Naanaa Sonnen
From Justice Gopinath · 1978
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Justice Gopinath1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naana sonnen theerppu | Did I give the verdict? |
| Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu | The law book alone is my protection. |
| Naana sonnen theerppu | Did I give the verdict? |
| Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu | The law book alone is my protection. |
| Naan sonnadhai sollum kilippillai | I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken. |
| Ada iraivaa en mael thavarillai | Oh God, there is no fault in me. |
| Naan sonnadhai sollum kilippillai | I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken. |
| Ada iraivaa en mael thavarillai | Oh God, there is no fault in me. |
| Male | |
| Dialogue ….. | [Dialogue] |
| Male | |
| Naana sonnen theerppu | Did I give the verdict? |
| Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu | The law book alone is my protection. |
| Male | |
| Chozhan maganai thaeril kondrathu | Crushing the Chola King's son under the chariot wheel, |
| Manuvin saatchiyappa | Is the testimony of King Manu, my friend. |
| Chozhan maganai thaeril kondrathu | Crushing the Chola King's son under the chariot wheel, |
| Manuvin saatchiyappa | Is the testimony of King Manu, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Sibiyin sadhaiyai paravaikkendrathu | Offering King Sibi's own flesh for the bird, |
| Manadhin saatchiyappa | Is the testimony of conscience, my friend. |
| Sibiyin sadhaiyai paravaikkendrathu | Offering King Sibi's own flesh for the bird, |
| Manadhin saatchiyappa | Is the testimony of conscience, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Pithalai endrae thangathai solvadhu | Calling pure gold as mere brass, |
| Manidhan saatchiyappaa | Is the testimony of human judgment, my friend. |
| Iththarai meedhu sathiyamaanadhu | The ultimate truth upon this earth, |
| Deivathin saatchiyappaa | Is the testimony of God, my friend. |
| Male | |
| Naana sonnen theerppu | Did I give the verdict? |
| Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu | The law book alone is my protection. |
| Male | |
| Vaadham kaettu vazhakkai theerkkum | Hearing arguments and resolving cases, |
| Adhu thaan enadhu madhi | That alone is the scope of my intellect. |
| Enakkum melae iruppavan oruvan | There is Someone above me, |
| Avan thaan needhibadhi | He alone is the true Judge. |
| Vaadham kaettu vazhakkai theerkkum | Hearing arguments and resolving cases, |
| Adhu thaan enadhu madhi | That alone is the scope of my intellect. |
| Enakkum melae iruppavan oruvan | There is Someone above me, |
| Avan thaan needhibadhi | He alone is the true Judge. |
| Male | |
| Naana sonnen theerppu | Did I give the verdict? |
| Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu | The law book alone is my protection. |
| Naan sonnadhai sollum kilippillai | I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken. |
| Ada iraivaa en mael thavarillai | Oh God, there is no fault in me. |
| Sonnadhai sollum kilippillai | A parrot repeating what was spoken. |
| Ada iraivaa en mael thavarillai | Oh God, there is no fault in me. |
| Male | |
| Naana sonnen theerppu | Did I give the verdict? |
| Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu | The law book alone is my protection. |
நானா சொன்னேன் தீர்ப்பு
சட்ட நூல் தான் எந்தன் காப்பு
நானா சொன்னேன் தீர்ப்பு
சட்ட நூல் தான் எந்தன் காப்பு
நான் சொன்னதை சொல்லும் கிளிப்பிள்ளை
அட இறைவா என் மேல் தவறில்லை
நான் சொன்னதை சொல்லும் கிளிப்பிள்ளை
அட இறைவா என் மேல் தவறில்லை
Did I give the verdict?
The law book alone is my protection.
Did I give the verdict?
The law book alone is my protection.
I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken.
Oh God, there is no fault in me.
I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken.
Oh God, there is no fault in me.
வசனம் .....
[Dialogue]
நானா சொன்னேன் தீர்ப்பு
சட்ட நூல் தான் எந்தன் காப்பு
Did I give the verdict?
The law book alone is my protection.
சோழன் மகனை தேரில் கொன்றது
மனுவின் சாட்சியப்பாசோழன் மகனை தேரில் கொன்றது
மனுவின் சாட்சியப்பா
சிபியின் சதையை பறவைக்கீன்றது
மனதின் சாட்சியப்பா
சிபியின் சதையை பறவைக்கீன்றது
மனதின் சாட்சியப்பா
Crushing the Chola King's son under the chariot wheel,
Is the testimony of King Manu, my friend.
Crushing the Chola King's son under the chariot wheel,
Is the testimony of King Manu, my friend.
பித்தளை என்றே தங்கத்தை சொல்வது
மனிதன் சாட்சியப்பா
இத்தரை மீது சத்தியமானது
தெய்வத்தின் சாட்சியப்பா
Offering King Sibi's own flesh for the bird,
Is the testimony of conscience, my friend.
Offering King Sibi's own flesh for the bird,
Is the testimony of conscience, my friend.
நானா சொன்னேன் தீர்ப்பு
சட்ட நூல் தான் எந்தன் காப்பு
Calling pure gold as mere brass,
Is the testimony of human judgment, my friend.
The ultimate truth upon this earth,
Is the testimony of God, my friend.
வாதம் கேட்டு வழக்கை தீர்க்கும்
அதுதான் எனது மதி
எனக்கும் மேலே இருப்பவன் ஒருவன்
அவன்தான் நீதிபதி
வாதம் கேட்டு வழக்கை தீர்க்கும்
அதுதான் எனது மதி
எனக்கும் மேலே இருப்பவன் ஒருவன்
அவன்தான் நீதிபதி
Did I give the verdict?
The law book alone is my protection.
சரியோ தவறோ பாரம் எல்லாம்
அவன் மேல் போட்டுவிட்டேன்
எய்தவன் இருக்க அம்பை நோவது
முறையா கேட்டுவிட்டேன்
Hearing arguments and resolving cases,
That alone is the scope of my intellect.
There is Someone above me,
He alone is the true Judge.
Hearing arguments and resolving cases,
That alone is the scope of my intellect.
There is Someone above me,
He alone is the true Judge.
நானா சொன்னேன் தீர்ப்பு
சட்ட நூல் தான் எந்தன் காப்பு
நான் சொன்னதை சொல்லும் கிளிப்பிள்ளை
அட இறைவா என் மேல் தவறில்லை
சொன்னதை சொல்லும் கிளிப்பிள்ளை
அட இறைவா என் மேல் தவறில்லை
Did I give the verdict?
The law book alone is my protection.
I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken.
Oh God, there is no fault in me.
A parrot repeating what was spoken.
Oh God, there is no fault in me.
நானா சொன்னேன் தீர்ப்பு
சட்ட நூல் தான் எந்தன் காப்பு
Did I give the verdict?
The law book alone is my protection.
Naana sonnen theerppu
Did I give the verdict?
Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu
The law book alone is my protection.
Naana sonnen theerppu
Did I give the verdict?
Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu
The law book alone is my protection.
Naan sonnadhai sollum kilippillai
I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken.
Ada iraivaa en mael thavarillai
Oh God, there is no fault in me.
Naan sonnadhai sollum kilippillai
I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken.
Ada iraivaa en mael thavarillai
Oh God, there is no fault in me.
Dialogue …..
[Dialogue]
Naana sonnen theerppu
Did I give the verdict?
Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu
The law book alone is my protection.
Chozhan maganai thaeril kondrathu
Crushing the Chola King's son under the chariot wheel,
Manuvin saatchiyappa
Is the testimony of King Manu, my friend.
Chozhan maganai thaeril kondrathu
Crushing the Chola King's son under the chariot wheel,
Manuvin saatchiyappa
Is the testimony of King Manu, my friend.
Sibiyin sadhaiyai paravaikkendrathu
Offering King Sibi's own flesh for the bird,
Manadhin saatchiyappa
Is the testimony of conscience, my friend.
Sibiyin sadhaiyai paravaikkendrathu
Offering King Sibi's own flesh for the bird,
Manadhin saatchiyappa
Is the testimony of conscience, my friend.
Pithalai endrae thangathai solvadhu
Calling pure gold as mere brass,
Manidhan saatchiyappaa
Is the testimony of human judgment, my friend.
Iththarai meedhu sathiyamaanadhu
The ultimate truth upon this earth,
Deivathin saatchiyappaa
Is the testimony of God, my friend.
Naana sonnen theerppu
Did I give the verdict?
Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu
The law book alone is my protection.
Vaadham kaettu vazhakkai theerkkum
Hearing arguments and resolving cases,
Adhu thaan enadhu madhi
That alone is the scope of my intellect.
Enakkum melae iruppavan oruvan
There is Someone above me,
Avan thaan needhibadhi
He alone is the true Judge.
Vaadham kaettu vazhakkai theerkkum
Hearing arguments and resolving cases,
Adhu thaan enadhu madhi
That alone is the scope of my intellect.
Enakkum melae iruppavan oruvan
There is Someone above me,
Avan thaan needhibadhi
He alone is the true Judge.
Naana sonnen theerppu
Did I give the verdict?
Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu
The law book alone is my protection.
Naan sonnadhai sollum kilippillai
I am merely a parrot repeating what was spoken.
Ada iraivaa en mael thavarillai
Oh God, there is no fault in me.
Sonnadhai sollum kilippillai
A parrot repeating what was spoken.
Ada iraivaa en mael thavarillai
Oh God, there is no fault in me.
Naana sonnen theerppu
Did I give the verdict?
Satta nool thaan endhn kaappu
The law book alone is my protection.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Naana sonnen theerppu from Justice Gopinath (1978) portrays the inner conflict and solemn duty of an upright judge (played by Sivaji Ganesan). The song highlights how a judge does not deliver judgments out of personal bias or malice, but merely acts as an instrument of the written law. He likens himself to a parrot repeating the statutory code and pleads his innocence before God for the harsh outcomes of his verdicts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Naan sonnadhai sollum kilippillai”
The speaker compares himself to a 'kilippillai' (parrot) that only repeats what it has been taught, illustrating his lack of personal agency in legal judgments.
Allusion (Purana/Historical Reference)
“Chozhan maganai thaeril kondrathu... Sibiyin sadhaiyai paravaikkendrathu”
Refers to the ancient Tamil rulers Manu Needhi Cholan (who ran over his own son to deliver justice to a cow) and King Sibi (who carved his own flesh for a dove) as benchmarks of uncompromising justice.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Pithalai endrae thangathai solvadhu... Iththarai meedhu sathiyamaanadhu Deivathin saatchiyappaa”
Contrasts fallible human judgment ('Pithalai endrae thangathai solvadhu') with infallible divine justice ('Deivathin saatchiyappaa').
Did you know?
Trivia
In the film Justice Gopinath, Sivaji Ganesan delivers a powerful performance as a high-principled judge forced to uphold law even when personal ties are tested. The song, composed by M. S. Vishwanathan and rendered by T. M. Soundarajan, stands out as one of Tamil cinema's definitive philosophical songs on law, duty, and divine justice.
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