Idhu Neerodu Selkindra
From Justice Viswanathan · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- S. Vedhachalam
- Details
- Justice Viswanathan1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Idhu neerodu selgindra odam | This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water. |
| Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum | Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this? |
| Idhu neerodu selgindra odam | This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water. |
| Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum | Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this? |
| Endha nenjangal edhanaale aarum | Which hearts can be healed by what means? |
| Endha kuttrangal edhanaale theerum | Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means? |
| Male | |
| Idhu neerodu selgindra odam | This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water. |
| Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum | Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this? |
| Male | |
| Sattam yemandhu ponaalum pogum | The legal system may be deceived or tricked at times. |
| Dharmam eppodhum pazhi vaangi theerum | But moral righteousness will always seek and exact retribution. |
| Sattam yemandhu ponaalum pogum | The legal system may be deceived or tricked at times. |
| Dharmam eppodhum pazhi vaangi theerum | But moral righteousness will always seek and exact retribution. |
| Nee unakaaga uruvakkam nyaayam | The justice that you construct for your own convenience, |
| Adhu aniyaayam aanaalum aagum | May very well turn out to be injustice. |
| Male | |
| Deivam thaan andrirundha raaman | Lord Rama himself was a divine incarnation in those ancient days, |
| Avan poi maanai thediyathu baedham | Yet his chasing of the illusory golden deer was a tragic error. |
| Endha nenjangal edhanaale aarum | Which hearts can be healed by what means? |
| Endha kuttrangal edhanaale theerum | Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means? |
| Male | |
| Nalla arivodu vaazhnthaarum undu | There are those who lived endowed with noble wisdom, |
| Vandha vidhiyou sendrarum undu | And there are those who departed swept away by destiny. |
| Nalla arivodu vaazhnthaarum undu | There are those who lived endowed with noble wisdom, |
| Vandha vidhiyou sendrarum undu | And there are those who departed swept away by destiny. |
| Andha sinam endrum serndhaarai kollum | That destructive anger always destroys those who cling to it, |
| Nalla manam thaane ennaalum vellum | While a good and virtuous heart will ultimately prevail forever. |
| Male | |
| Nenjil deivangal sila neram vaaum | At times, divine qualities reside within the human heart, |
| Andha mirugangal sila neram odum | And at times, wild beasts run rampant within it. |
| Endha nenjangal edhanaale aarum | Which hearts can be healed by what means? |
| Endha kuttrangal edhanaale theerum | Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means? |
| Male | |
| Idhu neerodu selgindra odam | This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water. |
| Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum | Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this? |
| Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum | Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this? |
| Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum | Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this? |
| Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum | Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this? |
| Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum | Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this? |
இது நீரோடு செல்கின்ற ஓடம்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்
இது நீரோடு செல்கின்ற ஓடம்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்
எந்த நெஞ்சங்கள் எதனாலே ஆறும்
எந்த குற்றங்கள் எதனாலே தீரும்
This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water.
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water.
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Which hearts can be healed by what means?
Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means?
இது நீரோடு செல்கின்ற ஓடம்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்
This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water.
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
சட்டம் ஏமாந்து போனாலும் போகும்
தர்மம் எப்போதும் பழி வாங்கித் தீரும்
சட்டம் ஏமாந்து போனாலும் போகும்
தர்மம் எப்போதும் பழி வாங்கித் தீரும்
நீ உனக்காக உருவாக்கும் நியாயம்
அது அநியாயம் ஆனாலும் ஆகும்
The legal system may be deceived or tricked at times.
But moral righteousness will always seek and exact retribution.
The legal system may be deceived or tricked at times.
But moral righteousness will always seek and exact retribution.
The justice that you construct for your own convenience,
May very well turn out to be injustice.
தெய்வம்தான் அன்றிருந்த ராமன்
அவன் பொய் மானை தேடியது பேதம்
எந்த நெஞ்சங்கள் எதனாலே ஆறும்
எந்த குற்றங்கள் எதனாலே தீரும்
Lord Rama himself was a divine incarnation in those ancient days,
Yet his chasing of the illusory golden deer was a tragic error.
Which hearts can be healed by what means?
Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means?
இது நீரோடு செல்கின்ற ஓடம்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்
There are those who lived endowed with noble wisdom,
And there are those who departed swept away by destiny.
There are those who lived endowed with noble wisdom,
And there are those who departed swept away by destiny.
That destructive anger always destroys those who cling to it,
While a good and virtuous heart will ultimately prevail forever.
நல்ல அறிவோடு வாழ்ந்தாரும் உண்டு
வந்த விதியோடு சென்றாரும் உண்டு
நல்ல அறிவோடு வாழ்ந்தாரும் உண்டு
வந்த விதியோடு சென்றாரும் உண்டு
அந்த சினம் என்றும் சேர்ந்தாரைக் கொல்லும்
நல்ல மனம்தானே எந்நாளும் வெல்லும்
At times, divine qualities reside within the human heart,
And at times, wild beasts run rampant within it.
Which hearts can be healed by what means?
Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means?
நெஞ்சில் தெய்வங்கள் சில நேரம் வாழும்
அந்த மிருகங்கள் சில நேரம் ஓடும்
எந்த நெஞ்சங்கள் எதனாலே ஆறும்
எந்த குற்றங்கள் எதனாலே தீரும்
This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water.
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
இது நீரோடு செல்கின்ற ஓடம்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்
இதில் நியாயங்கள் யார் சொல்லக் கூடும்...
Idhu neerodu selgindra odam
This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water.
Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Idhu neerodu selgindra odam
This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water.
Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Endha nenjangal edhanaale aarum
Which hearts can be healed by what means?
Endha kuttrangal edhanaale theerum
Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means?
Idhu neerodu selgindra odam
This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water.
Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Sattam yemandhu ponaalum pogum
The legal system may be deceived or tricked at times.
Dharmam eppodhum pazhi vaangi theerum
But moral righteousness will always seek and exact retribution.
Sattam yemandhu ponaalum pogum
The legal system may be deceived or tricked at times.
Dharmam eppodhum pazhi vaangi theerum
But moral righteousness will always seek and exact retribution.
Nee unakaaga uruvakkam nyaayam
The justice that you construct for your own convenience,
Adhu aniyaayam aanaalum aagum
May very well turn out to be injustice.
Deivam thaan andrirundha raaman
Lord Rama himself was a divine incarnation in those ancient days,
Avan poi maanai thediyathu baedham
Yet his chasing of the illusory golden deer was a tragic error.
Endha nenjangal edhanaale aarum
Which hearts can be healed by what means?
Endha kuttrangal edhanaale theerum
Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means?
Nalla arivodu vaazhnthaarum undu
There are those who lived endowed with noble wisdom,
Vandha vidhiyou sendrarum undu
And there are those who departed swept away by destiny.
Nalla arivodu vaazhnthaarum undu
There are those who lived endowed with noble wisdom,
Vandha vidhiyou sendrarum undu
And there are those who departed swept away by destiny.
Andha sinam endrum serndhaarai kollum
That destructive anger always destroys those who cling to it,
Nalla manam thaane ennaalum vellum
While a good and virtuous heart will ultimately prevail forever.
Nenjil deivangal sila neram vaaum
At times, divine qualities reside within the human heart,
Andha mirugangal sila neram odum
And at times, wild beasts run rampant within it.
Endha nenjangal edhanaale aarum
Which hearts can be healed by what means?
Endha kuttrangal edhanaale theerum
Which sins or crimes can be absolved by what means?
Idhu neerodu selgindra odam
This is a boat drifting along with the flow of water.
Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum
Who can speak of justice or righteousness in this?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song uses the metaphor of a boat drifting downstream to reflect on human destiny, morality, and justice. Written by Kannadasan and rendered by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, the song emphasizes that while human laws can be flawed or cheated, cosmic justice (Dharmam) inevitably prevails. Even great entities, like Lord Rama chasing the golden deer, can make fatal misjudgments, showing how fate and human weakness intertwine. The lyricist highlights the dual nature of human character—where divine goodness and wild inner beasts contend for control—and warns that harboring anger destroys oneself while virtue triumphs over time. Ultimately, the song questions human authority to judge right from wrong when all life flows helplessly under the currents of fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor)
“Idhu neerodu selgindra odam”
Comparing human life drifting uncontrollably under destiny to a boat ('odam') floating downstream with the current of water.
Ethirai (Contrast / Antithesis)
“Sattam yemandhu ponaalum pogum / Dharmam eppodhum pazhi vaangi theerum”
Contrasting earthly, flaw-ridden human law ('Sattam') with eternal, inescapable cosmic justice ('Dharmam').
Emona / Rhyme Scheme (Anaphora/Repetition)
“Idhil nyaayangal yaar solla koodum”
Repetition of identical lines at key intervals creates a rhythmic, reflective cadence accentuating human helplessness.
Mythological Allusion
“Deivam thaan andrirundha raaman / Avan poi maanai thediyathu baedham”
Referencing Rama chasing the illusory golden deer (Maricha) from the Ramayana to show that even noble minds succumb to temporary illusion.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Justice Viswanathan' (1971) starred Ravichandran and Jayanthi, with music scored by S. Vedhachalam. Lyricist Kannadasan's signature philosophical style shines through this track, where he articulates deep philosophical truths using simple daily metaphors like a drifting boat.
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