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Lyrics & meaning

Thirumangalyam Kollum

From Thirumangalyam · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thirumangalyam1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Raamaa… raamaa… raamaa…Oh Rama... Rama... Rama...
Thirumangalyam kollum murai illaiyoIsn't there a proper custom to receive the sacred wedding thread?
Ullam ariyaadha maangalyam thavarillaiyoIsn't a marriage bound without the heart's consent a grave mistake?
Thirumangalyam kollum murai illaiyoIsn't there a proper custom to receive the sacred wedding thread?
Ullam ariyaadha maangalyam thavarillaiyoIsn't a marriage bound without the heart's consent a grave mistake?
Female
Kannai moodi kattum thaali chadhamaaIs a sacred thread tied blindly without consent truly binding and real?
Indha kalyaanam unakke sammadhamaaIs this forced marriage acceptable even to you, Lord?
Kannai moodi kattum thaali chadhamaaIs a sacred thread tied blindly without consent truly binding and real?
Indha kalyaanam unakke sammadhamaaIs this forced marriage acceptable even to you, Lord?
Yerkavo.. edukkavo.. neeyae solShould I accept it or reject it? You tell me!
Raamaa.. raamaa… raamaa…Oh Rama... Rama... Rama...
Female
Manamedai meedhu aniyaadhapodhumEven if it was not adorned upon the traditional marriage stage,
Maangalyam endrum punidhamThe sacred thread of marriage is forever divine and holy.
Manadhaalum avanai ninaiyaadhapodhumEven if you do not cherish him in your mind,
Avan thandha thaali amudhamThe sacred thread given by him is pure nectar.
Kazhatrinaalum adhai agatrinaalum iniEven if you unfasten it or throw it away now,
Kanniyaavadhillai magalaeYou can never become an unmarried maiden again, my daughter.
Kanavan endroruvan aana pinbu idhaiOnce a man becomes your wedded husband,
Kaakka vaendum kulamagalaeYou must protect this bond as a noble woman of the family.
Female
Annai janakiyae andha raamapiraanOh Mother Janaki, this is not like the sacred thread...
Thandha thaaliyalla indha thaali…That Lord Rama lovingly bestowed...
Annai janakiyae andha raamapiraanOh Mother Janaki, this is not like the sacred thread...
Thandha thaaliyalla indha thaali…That Lord Rama lovingly bestowed...
Idhu aathirathil vandha avasarathilThis was tied in hasty anger and impulse,
Ennai siraiyidavae vandha vaeliA suffocating fence designed only to imprison me.
Idhai thaangi kondaal naan paavi…If I bear and endure this, I will become a sinner...
Female
Kannai moodi kattum thaali chadhamaaIs a sacred thread tied blindly without consent truly binding and real?
Indha kalyaanam unakke sammadhamaaIs this forced marriage acceptable even to you, Lord?
Thirumangalyam kollum murai illaiyoIsn't there a proper custom to receive the sacred wedding thread?
Ullam ariyaadha maangalyam thavarillaiyoIsn't a marriage bound without the heart's consent a grave mistake?
Kannai moodi kattum thaali chadhamaaIs a sacred thread tied blindly without consent truly binding and real?
Indha kalyaanam unakke sammadhamaaIs this forced marriage acceptable even to you, Lord?
Female
Malar maalaithannai silai meedhu soodiPlacing a garland of flowers upon a stone statue,
Vazhipaadu seiyum kulamaeOh traditional lineage that performs sacred worship!
Silaithannai kettu orupodhum andhaDid the flower ever ask permission...
Malar poodavillai manamaeFrom the statue before blooming, oh my mind?
Oruvan anivadhena oruththi peruvadhenaThat a man ties it and a woman accepts it...
Mudindhu pona kadhai magalaeIs a story already written and settled, my daughter.
Avanai neengi nee vaazhndhapodhumEven if you live separated away from him,
Ini idhanai neekkuvadhu thavaraeRemoving this sacred thread now is a grave error.
Female
Ival yaarukkendrae andha devanavanDeciding who this woman belongs to, the Almighty...
Vidhi vaguththu vittaan andha naalilHas already written her destiny on that day.
Adhai maatridavo illai maruthidavoTo alter that fate or to deny it...
Vazhi illaiyammaa indha naattilThere is no way in this land, my child.
Idhu thaayin vazhi vandha panbuThis is a virtue handed down through generations of mothers,
Female
Indha panpaadu maraiyaadhadhuThis cultural tradition will never fade away,
Adhu unnodu mudiyaadhadhuIt does not end with your generation,
Indha mannodu uravaanadhu…It is eternally tied to this sacred land...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a poignant dialogue between a distraught bride and a wise elder regarding the sanctity and compulsion of marriage. The bride laments a forced union tied without her emotional consent, questioning whether a thread tied blindly can hold any moral truth or divine approval. She views the thread as a prison built out of hasty anger rather than love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ennai siraiyidavae vandha vaeli

The bride compares the forced mangalsutra to an imprisoning fence, highlighting her feeling of confinement.

Rhetorical Question (Vina Ani)

Indha kalyaanam unakke sammadhamaa

The speaker questions Lord Rama and the universe whether a marriage without emotional alignment is truly valid.

Analogy (Upamai)

Malar maalaithannai silai meedhu soodi

The elder compares marital duty to offering flowers to a deity, noting that flowers bloom without asking permission from statues.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thirumangalyam (1974) holds historical significance as it marked the 100th film of legendary actress and politician J. Jayalalithaa. Written by Kannadasan and set to music by M. S. Viswanathan, the song explores deep themes of marital sanctity versus individual freedom in traditional Tamil society.

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