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Lyrics & meaning

Needhi Idhuthaana

From Vennira Aadai · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Vennira Aadai1965

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Malarodu visha naagam pirappadhaalaeJust because a venomous snake is born alongside a flower,
Andha malaraiyae thalli vaikkum valakkam undooIs it customary to reject and discard that flower?
Thann nilai ariyaa ilaiyavanain thavarinaalaeJust because an ignorant young man committed a mistake,
Avan inathaiyae udhasinam seidhal nandroIs it fair to disregard his entire family or community?
Hooo ooo oo hoo oo oohoo oo oo ooHooo ooo oo hoo oo oohoo oo oo oo
Male
Needhi idhuthaana naermai idhuthaanaIs this justice? Is this honesty?
Needhi idhuthaana naermai idhuthaanaIs this justice? Is this honesty?
Neriyodu vaazhvorin nilaiyae idhaanaIs this the plight of those who live righteously?
Needhi idhuthaana naermai idhuthaanaIs this justice? Is this honesty?
Male
Sittrannai kaigaeyi pidivaathathaalaeDue to stepmother Kaikeyi's stubborn persistence,
Sriraaman munnnaalil kaadaala ponaanLord Rama went to exile in the forest in ancient times.
Sittrannai kaigaeyi pidivaathathaalaeDue to stepmother Kaikeyi's stubborn persistence,
Sriraaman munnnaalil kaadaala ponaanLord Rama went to exile in the forest in ancient times.
Saeigaludan veenaana abavaathathaalaeBecause of baseless allegations along with his children,
Ivan thirunaattai aazhaamal naadodi aanaanHe became a nomad without ruling his sacred nation.
Neriyodu vaazhvorin nilaiyae idhaanaIs this the plight of those who live righteously?
Male
Needhi idhuthaana naermai idhuthaanaIs this justice? Is this honesty?
Needhi idhuthaanaIs this justice?
Naermai idhuthaanaIs this honesty?
Needhi idhuthaanaIs this justice?
Naermai idhuthaanaIs this honesty?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song by Kannadasan questions the unfair judgments imposed by society on innocent individuals. Through evocative imagery, the lyricist asks if a flower should be discarded simply because a venomous snake resides near it, drawing a parallel to how an entire family is often condemned for one person's lapse in judgment. The song invokes mythological allusions from the Ramayana, highlighting how even Lord Rama suffered exile and hardship due to Kaikeyi's stubbornness and baseless rumors, lamenting the tragedy that righteous people often face unjust suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Analogy / Metaphor)

“Malarodu visha naagam pirappadhaalae”

Compares an innocent family punished for one person's fault to a flower being discarded because a poisonous snake lives near it.

Allusion (Purana Kurippeedhu)

“Sittrannai kaigaeyi pidivaathathaalae / Sriraaman munnnaalil kaadaala ponaan”

References the story of Lord Rama and Kaikeyi from the Ramayana to illustrate how righteous beings suffer due to others' malice.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Needhi idhuthaana naermai idhuthaana”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('N') across 'Needhi' and 'Naermai'.

Rhetorical Questioning (Vinaa Aani)

“Neriyodu vaazhvorin nilaiyae idhaana”

Repeatedly asking rhetorical questions to challenge societal injustice and moral hypocrisy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vennira Aadai (1965), directed by C. V. Sridhar with music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, marked the Tamil cinema debut of J. Jayalalithaa (who later became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu). This song reflects lyricist Kannadasan's signature style of blending philosophical introspection with classical and epic references.

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