Malai Soodum
From Nichaya Thaamboolam · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Nichaya Thaamboolam1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Maalai | { Garland |
| Soodum mananaal | Wearing wedding day |
| Ila mangaiyin vaazhvil | In a young woman's life |
| Thirunaal sugam mevidum | A holy day where joy abounds |
| Kaadhalin ellai veroru | The pinnacle of love, another |
| Thirunaal ini illai } (2) | Holy day like this exists no more } (2) |
| Female | |
| Maalai | Garland |
| Soodum mananaal | Wearing wedding day |
| Female | |
| ………….. | ………….. |
| Female | |
| { Kaadhal | { Love is like |
| Karthigai thirunaal | The auspicious day of Karthigai |
| Manam kalandhal | When hearts unite |
| Maargazhi thirunaal } (2) | It is the holy month of Maargazhi } (2) |
| Female | |
| Servadhu | Uniting is |
| Panguni thirunaal | The auspicious day of Panguni |
| Naam sirikum | The day we smile |
| Naalae thirunaal | Is truly the holy day |
| Female | |
| Maalai | Garland |
| Soodum mananaal | Wearing wedding day |
| Ila mangaiyin vaazhvil | In a young woman's life |
| Thirunaal sugam mevidum | A holy day where joy abounds |
| Kaadhalin ellai veroru | The pinnacle of love, another |
| Thirunaal ini illai | Holy day like this exists no more |
| Female | |
| Maalai | Garland |
| Soodum mananaal | Wearing wedding day |
| Female | |
| ……………… | ……………… |
| Female | |
| { Mangala | { Auspicious |
| Kungumam podhum | Kumkum is enough |
| Thiru malarum | Sacred flower |
| Manamum podhum } (2) | And fragrance are enough } (2) |
| Female | |
| Pongidum | An overflowing |
| Punnagai podhum | Smile is enough |
| Manam pudhu mana | The heart will experience |
| Thirunaal kaanum | A new holy wedding day |
| Female | |
| Maalai | Garland |
| Soodum mananaal | Wearing wedding day |
| Ila mangaiyin vaazhvil | In a young woman's life |
| Thirunaal sugam mevidum | A holy day where joy abounds |
| Kaadhalin ellai veroru | The pinnacle of love, another |
| Thirunaal ini illai | Holy day like this exists no more |
| Female | |
| Maalai | Garland |
| Soodum mananaal | Wearing wedding day |
| Female | |
| Maalai | Garland |
| Soodum mananaal | Wearing wedding day |
| Ila mangaiyin vaazhvil | In a young woman's life |
| Thirunaal sugam mevidum | A holy day where joy abounds |
| Kaadhalin ellai veroru | The pinnacle of love, another |
| Thirunaal ini illai | Holy day like this exists no more |
{ மாலை சூடும்
மணநாள் இள மங்கையின்
வாழ்வில் திருநாள் சுகம்
மேவிடும் காதலின் எல்லை
வேறொரு திருநாள் இனி
இல்லை } (2)
{ Garland
Wearing wedding day
In a young woman's life
A holy day where joy abounds
The pinnacle of love, another
Holy day like this exists no more } (2)
மாலை
சூடும் மணநாள்
Garland
Wearing wedding day
........................
…………..
{ காதல் கார்த்திகை
திருநாள் மனம் கலந்தால்
மார்கழி திருநாள் } (2)
{ Love is like
The auspicious day of Karthigai
When hearts unite
It is the holy month of Maargazhi } (2)
சேர்வது பங்குனி
திருநாள் நாம் சிரிக்கும்
நாளே திருநாள்
Uniting is
The auspicious day of Panguni
The day we smile
Is truly the holy day
மாலை சூடும்
மணநாள் இள மங்கையின்
வாழ்வில் திருநாள் சுகம்
மேவிடும் காதலின் எல்லை
வேறொரு திருநாள் இனி
இல்லை
Garland
Wearing wedding day
In a young woman's life
A holy day where joy abounds
The pinnacle of love, another
Holy day like this exists no more
மாலை
சூடும் மணநாள்
Garland
Wearing wedding day
.......................
………………
{ மங்கள குங்குமம்
போதும் திரு மலரும்
மனமும் போதும் } (2)
{ Auspicious
Kumkum is enough
Sacred flower
And fragrance are enough } (2)
பொங்கிடும் புன்னகை
போதும் மனம் புது மன
திருநாள் காணும்
An overflowing
Smile is enough
The heart will experience
A new holy wedding day
மாலை சூடும்
மணநாள் இள மங்கையின்
வாழ்வில் திருநாள் சுகம்
மேவிடும் காதலின் எல்லை
வேறொரு திருநாள் இனி
இல்லை
Garland
Wearing wedding day
In a young woman's life
A holy day where joy abounds
The pinnacle of love, another
Holy day like this exists no more
மாலை
சூடும் மணநாள்
Garland
Wearing wedding day
மாலை சூடும்
மணநாள் இள மங்கையின்
வாழ்வில் திருநாள் சுகம்
மேவிடும் காதலின் எல்லை
வேறொரு திருநாள் இனி
இல்லை
Garland
Wearing wedding day
In a young woman's life
A holy day where joy abounds
The pinnacle of love, another
Holy day like this exists no more
{ Maalai
{ Garland
Soodum mananaal
Wearing wedding day
Ila mangaiyin vaazhvil
In a young woman's life
Thirunaal sugam mevidum
A holy day where joy abounds
Kaadhalin ellai veroru
The pinnacle of love, another
Thirunaal ini illai } (2)
Holy day like this exists no more } (2)
Maalai
Garland
Soodum mananaal
Wearing wedding day
…………..
…………..
{ Kaadhal
{ Love is like
Karthigai thirunaal
The auspicious day of Karthigai
Manam kalandhal
When hearts unite
Maargazhi thirunaal } (2)
It is the holy month of Maargazhi } (2)
Servadhu
Uniting is
Panguni thirunaal
The auspicious day of Panguni
Naam sirikum
The day we smile
Naalae thirunaal
Is truly the holy day
Maalai
Garland
Soodum mananaal
Wearing wedding day
Ila mangaiyin vaazhvil
In a young woman's life
Thirunaal sugam mevidum
A holy day where joy abounds
Kaadhalin ellai veroru
The pinnacle of love, another
Thirunaal ini illai
Holy day like this exists no more
Maalai
Garland
Soodum mananaal
Wearing wedding day
………………
………………
{ Mangala
{ Auspicious
Kungumam podhum
Kumkum is enough
Thiru malarum
Sacred flower
Manamum podhum } (2)
And fragrance are enough } (2)
Pongidum
An overflowing
Punnagai podhum
Smile is enough
Manam pudhu mana
The heart will experience
Thirunaal kaanum
A new holy wedding day
Maalai
Garland
Soodum mananaal
Wearing wedding day
Ila mangaiyin vaazhvil
In a young woman's life
Thirunaal sugam mevidum
A holy day where joy abounds
Kaadhalin ellai veroru
The pinnacle of love, another
Thirunaal ini illai
Holy day like this exists no more
Maalai
Garland
Soodum mananaal
Wearing wedding day
Maalai
Garland
Soodum mananaal
Wearing wedding day
Ila mangaiyin vaazhvil
In a young woman's life
Thirunaal sugam mevidum
A holy day where joy abounds
Kaadhalin ellai veroru
The pinnacle of love, another
Thirunaal ini illai
Holy day like this exists no more
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Maalai Soodum Mananaal is a timeless Tamil wedding song celebrating the joy, sanctity, and emotional pinnacle of a bride's wedding day. It portrays marriage as the ultimate culmination of love, comparing the evolution of love, emotional harmony, and final union to sacred Tamil festival months like Karthigai, Maargazhi, and Panguni. The song beautifully emphasizes that true marital bliss relies not on lavishness, but on simple auspicious marks like vermilion, fresh blossoms, and a radiant smile shared between lovers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Kaadhal Karthigai thirunaal / Manam kalandhal Maargazhi thirunaal / Servadhu Panguni thirunaal”
Compares the phases of romantic realization, mutual understanding, and physical/spiritual union to sacred Tamil calendar months (Karthigai, Maargazhi, Panguni).
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Mangala / Kungumam podhum”
The second letter 'nga' matches across lines 'Mangala' and 'Kungumam', creating a rhythmic flow.
Refrain / Repetition
“Maalai Soodum mananaal”
The chorus phrase 'Maalai Soodum mananaal' repeats as a refrain to anchor the song's central celebration of the wedding day.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the renowned duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and rendered by P. Susheela, this song from Nichaya Thaamboolam (1962) remains one of Tamil cinema's most iconic wedding anthems, featuring Sivaji Ganesan and Jamuna.
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