(Translation on request for RA)
A song about mylanchi ceremony on a Knanaya Christian wedding eve from the movie Kattappanayile Ritwik Roshan.
To listen to the song, click play:
Parudaya Mariyame, Mishihaaye thunakkane,
aan penkal santhippathu aadi thottu ee mannil, Aalahanaayan hithathaal
[Mary, the protector of the world, and Christ please aid us,
for the union of men and women from the beginning of Time, with Almighty’s will]
Maarthoman kaatunna maarge charikkanam ee vaazhvil neeleyum ningal
[You should walk on the path St. Thomas shows, all along this life on earth]
Kandille karpoora panthalilu
chembakapoo kumbidum pennu oruthi?
[Didn’t you see under the (wedding) pavilion where camphor burns,
a girl before which even the chambaka flower bows out?]
Vannalo karpoora panthalilu
punjirichu puthanoli parathi!
[Here she comes under the (wedding) pavilion where camphor burns,
with a smile which spreads a new light!]
Anjanavum kasthooriyum nirathi, chamayichu nalla chantham varuthi,
Vellayum karimpadavum viruthi, pennavale mankamaar kondu iruthi
[Laying out eyeliner and kasthoori turmeric paste, adorning and beautifying her
Spreading out white and black cloths, the ladies brought the bride and sat her]
Vanna janam ellarum chollunnu mannil illingane chael ulla mattoruthi!
[Everyone who came are saying there is no other beauty like this bride!]
Vannalo! Kandille!
[Here she comes! Didn’t you see!]
Kandille karpoora panthalilu
chembakapoo kumbidum pennu oruthi?
[Didn’t you see under the (wedding) pavilion where camphor burns,
a girl before which even the chambaka flower bows out?]
Vannalo karpoora panthalilu
punjirichu puthanoli parathi!
[Here she comes under the (wedding) pavilion where camphor burns,
with a smile which spreads a new light!]
Enthina ee mankamaarkku chenthaamara kaipadam moodunna mylaanchi…
chollu thozhi, mylaanchi?
[Why do the brides need henna to cover their red lotus like palms…
tell me friend, the henna?]
Havva pandu cheytha paapam theeraan Eesho kalipichu thannathu ee mylaanchi,
kelu thozhi, mylaanchi!
[To redeem the sins Eve committed long back, Jesus ordained this henna
listen my friend, this henna!]
Urukal sakalam akaluvathinu aniyanam ithu tharunikal
[For keeping all bad things away the brides should all wear it]
Marthoman vazhiyude mahimakal ozuki,
paalchorum kazhipichu pathivukal nadathi
[With the re-telling of the glorious stories of the way of St. Thomas,
making them eat milk-rice and following all other the traditions]
kondaadumbol maalokarum praarthichu koodanam thettu-kuttam poruthu
[while we celebrate, let everyone also pray and take part, forgiving any mistakes or misses]
Vannalo! Kandille!
[Here she comes! Didn’t you see!]
Annamme nee enthaadi pennkoche, kuntham pole chinthichu nilkkanathu?
Illa amme onnum illa ammachiye, chummathangu chinthichu ninnathaane
[Hey Annamma, why are you standing here lost in thoughts like a spike?
It’s nothing, my dear mother, just stood here thinking for no reason]
Ingane njaan chinthichu ninnittaadi, kettum munpe koche ninne pettathu
Akkalam ithu allallo ponnu ammachi budhi ulla pennungalaa njangalu
[It is because I stood thinking like this, I birthed you before marriage
It is not those days anymore dear mother, we girls are clever nowadays]
Penninu ethra budhi unadayalum pacha maanga theetichu aanungal mungum edi
[Doesn’t matter how clever you are, boys will make you eat green mangoes and scoot]
Entamme!… Annamme!
[Oh gosh, Mother!… Annamma!]
Naale aanu penkodikku thantheesharin eeshan vidhichathu poothaali
minnum mani poothaali
[Tomorrow is when the girl gets the wedding pendant which the destined by God
the sparkling beautiful wedding pendant]
Manthrakodi noota noolil nalloru aezhu noolu pirichu athil poothali
korukenam poothaali
[The seven threads entwined together from weave of the wedding saree, on it the wedding pendant
string the wedding pendant]
Nada nada nada nada vilikal aa idavazhikalil uyarave,
[When the cheers of “nada vili” rises in the alleys,]
vaazhtheedam nanni cholli ulakudayavane, vaazhthenam mariyathin kanivine udane
vaazhvil neele onnayi vaazhaan, santhathi salgathi aathikal kaivaruvaan
[let’s praise and thank the Lord, also praise St. Mary’s kindness promptly
for a long life of togetherness with prosperity and offspring]
Kandille karpoora panthalilu
chembakapoo kumbidum pennu oruthi?
[Didn’t you see under the (wedding) pavilion where camphor burns,
a girl before which even the chambaka flower bows out?]
Vannalo karpoora panthalilu
punjirichu puthanoli parathi!
[Here she comes under the (wedding) pavilion where camphor burns,
with a smile which spreads a new light!]
Anjanavum kasthooriyum nirathi, chamayichu nalla chantham varuthi,
Vellayum karimpadavum viruthi pennavale mankamar kondu iruthi
[Laying out eyeliner and kasthoori turmeric paste, adorning and beautifying her
Spreading out white and black cloths, the ladies brought the bride and sat her]
Vanna janam ellarum chollunnu mannil illingane chellulla mattoruthi!
[Everyone who came are saying there is no other beauty like this bride!]
Aan penkal santhippathu aadi thottu ee mannil, Aalahanaayan hithathaal
Maarthoman kaatunna maarge charikkanam ee vaazhvil neeleyum ningal
[For the union of men and women from the beginning of Time, with Almighty’s will
You should walk on the path St. Thomas shows, all along this life on earth]
Aan penkal santhippathu aadi thottu ee mannil, Aalahanaayan hithathaal
Maarthoman kaatunna maarge charikkanam ee vaazhvil neeleyum ningal
[For the union of men and women from the beginning of Time, with Almighty’s will
You should walk on the path St. Thomas shows, all along this life on earth]
+The scene set for the song is a bride’s home on the wedding eve in Knanaya Christian community (Wiki Link). Knanaya Christian community was started by 72 families who are believed to have migrated from Syria under the leadership of Knai Thoma. They are a very tight knit community and do not prefer marrying outside in order to maintain their unique customs and traditions (Read here and here). One such is Mylanchi ideel or the henna ceremony which is conducted by the bride’s family on the wedding eve. The first stanza starting with Parudaya Mariyame is part of the traditional Christian dance called Margamkali or the dance of the (St. Thomas’s) way. The refrain of the song is referring to how the beautiful bride is arriving at the pavilion for the henna ceremony. The lyrics say how the rest of the ladies have adorned her with various beautifying items and made her sit on a seat which is covered in white and black cloths. The significance of the colors here is to denote the joys and sorrows of life. In the second stanza one set of bride’s friends is asking the other about why the mylanchi ceremony is necessary. The belief is that God gave henna to represent the original sin Eve committed and by washing away the henna the bride is cleansed. Then they also talk about other traditions like retelling the story of Mar Thoma or St. Thomas, the apostle who brought Christianity to the shores of Kerala and eating of rice cooked in milk. The third stanza has nothing to do with the wedding itself, but it is a conversation between a mom and a daughter. Mom questions the daughter on her daydreaming tendencies and warns her against men who will take advantage of her. Making someone “eat green mango” is a euphemism for getting someone pregnant as pregnant ladies usually crave for sour food items. So these lines are meant to be a joke, but IMO in poor taste. 🙂 The fourth stanza talks about the thaali or wedding pendant which will be tied by the groom next day. This custom was adopted from the Hindu culture by most Malayali Christian communities. The pendant will be strung on seven threads which is taken from the manthrakodi (the saree gifted by the groom) and entwined with a stronger string and twisted together with starch from mashed cooked rice. This will be blessed by the presiding priest the next day. After the wedding there will be ‘Nada vili’ (YouTube) or chants/cheers of Nada(walk) at the start of the wedding procession, and at the time the singer is hoping every one will praise God and thank St. Mary and wish the new couple a prosperous married life with offspring.
+ Image copyright to the original uploader.