Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neethiyin Kurale

From Makkal Kural · 1976

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Makkal Kural
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
20 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Needhiyin kuralae makkal kural
Adhu ketkira kelvikku enna badhil
Needhiyin kuralae makkal kural
Adhu ketkira kelvikku enna badhil
Needhiyin kuralae makkal kural
Uzhaippavar kaigal uyarnthidumpothu
Thaduppavar yaaringae adhai edhirppavar yaaringae
Uzhaippavar kaigal uyarnthidumpothu
Thaduppavar yaaringae adhai edhirppavar yaaringae
Needhiyin kuralae makkal kural
Adhu ketkira kelvikku enna badhil
Naattilae thittam undu
Nalinthorkku vaazhvum undu
Nallorgal kolgai undu
Niraiverum naalum undu
Naattilae thittam undu
Nalinthorkku vaazhvum undu
Nallorgal kolgai undu
Niraiverum naalum undu
Thannalam kondavar
Nimmathiyaaga vaazhnthida mudiyaathu
Thaayagam vaazhnthida sevaigal seithor
Thaazhnthathu kidaiyaathu
Podhunalam kandu samanalam kondu
Vaazhnthidum naalandro
Vaazhnthidum naalandro
Podhunalam kandu samanalam kondu
Vaazhnthidum naalandro
Naattin valathu kai naamandro
Needhiyin kuralae makkal kural
Adhu ketkira kelvikku enna badhil
Needhiyin kuralae makkal kural
Saththiyam dharmam ellaam
Sabai yaerum kaalamadaa
Ellorukkum ellaam undu
Endru uruvaagum neramadaa
Saththiyam dharmam ellaam
Sabai yaerum kaalamadaa
Ellorukkum ellaam undu
Endru uruvaagum neramadaa
Yaezhaigal enbavar kozhaigalaaga
Vaazhnthida maattaargal
Yaen enum kelvigal ketkum naalil
Thoongida maattaargal
Kadamaigal munnae urimaigal pinnae
Endroru vithi seivom
Adhu evarukkum podhu enbom
Kadamaigal munnae urimaigal pinnae
Endroru vithi seivom
Adhu evarukkum podhu enbom
Needhiyin kuralae makkal kural
Adhu ketkira kelvikku enna badhil
Needhiyin kuralae makkal kural
Makkal kural…..
The voice of justice is the voice of the people
What is the answer to the question it asks?
The voice of justice is the voice of the people
What is the answer to the question it asks?
The voice of justice is the voice of the people
When the hands of the working people rise,
Who is here to stop them? Who is here to oppose them?
When the hands of the working people rise,
Who is here to stop them? Who is here to oppose them?
The voice of justice is the voice of the people
What is the answer to the question it asks?
There are plans in our country,
There is a life for the downtrodden,
There are principles of noble souls,
And there will be a day they all come true!
There are plans in our country,
There is a life for the downtrodden,
There are principles of noble souls,
And there will be a day they all come true!
Those who are selfish
can never live in peace.
Those who served so the motherland may thrive
have never fallen low.
Working for the common good and seeking equality,
isn't this the day to live that way?
Isn't this the day to live that way?
Working for the common good and seeking equality,
isn't this the day to live that way?
Aren't we the right hand of our nation?
The voice of justice is the voice of the people...
What is the answer to the question it asks?
The voice of justice is the voice of the people
Truth and righteousness
will take center stage now!
That everyone will have everything—
that era is dawning now!
Truth and righteousness
will take center stage now!
That everyone will have everything—
that era is dawning now!
Those who are poor
will not live as cowards anymore.
On the day they ask "Why?",
they will not stay asleep.
Duties first and rights second—
let us make such a rule,
and declare it equal for all!
Duties first and rights second—
let us make such a rule,
and declare it equal for all!
The voice of justice is the voice of the people...
What is the answer to the question it asks?
The voice of justice is the voice of the people
The voice of the people...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Needhiyin Kuralae Makkal Kural is a stirring socio-political anthem centered on egalitarianism, labor rights, and democratic duty. The song proclaims that true justice resides in the collective voice of the masses, asserting that when workers unite to claim their dignity, no oppressive force can stand in their way. It envision a welfare state where truth and social equality prevail. Furthermore, the lyricist Pulamaipithan emphasizes the principle of putting civic duties ahead of individual rights to ensure a balanced, just society. Sung with high energy by T.M. Soundararajan, the track serves as a call to awakening for the underprivileged to abandon fear, question authority, and build an equitable nation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mohnai (Initial Alliteration)

Naattilae thittam undu / Nalinthorkku vaazhvum undu / Nallorgal kolgai undu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('N') across consecutive lines creates rhythmic flow and rhetorical emphasis.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Naattilae thittam undu ... Nalinthorkku vaazhvum undu

Repetition of the ending word 'undu' across multiple stanzas reinforces certainty and hope.

Rhetorical Question

Thaduppavar yaaringae adhai edhirppavar yaaringae

Asking who can dare to stop the rising hands of laborers highlights their unstoppable collective power.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Pulamaipithan and set to music by V. Kumar, 'Needhiyin Kuralae Makkal Kural' served as the title-defining anthem for the 1976 film 'Makkal Kural', starring Jaishankar. The song heavily reflects socialist and civic duty philosophies prominent in Tamil cinema political discourse during the 1970s.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Makkal Kural

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.