Unakedhu Sondham
From Paasavalai · 1956
- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Paasavalai1956
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kutti aadu thappivandhaal | If a young goat escapes, |
| Kullanarikku chontham | It belongs to the jackal. |
| Kullanari maattikittaa | If the jackal gets caught, |
| Kuravanukku chontham | It belongs to the nomad hunter. |
| Thattukketta manidhar kannil | In the eyes of corrupt human beings, |
| Pattathellaam sondham | Everything they see belongs to them. |
| Sattappadi paarkkapponaal | But according to the ultimate law, |
| Ettadithaan sondham | Only eight feet of land belongs to a person. |
| Sattappadi paarkkapponaal | But according to the ultimate law, |
| Ettadithaan sondham | Only eight feet of land belongs to a person. |
| Hahhaa… | Hahhaa… |
| Male | |
| Unakkedhu sondham | What relation is yours? |
| Enakkedhu sondham | What relation is mine? |
| Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa | Only worldly pride and vanity belongs to us, my friend. |
| Unakkedhu sondham | What relation is yours? |
| Enakkedhu sondham | What relation is mine? |
| Ulagaththu kedhuthaan sondhamadaa | Only the world's harm belongs to us, my friend. |
| Manakkirukkaal nee ularuvathaalae | Because you babble out of mental confusion, |
| Vandha laapam athu manthamadaa | The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend. |
| Manakkirukkaal nee ularuvathaalae | Because you babble out of mental confusion, |
| Vandha laapam athu manthamadaa | The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Unakkedhu sondham | What relation is yours? |
| Enakkedhu sondham | What relation is mine? |
| Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa | Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Koottulae kunju parakka ninaiththaal | When a chick inside the nest thinks of flying, |
| Kuruviyin sondham theerumadaa | The sparrow's ownership comes to an end, my friend. |
| Aattulae kutti ootta marandhaal | If a mother goat forgets to feed her kid, |
| Adhoda sondham maarumadaa | Its bond changes, my friend. |
| Neettiyae vaiththu neruppidum podhu | When laid out straight and set on fire, |
| Kaalai neettiye vaiththu neruppidum podhu | When legs are stretched out and set on fire, |
| Nesam paasam porulaasai kellaam | For love, affection, and greed for wealth, |
| Kaattiya orupidi vaai karisiyilae | With a single handful of rice offered at the mouth, |
| Kanakku theernthidum sondhamadaa | All accounts of relationships come to an end, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Unakkedhu sondham | What relation is yours? |
| Enakkedhu sondham | What relation is mine? |
| Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa | Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Paaba kanakkugalai | Accounts of sinful deeds, |
| Panaththaalae moodivaithu | Concealed with money, |
| Paasaangu velaiseitha | And acting with hypocritical pretension, |
| Pagal veshakkaarargalum | Those daytime pretenders with disguises, |
| Aabaththil sikki azhinthaargal aanaalum | They got trapped in danger and perished, yet, |
| Aduththaduththu vanthavarum | Those who followed right after them, |
| Avarkalukku thambiyadaa | Are just younger brothers walking the same path, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Avarum vandhaar | That man came, |
| Avarum vandhaar ivarum vandhaar | That man came, this man came, |
| Aadinaar | They played their part, |
| Mudivil evarukkumae theriyaamae | In the end, without anyone knowing, |
| Odinaar | They ran away, |
| Manadhil irunthathellaam marandhu | Forgetting everything in their minds, |
| Kannai moodinaar | They closed their eyes in death. |
| Male | |
| Avarum vandhaar ivarum vandhaar | That man came, this man came, |
| Aadinaar | They played their part, |
| Mudivil evarukkumae theriyaamae | In the end, without anyone knowing, |
| Odinaar | They ran away, |
| Manadhil irunthathellaam marandhu | Forgetting everything in their minds, |
| Kannai moodinaar | They closed their eyes in death. |
| Male | |
| Sevaru vachchu kaaththaalum | Even if you guard your possessions behind walls, |
| Selvamellaam serththaalum | Even if you accumulate all the wealth, |
| Seththapinnae aththanaikkum | After death, for all of that, |
| Sondhakkaaran yaaru | Who is the true owner? |
| Nee thunivirunthaa kooru | Speak up if you have the courage! |
| Romba yeliyavarum periyavarum | Look at where the poorest and the greatest, |
| Engae ponaar paaru | Where did they go, look! |
| Avaru engae ponaar paaru | Look where he went! |
| Male | |
| Avarum vandhaar ivarum vandhaar | That man came, this man came, |
| Aadinaar | They played their part, |
| Mudivil evarukkumae theriyaamae | In the end, without anyone knowing, |
| Odinaar | They ran away, |
| Manadhil irunthathellaam marandhu | Forgetting everything in their minds, |
| Kannai moodinaar | They closed their eyes in death. |
| Male | |
| Pombala ethanai aambala ethanai | How many women, how many men, |
| Porandhatheththanai irandha theththanai | How many were born, how many died, |
| Vambilae maatti pona theththanai | How many got trapped in unnecessary troubles, |
| Maana kedaai aana theththanai | How many were brought to disgrace, |
| Moochchu ninnaa moochchu ninnaa | Once breath stops, once breath stops, |
| Mudinjuthadi sondham | Relationship is over, my friend. |
| Adiyae muththu kannu idhil | Oh dear pearl-eyed girl, in this, |
| Ethanai ethanai aanandham | How much, how much joy there is! |
| Adiyae muththu kannu idhil | Oh dear pearl-eyed girl, in this, |
| Ethanai ethanai aanandham aanandham | How much, how much joy, joy there is! |
| Male | |
| Unakkedhu sondham | What relation is yours? |
| Enakkedhu sondham | What relation is mine? |
| Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa | Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend. |
| Manakkirukkaal nee ularuvathaalae | Because you babble out of mental confusion, |
| Vandha laapam athu manthamadaa | The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Unakkedhu sondham | What relation is yours? |
| Enakkedhu sondham | What relation is mine? |
| Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa | Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend. |
குட்டி ஆடு தப்பிவந்தால்
குள்ளநரிக்குச் சொந்தம்
குள்ளநரி மாட்டிகிட்டா
கொறவனுக்குச் சொந்தம்
தட்டுக் கெட்ட மனிதர் கண்ணில்
பட்டதெல்லாம் சொந்தம்
சட்டப்படி பார்க்கப்போனால்
எட்டடிதான் சொந்தம்
சட்டப்படி பார்க்கப்போனால்
எட்டடிதான் சொந்தம்
If a young goat escapes,
It belongs to the jackal.
If the jackal gets caught,
It belongs to the nomad hunter.
In the eyes of corrupt human beings,
Everything they see belongs to them.
But according to the ultimate law,
Only eight feet of land belongs to a person.
But according to the ultimate law,
Only eight feet of land belongs to a person.
Hahhaa…
உனக்கெது சொந்தம்
எனக்கெது சொந்தம்
உலகத்துக்கெதுதான் சொந்தமடா
உனக்கெது சொந்தம்
எனக்கெது சொந்தம்
உலகத்துக்கெதுதான் சொந்தமடா
மனக் கிறுக்கால் நீ உளறுவதாலே
வந்த லாபம் அது மந்தமடா
மனக் கிறுக்கால் நீ உளறுவதாலே
வந்த லாபம் அது மந்தமடா
What relation is yours?
What relation is mine?
Only worldly pride and vanity belongs to us, my friend.
What relation is yours?
What relation is mine?
Only the world's harm belongs to us, my friend.
Because you babble out of mental confusion,
The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend.
Because you babble out of mental confusion,
The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend.
உனக்கெது சொந்தம்
எனக்கெது சொந்தம்
உலகத்துக்கெதுதான் சொந்தமடா
What relation is yours?
What relation is mine?
Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend.
கூட்டுலே குஞ்சு பறக்க நினைத்தால்
குருவியின் சொந்தம் தீருமடா
ஆட்டுலே குட்டி ஊட்ட மறந்தால்
அதோட சொந்தம் மாறுமடா
When a chick inside the nest thinks of flying,
The sparrow's ownership comes to an end, my friend.
If a mother goat forgets to feed her kid,
Its bond changes, my friend.
When laid out straight and set on fire,
When legs are stretched out and set on fire,
For love, affection, and greed for wealth,
With a single handful of rice offered at the mouth,
All accounts of relationships come to an end, my friend.
நீட்டியே வைத்து நெருப்பிடும் போது
காலை நீட்டியே வைத்து நெருப்பிடும் போது
நேசம் பாசம் பொருளாசைக் கெல்லாம்
காட்டிய ஒருபிடி வாய்க்கரிசியிலே
கணக்கத் தீர்த்திடும் சொந்தமடா
What relation is yours?
What relation is mine?
Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend.
உனக்கெது சொந்தம்
எனக்கெது சொந்தம்
உலகத்துக்கெதுதான் சொந்தமடா
Accounts of sinful deeds,
Concealed with money,
And acting with hypocritical pretension,
Those daytime pretenders with disguises,
They got trapped in danger and perished, yet,
Those who followed right after them,
Are just younger brothers walking the same path, my friend.
பாப கணக்குகளைப்
பணத்தாலே மூடிவைத்து
பாசாங்கு வேலை செய்த
பகல் வேஷக்காரர்களும்
ஆபத்திலே சிக்கி
அழிந்தார்களானாலும்.......
அடுத்தடுத்து வந்தவரும்
அவர்களுக்குத் தம்பியடா
That man came,
That man came, this man came,
They played their part,
In the end, without anyone knowing,
They ran away,
Forgetting everything in their minds,
They closed their eyes in death.
அவரும் வந்தார்
அவரும் வந்தார் இவரும் வந்தார்
ஆடினார்
முடிவில் எவருக்குமே தெரியாமே
ஓடினார்
மனதில் இருந்ததெல்லாம் மறந்து
கண்ணை மூடினார்
That man came, this man came,
They played their part,
In the end, without anyone knowing,
They ran away,
Forgetting everything in their minds,
They closed their eyes in death.
அவரும் வந்தார்
அவரும் வந்தார் இவரும் வந்தார்
ஆடினார்
முடிவில் எவருக்குமே தெரியாமே
ஓடினார்
மனதில் இருந்ததெல்லாம் மறந்து
கண்ணை மூடினார்
Even if you guard your possessions behind walls,
Even if you accumulate all the wealth,
After death, for all of that,
Who is the true owner?
Speak up if you have the courage!
Look at where the poorest and the greatest,
Where did they go, look!
Look where he went!
செவரு வச்சுக் காத்தாலும்
செல்வமெல்லாம் சேர்த்தாலும்
செத்த பின்னே அத்தனைக்கும்
சொந்தக்காரன் யாரு
நீ துணிவிருந்தா கூறு
ரொம்ப எளியவரும் பெரியவரும்
எங்கே போனார் பாரு
அவரு எங்கே போனார் பாரு
That man came, this man came,
They played their part,
In the end, without anyone knowing,
They ran away,
Forgetting everything in their minds,
They closed their eyes in death.
அவரும் வந்தார்
அவரும் வந்தார் இவரும் வந்தார்
ஆடினார்
முடிவில் எவருக்குமே தெரியாமே
ஓடினார்
மனதில் இருந்ததெல்லாம் மறந்து
கண்ணை மூடினார்
How many women, how many men,
How many were born, how many died,
How many got trapped in unnecessary troubles,
How many were brought to disgrace,
Once breath stops, once breath stops,
Relationship is over, my friend.
Oh dear pearl-eyed girl, in this,
How much, how much joy there is!
Oh dear pearl-eyed girl, in this,
How much, how much joy, joy there is!
பொம்பளை எத்தனை ஆம்பிளை எத்தனை
பொறந்ததெத்தனை எறந்ததெத்தனை
வம்பிலே மாட்டிப் போனதெத்தனை
மானக் கேடாய் ஆனதெத்தனை
மூச்சு நின்னா முடிஞ்சுதடி சொந்தம்
முடிஞ்சுதடி சொந்தம்
எத்தனை எத்தனை ஆனந்தம்
அடியே முத்து கண்ணு இதில்
எத்தனை எத்தனை ஆனந்தம் ஆனந்தம்
What relation is yours?
What relation is mine?
Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend.
Because you babble out of mental confusion,
The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend.
உனக்கெது சொந்தம்
எனக்கெது சொந்தம்
உலகத்துக்கெதுதான் சொந்தமடா
மனக் கிறுக்கால் நீ உளறுவதாலே
வந்த லாபம் அது மந்தமடா
What relation is yours?
What relation is mine?
Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend.
உனக்கெது சொந்தம்
எனக்கெது சொந்தம்
உலகத்துக்கெதுதான் சொந்தமடா
Kutti aadu thappivandhaal
If a young goat escapes,
Kullanarikku chontham
It belongs to the jackal.
Kullanari maattikittaa
If the jackal gets caught,
Kuravanukku chontham
It belongs to the nomad hunter.
Thattukketta manidhar kannil
In the eyes of corrupt human beings,
Pattathellaam sondham
Everything they see belongs to them.
Sattappadi paarkkapponaal
But according to the ultimate law,
Ettadithaan sondham
Only eight feet of land belongs to a person.
Sattappadi paarkkapponaal
But according to the ultimate law,
Ettadithaan sondham
Only eight feet of land belongs to a person.
Hahhaa…
Hahhaa…
Unakkedhu sondham
What relation is yours?
Enakkedhu sondham
What relation is mine?
Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa
Only worldly pride and vanity belongs to us, my friend.
Unakkedhu sondham
What relation is yours?
Enakkedhu sondham
What relation is mine?
Ulagaththu kedhuthaan sondhamadaa
Only the world's harm belongs to us, my friend.
Manakkirukkaal nee ularuvathaalae
Because you babble out of mental confusion,
Vandha laapam athu manthamadaa
The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend.
Manakkirukkaal nee ularuvathaalae
Because you babble out of mental confusion,
Vandha laapam athu manthamadaa
The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend.
Unakkedhu sondham
What relation is yours?
Enakkedhu sondham
What relation is mine?
Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa
Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend.
Koottulae kunju parakka ninaiththaal
When a chick inside the nest thinks of flying,
Kuruviyin sondham theerumadaa
The sparrow's ownership comes to an end, my friend.
Aattulae kutti ootta marandhaal
If a mother goat forgets to feed her kid,
Adhoda sondham maarumadaa
Its bond changes, my friend.
Neettiyae vaiththu neruppidum podhu
When laid out straight and set on fire,
Kaalai neettiye vaiththu neruppidum podhu
When legs are stretched out and set on fire,
Nesam paasam porulaasai kellaam
For love, affection, and greed for wealth,
Kaattiya orupidi vaai karisiyilae
With a single handful of rice offered at the mouth,
Kanakku theernthidum sondhamadaa
All accounts of relationships come to an end, my friend.
Unakkedhu sondham
What relation is yours?
Enakkedhu sondham
What relation is mine?
Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa
Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend.
Paaba kanakkugalai
Accounts of sinful deeds,
Panaththaalae moodivaithu
Concealed with money,
Paasaangu velaiseitha
And acting with hypocritical pretension,
Pagal veshakkaarargalum
Those daytime pretenders with disguises,
Aabaththil sikki azhinthaargal aanaalum
They got trapped in danger and perished, yet,
Aduththaduththu vanthavarum
Those who followed right after them,
Avarkalukku thambiyadaa
Are just younger brothers walking the same path, my friend.
Avarum vandhaar
That man came,
Avarum vandhaar ivarum vandhaar
That man came, this man came,
Aadinaar
They played their part,
Mudivil evarukkumae theriyaamae
In the end, without anyone knowing,
Odinaar
They ran away,
Manadhil irunthathellaam marandhu
Forgetting everything in their minds,
Kannai moodinaar
They closed their eyes in death.
Avarum vandhaar ivarum vandhaar
That man came, this man came,
Aadinaar
They played their part,
Mudivil evarukkumae theriyaamae
In the end, without anyone knowing,
Odinaar
They ran away,
Manadhil irunthathellaam marandhu
Forgetting everything in their minds,
Kannai moodinaar
They closed their eyes in death.
Sevaru vachchu kaaththaalum
Even if you guard your possessions behind walls,
Selvamellaam serththaalum
Even if you accumulate all the wealth,
Seththapinnae aththanaikkum
After death, for all of that,
Sondhakkaaran yaaru
Who is the true owner?
Nee thunivirunthaa kooru
Speak up if you have the courage!
Romba yeliyavarum periyavarum
Look at where the poorest and the greatest,
Engae ponaar paaru
Where did they go, look!
Avaru engae ponaar paaru
Look where he went!
Avarum vandhaar ivarum vandhaar
That man came, this man came,
Aadinaar
They played their part,
Mudivil evarukkumae theriyaamae
In the end, without anyone knowing,
Odinaar
They ran away,
Manadhil irunthathellaam marandhu
Forgetting everything in their minds,
Kannai moodinaar
They closed their eyes in death.
Pombala ethanai aambala ethanai
How many women, how many men,
Porandhatheththanai irandha theththanai
How many were born, how many died,
Vambilae maatti pona theththanai
How many got trapped in unnecessary troubles,
Maana kedaai aana theththanai
How many were brought to disgrace,
Moochchu ninnaa moochchu ninnaa
Once breath stops, once breath stops,
Mudinjuthadi sondham
Relationship is over, my friend.
Adiyae muththu kannu idhil
Oh dear pearl-eyed girl, in this,
Ethanai ethanai aanandham
How much, how much joy there is!
Adiyae muththu kannu idhil
Oh dear pearl-eyed girl, in this,
Ethanai ethanai aanandham aanandham
How much, how much joy, joy there is!
Unakkedhu sondham
What relation is yours?
Enakkedhu sondham
What relation is mine?
Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa
Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend.
Manakkirukkaal nee ularuvathaalae
Because you babble out of mental confusion,
Vandha laapam athu manthamadaa
The profit you gain from it is slow and dull, my friend.
Unakkedhu sondham
What relation is yours?
Enakkedhu sondham
What relation is mine?
Ulagaththu kethuthaan sondhamadaa
Only worldly pride belongs to us, my friend.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from the 1956 movie 'Paasavalai' critiques human greed, vanity, hypocrisy, and false attachments. Through sharp metaphors, lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram reminds listeners that earthly possessions and relationships are transient. Greedy individuals may claim ownership over everything they see, but in the end, nature's law dictates that every human being owns only the 'eight feet' of earth needed for burial or cremation. The song cautions against spending life chasing temporary wealth, committing sins under the guise of piety, and foolishly boasting about bonds that break naturally—just as a chick leaves its nest or a goat forgets its kid. Once life's breath stops, all material accounts settle into nothingness, leaving behind a stark message on mortality and equality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Sattappadi paarkkapponaal / Ettadithaan sondham”
'Ettadithaan sondham' (Only eight feet of land belongs to you) serves as a potent metaphor for death, burial, and the equalizing nature of mortality regardless of one's status.
Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kutti aadu thappivandhaal / Kullanarikku chontham / Kullanari maattikittaa / Kuravanukku chontham”
Repetition of the initial letter 'K' ('Ku') sound across lines to create rhythmic flow.
Edhugai (Second Syllable Rhyme)
“Sattappadi paarkkapponaal / Ettadithaan sondham”
Rhyming of the second syllable '-tt-' in 'Sattappadi' and 'Ettadithaan'.
Anaphora (Repetitive Rhetorical Questions)
“Pombala ethanai aambala ethanai / Porandhatheththanai irandha theththanai”
Repeated use of 'Ethanai' (How many) emphasizing the endless cycle of life, death, and human mistakes.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary 'Makkal Kavignar' Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for 'Paasavalai' (1956), this song reflects his deeply ingrained Marxist and egalitarian philosophy. Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy composed the music for this film, and the song remains one of Tamil cinema's classic philosophical tracks on mortality and materialism.
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