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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maangalyamae

From Oru Naal Koothu · 2016

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singers
Anthony Daasan, MC Vickey, Richard
Music director
Justin Prabhakaran
Details
Oru Naal Koothu2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………………………Giving this sacred thread,
Male
Mangalyamae thanthunaFor my life's path,
Mama jeevanaIt is decided in heaven.
Sorgathilae nichayamGiving this sacred thread,
Male
Mangalyamae thanthunaFor my life's path,
Mama jeevanaHell is guaranteed!
Naragamdhan nichayamTo bring two hearts together,
Female
Heart rendu serthu veikaSix or seven heart attacks occur!
Aar ezhu heart attackWho invented this atrocious custom
Yar indha kodumaiyaIn the first place?
Kandu pidichaExchanging betel nut platters,
Female
Thamboola thatta mathiExchanging garlands across shoulders,
Thozh mela maala mathiDepositing money into bank accounts,
Accountil kaasa yethiThey named this whole process 'marriage'.
Kalyanamnu pera vachanGiving this sacred thread,
Male
Mangalyamae thanthunaFor my life's path,
Mama jeevanaIt is decided in heaven.
Sorgathilae nichayamGiving this sacred thread,
Male
Mangalyamae thanthunaFor my life's path,
Mama jeevanaHell is guaranteed!
Naragamdhan nichayamYeah, okay, okay!
Chorus
…………………………Groom and bride parents meeting,
Male
Yeh okay okayFamily outings,
Mapula ponnu parents meetingMust check caste and horoscope (Dialogue)
Family outingOh no, auspicious time and date!
Pakanum jathi jathagam (Dilaogue)Drums and beats!
Male
Ayoo neram kalamOh dear!
Melam thaalamGroom from abroad,
AyooLocal groom,
Foreign mappilaiJangiri, jalebi, kesari,
Local mappilaiPakora, coffee, and drinks,
Jangiri jilabi kesariMixture and snacks,
Pakkoda kappi keepiBonda and whatever,
Mixture kitchureVada and the rest,
Bonda keendaBajji and ravani... (Dialogue)
Vada kidaWe get on stage and perform a drama,
Bajji sojji…..(Dialogue)Come watch the circus show!
Male
Medai yeri koothu katturomDressed in costumes, we tie the mangalsutra,
Kootha pakalaam vangaCome watch the circus show!
Vesham katti thali katuromA one-day circus,
Kootha pakalaam vangaWhen looking back,
Female
Oru nal koothuIt is just a one-day circus.
Thirumbi parthaRhythmic chaos is marriage,
Female
Oru nal koothuWhen looking back,
Thakidathom thakidathom kalyanamRhythmic panic, and we vanish!
Thirumbi parthaOur lost sorrow,
Thikidathom thikidathom naam kanomFemale: Year after year,
Male
Tholanji poona sogatha namaWe celebrate on our Facebook walls.
Female :Varusha varushamGiving this sacred thread,
Facebook wallil kondaduromFor my life's path,
Male
Mangalyamae thanthunaFemale: Decided in heaven.
Mama jeevanaOh... giving this sacred thread,
Female :Sorgathilae nichayamFor my life's path,
Male
Ohh..mangalyamae thanthunaFemale: Hell is guaranteed!
Mama jeevanaAeeee... aaa... aaa
Female :Naragamdhan nichayamFor this and for that,
Male
Aeeee…aaa….aaaThere is only one solution:
Athukkum idhukkumIf you don't have a proper job,
Theervu onnuthanIf you are roaming around aimlessly,
Male
Vela vetti illayinnaIf your pockets run out of cash,
Ooru suthi menjiyinnaImmediate marriage!
Kaila kaasu kaliyinnaIf you manage to get a job,
Udanae thirumanam…If you gain a bit of responsibility,
Female
Vela onnu kidaichiputtaIf money accumulates in the bank,
Poruppu konjam vandhu puttaImmediate marriage!
Bankil kaasu serndhuputtaCalling love marriage a suicide,
Udanae thirumanam…And all other marriages a murder,
Chorus
…………………………….To change this societal rule,
Female
Love marriage suicide-nnumThere is nobody here.
Mathathellam murder-nnumGoing to matrimonial sites like eBay,
Sattatha mathivaikaWriting lies about me,
Yarum ingu illaAnd putting up my photo,
Male
Kalyanam ebay poyiI am not a commercial product!
Enna paththi poi eluthiA one-day drama,
En photo pottu vaikaYeah... yeah!
Nanum onnum product illa..Female: A one-day drama...
Male
Oru naal koothuA one-day drama...
Yeahh..yeahMale: Na na na na na
Female :Oru naal koothu….Female: A one-day drama...
Female
Oru naal koothu….
Male :Na na na na na
Female :Oru naal koothu….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a satirical take on traditional Indian marriages, societal expectations, and the modern matrimonial system. It parodies sacred Vedic wedding chants by contrasting traditional ideals ('decided in heaven') with practical anxieties ('hell is guaranteed'). The song critiques the grand showmanship of modern weddings, portraying them as expensive one-day theatrical performances ('Oru Naal Koothu') filled with superficial rituals, lavish food spreads, and frantic matchmaking.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Parody / Subversion

Mangalyamae thanthuna... Naragamdhan nichayam

Subverts the sacred mangalyam mantra to mock the stress and absurdities of modern marriages.

Metaphor

Kalyanam ebay poyi... Nanum onnum product illa..

Compares marriage arranged through online matrimony sites to selling a commercial product on e-commerce platforms like eBay.

Rhyme (Edhugai / Monai)

Vela vetti illayinna / Ooru suthi menjiyinna / Kaila kaasu kaliyinna

Employs internal end-rhyme across conditional lines for rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 2016 Tamil film 'Oru Naal Koothu', composed by Justin Prabhakaran with lyrics by Madhan Karky. Madhan Karky is well known for blending contemporary English terms, digital concepts (like Facebook, eBay), and modern lifestyle references seamlessly into Tamil film lyrics.

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