Dressing him in a Panchakacham (traditional wedding dhoti),
and bringing him into the wedding canopy,
Dressing him in a Panchakacham (traditional wedding dhoti),
and bringing him into the wedding canopy,
I will make him bathe in turmeric water on the wooden plank,
and make our groom shiver in the cold!
I will make him bathe in turmeric water on the wooden plank,
and make our groom shiver in the cold!
With the wedding drums beating loud and fast,
handing him the thaali (sacred wedding thread) to tie,
the groom will come and stand close by,
and I will stand from a distance and tease him in a song!
Asking people around to dance,
and sing the Nalangu (wedding ritual) songs,
Asking people around to dance,
and sing the Nalangu (wedding ritual) songs,
I will tell them to give milk and fruit to the couple,
and then playfully make them play Pallanguzhi (traditional board game)!
I will tell them to give milk and fruit to the couple,
and then playfully make them play Pallanguzhi (traditional board game)!
Making the groom stand,
with the bride right by his side,
Making the groom stand,
with the bride right by his side,
I will shower them with flowers in blessing,
and from the bottom of my heart, I will give my offering,
I will shower them with flowers in blessing,
and from the bottom of my heart, I will give my offering,
A Guru Dakshina (reverent offering to a teacher), a Guru Dakshina!
With the wedding drums beating loud and fast,
handing him the thaali (sacred wedding thread) to tie,
the groom will come and stand close by,
and I will stand from a distance and tease him in a song!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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