Neethi Ithu Engal Neethi
From Ithu Engal Neethi · 1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Neethi idhu engal neethi | This justice is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Neethi idhu engal neethi | This justice is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Pizhaigal puriyum manithan ulagil | In a world of sinning human beings |
| Emathu pagaivan kann kanda sattangal | Our enemy is the tangible written law |
| Kai vitta dharmaththai kaakkum | Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned |
| Chorus | |
| Engal neethi idhu engal neethi | Our justice, this is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Male | |
| Neethiyin mandrangal yaezhaikkillai | Courts of justice do not exist for the poor |
| Adhuve avanukku thandanaithaan | That itself becomes a punishment for them |
| Evaro solliya vaarththai illai | These are not words spoken by just anyone |
| Annaa solliya sinthanaithaan | This is the philosophy articulated by Anna |
| Male | |
| Saatchigal illai endraal kaatchigal maaruthadaa | When there are no witnesses, the reality is manipulated |
| Sattamum avargalukku saathagam aanathadaa | The law itself becomes favorable to them |
| Chorus | |
| Nariyin nadamaattam iniyum vidamaattom | We will no longer tolerate the prowling of foxes |
| Mudiyum adhan aattam vidiyum samuthaayam | Its game will end, and society will witness a new dawn |
| Ilavattangal ittathu sattangal aanathu | What the youth decreed became the law |
| Vanthathu poraattam | The revolution has arrived |
| Chorus | |
| Neethi idhu engal neethi | This justice is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Neethi idhu engal neethi | This justice is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Pizhaigal puriyum manithan ulagil | In a world of sinning human beings |
| Emathu pagaivan kann kanda sattangal | Our enemy is the tangible written law |
| Kai vitta dharmaththai kaakkum | Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned |
| Chorus | |
| Engal neethi idhu engal neethi | Our justice, this is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Male | |
| Valuththavan kayil panam irukkum | The powerful man holds money in his hand |
| Vilanginum keezhaai gunam irukkum | Yet his character is lower than an animal's |
| Ilaiththavan kettaal kadan koduppaan | If the vulnerable man asks, he lends money as a loan |
| Koduththathai avanae kollai adippaan | Then he himself loots back what he gave |
| Male | |
| Magalin manam mudikka vaangiya kai panamthaan | The borrowed cash held in hand to solemnize a daughter's wedding |
| Izhanthaal nadappathengae ila magal thirumanamthaan | If lost, how can the young daughter's marriage happen? |
| Chorus | |
| Dharmam Idhu polae thavarum nilai kandu | Seeing righteousness failing in this manner |
| Varuvom thunaiyaaga udhavum poru kondu | We will come as a supporting force bringing assistance |
| Ilavattangal ittathu sattangal aanathu | What the youth decreed became the law |
| Vanthathu poraattam | The revolution has arrived |
| Chorus | |
| Neethi idhu engal neethi | This justice is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Neethi idhu engal neethi | This justice is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Pizhaigal puriyum manithan ulagil | In a world of sinning human beings |
| Emathu pagaivan kann kanda sattangal | Our enemy is the tangible written law |
| Kai vitta dharmaththai kaakkum | Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned |
| Chorus | |
| Engal neethi idhu engal neethi | Our justice, this is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham | This scripture is our scripture |
| Neethi idhu engal neethi | This justice is our justice |
| Vedham idhu engal vedham…. | This scripture is our scripture... |
நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
பிழைகள் புரியும் மனிதன் உலகில்
எமது பகைவன் கண் கண்ட சட்டங்கள்
கை விட்ட தர்மத்தை காக்கும்
This justice is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
This justice is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
In a world of sinning human beings
Our enemy is the tangible written law
Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned
எங்கள் நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
Our justice, this is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
நீதியின் மன்றங்கள் ஏழைக்கில்லை
அதுவே அவனுக்கு தண்டனை தான்
எவரோ சொல்லிய வார்த்தை இல்லை
அண்ணா சொல்லிய சிந்தனை தான்
Courts of justice do not exist for the poor
That itself becomes a punishment for them
These are not words spoken by just anyone
This is the philosophy articulated by Anna
சாட்சிகள் இல்லை என்றால் காட்சிகள் மாறுதடா
சட்டமும் அவர்களுக்கு சாதகம் ஆனதடா
When there are no witnesses, the reality is manipulated
The law itself becomes favorable to them
நரியின் நடமாட்டம் இனியும் விட மாட்டோம்
முடியும் அதன் ஆட்டம் விடியும் சமுதாயம்
இளவட்டங்கள் இட்டது சட்டங்கள் ஆனது
வந்தது போராட்டம்.......
We will no longer tolerate the prowling of foxes
Its game will end, and society will witness a new dawn
What the youth decreed became the law
The revolution has arrived
நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
பிழைகள் புரியும் மனிதன் உலகில்
எமது பகைவன் கண் கண்ட சட்டங்கள்
கை விட்ட தர்மத்தை காக்கும்
This justice is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
This justice is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
In a world of sinning human beings
Our enemy is the tangible written law
Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned
எங்கள் நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
Our justice, this is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
வலுத்தவன் கையில் பணம் இருக்கும்
விலங்கினும் கீழாய் குணம் இருக்கும்
இளைத்தவன் கேட்டால் கடன் கொடுப்பான்
கொடுத்ததை அவனே கொள்ளை அடிப்பான்
The powerful man holds money in his hand
Yet his character is lower than an animal's
If the vulnerable man asks, he lends money as a loan
Then he himself loots back what he gave
மகளின் மணம் முடிக்க வாங்கிய கைப் பணம்தான்
இழந்தால் நடப்பதெங்கே இள மகள் திருமணம்தான்
The borrowed cash held in hand to solemnize a daughter's wedding
If lost, how can the young daughter's marriage happen?
தர்மம் இது போலே தவறும் நிலை கண்டு
வருவோம் துணையாக உதவும் பொருள் கொண்டு
இளவட்டங்கள் இட்டது சட்டங்கள் ஆனது
வந்தது போராட்டம்......
Seeing righteousness failing in this manner
We will come as a supporting force bringing assistance
What the youth decreed became the law
The revolution has arrived
நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
பிழைகள் புரியும் மனிதன் உலகில்
எமது பகைவன் கண் கண்ட சட்டங்கள்
கை விட்ட தர்மத்தை காக்கும்
This justice is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
This justice is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
In a world of sinning human beings
Our enemy is the tangible written law
Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned
எங்கள் நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
நீதி இது எங்கள் நீதி
வேதம் இது எங்கள் வேதம்
Our justice, this is our justice
This scripture is our scripture
This justice is our justice
This scripture is our scripture...
Neethi idhu engal neethi
This justice is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Neethi idhu engal neethi
This justice is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Pizhaigal puriyum manithan ulagil
In a world of sinning human beings
Emathu pagaivan kann kanda sattangal
Our enemy is the tangible written law
Kai vitta dharmaththai kaakkum
Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned
Engal neethi idhu engal neethi
Our justice, this is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Neethiyin mandrangal yaezhaikkillai
Courts of justice do not exist for the poor
Adhuve avanukku thandanaithaan
That itself becomes a punishment for them
Evaro solliya vaarththai illai
These are not words spoken by just anyone
Annaa solliya sinthanaithaan
This is the philosophy articulated by Anna
Saatchigal illai endraal kaatchigal maaruthadaa
When there are no witnesses, the reality is manipulated
Sattamum avargalukku saathagam aanathadaa
The law itself becomes favorable to them
Nariyin nadamaattam iniyum vidamaattom
We will no longer tolerate the prowling of foxes
Mudiyum adhan aattam vidiyum samuthaayam
Its game will end, and society will witness a new dawn
Ilavattangal ittathu sattangal aanathu
What the youth decreed became the law
Vanthathu poraattam
The revolution has arrived
Neethi idhu engal neethi
This justice is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Neethi idhu engal neethi
This justice is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Pizhaigal puriyum manithan ulagil
In a world of sinning human beings
Emathu pagaivan kann kanda sattangal
Our enemy is the tangible written law
Kai vitta dharmaththai kaakkum
Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned
Engal neethi idhu engal neethi
Our justice, this is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Valuththavan kayil panam irukkum
The powerful man holds money in his hand
Vilanginum keezhaai gunam irukkum
Yet his character is lower than an animal's
Ilaiththavan kettaal kadan koduppaan
If the vulnerable man asks, he lends money as a loan
Koduththathai avanae kollai adippaan
Then he himself loots back what he gave
Magalin manam mudikka vaangiya kai panamthaan
The borrowed cash held in hand to solemnize a daughter's wedding
Izhanthaal nadappathengae ila magal thirumanamthaan
If lost, how can the young daughter's marriage happen?
Dharmam Idhu polae thavarum nilai kandu
Seeing righteousness failing in this manner
Varuvom thunaiyaaga udhavum poru kondu
We will come as a supporting force bringing assistance
Ilavattangal ittathu sattangal aanathu
What the youth decreed became the law
Vanthathu poraattam
The revolution has arrived
Neethi idhu engal neethi
This justice is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Neethi idhu engal neethi
This justice is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Pizhaigal puriyum manithan ulagil
In a world of sinning human beings
Emathu pagaivan kann kanda sattangal
Our enemy is the tangible written law
Kai vitta dharmaththai kaakkum
Protecting the righteousness that was abandoned
Engal neethi idhu engal neethi
Our justice, this is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham
This scripture is our scripture
Neethi idhu engal neethi
This justice is our justice
Vedham idhu engal vedham….
This scripture is our scripture...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a fiery revolutionary anthem from the 1988 film 'Ithu Engal Neethi', composed and rendered by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali. The lyrics voice the righteous anger of youth rising up against a corrupt and biased judicial system that serves the wealthy while punishing the destitute. It critiques how human laws are manipulated by oppressive money-lenders and exploiters who rob the vulnerable of their livelihoods and dignity. Invoking the political ideology of Dravidian leader C. N. Annadurai ('Anna'), the song champions a new form of youth-led justice. It asserts that true righteousness (dharma) must be reclaimed by the people to dismantle systemic tyranny, bringing about a revolutionary dawn for society.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain / Repetition
“Neethi idhu engal neethi / Vedham idhu engal vedham”
The core phrase 'Neethi idhu engal neethi / Vedham idhu engal vedham' repeats throughout the track to reinforce the central theme of self-proclaimed moral authority and ideological resolve.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nariyin nadamaattam iniyum vidamaattom”
The word 'Nari' (fox) is used metaphorically to represent cunning, deceptive oppressors and corrupt figures in power.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Valuththavan kayil panam irukkum / Vilanginum keezhaai gunam irukkum”
The repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Va' and 'Vi') across lines creates rhythmic momentum.
Allusion
“Annaa solliya sinthanaithaan”
Explicit political reference to 'Anna' (C. N. Annadurai), alluding to his popular critique of how formal court legalities often fail the poor.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song explicitly references 'Anna' (C. N. Annadurai, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu), connecting the film's theme of vigilante justice to his famous political quote comparing the law to a dark room where the poor man's light is missing. The movie was directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar, known for his revolutionary social-drama films.
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