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Lyrics & meaning

Dharama Thulabaram

From Neethi Devan Mayakkam · 1982

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Neethi Devan Mayakkam
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
25 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Dharma thulaapaaram idhu dharma thulaapaaram
Dharma thulaapaaram idhu dharma thulaapaaram
Kangalillaa niyaayangal saatchiyillaa dharmangal
Ondrai ondru modhi kollum
Needhi enna needhi idhu neetdhiyillaa needhi
Dharma thulaapaaram idhu dharma thulaapaaram
Saatchiyodu seivathuthaan niyaayamaana kuttram
Niyaaya devan kaigalilae neendathoru sattam
Thandanaiyai ketkkumpothu kuttravaali kalakkam
Thandanaikku pinpuraththil needhi devan mayakkam
Needhi devan mayakkam
Adhigaara suvar ezhuppi aniyaaya kadai nadaththi
Mudhalillaa vaanipaththil mundhi nirkkiraar
Dharma devar peyaralae droupathiyai thuyiluriyum
Soodhaattangal endrum poraattangal
Dharma thulaapaaram idhu dharma thulaapaaram
Saththiyaththai kondra pinbu sathiraaduthu kaalam
Sattamendra peyarinilae thittamitta viyaapaaram
Manithan sollum saatchiyellaam
Ooththedukkum niyaayangal
Manasaatchi enbathuthaan needhidevan aalayam
Aalayaththu munnilaiyil
Aandavanin sannathiyil
Aththanaikkum theerpalikkum saththiyasothanai
Niraparaathi viduthalaiyum kuttravaali thandanaiyum
Dharma saathanai athu saththiya dharamam miga uththma dharmam
The scales of justice, these are the scales of justice.
The scales of justice, these are the scales of justice.
Blind justice and righteousness without a witness
clash against one another.
What kind of justice is this? It is justice without any justice!
The scales of justice, these are the scales of justice.
A crime backed by witnesses is treated as lawful,
while in the hands of the God of Justice lies a lengthy law.
Hearing the sentence of punishment, the criminal trembles;
yet behind that verdict, the God of Justice himself stands bewildered.
The God of Justice stands bewildered.
Raising walls of authority and running a marketplace of injustice,
they lead the race in a business that needs no investment.
Disrobing Draupadi in the name of righteousness—
such crooked games of dice remain an endless struggle.
The scales of justice, these are the scales of justice.
After murdering the truth, time dances in celebration.
In the name of the law, a calculated business carries on.
All the testimonies that humans give
are only self-serving reasons bubbling up.
One's conscience alone is the true temple of justice.
Before that sacred temple,
in the presence of the Almighty,
the test of truth will deliver judgment upon everything.
Freeing the innocent and punishing the guilty—
that is the triumph of justice, the true righteousness, the highest virtue.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This powerful song from 'Neethi Devan Mayakkam' serves as a sharp philosophical critique of human legal systems and systemic corruption. Lyricist Kannadasan contrasts human courtrooms—where truth is manipulated through technicalities, false testimony, and power dynamics—with true moral justice. The song highlights how criminals exploit legal loopholes while the innocent suffer under hypocritical facades.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Manasaatchi enbathuthaan needhidevan aalayam”

Compares human conscience directly to the sacred temple of the God of Justice.

Paradox / Oxymoron

“Needhi enna needhi idhu neetdhiyillaa needhi”

Contradicts the core concept of justice by calling it 'justice without integrity/ethics'.

Mythological Allusion (Sarithira Kurippu)

“Dharma devar peyaralae droupathiyai thuyiluriyum”

Alludes to the gambling match in Mahabharata where Draupadi was humiliated in the name of righteousness.

Personification

“Saththiyaththai kondra pinbu sathiraaduthu kaalam”

Personifies 'Time' as dancing triumphantly after truth has been slain.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song title reflects the film's core theme, questioning courtrooms and legal technicalities. Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with powerful vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Kannadasan's lyrics effectively combine Mahabharata lore with modern judicial criticism.

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