Sonthakkaran Yar Sonthakkaran
From Sonthakkaran · 1989
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vairamuthu
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Sonthakkaran1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Male :Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Male: Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Male | |
| Nillungal manithargalae nillungal | Stop, O human beings, stop! |
| Intha sollukku porulenna sollungal | Tell me, what is the meaning of this word? |
| Male :Nillungal manithargalae nillungal | Male: Stop, O human beings, stop! |
| Intha sollukku porulenna sollungal | Tell me, what is the meaning of this word? |
| Male | |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Male | |
| Uravugalaale vanthavanalla sonthakkaran | A relative is not someone who merely comes through blood relations. |
| Than uyirai kodukkum | Even a friend who gives his own life... |
| Nanbanumkooda sonthakkaran | ...is also a true kinsman. |
| Male | |
| Uravugalaale vanthavanalla sonthakkaran | A relative is not someone who merely comes through blood relations. |
| Than uyirai kodukkum | Even a friend who gives his own life... |
| Nanbanumkooda sonthakkaran | ...is also a true kinsman. |
| Male | |
| Soththil pangu ketpavan alla sonthakkaran | A relative is not someone who demands a share in your wealth. |
| Thunbaththil tholai kodukkum | The fellow worker who lends a shoulder during sorrow... |
| Thoazhilaaliyum sonthakkaaran | ...is also a true kinsman. |
| Male | |
| Veedu varaikkum varubavanalla sonthakkaaran | A relative is not one who accompanies you only up to your doorstep. |
| Kaadu varaikkum varubavanaethaan sonthakkaaran | The one who accompanies you all the way to the cremation ground is the true relative. |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Male | |
| Uppai pola elimaiyaanavan sonthakkaaran | A true relative is as simple as salt. |
| Pen karppai pola valimaiyaanavan sonthakkaran | A true relative is as steadfast as a woman's virtue. |
| Male | |
| Uppai pola elimaiyaanavan sonthakkaaran | A true relative is as simple as salt. |
| Pen karppai pola valimaiyaanavan sonthakkaran | A true relative is as steadfast as a woman's virtue. |
| Thiriyil neiyaai iruppavan alla sonthakkaaran | A relative is not someone who acts merely like ghee added to the wick. |
| Thiriyaai endrum iruppavanaethaan sonthakkaran | A true relative is the wick itself, burning continuously to give light. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhil poovai thodupavan alla sonthakkaaran | A relative is not someone who fools you by placing flowers behind your ear. |
| Ada kaalil mullai eduppavangthaan sonthakkaaran | Ah, the one who removes the thorn stuck in your foot is the true relative. |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Male | |
| Nillungal manithargalae nillungal | Stop, O human beings, stop! |
| Intha sollukku porulenna sollungal | Tell me, what is the meaning of this word? |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman? |
| Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran…. | Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?... |
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Male: Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
நில்லுங்கள் மனிதர்களே நில்லுங்கள்
இந்த சொல்லுக்கு பொருளென்ன சொல்லுங்கள்
நில்லுங்கள் மனிதர்களே நில்லுங்கள்
இந்த சொல்லுக்கு பொருளென்ன சொல்லுங்கள்
Stop, O human beings, stop!
Tell me, what is the meaning of this word?
Male: Stop, O human beings, stop!
Tell me, what is the meaning of this word?
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
உறவுகளாலே வந்தவனல்ல சொந்தக்காரன்
தன் உயிரைக் கொடுக்கும்
நண்பனும் கூட சொந்தக்காரன்
A relative is not someone who merely comes through blood relations.
Even a friend who gives his own life...
...is also a true kinsman.
உறவுகளாலே வந்தவனல்ல சொந்தக்காரன்
தன் உயிரைக் கொடுக்கும்
நண்பனும் கூட சொந்தக்காரன்
A relative is not someone who merely comes through blood relations.
Even a friend who gives his own life...
...is also a true kinsman.
சொத்தில் பங்கு கேட்பவன் அல்ல சொந்தக்காரன்
துன்பத்தில் தோளைக் கொடுக்கும்
தொழிலாளியும் சொந்தக்காரன்
A relative is not someone who demands a share in your wealth.
The fellow worker who lends a shoulder during sorrow...
...is also a true kinsman.
வீடு வரைக்கும் வருபவனல்ல சொந்தக்காரன்
காடு வரைக்கும் வருபவனே தான் சொந்தக்காரன்
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
A relative is not one who accompanies you only up to your doorstep.
The one who accompanies you all the way to the cremation ground is the true relative.
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
உப்பைப் போல எளிமையானவன் சொந்தக்காரன்
பெண் கற்பை போல வலிமையானவன் சொந்தக்காரன்
A true relative is as simple as salt.
A true relative is as steadfast as a woman's virtue.
உப்பைப் போல எளிமையானவன் சொந்தக்காரன்
பெண் கற்பை போல வலிமையானவன் சொந்தக்காரன்
திரியில் நெய்யாய் இருப்பவன் அல்ல சொந்தக்காரன்
திரியாய் என்றும் இருப்பவனேதான் சொந்தக்காரன்
A true relative is as simple as salt.
A true relative is as steadfast as a woman's virtue.
A relative is not someone who acts merely like ghee added to the wick.
A true relative is the wick itself, burning continuously to give light.
காதில் பூவை தொடுப்பவன் அல்ல சொந்தக்காரன்
அட காலில் முள்ளை எடுப்பவனேதான் சொந்தக்காரன்
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
A relative is not someone who fools you by placing flowers behind your ear.
Ah, the one who removes the thorn stuck in your foot is the true relative.
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
நில்லுங்கள் மனிதர்களே நில்லுங்கள்
இந்த சொல்லுக்கு பொருளென்ன சொல்லுங்கள்
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்
சொந்தக்காரன் யார் சொந்தக்காரன்....
Stop, O human beings, stop!
Tell me, what is the meaning of this word?
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?...
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Male :Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Male: Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Nillungal manithargalae nillungal
Stop, O human beings, stop!
Intha sollukku porulenna sollungal
Tell me, what is the meaning of this word?
Male :Nillungal manithargalae nillungal
Male: Stop, O human beings, stop!
Intha sollukku porulenna sollungal
Tell me, what is the meaning of this word?
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Uravugalaale vanthavanalla sonthakkaran
A relative is not someone who merely comes through blood relations.
Than uyirai kodukkum
Even a friend who gives his own life...
Nanbanumkooda sonthakkaran
...is also a true kinsman.
Uravugalaale vanthavanalla sonthakkaran
A relative is not someone who merely comes through blood relations.
Than uyirai kodukkum
Even a friend who gives his own life...
Nanbanumkooda sonthakkaran
...is also a true kinsman.
Soththil pangu ketpavan alla sonthakkaran
A relative is not someone who demands a share in your wealth.
Thunbaththil tholai kodukkum
The fellow worker who lends a shoulder during sorrow...
Thoazhilaaliyum sonthakkaaran
...is also a true kinsman.
Veedu varaikkum varubavanalla sonthakkaaran
A relative is not one who accompanies you only up to your doorstep.
Kaadu varaikkum varubavanaethaan sonthakkaaran
The one who accompanies you all the way to the cremation ground is the true relative.
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Uppai pola elimaiyaanavan sonthakkaaran
A true relative is as simple as salt.
Pen karppai pola valimaiyaanavan sonthakkaran
A true relative is as steadfast as a woman's virtue.
Uppai pola elimaiyaanavan sonthakkaaran
A true relative is as simple as salt.
Pen karppai pola valimaiyaanavan sonthakkaran
A true relative is as steadfast as a woman's virtue.
Thiriyil neiyaai iruppavan alla sonthakkaaran
A relative is not someone who acts merely like ghee added to the wick.
Thiriyaai endrum iruppavanaethaan sonthakkaran
A true relative is the wick itself, burning continuously to give light.
Kaadhil poovai thodupavan alla sonthakkaaran
A relative is not someone who fools you by placing flowers behind your ear.
Ada kaalil mullai eduppavangthaan sonthakkaaran
Ah, the one who removes the thorn stuck in your foot is the true relative.
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Nillungal manithargalae nillungal
Stop, O human beings, stop!
Intha sollukku porulenna sollungal
Tell me, what is the meaning of this word?
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?
Sonthakkaran yaar sonthakkaaran….
Who is a relative? Who is a true kinsman?...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song questions the true definition of a 'Sonthakkaaran' (kinsman/relative). The lyricist challenges societal norms by asserting that genuine relationships are not defined by bloodlines, legal claims to wealth, or superficial companionship. Instead, true kinship belongs to friends willing to sacrifice their lives, co-workers who share one's grief, and companions who stand by a person until their final moments. Through evocative traditional metaphors, the song defines true human connection as humble, steadfast, selfless, and deeply supportive through life's trials.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Uppai pola elimaiyaanavan sonthakkaaran”
Compares the humble nature of a true friend to salt ('Uppai pola elimaiyaanavan') and their strength/steadfastness to moral virtue ('Pen karppai pola valimaiyaanavan').
Uruvagamm (Metaphor)
“Thiriyaai endrum iruppavanaethaan sonthakkaran”
Uses the image of a lamp's wick ('Thiriyaai endrum iruppavanaethaan') to metaphorically depict a relative as someone who burns themselves to provide light and comfort to others.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Veedu varaikkum varubavanalla sonthakkaran / Kaadu varaikkum varubavanaethaan sonthakkaaran”
Contrasts superficial relationships that last till the home ('Veedu varaikkum') with true companions who stay till the final journey ('Kaadu varaikkum').
Idiomatic Imagery
“Kaadhil poovai thodupavan alla sonthakkaran / Ada kaalil mullai eduppavangthaan sonthakkaaran”
Contrasts the popular Tamil idiom 'kaadhil poo vaithal' (deceiving someone) with 'kaalil mullai eduppavan' (helping someone out of pain).
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist Vairamuthu echoes classical Tamil philosophical themes in this track, notably referencing Kannadasan's famous line 'Veedu varai uravu, kaadu varai manaivi' from 'Pattinathar' (1962). The film Sonthakkaran (1989) featured music composed by Chandrabose and starred Prabhu and Nirosha.
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