Maalai Podura
From Anandha Kanneer · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Anandha Kanneer1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Maala podura kalyaanamaa | Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged? |
| Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa | Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned? |
| Peyarukku manamagan avanoru vilai magan | He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale. |
| Yaarukkumae vetkam illa maanam illa | Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect. |
| Male | |
| Maala podura kalyaanamaa | Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged? |
| Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa | Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned? |
| Peyarukku manamagan avanoru vilai magan | He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale. |
| Yaarukkumae vetkam illa maanam illa | Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect. |
| Male | |
| Thallaadha vayasilae thanthai ingu paduthittaa | The father lies bedridden here in his advanced old age. |
| Illaadha seedhanatha thannai vithu koduthittaa | He sold himself off to provide the dowry he could not afford. |
| Podhumadaa saamigalaa ponna petha perum paavam | Enough, oh gods! Giving birth to a daughter has become a grave sin. |
| Podhumadaa saamigalaa ponna petha perum paavam | Enough, oh gods! Giving birth to a daughter has become a grave sin. |
| Kalyaanam sorgathil unma thaanaa ha | Is it really true that marriages are made in heaven, huh? |
| Male | |
| Maala podura kalyaanamaa | Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged? |
| Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa | Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned? |
| Peyarukku manamagan avanoru vilai magan | He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale. |
| Yaarukkumae vetkam illa maanam illa | Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect. |
| Male | |
| Ponnoda nethiyila kungumamaa minnuvadhu | Is that red vermilion shining on the bride's forehead? |
| Appaavin maeniyilae sindhi vandha ratham adhu | It is actually the blood shed from her father's body. |
| Saandhi illaa mugoortham idhu edhuvum ingae sadangaachu | This auspicious hour lacks peace; everything here has turned into a meaningless ritual. |
| Saandhi illaa mugoortham idhu edhuvum ingae sadangaachu | This auspicious hour lacks peace; everything here has turned into a meaningless ritual. |
| Kanneerum panneerum onnu thaanaa | Are tears and rosewater considered one and the same? |
| Male | |
| Maala podura kalyaanamaa | Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged? |
| Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa | Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned? |
| Peyarukku manamagan avanoru vilai magan | He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale. |
| Yaarukkumae vetkam illa maanam illa | Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect. |
| Vetkam illa maanam illa | There is no shame, no self-respect! |
மால போடுற கல்யாணமா
ஏலம் போடுற வியாபாரமா
பெயருக்கு மணமகன் அவனொரு விலைமகன்
யாருக்குமே வெட்கமில்ல மானமில்ல
Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged?
Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned?
He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale.
Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect.
மால போடுற கல்யாணமா
ஏலம் போடுற வியாபாரமா
பெயருக்கு மணமகன் அவனொரு விலைமகன்
யாருக்குமே வெட்கமில்ல மானமில்ல
Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged?
Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned?
He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale.
Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect.
தள்ளாத வயசிலே தந்தை இங்கு படுத்திட்டான்
இல்லாத சீதனத்த தன்னை வித்து கொடுத்திட்டான்
போதுமடா சாமிகளா பொண்ண பெத்த பெரும்பாவம்
போதுமடா சாமிகளா பொண்ண பெத்த பெரும்பாவம்
கல்யாணம் சொர்க்கத்தில் உண்ம தானா ஹ
The father lies bedridden here in his advanced old age.
He sold himself off to provide the dowry he could not afford.
Enough, oh gods! Giving birth to a daughter has become a grave sin.
Enough, oh gods! Giving birth to a daughter has become a grave sin.
Is it really true that marriages are made in heaven, huh?
மால போடுற கல்யாணமா
ஏலம் போடுற வியாபாரமா
பெயருக்கு மணமகன் அவனொரு விலைமகன்
யாருக்குமே வெட்கமில்ல மானமில்ல
Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged?
Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned?
He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale.
Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect.
பொண்ணோட நெத்தியிலே குங்குமமா மின்னுவது
அப்பாவின் மேனியிலே சிந்தி வந்த ரத்தம் அது
சாந்தியில்லா முகூர்த்தம் இது எதுவும் இங்கே சடங்காச்சு
சாந்தியில்லா முகூர்த்தம் இது எதுவும் இங்கே சடங்காச்சு
கண்ணீரும் பன்னீரும் ஒண்ணு தானா
Is that red vermilion shining on the bride's forehead?
It is actually the blood shed from her father's body.
This auspicious hour lacks peace; everything here has turned into a meaningless ritual.
This auspicious hour lacks peace; everything here has turned into a meaningless ritual.
Are tears and rosewater considered one and the same?
மால போடுற கல்யாணமா
ஏலம் போடுற வியாபாரமா
பெயருக்கு மணமகன் அவனொரு விலைமகன்
யாருக்குமே வெட்கமில்ல மானமில்ல
வெட்கமில்ல மானமில்ல
Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged?
Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned?
He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale.
Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect.
There is no shame, no self-respect!
Maala podura kalyaanamaa
Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged?
Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa
Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned?
Peyarukku manamagan avanoru vilai magan
He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale.
Yaarukkumae vetkam illa maanam illa
Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect.
Maala podura kalyaanamaa
Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged?
Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa
Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned?
Peyarukku manamagan avanoru vilai magan
He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale.
Yaarukkumae vetkam illa maanam illa
Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect.
Thallaadha vayasilae thanthai ingu paduthittaa
The father lies bedridden here in his advanced old age.
Illaadha seedhanatha thannai vithu koduthittaa
He sold himself off to provide the dowry he could not afford.
Podhumadaa saamigalaa ponna petha perum paavam
Enough, oh gods! Giving birth to a daughter has become a grave sin.
Podhumadaa saamigalaa ponna petha perum paavam
Enough, oh gods! Giving birth to a daughter has become a grave sin.
Kalyaanam sorgathil unma thaanaa ha
Is it really true that marriages are made in heaven, huh?
Maala podura kalyaanamaa
Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged?
Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa
Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned?
Peyarukku manamagan avanoru vilai magan
He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale.
Yaarukkumae vetkam illa maanam illa
Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect.
Ponnoda nethiyila kungumamaa minnuvadhu
Is that red vermilion shining on the bride's forehead?
Appaavin maeniyilae sindhi vandha ratham adhu
It is actually the blood shed from her father's body.
Saandhi illaa mugoortham idhu edhuvum ingae sadangaachu
This auspicious hour lacks peace; everything here has turned into a meaningless ritual.
Saandhi illaa mugoortham idhu edhuvum ingae sadangaachu
This auspicious hour lacks peace; everything here has turned into a meaningless ritual.
Kanneerum panneerum onnu thaanaa
Are tears and rosewater considered one and the same?
Maala podura kalyaanamaa
Is this a wedding where garlands are exchanged?
Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa
Or is it a business transaction where items are auctioned?
Peyarukku manamagan avanoru vilai magan
He is a groom only in name; he is actually a man put up for sale.
Yaarukkumae vetkam illa maanam illa
Nobody involved has any shame or self-respect.
Vetkam illa maanam illa
There is no shame, no self-respect!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Maala podura kalyaanamaa from the film Anandha Kanneer (1986) is a scathing critique of the commercialization of marriage and the social evil of the dowry system. Lyricist Vaali sharply questions whether modern weddings are truly sacred unions or merely financial auctions where grooms sell themselves to the highest bidder. The song portrays the tragic plight of an elderly father who ruins his health and financial standing to satisfy the groom's family demands. Through stark visual imagery—such as equating the red vermilion on the bride's forehead to her father's spilled blood—the song reveals the deep pain hidden behind bright wedding festivities. It challenges traditional beliefs, such as marriages being made in heaven, and laments the tragic reality that raising a daughter is treated as a burden due to societal greed.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question
“Maala podura kalyaanamaa / Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa”
The speaker challenges the sacrosanct nature of marriage by asking if it is merely an auction or business transaction.
Metaphor
“Ponnoda nethiyila kungumamaa minnuvadhu / Appaavin maeniyilae sindhi vandha ratham adhu”
The red kumkum on the bride's forehead is metaphorically equated to the blood drained from her suffering father's body.
Juxtaposition / Irony
“Kanneerum panneerum onnu thaanaa”
Contrasts 'kanneer' (tears of sorrow) with 'panneer' (rosewater used in celebrations) to show how suffering is hidden behind festive rituals.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Maala podura kalyaanamaa / Yaelam podura vyaabaaramaa”
The second letter in 'Maala' and 'Yaelam' rhyming (l-sound / retroflex l) creates rhythmic cadence in traditional Tamil lyricism.
Did you know?
Trivia
Anandha Kanneer (1986), starring Shivaji Ganesan and directed by K. Vijayan, deals heavily with themes of familial breakdown, financial hardship, and dowry demands. The soundtrack for the film was composed by the duo Sankar-Ganesh, with lyrics penned by Vaali.
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