Maalaiyitta Ponnu
From Pandithurai · 1992
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pandithurai1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Maalai itta ponnu onnu | A girl who was garlanded in marriage |
| Maaman veedu pogudhu | Is going to her husband's home. |
| Singaaramaa seedhanamaa | Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts, |
| Thambi kooda pogudhu | Her younger brother accompanies her. |
| Male | |
| Nee porandha veettu perellaam | The good name of the house you were born in, |
| Ippa pugundha veettil paathukko | Uphold it now in the home you enter. |
| Male | |
| Maalai itta ponnu onnu | A girl who was garlanded in marriage |
| Maaman veedu pogudhu | Is going to her husband's home. |
| Singaaramaa seedhanamaa | Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts, |
| Thambi kooda pogudhu | Her younger brother accompanies her. |
| Male | |
| Sonnaan nalla paadam munnae | Good lessons were taught in the past, |
| Munnorellaam moodamillae | Our ancestors were not fools. |
| Pottu thandhaar paadha onnu | They laid down a clear path for you, |
| Nee adhil poganum | And you must walk along it. |
| Male | |
| Kallaanaalum kanavanammaa | Even if he is like stone, he is your husband, |
| Pullaanaalum purushanammaa | Even if he is simple like grass, he is your spouse. |
| Kovil kolam thevai illa | No need to search for temples or holy ponds, |
| Nee potri vaazhanum | If you cherish and honor him in life. |
| Male | |
| Veettu vela paakkaamalae | Ignoring household duties, |
| Vetti pechu vendaamammaa | Do not indulge in idle talk, my dear. |
| Kutham solli kobam vandhaa | Even if blamed and anger arises, |
| Veettu padi thaandaadhammaa | Do not cross the threshold of your home. |
| Poovodu thaan pottodu thaan | Adorned with flowers and auspicious vermilion, |
| Ennaalum nee vaazha venum | May you live happily forever. |
| Male | |
| Maalai itta ponnu onnu | A girl who was garlanded in marriage |
| Maaman veedu pogudhu | Is going to her husband's home. |
| Male | |
| Vaasa manja poosum pennae | Oh woman who applies fragrant turmeric, |
| Vaazha vandha vaazha kannae | Oh dear shoot who came to flourish in life, |
| Kuthu vilakkaaga ninnu | Standing like an auspicious traditional lamp, |
| Nee veetta aalanum | You must guide and nurture the household. |
| Male | |
| Ammaa chellam aanaal enna | What if you were mother's darling child? |
| Appaa chellam aanaal enna | What if you were father's darling child? |
| Thaali katti pona pinnae | Once the sacred thread is tied, |
| Kanavan pecha kekkanum | You must listen to your husband's words. |
| Male | |
| Ponnu nagai thevai illa | Gold and jewels are not required, |
| Punnagai thaan podhum ammaa | Your sweet smile alone is enough, my dear. |
| Ketta peru vaangaamalae | Without earning a bad name, |
| Buthiyodu nee vaazhammaa | Live with wisdom and intellect. |
| Thanmaanamae sanmaanamaai | Treating self-respect as your reward, |
| Penn maanae nee vaazha venum | Live with grace, oh gentle woman. |
| Male | |
| Maalai itta ponnu onnu | A girl who was garlanded in marriage |
| Maaman veedu pogudhu | Is going to her husband's home. |
| Singaaramaa seedhanamaa | Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts, |
| Thambi kooda pogudhu | Her younger brother accompanies her. |
| Nee porandha veettu perellaam | The good name of the house you were born in, |
| Ippa pugundha veettil paathukko | Uphold it now in the home you enter. |
| Male | |
| Maalai itta ponnu onnu | A girl who was garlanded in marriage |
| Maaman veedu pogudhu | Is going to her husband's home. |
| Singaaramaa seedhanamaa | Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts, |
| Thambi kooda pogudhu | Her younger brother accompanies her. |
மாலை இட்ட
பொண்ணு ஒண்ணு
மாமன் வீடு போகுது
சிங்காரமா சீதனமா
தம்பி கூட போகுது
நீ பொறந்த வீட்டுப் பேரெல்லாம்
இப்ப புகுந்த வீட்டில் பார்த்துக்கோ
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Is going to her husband's home.
Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts,
Her younger brother accompanies her.
மாலை இட்ட
பொண்ணு ஒண்ணு
மாமன் வீடு போகுது
சிங்காரமா சீதனமா
தம்பி கூட போகுது
The good name of the house you were born in,
Uphold it now in the home you enter.
சொன்னான் நல்ல பாடம் முன்னே
முன்னோரெல்லாம் மூடமில்லே
போட்டுத் தந்தார் பாத ஒண்ணு
நீ அதில் போகணும்
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Is going to her husband's home.
Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts,
Her younger brother accompanies her.
கல்லானாலும் கணவனம்மா
புல்லானாலும் புருஷனம்மா
கோவில் கொளம் தேவி இல்ல
நீ போற்றி வாழணும்
Good lessons were taught in the past,
Our ancestors were not fools.
They laid down a clear path for you,
And you must walk along it.
வீட்டு வேல பாக்காமலே
வெட்டிப் பேச்சு வேண்டாமம்மா
குத்தம் சொல்லிக் கோபம் வந்தா
வீட்டுப் படி தாண்டாதம்மா
பூவோடுதான் பொட்டோடுதான்
எந்நாளும் நீ வாழ வேணும்
Even if he is like stone, he is your husband,
Even if he is simple like grass, he is your spouse.
No need to search for temples or holy ponds,
If you cherish and honor him in life.
மாலை இட்ட
பொண்ணு ஒண்ணு
மாமன் வீடு போகுது
Ignoring household duties,
Do not indulge in idle talk, my dear.
Even if blamed and anger arises,
Do not cross the threshold of your home.
Adorned with flowers and auspicious vermilion,
May you live happily forever.
வாச மஞ்ச பூசும் பெண்ணே
வாழ வந்த வாழக் கண்ணே
குத்து விளக்காக நின்னு
நீ வீட்ட ஆளணும்
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Is going to her husband's home.
அம்மா செல்லம் ஆனால் என்ன
அப்பா செல்லம் ஆனால் என்ன
தாலி கட்டி போன பின்னே
கணவன் பேச்சக் கேக்கணும்
Oh woman who applies fragrant turmeric,
Oh dear shoot who came to flourish in life,
Standing like an auspicious traditional lamp,
You must guide and nurture the household.
பொன்னு நகை தேவை இல்ல
புன்னகை தான் போதும் அம்மா
கெட்ட பேரு வாங்காமலே
புத்தியோடு நீ வாழம்மா
தன்மானமே சன்மானமாய்
பெண் மானே நீ வாழ வேணும்.....
What if you were mother's darling child?
What if you were father's darling child?
Once the sacred thread is tied,
You must listen to your husband's words.
மாலை இட்ட
பொண்ணு ஒண்ணு
மாமன் வீடு போகுது
சிங்காரமா சீதனமா
தம்பி கூட போகுது
நீ பொறந்த வீட்டுப் பேரெல்லாம்
இப்ப புகுந்த வீட்டில் பார்த்துக்கோ
Gold and jewels are not required,
Your sweet smile alone is enough, my dear.
Without earning a bad name,
Live with wisdom and intellect.
Treating self-respect as your reward,
Live with grace, oh gentle woman.
மாலை இட்ட
பொண்ணு ஒண்ணு
மாமன் வீடு போகுது
சிங்காரமா சீதனமா
தம்பி கூட போகுது
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Is going to her husband's home.
Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts,
Her younger brother accompanies her.
The good name of the house you were born in,
Uphold it now in the home you enter.
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Is going to her husband's home.
Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts,
Her younger brother accompanies her.
Maalai itta ponnu onnu
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Maaman veedu pogudhu
Is going to her husband's home.
Singaaramaa seedhanamaa
Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts,
Thambi kooda pogudhu
Her younger brother accompanies her.
Nee porandha veettu perellaam
The good name of the house you were born in,
Ippa pugundha veettil paathukko
Uphold it now in the home you enter.
Maalai itta ponnu onnu
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Maaman veedu pogudhu
Is going to her husband's home.
Singaaramaa seedhanamaa
Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts,
Thambi kooda pogudhu
Her younger brother accompanies her.
Sonnaan nalla paadam munnae
Good lessons were taught in the past,
Munnorellaam moodamillae
Our ancestors were not fools.
Pottu thandhaar paadha onnu
They laid down a clear path for you,
Nee adhil poganum
And you must walk along it.
Kallaanaalum kanavanammaa
Even if he is like stone, he is your husband,
Pullaanaalum purushanammaa
Even if he is simple like grass, he is your spouse.
Kovil kolam thevai illa
No need to search for temples or holy ponds,
Nee potri vaazhanum
If you cherish and honor him in life.
Veettu vela paakkaamalae
Ignoring household duties,
Vetti pechu vendaamammaa
Do not indulge in idle talk, my dear.
Kutham solli kobam vandhaa
Even if blamed and anger arises,
Veettu padi thaandaadhammaa
Do not cross the threshold of your home.
Poovodu thaan pottodu thaan
Adorned with flowers and auspicious vermilion,
Ennaalum nee vaazha venum
May you live happily forever.
Maalai itta ponnu onnu
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Maaman veedu pogudhu
Is going to her husband's home.
Vaasa manja poosum pennae
Oh woman who applies fragrant turmeric,
Vaazha vandha vaazha kannae
Oh dear shoot who came to flourish in life,
Kuthu vilakkaaga ninnu
Standing like an auspicious traditional lamp,
Nee veetta aalanum
You must guide and nurture the household.
Ammaa chellam aanaal enna
What if you were mother's darling child?
Appaa chellam aanaal enna
What if you were father's darling child?
Thaali katti pona pinnae
Once the sacred thread is tied,
Kanavan pecha kekkanum
You must listen to your husband's words.
Ponnu nagai thevai illa
Gold and jewels are not required,
Punnagai thaan podhum ammaa
Your sweet smile alone is enough, my dear.
Ketta peru vaangaamalae
Without earning a bad name,
Buthiyodu nee vaazhammaa
Live with wisdom and intellect.
Thanmaanamae sanmaanamaai
Treating self-respect as your reward,
Penn maanae nee vaazha venum
Live with grace, oh gentle woman.
Maalai itta ponnu onnu
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Maaman veedu pogudhu
Is going to her husband's home.
Singaaramaa seedhanamaa
Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts,
Thambi kooda pogudhu
Her younger brother accompanies her.
Nee porandha veettu perellaam
The good name of the house you were born in,
Ippa pugundha veettil paathukko
Uphold it now in the home you enter.
Maalai itta ponnu onnu
A girl who was garlanded in marriage
Maaman veedu pogudhu
Is going to her husband's home.
Singaaramaa seedhanamaa
Adorned beautifully with dowry gifts,
Thambi kooda pogudhu
Her younger brother accompanies her.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This track is a traditional Tamil bridal advice song (Vidaipudai Paattu) sung during a bride's departure to her in-laws' house after marriage. The lyrics convey advice on domestic harmony, respecting marital bonds, upholding ancestral values, and maintaining the honor of both her natal and marital families. Gangai Amaran weaves traditional Tamil proverbs into the lyrics to emphasize virtue, humility, and inner character over material wealth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Proverb Inclusion / Pazhamozhi
“Kallaanaalum kanavanammaa / Pullaanaalum purushanammaa”
Incorporates the famous traditional Tamil proverb 'Kallaanaalum kanavan, pullaanaalum purushan', emphasizing unwavering devotion and marital fidelity.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Kallaanaalum kanavanammaa / Pullaanaalum purushanammaa”
The second consonant 'l' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Kallaanaalum' and 'Pullaanaalum').
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kuthu vilakkaaga ninnu / Nee veetta aalanum”
The bride is compared to a 'Kuthu vilakku' (auspicious traditional oil lamp) bringing light and prosperity to her new home.
Moonaam/Anaphora Alliteration
“Vaasa manja poosum pennae / Vaazha vandha vaazha kannae”
Repetition of initial sounds 'Vaasa', 'Vaazha', 'Vaazha' creating musical harmony in the stanza.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the lyrics are written by Gangai Amaran for the movie Pandithurai (1992), the music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The song draws heavily upon rural Tamil wedding traditions where family elders sing cautionary yet affectionate advice to departing brides.
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