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Hello Mister Zamindar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sondhamum Ille Oru Bandhamum

From Hello Mister Zamindar · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
G. K. Venkatesh
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Hello Mister Zamindar
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
28 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ohoooo oooo
Sondhamumillae
Oru bandhamumillae
Sonna idaththil amarndhu kolgiraar
Naangal mannarum illae
Mandhiri illae
Vanakkam pottu thalaiyai saaikkiraar
Ohoooo sondhamumillae
Chorus :Sondhamumillae
Male :Oru bandhamumillae
Chorus :Oru bandhamumillae
Male & Chorus :Sonna idathil amarndhu kolgiraar
Male :Naangal mannarum illae
Chorus :Mannarum illae
Male :Mandhiri illae
Chorus :Mandhiri illae
Male & Chorus :Vanakkam pottu thalaiyai saaikkiraar
Lalalalaalalalalalalalalaohooooo
Lalalalaalalalalalalalalaohooooo
Valara vittaal manidharellaam
Kurangugal aavaar
Chorus :Manidha kurangugal aavaar
Male :Naangal vazhithu vittaal marubadiyum
Manidhargal aavaar
Chorus :Kadavulla manidhargal aavaar
Minoraiyellaam vetti mudippom
Bhaktharukkellaam mottai adippom
Dhaadaiyil mattum dhaadiyai vittu
Meedhaiyai theettuvom
Ahaa minoraiyellaam vetti mudippom
Bhaktharukkellaam mottai adippom
Dhaadaiyil mattum dhaadiyai vittu
Meedhaiyai theettuvom
Ohoooo sondhamumillae
Chorus :Sondhamumillae
Male :Oru bandhamumillae
Chorus :Oru bandhamumillae
Male & Chorus :Sonna idathil amarndhu kolgiraar
Male :Naangal mannarum illae
Chorus :Mannarum illae
Male :Mandhiri illae
Chorus :Mandhiri illae
Male & Chorus :Vanakkam pottu thalaiyai saaikkiraar
Lalalalaalalalalalalalalaohooooo
Lalalalaalalalalalalalalaohooooo
Irukkum podhu thailam pottu
Azhagu seigiraar
Chorus :Thalaiyai azhagu seigiraar
Male :Adhu irangi vittaal thirumbi paarkka
Veruppu kolgiraar
Chorus :Avarae veruppu kolgiraar
Ulla idathil ulla varaikkum
Indha ulagam unnai madhikkum
Idathai vittu vizhundhu vittaal
Yeri midhikkumae
Ahaa
Ulla idathil ulla varaikkum
Indha ulagam unnai madhikkum
Idathai vittu vizhundhu vittaal
Yeri midhikkumae
Ohoooo sondhamumillae
Chorus :Sondhamumillae
Male :Oru bandhamumillae
Chorus :Oru bandhamumillae
Male & Chorus :Sonna idathil amarndhu kolgiraar
Male :Naangal mannarum illae
Chorus :Mannarum illae
Male :Mandhiri illae
Chorus :Mandhiri illae
Male & Chorus :Vanakkam pottu thalaiyai saaikkiraar
Ohoooo oooo
There is no relation,
there is no bond between us,
yet they sit right where we tell them to!
We are not kings,
nor are we ministers,
yet they greet us with folded hands and bow their heads!
Ohoooo, there is no relation,
Chorus: There is no relation,
Male: There is no bond between us,
Chorus: There is no bond between us,
Male & Chorus: Yet they sit right where we tell them to!
Male: We are not kings,
Chorus: Not kings,
Male: Nor ministers,
Chorus: Nor ministers,
Male & Chorus: Yet they greet us with folded hands and bow their heads!
Lalalala lalalalalala ohoooo
Lalalala lalalalalala ohoooo
If their hair is left to grow, all men
would turn into monkeys!
Chorus: They would turn into apes!
Male: But once we shave and trim them, once again
they become proper human beings!
Chorus: Handsome, cultured human beings!
We give stylish cuts to young playboys,
we shave the heads of pilgrims bald,
and leaving a beard only upon the chin,
we shape the look of a wise thinker!
Aha, we give stylish cuts to young playboys,
we shave the heads of pilgrims bald,
and leaving a beard only upon the chin,
we shape the look of a wise thinker!
Ohoooo, there is no relation,
Chorus: There is no relation,
Male: There is no bond between us,
Chorus: There is no bond between us,
Male & Chorus: Yet they sit right where we tell them to!
Male: We are not kings,
Chorus: Not kings,
Male: Nor ministers,
Chorus: Nor ministers,
Male & Chorus: Yet they greet us with folded hands and bow their heads!
Lalalala lalalalalala ohoooo
Lalalala lalalalalala ohoooo
While the hair is on their heads, they apply oil
and style it to look handsome;
Chorus: They beautify their hair!
Male: But once it falls to the ground, to even look at it,
they turn away in disgust!
Chorus: They themselves feel disgusted!
As long as you stay in your rightful place,
this world will give you respect;
but once you fall from your standing,
it will trample you underfoot!
Aha!
As long as you stay in your rightful place,
this world will give you respect;
but once you fall from your standing,
it will trample you underfoot!
Ohoooo, there is no relation,
Chorus: There is no relation,
Male: There is no bond between us,
Chorus: There is no bond between us,
Male & Chorus: Yet they sit right where we tell them to!
Male: We are not kings,
Chorus: Not kings,
Male: Nor ministers,
Chorus: Nor ministers,
Male & Chorus: Yet they greet us with folded hands and bow their heads!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Sondhamumillae Oru Bandhamumillae' is a classic metaphorical song from the 1965 Tamil film 'Hello Mister Zamindar', composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and written by lyricist Kannadasan. Sung from the perspective of a barber, the song uses the humble profession of hair-grooming as an insightful allegory for human ego, social status, and transience. The lyrics humorously observe how customers unconditionally obey the barber—sitting where commanded and bowing their heads—despite barbers being neither kings nor ministers. Kannadasan masterfully transitions from playful satire to deep philosophical reflection: hair represents worldly power and status. As long as it sits on the head, people cherish and oil it; once it falls off, they look upon it with disgust. Similarly, society respects individuals only as long as they hold high positions, but tramples them the moment they lose their standing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory / Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ulla idathil ulla varaikkum / Indha ulagam unnai madhikkum

Hair and grooming are used as allegories for human status and ego, where status on the head is respected but disregarded when fallen.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Sondhamumillae / Oru bandhamumillae

Matching second consonant sounds 'n' in 'Sondhamum' and 'Bandhamum' creates lyrical harmony.

Satire / Philosophical Irony

Valara vittaal manidharellaam / Kurangugal aavaar

Using simple barbershop activities to mock societal hypocrisy and human pride.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Hello Mister Zamindar' (1965) stars Gemini Ganesan and M. R. Radha. Kannadasan was famous for embedding profound philosophy into situational comedy songs sung by working-class characters, a hallmark feature of mid-20th-century Tamil cinema.

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