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Kalyana Kalam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naanthane Mama

From Kalyana Kalam · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Kalyana Kalam
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
2 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naanthaanae mama vittu pogaathae paama
Naanthaanae mama vittu pogaathae paama
Veththalai kozhunthaattam vilaiyaattu sirippu
Kannaththil vetkkam vanthu tharugindra vanappu
Penn pillai thinanthorum
Valargindra vilakku
Penn pillai thinanthorum
Valargindra vilakku
Naanthaanae mama vittu pogaathae paama
Naanthaanae mama vittu pogaathae paama
Salavai seitha nilavugalae
Pazhaga vantha paravaigalae
Vetkaththai vittu vidungal
Ini ennaalum achchaththai suttu vidungal
Salavai seitha nilavugalae
Pazhaga vantha paravaigalae
Vetkaththai vittu vidungal
Ini ennaalum achchaththai suttu vidungal
Paarvaigal poomazhai kannangal maadhulai
Sittraadai kattappogum
Senbagappoo koottangal
Samuthaaya veenaigalin thanthigalai meettungal
Sittraadai kattappogum
Senbagappoo koottangal
Samuthaaya veenaigalin thanthigalai meettungal
Naanthaanae mama vittu pogaathae paama
Veththalai kozhunthaattam vilaiyaattu sirippu
Kannaththil vetkkam vanthu tharugindra vanappu
Penn pillai thinanthorum
Valargindra vilakku
Penn pillai thinanthorum
Valargindra vilakku
Naanthaanae mama vittu pogaathae paama
Naanthaanae mama vittu pogaathae paama
Thanga nagai pootivittu
Mangaiyarai maattivittu
Nashtaththil vittru viduvaar
Kannai katti kaattukkul vittuviduvaar
Thanga nagai pootivittu
Mangaiyarai maattivittu
Nashtaththil vittru viduvaar
Kannai katti kaattukkul vittuviduvaar
Maappillai panthiyil mamanaar santhiyil
Neengalum oomai pola maarivida koodaathu
Paarngal koodivittaal odam karai yaeraathu
Neengalum oomai pola maarivida koodaathu
Paarngal koodivittaal odam karai yaeraathu
Naanthaanae mama vittu pogaathae paama
Veththalai kozhunthaattam vilaiyaattu sirippu
Kannaththil vetkkam vanthu tharugindra vanappu
Penn pillai thinanthorum
Valargindra vilakku
Penn pillai thinanthorum
Valargindra vilakku
I am your Mama, don't leave and go away, Bhama!
I am your Mama, don't leave and go away, Bhama!
Your playful laughter is fresh like a tender betel leaf,
And shyness brings such beauty to your cheeks!
A young girl, day after day,
Is a glowing lamp that keeps growing!
A young girl, day after day,
Is a glowing lamp that keeps growing!
I am your Mama, don't leave and go away, Bhama!
I am your Mama, don't leave and go away, Bhama!
O radiant, bright moons,
O friendly birds who have come to mingle,
Cast away your shyness,
And burn down all your fears forever!
O radiant, bright moons,
O friendly birds who have come to mingle,
Cast away your shyness,
And burn down all your fears forever!
Your glances are a shower of flowers, your cheeks are like pomegranates,
You young girls about to wear the half-sari,
O gathering of fragrant champak flowers,
Play the strings on the veena of society!
You young girls about to wear the half-sari,
O gathering of fragrant champak flowers,
Play the strings on the veena of society!
I am your Mama, don't leave and go away, Bhama!
Your playful laughter is fresh like a tender betel leaf,
And shyness brings such beauty to your cheeks!
A young girl, day after day,
Is a glowing lamp that keeps growing!
A young girl, day after day,
Is a glowing lamp that keeps growing!
I am your Mama, don't leave and go away, Bhama!
I am your Mama, don't leave and go away, Bhama!
Decking you in gold jewelry,
And giving young women away,
They will sell you off at a loss,
And leave you blindfolded in the wilderness!
Decking you in gold jewelry,
And giving young women away,
They will sell you off at a loss,
And leave you blindfolded in the wilderness!
At the groom's wedding feast or on the street of your in-laws,
You must never remain silent like the mute!
If the burdens grow too heavy, the boat will never reach the shore!
You must never remain silent like the mute!
If the burdens grow too heavy, the boat will never reach the shore!
I am your Mama, don't leave and go away, Bhama!
Your playful laughter is fresh like a tender betel leaf,
And shyness brings such beauty to your cheeks!
A young girl, day after day,
Is a glowing lamp that keeps growing!
A young girl, day after day,
Is a glowing lamp that keeps growing!
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Naanthaanae mama' from the movie 'Kalyana Kalam' (1982) blends playful familial warmth with poignant social commentary on young women, marriage, and societal burdens. It compares a growing girl to a bright lamp and fresh betel leaves, encouraging young women to shed their inhibitions and fears while urging society not to treat them as economic liabilities or mute spectators in marriage negotiations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile)

Veththalai kozhunthaattam vilaiyaattu sirippu

Comparing the playful laughter of young girls to tender betel leaves ('Veththalai kozhunthaattam vilaiyaattu sirippu').

Uruvagamy (Metaphor)

Valargindra vilakku

Describing young women as growing lamps ('Valargindra vilakku') and champak flowers ('Senbagappoo koottangal').

Emona / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Thanga nagai pootivittu / Mangaiyarai maattivittu

Use of matching consonants and rhyming vowel patterns such as 'Salavai' / 'Pazhaga' and 'Thanga' / 'Mangaiyarai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary duo Shankar-Ganesh and sung by Malaysia Vasudevan with lyrics by Vairamuthu, this song highlights Vairamuthu's signature style of integrating reformist social messaging subtly inside cinematic songs during the early 1980s.

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