Ohohoho Manidhargale
From Padithal Mattum Podhuma · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Padithal Mattum Podhuma1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ahaaa…ahhaa…aaa…aaahaaa… | Ahaaa... ahhaa... aaa... aaahaaa... |
| Ohohoho manidhargalae | O human beings! |
| Ooduvadhu engae sollungal | Tell me, where are you running to? |
| Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru | Buy the truth, sell off the lies, |
| Urupada vaarunghal | And come forward to prosper! |
| Male | |
| Ohohoho manidhargalae | O human beings! |
| Ooduvadhu engae sollungal | Tell me, where are you running to? |
| Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru | Buy the truth, sell off the lies, |
| Urupada vaarunghal | And come forward to prosper! |
| Male | |
| Ohohohoooo……… | Ohohohoooo... |
| Male | |
| Azhugi ponaal kaigari kuda | If a vegetable gets rotten, |
| Samayalukku aagadhu | It cannot be used for cooking. |
| Arivilladhavan uyirum manamum | The life and mind of a fool, |
| Oorukku udhavaadhu | Are of no use to the town. |
| Male | |
| Uriththu paarthaal vengaayathil | If you peel an onion completely, |
| Ondrum irukaadhu | There is nothing inside. |
| Ulari thiribavan vaarthaiyilae | In the words of a blabbering fool, |
| Oru urupadi thaeraathu | Not a single worthwhile thing can be found. |
| Male | |
| Kaalam ponaal thirumbuvathillai | Once time passes, it never returns; |
| Kaasugal uyirgalai kaapadhumillai | And money cannot save human lives. |
| Male | |
| Ohohoho manidhargalae | O human beings! |
| Ooduvadhu engae sollungal | Tell me, where are you running to? |
| Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru | Buy the truth, sell off the lies, |
| Urupada vaarunghal | And come forward to prosper! |
| Male | |
| Ohohohoooo……… | Ohohohoooo... |
| Male | |
| Adipadai indri kattiya maaligai | A mansion built without a foundation, |
| Kaathukku nikkadhu | Cannot withstand the wind. |
| Azhagaai irukkum kaanjirai pazhangal | Beautiful poisonous strychnine fruits, |
| Sandhaiyil vikkadhu | Cannot be sold in the market. |
| Male | |
| Vilambarathaalae uyarndhavan vaazhkai | The life of one raised purely by publicity, |
| Nirantharam aagathu | Will never be permanent. |
| Vilakkirundhaalum ennai illamal | Even if there is a lamp, without oil, |
| Velicham kidaikkadhu | No light will be obtained. |
| Male | |
| Kannai moodum perumaigalaalae | Blinded by pride that clouds perception, |
| Thammai marandhu veerargal polae | Forgetting themselves and acting like heroes... |
| Male | |
| Ohohoho manidhargalae | O human beings! |
| Ooduvadhu engae sollungal | Tell me, where are you running to? |
| Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru | Buy the truth, sell off the lies, |
| Urupada vaarunghal | And come forward to prosper! |
| Male | |
| Ohohohoooo……… | Ohohohoooo... |
| Male | |
| Odhiya marangal peruthirunthaalum | Even if useless hollow trees grow large, |
| Uththiram aagathu | They cannot become load-bearing beams. |
| Uruvaththil siriyathu kadugaanaalum | Even if a mustard seed is tiny in size, |
| Kaaram pogadhu | Its spiciness is never lost. |
| Male | |
| Pazhipadhanaalae thelivulla manasu | Just because someone blames it, a clear mind, |
| Paazh pattu pogadhu | Will not become ruined. |
| Paadhaiyai vittu vilagiya kaalgal | Feet that stray away from the correct path, |
| Oor poyiseraadhu | Will never reach their destination town. |
| Male | |
| Kaatrai kaiyil pidithavan illai | No one has ever caught the wind in their hand, |
| Thootri thootri vaazhndhavan illai | And no one who lives by slander prospers. |
| Male | |
| Ohohoho manidhargalae | O human beings! |
| Ooduvadhu engae sollungal | Tell me, where are you running to? |
| Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru | Buy the truth, sell off the lies, |
| Urupada vaarunghal | And come forward to prosper! |
| Male | |
| Ohohohoooo……… | Ohohohoooo... |
ஆஹா ஆஹா
ஆஆ ஆஆஹா ஓஹோ
ஹோஹோ மனிதர்களே
ஓடுவது எங்கே சொல்லுங்கள்
உண்மையை வாங்கி
பொய்களை விற்று
உருப்பட வாருங்கள்
Ahaaa... ahhaa... aaa... aaahaaa...
O human beings!
Tell me, where are you running to?
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
And come forward to prosper!
ஓஹோஹோஹோ
மனிதர்களே ஓடுவது எங்கே
சொல்லுங்கள் உண்மையை
வாங்கி பொய்களை விற்று
உருப்பட வாருங்கள்
O human beings!
Tell me, where are you running to?
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
And come forward to prosper!
ஓஹோஹோஹோ
Ohohohoooo...
அழுகி போனால்
காய்கறி கூட சமையலுக்கு
ஆகாது அறிவில்லாதவன்
உயிரும் மனமும் ஊருக்கு
உதவாது
If a vegetable gets rotten,
It cannot be used for cooking.
The life and mind of a fool,
Are of no use to the town.
உரித்து பார்த்தால்
வெங்காயத்தில் ஒன்றும்
இருக்காது உளறி திரிபவன்
வார்த்தையிலே ஒரு உருப்படி
தேறாது
If you peel an onion completely,
There is nothing inside.
In the words of a blabbering fool,
Not a single worthwhile thing can be found.
காலம் போனால்
திரும்புவதில்லை காசுகள்
உயிர்களை காப்பதுமில்லை
Once time passes, it never returns;
And money cannot save human lives.
ஓஹோஹோஹோ
மனிதர்களே ஓடுவது எங்கே
சொல்லுங்கள் உண்மையை
வாங்கி பொய்களை விற்று
உருப்பட வாருங்கள்
O human beings!
Tell me, where are you running to?
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
And come forward to prosper!
ஓஹோஹோஹோ
Ohohohoooo...
அடிப்படை இன்றி
கட்டிய மாளிகை காத்துக்கு
நிக்காது அழகாய் இருக்கும்
காஞ்சிரை பழங்கள் சந்தையில்
விக்காது
A mansion built without a foundation,
Cannot withstand the wind.
Beautiful poisonous strychnine fruits,
Cannot be sold in the market.
விளம்பரத்தாலே
உயர்ந்தவன் வாழ்க்கை
நிரந்தரம் ஆகாது
விளக்கிருந்தாலும்
எண்ணெய் இல்லாமல்
வெளிச்சம் கிடைக்காது
The life of one raised purely by publicity,
Will never be permanent.
Even if there is a lamp, without oil,
No light will be obtained.
கண்ணை மூடும்
பெருமைகளாலே தம்மை
மறந்து வீரர்கள் போலே
Blinded by pride that clouds perception,
Forgetting themselves and acting like heroes...
ஓஹோஹோஹோ
மனிதர்களே ஓடுவது எங்கே
சொல்லுங்கள் உண்மையை
வாங்கி பொய்களை விற்று
உருப்பட வாருங்கள்
O human beings!
Tell me, where are you running to?
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
And come forward to prosper!
ஓஹோஹோஹோ
Ohohohoooo...
ஓதிய மரங்கள்
பெருத்திருந்தாலும் உத்திரம்
ஆகாது உருவத்தில் சிறியது
கடுகானாலும் காரம் போகாது
Even if useless hollow trees grow large,
They cannot become load-bearing beams.
Even if a mustard seed is tiny in size,
Its spiciness is never lost.
பழிப்பதனாலே
தெளிவுள்ள மனசு பாழ்
பட்டு போகாது பாதையை
விட்டு விலகிய கால்கள்
ஊர் போய் சேராது
Just because someone blames it, a clear mind,
Will not become ruined.
Feet that stray away from the correct path,
Will never reach their destination town.
காற்றை கையில்
பிடித்தவன் இல்லை தூற்றி
தூற்றி வாழ்ந்தவன் இல்லை
No one has ever caught the wind in their hand,
And no one who lives by slander prospers.
ஓஹோஹோஹோ
மனிதர்களே ஓடுவது எங்கே
சொல்லுங்கள் உண்மையை
வாங்கி பொய்களை விற்று
உருப்பட வாருங்கள்
O human beings!
Tell me, where are you running to?
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
And come forward to prosper!
ஓஹோஹோஹோ
Ohohohoooo...
Ahaaa…ahhaa…aaa…aaahaaa…
Ahaaa... ahhaa... aaa... aaahaaa...
Ohohoho manidhargalae
O human beings!
Ooduvadhu engae sollungal
Tell me, where are you running to?
Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
Urupada vaarunghal
And come forward to prosper!
Ohohoho manidhargalae
O human beings!
Ooduvadhu engae sollungal
Tell me, where are you running to?
Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
Urupada vaarunghal
And come forward to prosper!
Ohohohoooo………
Ohohohoooo...
Azhugi ponaal kaigari kuda
If a vegetable gets rotten,
Samayalukku aagadhu
It cannot be used for cooking.
Arivilladhavan uyirum manamum
The life and mind of a fool,
Oorukku udhavaadhu
Are of no use to the town.
Uriththu paarthaal vengaayathil
If you peel an onion completely,
Ondrum irukaadhu
There is nothing inside.
Ulari thiribavan vaarthaiyilae
In the words of a blabbering fool,
Oru urupadi thaeraathu
Not a single worthwhile thing can be found.
Kaalam ponaal thirumbuvathillai
Once time passes, it never returns;
Kaasugal uyirgalai kaapadhumillai
And money cannot save human lives.
Ohohoho manidhargalae
O human beings!
Ooduvadhu engae sollungal
Tell me, where are you running to?
Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
Urupada vaarunghal
And come forward to prosper!
Ohohohoooo………
Ohohohoooo...
Adipadai indri kattiya maaligai
A mansion built without a foundation,
Kaathukku nikkadhu
Cannot withstand the wind.
Azhagaai irukkum kaanjirai pazhangal
Beautiful poisonous strychnine fruits,
Sandhaiyil vikkadhu
Cannot be sold in the market.
Vilambarathaalae uyarndhavan vaazhkai
The life of one raised purely by publicity,
Nirantharam aagathu
Will never be permanent.
Vilakkirundhaalum ennai illamal
Even if there is a lamp, without oil,
Velicham kidaikkadhu
No light will be obtained.
Kannai moodum perumaigalaalae
Blinded by pride that clouds perception,
Thammai marandhu veerargal polae
Forgetting themselves and acting like heroes...
Ohohoho manidhargalae
O human beings!
Ooduvadhu engae sollungal
Tell me, where are you running to?
Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
Urupada vaarunghal
And come forward to prosper!
Ohohohoooo………
Ohohohoooo...
Odhiya marangal peruthirunthaalum
Even if useless hollow trees grow large,
Uththiram aagathu
They cannot become load-bearing beams.
Uruvaththil siriyathu kadugaanaalum
Even if a mustard seed is tiny in size,
Kaaram pogadhu
Its spiciness is never lost.
Pazhipadhanaalae thelivulla manasu
Just because someone blames it, a clear mind,
Paazh pattu pogadhu
Will not become ruined.
Paadhaiyai vittu vilagiya kaalgal
Feet that stray away from the correct path,
Oor poyiseraadhu
Will never reach their destination town.
Kaatrai kaiyil pidithavan illai
No one has ever caught the wind in their hand,
Thootri thootri vaazhndhavan illai
And no one who lives by slander prospers.
Ohohoho manidhargalae
O human beings!
Ooduvadhu engae sollungal
Tell me, where are you running to?
Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru
Buy the truth, sell off the lies,
Urupada vaarunghal
And come forward to prosper!
Ohohohoooo………
Ohohohoooo...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ohohoho Manidhargalae is a profound philosophical commentary from the 1962 Tamil film Padithal Mattum Podhuma, penned by poet Kannadasan. The song serves as a direct wake-up call to humanity, questioning the rat race of life and urging people to abandon deceit, superficiality, and empty pride in favor of truthfulness and moral character. Through a series of simple yet striking metaphors drawn from daily life—such as rotten vegetables, peeled onions, foundationless buildings, bitter fruit, and mustard seeds—the song illustrates that external size or grand declarations mean nothing without intrinsic value. Kannadasan emphasizes that time lost cannot be retrieved, money cannot purchase life, and those who stray from righteousness will never reach a meaningful destination.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Muran)
“Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru”
Juxtaposes opposite concepts—Truth (Unmai) vs. Lie (Poi), and Buying (Vaangi) vs. Selling (Vittru)—to highlight moral choices.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Unmaiyai vaangi poigalai vittru / Urupada vaarunghal”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'U' across lines (Unmaiyai / Urupada) creates a rhythmic, musical flow.
Metaphor / Analogy (Upamai)
“Uriththu paarthaal vengaayathil / Ondrum irukaadhu”
Compares an ignorant blabberer's speech to a peeled onion, demonstrating that beneath the layers of empty talk lies zero substance.
Moral Contrast (Analogy)
“Odhiya marangal peruthirunthaalum... Uruvaththil siriyathu kadugaanaalum”
Contrasts a massive useless tree (which cannot bear roof beams) with a tiny mustard seed (which retains its strong pungent quality), symbolizing that character outweighs sheer size or status.
Did you know?
Trivia
Padithal Mattum Podhuma (1962) stars Sivaji Ganesan and M. R. Radha. The film's musical score was composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, and this memorable philosophical song was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song remain famous for translating complex Vedantic wisdom into accessible folk proverbs.
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