Nalangu ViLaiyaadal

Continuing my poem series on wedding.. “Nalangu” ritual in marriages.. is a fun time when games are played between the bride and the groom.

Image from here.

The bride & groom are sitting opposite to each other. The bride is holding the mirror facing herself and asks the groom to comb his hair looking at the mirror! My 37th poem is a 4 liner which captures the grooms love. The groom says, the mirror might have lost his image.. but he has lost himself in her eyes.

The word “kaNNaadi” in tamil means mirror. The word “KaNNaa di” means “Is it your eyes” It is a beautiful play of words which cannot be captured in translation.

Subramania Bharathi, a legendary India poet was once asked by a king to write some thing which read “Bharathi Chinna Payyan” (Bhaarathi is a small boy). Bharathi played with the words and came out with “Paar.. adhi chinna payyan” (Look at this very small boy).. pointing at the king.. The word play in my current poem is inspired by Bharathi’s words.

நலங்கு விளையாடல்

கண்ணாடி பிடித்தது.. ஒரு பெண்ணா டி?
சிலையோ என்று நினைத்தேன்.. அதன் பின்னாடி..
என் பிம்பத்தை மறைத்தது இந்த கண்ணாடி..
என்னையே மயக்கியது.. உன் கண்ணா டி?

English translation is as follows:

Is a woman who is holding the mirror?
I thought it was statue behind..
This mirror has lost my image..
But your eyes are making me lose myself to you..

English script is here.

Nalangu ViLaiyaadal

KaNNaadi pidithathu.. oru peNNaa di?
Silaiyoo yendru nenaithaen.. adhan pinnaadi..
En bim baththai maraiththadhu indha kaNNaadi..
Ennayae mayakkiyadhu.. un kaNNa di?