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Lyrics & meaning

Maman Ponnukku

From Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naal…Date...
Male :Idhae naalMale: This very date
Male
NeramTime...
Male :Romba nalla neramMale: A very good time
Male
PonnuBride...
Male :Enga maaman ponnuMale: Our maternal uncle's daughter
Male
MaapillaGroom...
Male :Romba romba nallaMale: A very, very good...
Maapilla...groom!
Male
Maaman ponnukkuFor maternal uncle's daughter,
Male :Hei heiMale: Hei hei
Male :Thaethi vachachuMale: The date has been fixed!
Male :Hei hei heiMale: Hei hei hei
Male
En maaman ponnukuFor my maternal uncle's daughter,
Thaethi vachachuThe date has been fixed!
Chorus
Maala melam kondaatam thaanGarlands, drums, and absolute celebration,
Male
Kalyana panthalukkuIn front of the wedding hall,
Munna rendu vaazhai kattuTie two banana plant leaves,
Ponnala seer varisaiDowry and gifts made of gold,
Kodu varum velli thattuAlong with silver plates brought over,
Chorus
Ponnuku padikka vanthomWe have come to sing for the bride,
Nalangu paatuThe Nalangu wedding song!
Male
Maaman ponnukkuFor maternal uncle's daughter,
Male :Hei hei hei heiMale: Hei hei hei hei
Male :Thaethi vachachuMale: The date has been fixed!
Male :Ha ha ha haMale: Ha ha ha ha
Male
Maaman ponnukkuFor maternal uncle's daughter,
Thaethi vachachuThe date has been fixed!
Male
Vaanathil neenthi varumFloating across the sky,
Vannathu thaaragaiyaLike colorful stars,
Male
Boomikku kondu vanthuBringing them down to earth,
Seethanamaaga thaaromWe give them as dowry gifts,
Male
Thaai maaman engalukkuOur maternal uncle has,
Thaangatha pon manasuAn unyielding golden heart,
Male
Thaalattu paata koodaEven a lullaby song,
Ippothae paada poromWe are going to sing right now,
Male
Maavila thennam polaWith mango and coconut leaves,
ThoranamDecorate with garlands,
Male
Mandapam sorgam polaThe wedding hall into heaven,
MaaranumShould be transformed,
Male
Panthikku paai eduthuSpread mats for the feast,
PodanumAnd lay them down,
Male :Pakkuvamaaga parimaaranumMale: Serve food very delicately,
Male
Pattukarai vetti kattiWearing silk-bordered veshti,
PaarkalaLet us see,
Male :Maalai maariyadhai yedhumMale: Exchanges of garlands,
KetkalaHave not been heard yet,
Chorus
Pottatha thinguromWe eat what is served,
Velaiya seiyuromWe do the chores needed,
Male
Maaman ponnukkuFor maternal uncle's daughter,
Male :Hei hei hei heiMale: Hei hei hei hei
Male :Thaethi vachachuMale: The date has been fixed!
Male :Hei hei hei heiMale: Hei hei hei hei
Male
Mappilla vaara vazhiAlong the path the groom comes,
Engengum poovirichiFlowers are strewn everywhere,
Male
Manavarai medaiyilaOn the wedding dais,
Malligai poo thoduthuStrung with jasmine flowers,
Male
Poovodu pottu vechiAdorn her with flowers and bindi,
Ponnuku mai ezhuthuApply kohl to the bride's eyes,
Male
Kannathil thrishti pottuA warding-off ward-dot on her cheek,
Nee vaiyi ippozhuthuApply it right now,
Male
Eppothum nallapadiAlways in a prosperous way,
VaazhanumYou both must live,
Male :Inbathai mattum neengaMale: Joy alone you two,
AalanumMust rule and enjoy,
Male
Pullainga rendu pethuGive birth to two children,
PodanumAnd raise them,
Male :Maamanga aariraroMale: Uncles will sing a lullaby,
PaadanumTo make them sleep,
Male
Ennanemmo ennamellamAll sorts of thoughts,
ThonuthuAre coming to mind,
Male :Ponnukku ennaMale: Look at the bride,
ponnu mugam naanuthuThe bride's face blushes with shyness,
Chorus
Kottunga melaththaBeat the drums loudly,
Thattunga thaalaththaClap with the rhythm,
Male
Maaman ponnukkuFor maternal uncle's daughter,
Male :Hei hei ha haMale: Hei hei ha ha
Male
Thaethi vachachuThe date has been fixed!
Male :Hei hei hei heiMale: Hei hei hei hei
Male
Maaman ponnukkuFor maternal uncle's daughter,
Male :Hei hei hei heiMale: Hei hei hei hei
Male
Thaethi vachachuThe date has been fixed!
Male :Hoo hoo hoo hooMale: Hoo hoo hoo hoo
Chorus
Maaman ponnukuFor maternal uncle's daughter,
Thaethi vachachuThe date has been fixed!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Maaman Ponnukku Thaethi Vachachu' from the movie Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi celebrates the joyful fixing of a wedding date for a cousin (maternal uncle's daughter). It captures the vibrant atmosphere of a traditional Tamil village wedding, highlighting auspicious preparations such as tying banana stems at the entrance, preparing silver plates and golden dowry items, singing Nalangu songs, decorating the pavilion with mango leaves, and serving food with great hospitality. The lyrics express loving blessings for the couple's happy future, wishing them a blissful married life, children, and prosperity filled with music and festivities.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor & Simile (Uvamai)

Mandapam sorgam pola

Compares decorated mandapam to heaven ('Mandapam sorgam pola') and stars floating in the sky to dowry jewels ('Vaanathil neenthi varum vannathu thaaragaiya').

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edugai & Monai)

Kottunga melaththa / Thattunga thaalaththa

Use of matching initial consonants and vowel sounds like 'Maavila' / 'Mandapam' and 'Kottunga' / 'Thattunga' to maintain festive rhythm.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Maaman ponnukku thaethi vachachu

Repeated refrain 'Maaman ponnukku thaethi vachachu' establishes the central celebratory theme.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi' (1987) stars Prabhu and Sathyaraj in lead roles as brothers. The music was composed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics for this energetic wedding song.

Keep listening

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