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Lyrics & meaning

Thambathyam Oru Sangeetham

From Thambathiyam Oru Sangeetham · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thambathiyam Oru Sangeetham1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thambathiyam oru sangeethamMarried life is a form of music
Thambathiyam oru sangeethamMarried life is a form of music
Sruthi layam nayam kondaadum deva keerthaanamIt is a divine hymn celebrating pitch, rhythm, and elegance
Adhuthaan raaga thaala baavam koorum kadhal mandhiramThat is the mantra of love expressing melody, beat, and emotion
Male
Thambathiyam oru sangeetham……..sangeetham….Married life is music... music...
Male
Jaathakangal vagutha vazhiFollowing the path charted by horoscopes
Jaathigalin uravai konduForming bonds through caste and family lineages
Moothavargal samathikaWith elders granting their consent
Manathavargal palarunduThere are many who get married this way
Male
Kaadhalenum veethiyileOn the street named love
Kan varitha uravai konduForming a bond chosen by the eyes
Maalayitu medaiyinilaeExchanging garlands upon the wedding stage
Mananthavargal silarumunduThere are a few who get married this way
Male
Thambathiyam oru sangeetham……..sangeetham….Married life is music... music...
Male
Omam kundam nei vaarthuPouring ghee into the sacrificial fire pit
Agniyai valam vanthuWalking around the holy fire
Oorariya kai pidithuHolding hands in front of the entire community
Uravu kooda pirivathunduEven such bonds sometimes end in separation
Male
Sattangalai saatchi vaithuKeeping the law as a witness
Pathirathil pathivu seithuRegistering it legally on official papers
Saagum varai piriyaadhaWithout separating until the day they die
Thambadhigal ullagil unduThere are couples in this world who live like that
Male
Thambathiyam oru sangeetham……..sangeetham….Married life is music... music...
Male
Naayagangum naayagiyumIf the husband and the wife
Nenju rendu inaiyaamalDo not unite their hearts as one
Naalukoru kutram solliFinding fault with each other every day
Aalukoru dhisai paarthalAnd looking away in opposite directions
Male
Endha vagai thirumanamumThen any form of marriage
Idaiyinil udaivathunduIs bound to break apart midway
Thaalam keta paadalai polJust like a song that loses its rhythm
Kolam ketu povathunduIts beauty and order will get ruined
Male
Thambathiyam oru sangeethamMarried life is music
Sangeetham…….sangeetham….Music... music...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a profound philosophical reflection on marriage, drawing a extended analogy between marital life and classical music. Vaali outlines how marriages are formed through various means—some arranged by elders through horoscopes, some born out of romantic love, some solemnized through traditional Vedic fire rituals, and others established through legal court registrations. However, the song asserts that regardless of how a marriage begins or what rituals witness it, external forms alone cannot guarantee success. Ultimately, the core message is that marital harmony depends entirely on emotional unity and mutual understanding between partners. If a couple fails to connect from the heart, constantly finds fault, and pulls in opposite directions, even the most ritualistic or legally sound marriage will crumble midway—just as a musical composition falls apart when it loses its rhythm (thaalam).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Thambathiyam oru sangeetham

Directly compares married life ('Thambathiyam') to music ('Sangeetham') and divine hymns ('Deva keerthaanam'), establishing the central theme that harmony and rhythm are necessary for a successful marriage.

Simile (Upamai)

Thaalam keta paadalai pol

Compares a failing marriage to a song that has lost its rhythmic beat ('Thaalam keta paadalai pol'), highlighting how lack of emotional sync ruins the relationship's structure.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thaalam keta paadalai pol / Kolam ketu povathundu

The second letters 'la' match in 'Thaalam' and 'Kolam', creating rhythmic internal rhyme in the couplet.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Naayagangum naayagiyum / Nenju rendu inaiyaamal

The initial letter sound 'Na' repeats in 'Naayagangum', 'Nenju', and 'Naalukoru', enhancing the poetic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features music composed and sung by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) with lyrics by Vaali for the 1982 film 'Thambathiyam Oru Sangeetham'. MSV was famous for delivering highly expressive, philosophical solo renditions that carried deep emotional resonance, and this song remains a celebrated classic on the dynamics of marital relationships.

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