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Lyrics & meaning

Naalaam Naalaam

From Kadhalikka Neramillai · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Kadhalikka Neramillai1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Naalaam naalaam thirunaalaamThe fourth day is a auspicious wedding day,
Nangaikkum nambikkum mana naalaamIt is the sacred wedding day for the young maiden and the young man.
Male :Ilaiya kannigai megangal ennumMale: The young maiden, atop clouds,
Indhiran thaeril varuvaalaam….Will arrive as if in Indra's divine chariot...
Female
Naalaam naalaam thirunaalaamThe fourth day is a auspicious wedding day,
Nangaikkum nambikkum mana naalaamIt is the sacred wedding day for the young maiden and the young man.
Male :Ilaiya kannigai megangal ennumMale: The young maiden, atop clouds,
Indhiran thaeril varuvaalaam….Will arrive as if in Indra's divine chariot...
Female
Naalaam naalaam thirunaalaamThe fourth day is a auspicious wedding day,
Aaahaaa…aaaammmm…Ah... yes...
Female
Manamagan indha oonjalilThe groom is on this swing,
Male :Manamagal mannan maarbinilMale: The bride rests on the chest of her king,
Female :Manamagan indha oonjalilFemale: The groom is on this swing,
Male :Manamagal mannan maarbinilMale: The bride rests on the chest of her king,
Female
Angu aadum naadagam aayiramA thousand dramatic plays unfold there,
Male :Adhu kaadhal dhevanin kaaviyamMale: It is an epic composed by the Lord of Love.
Female :Adhil oruvar raagamaamFemale: In that epic, one person is the melody,
Oruvar thaalamaamThe other is the rhythm,
Iruvar oodalae paadalaamAnd the playful quarrel between the two is the song itself.
Male
Ohoo.. ho..Ohoo.. ho..
Female :Ohoo ohoFemale: Ohoo oho
Male :Aaa..aaa…aaahaa…Male: Aaa..aaa...aaahaa...
Female :Aaaaa…haaa…aaa…aaa…Female: Aaaaa...haaa...aaa...aaa...
Male & Female :Aaaa…haaa…aaa..aa…Male & Female: Aaaa...haaa...aaa..aa...
Aaa…aaa..aaa…aaa..aaa….Aaa...aaa..aaa...aaa..aaa....
Female
Naalaam naalaam thirunaalaamThe fourth day is a auspicious wedding day,
Male
Ilamaiyin indha ragasiyamThis secret of youth,
Female :Iyarkaiyil vandha adhisayamFemale: Is a marvel created by nature,
Male :Ilamaiyin indha ragasiyamMale: This secret of youth,
Female :Iyarkaiyil vandha adhisayamFemale: Is a marvel created by nature,
Male
Idhai vaazhndhu paarthavar aaayiramA thousand couples have lived and experienced this,
Female :Adhil naamum indroru kaaviyamFemale: Among them, we too become a poetic epic today.
Male :Indha ilamai pogalaamMale: This youth may fade away,
Mudhumai seralaaamOld age may eventually overtake us,
Iruvar kaadhalum maarumo…Will the love between us two ever change...
Female
Ohoo.. ho..Ohoo.. ho..
Male :Ohoo ohoMale: Ohoo oho
Female :Aaa..aaa…aaahaa…Female: Aaa..aaa...aaahaa...
Male :Aaaaa…haaa…aaa…aaa…Male: Aaaaa...haaa...aaa...aaa...
Male & Female :Aaaa…haaa…aaa..aa…Male & Female: Aaaa...haaa...aaa..aa...
Aaa…aaa..aaa…aaa..aaa….Aaa...aaa..aaa...aaa..aaa....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Naalaam Naalaam Thirunaalaam' is a celebrated romantic duet from the classic 1964 Tamil romantic comedy 'Kadhalikka Neramillai', composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and written by Kannadasan. The song captures the joyous romantic bliss of a newly married couple during traditional wedding festivities (referencing the 'fourth day' ritual or 'Nalangu'). The lyrics elegantly depict the union of groom and bride, drawing parallels to harmonious musical elements like ragam (melody) and thalam (rhythm). The couple reflects on how youth may fade and old age may arrive, yet their love will remain timeless and unchanging like a grand literary epic.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Adhil oruvar raagamaam / Oruvar thaalamaam

The song beautifully metaphors the two lovers as melody (Raagam) and rhythm (Thaalam), whose interplay creates the music of life.

Monai & Edhugai (Alliteration & Second-letter Rhyme)

Nangaikkum nambikkum mana naalaam

Use of matching initial sound patterns and second-letter rhymes in 'Nangaikkum' and 'Nambikkum', adding rhythmic cadence.

Hyperbole / Visual Imagery (Uvamaani)

Ilaiya kannigai megangal ennum Indhiran thaeril varuvaalaam

Exaggerated romantic imagery describing the bride arriving on a chariot made of clouds like Lord Indra.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kadhalikka Neramillai' (1964), directed by C. V. Sridhar, is widely regarded as a benchmark romantic comedy in Tamil cinema history. The song features vocal performances by P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela. 'Naalaam naalaam' refers to the fourth day of traditional South Indian Hindu wedding rituals, which traditionally centered around fun games, songs, and intimate moments between the newlyweds.

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