Nalungu Paadava
From Alli · 1964
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Alli1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nalangu paadava paadava paadava | Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing? |
| Pon vilangu sooda pogum | At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn, |
| Naerthilae aadavaa | Shall I dance gracefully? |
| Nalangu paadava paadava aa vaa vaa | Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come! |
| Nalangu paadava paadava aa vaa vaa | Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come! |
| Female | |
| {Maaligaiyin vaasalaiyae | {They will keep the entrance of the mansion |
| Thiranthu vaippaanga | Wide open for you, |
| Poo maalai pottu varaverkka | To adorn you with a flower garland and welcome you, |
| Kaathiruppaanga} (2) | They will be waiting} (2) |
| Female | |
| Vanakkam solvanga | They will greet you with respect, |
| Virunthu veippaanga | They will host a feast, |
| Vanakkam solvanga | They will greet you with respect, |
| Virunthu veippaanga | They will host a feast, |
| Vaaram maadham varusham | Weeks, months, and years, |
| Paarthu vaazhthiduvanga | Watching over, they will bless you. |
| Female | |
| Nalangu paadava paadava paadava | Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing? |
| Pon vilangu sooda pogum | At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn, |
| Naerthilae aadavaa | Shall I dance gracefully? |
| Nalangu paadava paadava aa vaa vaa | Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come! |
| Female | |
| Paasamendra kootukullae | Inside the cage of affection, |
| Pootti veippanga | They will lock you in, |
| Unnai padam eduthu | Taking a picture of you, |
| Per ezhuthi maatti veippanga} (2) | Writing your name, they will frame and hang it} (2) |
| Female | |
| Kaaval nippaanga | They will stand guard, |
| Kadamai seivanga | They will perform their duty, |
| Kaaval nippaanga | They will stand guard, |
| Kadamai seivanga | They will perform their duty, |
| Kaalai maalai naeram | Morning and evening time, |
| Paarthu kaathiruppanga | Watching the hours, they will wait for you. |
| Female | |
| Nalangu paadava paadava paadava | Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing? |
| Pon vilangu sooda pogum | At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn, |
| Naerthilae aadavaa | Shall I dance gracefully? |
| Nalangu paadava paadava aa vaa vaa | Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come! |
| Female | |
| Seer sumandhu maamam | Carrying traditional gifts, the maternal uncle |
| Engae varugiraan | Is arriving right here, |
| Selvamagal unadhu kaiyai thodugiraan | He touches the hands of the precious daughter, |
| Uttra vaelai nerungudhu | The auspicious hour is drawing near, |
| Gettimaelam muzhangudhu | The bridal drums (Gettimelam) are resounding, |
| Unadhu vaazhvil pudhiya paadam thodanguthu | A brand new chapter begins in your life! |
நலங்கு பாடவா பாடவா பாடவா
பொன் விலங்கு சூடப்போகும்
நேரத்திலே ஆடவா
நலங்கு பாடவா பாடவா ஆ... வா வா
நலங்கு பாடவா பாடவா ஆ... வா வா
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing?
At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn,
Shall I dance gracefully?
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come!
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come!
{மாளிகையின் வாசலையே
திறந்து வைப்பாங்க
பூ மாலை போட்டு வரவேற்க
காத்திருப்பாங்க} (2)
{They will keep the entrance of the mansion
Wide open for you,
To adorn you with a flower garland and welcome you,
They will be waiting} (2)
வணக்கம் சொல்வாங்க
விருந்து வைப்பாங்க
வணக்கம் சொல்வாங்க
விருந்து வைப்பாங்க
வாரம் மாதம் வருஷம்
பார்த்து வாழ்த்திடுவாங்க
They will greet you with respect,
They will host a feast,
They will greet you with respect,
They will host a feast,
Weeks, months, and years,
Watching over, they will bless you.
நலங்கு பாடவா பாடவா பாடவா
பொன் விலங்கு சூடப்போகும்
நேரத்திலே ஆடவா
நலங்கு பாடவா பாடவா ஆ... வா வா
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing?
At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn,
Shall I dance gracefully?
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come!
{பாசமென்ற கூட்டுக்குள்ளே
பூட்டி வைப்பாங்க
உன்னை படமெடுத்துப்
பேரெழுதி மாட்டி வைப்பாங்க} (2)
Inside the cage of affection,
They will lock you in,
Taking a picture of you,
Writing your name, they will frame and hang it} (2)
காவல் நிப்பாங்க
கடமை செய்வாங்க
காவல் நிப்பாங்க
கடமை செய்வாங்க
காலை மாலை நேரம்
பார்த்து காத்திருப்பாங்க
They will stand guard,
They will perform their duty,
They will stand guard,
They will perform their duty,
Morning and evening time,
Watching the hours, they will wait for you.
நலங்கு பாடவா பாடவா பாடவா
பொன் விலங்கு சூடப்போகும்
நேரத்திலே ஆடவா
நலங்கு பாடவா பாடவா ஆ... வா வா
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing?
At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn,
Shall I dance gracefully?
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come!
சீர் சுமந்து மாமன்
எங்கே வருகிறான்
செல்வமகள் உனது கையைத் தொடுகிறான்
உற்ற வேளை நெருங்குது
கெட்டிமேளம் முழங்குது
உனது வாழ்வில் புதிய பாடம் தொடங்குது.....
Carrying traditional gifts, the maternal uncle
Is arriving right here,
He touches the hands of the precious daughter,
The auspicious hour is drawing near,
The bridal drums (Gettimelam) are resounding,
A brand new chapter begins in your life!
Nalangu paadava paadava paadava
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing?
Pon vilangu sooda pogum
At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn,
Naerthilae aadavaa
Shall I dance gracefully?
Nalangu paadava paadava aa vaa vaa
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come!
Nalangu paadava paadava aa vaa vaa
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come!
{Maaligaiyin vaasalaiyae
{They will keep the entrance of the mansion
Thiranthu vaippaanga
Wide open for you,
Poo maalai pottu varaverkka
To adorn you with a flower garland and welcome you,
Kaathiruppaanga} (2)
They will be waiting} (2)
Vanakkam solvanga
They will greet you with respect,
Virunthu veippaanga
They will host a feast,
Vanakkam solvanga
They will greet you with respect,
Virunthu veippaanga
They will host a feast,
Vaaram maadham varusham
Weeks, months, and years,
Paarthu vaazhthiduvanga
Watching over, they will bless you.
Nalangu paadava paadava paadava
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing?
Pon vilangu sooda pogum
At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn,
Naerthilae aadavaa
Shall I dance gracefully?
Nalangu paadava paadava aa vaa vaa
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come!
Paasamendra kootukullae
Inside the cage of affection,
Pootti veippanga
They will lock you in,
Unnai padam eduthu
Taking a picture of you,
Per ezhuthi maatti veippanga} (2)
Writing your name, they will frame and hang it} (2)
Kaaval nippaanga
They will stand guard,
Kadamai seivanga
They will perform their duty,
Kaaval nippaanga
They will stand guard,
Kadamai seivanga
They will perform their duty,
Kaalai maalai naeram
Morning and evening time,
Paarthu kaathiruppanga
Watching the hours, they will wait for you.
Nalangu paadava paadava paadava
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, sing?
Pon vilangu sooda pogum
At the time when golden shackles are about to be worn,
Naerthilae aadavaa
Shall I dance gracefully?
Nalangu paadava paadava aa vaa vaa
Shall I sing the Nalangu song, sing, ah come, come!
Seer sumandhu maamam
Carrying traditional gifts, the maternal uncle
Engae varugiraan
Is arriving right here,
Selvamagal unadhu kaiyai thodugiraan
He touches the hands of the precious daughter,
Uttra vaelai nerungudhu
The auspicious hour is drawing near,
Gettimaelam muzhangudhu
The bridal drums (Gettimelam) are resounding,
Unadhu vaazhvil pudhiya paadam thodanguthu
A brand new chapter begins in your life!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song revolves around the traditional Tamil wedding ritual known as 'Nalangu', celebrated with joy, music, and playful teasing among women. The lyrics beautifully capture the mix of grand welcome, affection, and systemic pampering that awaits the bride in her marital home. It portrays marriage playfully as a golden shackle and a sweet cage of love, emphasizing how her new family will cherish, respect, and safeguard her every day.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvam (Metaphor)
“Pon vilangu sooda pogum”
Describing marriage bangles and ties as 'Pon vilangu' (golden shackles) playfully metaphorizes marital commitment as a precious bondage.
Uruvam (Metaphor)
“Paasamendra kootukullae”
'Paasamendra kootukullae' metaphorizes family love and care as a protective cage.
Ezhudhu Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Vaaram maadham varusham”
Repetition of initial consonants/vowels in 'Vaaram maadham varusham' creates a rhythmic cadence.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Unadhu vaazhvil pudhiya paadam thodanguthu”
Rhyming endings in 'nerungudhu', 'muzhangudhu', and 'thodanguthu' build musical climax towards the song's ending.
Did you know?
Trivia
The 'Nalangu' song tradition in Tamil cinema often showcases rich cultural bridal customs, highlighting the role of the maternal uncle ('Thaai Maaman') who brings 'Seer' (auspicious ceremonial gifts) during crucial wedding rituals.
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