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Sondham 16 album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sondham Pathinaaru Undu

From Sondham 16 · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sondham 16
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
15 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sondham pathinaaru undu
Kooda uravaada
Yaarum illa kai ezhuthu poda
Sondham pathinaaru undu
Kooda uravaada
Yaarum illa kai ezhuthu poda
Unmaiyilae ingae oru sondhamunnu solla
Sattap padi paarthaa ratha sambandhangal alla
Oru jeevan alai paaya
Sondham pathinaaru undu
Kooda uravaada
Yaarum illa kai ezhuthu poda
Annai vazhi thandhai vazhi
Aththai vazhi maaman vazhi
Vandhadhu thaan sondham endru
Yaar sonnadhappaa
Anbu konda ullam ellaam
Nesam vecha nenjam ellaam
Sondhathilum sondham endru
Oor sollumappaa
Ennaalumae ingu nalla manam
Ulla ellaarumae oru saadhi sanam
Kanneeril paasangal inneram neeraada
Dheivam thaan kann paarka kaiyendhi poraada
Sondham pathinaaru undu
Kooda uravaada
Yaarum illa kai ezhuthu poda
Unmaiyilae ingae oru sondhamunnu solla
Satta padi paarthaa ratha sambandhangal alla
Oru jeevan alai paaya
Sondham pathinaaru undu
Kooda uravaada
Yaarum illa kai ezhuthu poda
Pottadhoru naadagam thaan
Pen oruthi kaaranam thaan
Melam kotti maalai idum
Naal vandhidanum
Maaman potta kai ezhuthil
Maappillaiyin thalai ezhuthu
Nalla padi maari
Adhai oor kandidanum
Uyirodu thaan ingu poraadudhu
Puyal kaatrilae chinna poo vaadudhu
Poo chooda naal paathu pen paavai nindraalae
Pen paadu ennaagum poo vaadi ponaalae
Sondham pathinaaru undu
Kooda uravaada
Yaarum illa kai ezhuthu poda
Unmaiyilae ingae oru sondhamunnu solla
Satta padi paarthaa ratha sambandhangal alla
Oru jeevan alai paaya
Sondham pathinaaru undu
Kooda uravaada
Yaarum illa kai ezhuthu poda
There are sixteen kinds of relations
to share bonds and mingle with,
yet no one is there to put a signature.
There are sixteen kinds of relations
to share bonds and mingle with,
yet no one is there to put a signature.
To truly say someone here is family,
legally speaking, they are not blood relations.
As a helpless soul drifts in turmoil...
There are sixteen kinds of relations
to share bonds and mingle with,
yet no one is there to put a signature.
Through mother's side, through father's side,
through aunt's side, through uncle's side—
that only such ties are our relations,
who on earth said that?
Every heart filled with kindness,
every soul holding true affection,
is family beyond all family,
that is what this world will say.
For all time, everyone here
with a good heart belongs to one kin.
While our dear bonds bathe in tears right now,
we struggle with outstretched hands for God to look our way.
There are sixteen kinds of relations
to share bonds and mingle with,
yet no one is there to put a signature.
To truly say someone here is family,
legally speaking, they are not blood relations.
As a helpless soul drifts in turmoil...
There are sixteen kinds of relations
to share bonds and mingle with,
yet no one is there to put a signature.
A drama was staged,
and a woman was the reason.
For drums to beat and wedding garlands to be placed,
that day must soon arrive.
With the signature the uncle gives,
the groom's destined fate
should turn out for the best,
and the town must witness it.
A life struggles here to survive;
in the stormy wind, a tender flower wilts.
Hoping for the day to wear bridal flowers, the maiden stood,
what will become of her plight now that the flower is fading?
There are sixteen kinds of relations
to share bonds and mingle with,
yet no one is there to put a signature.
To truly say someone here is family,
legally speaking, they are not blood relations.
As a helpless soul drifts in turmoil...
There are sixteen kinds of relations
to share bonds and mingle with,
yet no one is there to put a signature.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Sondham 16' reflects on the true nature of human relationships, contrasting formal blood ties with genuine emotional bonds. Despite the traditional belief in sixteen types of familial relations, the protagonist laments that no one steps up to legally or emotionally stand by them during crucial moments. Poet Vaali emphasizes that blood relationship alone does not define kinship; instead, anyone with a good heart, compassion, and affection is true family. The lyrics depict a delicate struggle against fate, where a young woman's destiny hangs in the balance like a flower caught in a storm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Puyal kaatrilae chinna poo vaadudhu”

Comparing a vulnerable young woman to a delicate flower wilting in a storm ('chinna poo vaadudhu').

Rhyme / Wordplay

“Maaman potta kai ezhuthil / Maappillaiyin thalai ezhuthu”

Contrasting 'kai ezhuthu' (handwritten signature) with 'thalai ezhuthu' (written fate/destiny) to emphasize legal authorization changing one's destiny.

Etimai / Alliteration

“Maaman potta kai ezhuthil / Maappillaiyin thalai ezhuthu”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Ma' in 'Maaman' and 'Maappillaiyin'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The phrase 'Sondham Pathinaaru' is a play on 'Pathinaaru Selvangal' (the traditional sixteen types of wealth in Tamil culture). Vaali adaptively applies the number sixteen to familial relationships to convey that true wealth lies in genuine emotional support rather than mere blood kinship.

Keep listening

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