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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mela Thaalam

From Sivagamiyin Selvan · 1974

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Sivagamiyin Selvan1974

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Mela thaalam ketkkum kaalamThe time to hear the wedding drumbeats
Viraivil varuga varuga endruWishing that it arrives soon, arrives soon
Pen paarkka vandhenadiI have come to see you as my bride, my dear
Male
Mela thaalam ketkkum kaalamThe time to hear the wedding drumbeats
Viraivil varuga varuga endruWishing that it arrives soon, arrives soon
Pen paarkka vandhenadiI have come to see you as my bride, my dear
Female
Vidiya vidiya kadhaigal sollaTo tell you stories until dawn breaks
Varuven naan kalyaana pennaagiI will come as your bride
Male
Manam inikka inikkaAs the heart grows sweeter and sweeter
Female
Varuven naan kalyaana pennaagiI will come as your bride
Idhazh sivakka sivakkaAs lips turn redder and redder
Male
Varuvaai nee kalyaana pennaagiYou will come as my bride
Male
Poongodi thannai mella thottuGently touching the tender floral vine
Mullai poo pola alli kollavaaShall I embrace you like a jasmine flower?
Female
Maangani kannam velli thattuYour mango-like cheek is a silver plate
Thandhu pandhaattam thulli varavaaOffering it, shall I leap like a playing ball?
Male
Poongodi thannai mella thottuGently touching the tender floral vine
Mullai poo pola alli kollavaaShall I embrace you like a jasmine flower?
Female
Maangani kannam velli thattuYour mango-like cheek is a silver plate
Thandhu pandhaattam thulli varavaaOffering it, shall I leap like a playing ball?
Male
Maan kutti kannukkuFor eyes like a young fawn
Mai potta pennukkuFor the girl wearing kohl
Pakkam ninnaal sokkumStanding near her brings enchantment
Endhan kannammaaMy dear Kannamma
Female
Vaadaadha maeniyaiThis unfading body
Raajaangam polavaeLike a kingdom
Neeyaala kaiyodu thandhaenaiyaaI have handed over to you to rule, my dear lord
Cha cha cha cha cha chamcham chamchamCha cha cha cha cha chamcham chamcham
Ya ya ya ya ya lalla lallaaYa ya ya ya ya lalla lallaa
Cha cha cha cha cha chamcham chamchamCha cha cha cha cha chamcham chamcham
Ya ya ya ya ya lalla lallaaYa ya ya ya ya lalla lallaa
Male
Mela thaalam ketkkum kaalamThe time to hear the wedding drumbeats
Viraivil varuga varuga endruWishing that it arrives soon, arrives soon
Pen paarkka vandhenadiI have come to see you as my bride, my dear
Female
Vidiya vidiya kadhaigal sollaTo tell you stories until dawn breaks
Varuven naan kalyaana pennaagiI will come as your bride
Male
Manam inikka inikkaAs the heart grows sweeter and sweeter
Varuvaai nee kalyaana pennaagiYou will come as my bride
Female
Idhazh sivakka sivakkaAs lips turn redder and redder
Varuven naan kalyaana pennaagiI will come as your bride
Female
Aalilai idai pandhalittuErecting a canopy over your banyan-leaf waist
Unnai aadamal aada chollavaaShall I ask you to sway gently without moving?
Male
Aayiram muthu manjamittuSetting a bed of a thousand pearls
Unnai vaadaamal vaada chollavaaShall I ask you to languish without wilting?
Female
Aalilai idai pandhalittuErecting a canopy over your banyan-leaf waist
Unnai aadamal aada chollavaaShall I ask you to sway gently without moving?
Male
Aayiram muthu manjamittuSetting a bed of a thousand pearls
Unnai vaadaamal vaada chollavaaShall I ask you to languish without wilting?
Female
Nee thotta pakkamumThe places you touched
Naan konda vetkamumAnd the shyness I felt
Kannaadiyin munnaal nindru sollavaaShall I stand before the mirror and tell?
Male
Aanandha thollaiyaiThe joyful trouble
Azhagaana pillaiyaaiAs a beautiful child
Thaalaattu paadi naan kondaadavaaShall I celebrate by singing a lullaby?
Female
Cha cha cha cha cha chamcham chamchamCha cha cha cha cha chamcham chamcham
Ya ya ya ya ya lalla lallaaYa ya ya ya ya lalla lallaa
Cha cha cha cha cha chamcham chamchamCha cha cha cha cha chamcham chamcham
Ya ya ya ya ya lalla lallaaYa ya ya ya ya lalla lallaa
Male
Mela thaalam ketkkum kaalamThe time to hear the wedding drumbeats
Viraivil varuga varuga endruWishing that it arrives soon, arrives soon
Pen paarkka vandhenadiI have come to see you as my bride, my dear
Female
Vidiya vidiya kadhaigal sollaTo tell you stories until dawn breaks
Varuven naan kalyaana pennaagiI will come as your bride
Male
Manam inikka inikkaAs the heart grows sweeter and sweeter
Female
Varuven naan kalyaana pennaagiI will come as your bride
Idhazh sivakka sivakkaAs lips turn redder and redder
Male
Varuvaai nee kalyaana pennaagiYou will come as my bride

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mela Thaalam Ketkkum Kaalam is a delightful romantic duet expressing the excitement and deep affection between two lovers anticipating their upcoming wedding. The hero arrives for the bride-seeing ritual, eager for the auspicious day when wedding drums will resound. The heroine responds with endearing bashfulness and passion, eagerly dreaming of the day she adorns the role of a bride to spend nights sharing sweet endearments with him. Through charming imagery of flowers, pearls, and royal kingdom metaphors, both partners exchange playful vows of devotion and love, envisioning a joyous life together filled with warmth and family happiness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Mullai poo pola alli kollavaa”

Compares embracing the lover to gently gathering delicate jasmine flowers using 'pola'.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Maangani kannam velli thattu”

Metaphorically equates her smooth, sweet cheek to a mango fruit and a silver plate.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Maan kutti kannukku / Mai potta pennukku”

Repetition of the initial letter 'M' across consecutive lines for poetic rhythm.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Raajaangam polavae / Neeyaala kaiyodu thandhaenaiyaa”

Compares her youth and body to a vast kingdom handed over to her lover to rule over.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Mela Thaalam Ketkkum Kaalam' from the 1974 film Sivagamiyin Selvan features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics written by Pulamaipithan. The song is performed by legendary playback singers T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, picturized on Sivaji Ganesan and Vanisri.

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