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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Orr Nenjukku Needhi

From Avalukku Aayiram Kangal · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
T. K. Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Avalukku Aayiram Kangal
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
9 May 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Orraayiram varudam vanthaal
Theeraatha vazhakkellaam
Theerththu vaippaal deviyammaa….aa…aa…
Male :Theerththu vaippal deviyendru kaaththiruppatho…oo…
Sattam enum devanavan sathiraada maattano…oo….
Orr nenjukku needhi vellum vellum
Sila kaalamaagum
Vendravar melum velum vendrathumundu
Thottravar meendum meendum thorpathumundu
Vendravar melum velum vendrathumundu
Thottravar meendum meendum thorpathumundu
Orr manithan seithaal sattam
Athai deivam seithaal tharumam
Antha sattangalellaam dharumathai vendrathundo
Vendravar melum velum vendrathumundu
Thottravar meendum meendum thorpathumundu
Oru deivam seithaal dharumam
Adhai manithan seithaal sattam
Un dharumangalellaam sattangal polae
Vendrathum undo
Vendravar melum melum vendrathumundu
Thottravar meendum meendum thorpathumundu
Kannil kanda kaatchi palarundu saatchi
Aa……kannil kanda kaatchi palarundu saatchi
Amma…. idhu engal aatchi
Mannaalae kottai katti
Maraigindra koottam
Mazhai pondra needhi munnae adangidum aattam
Aa…ullam konda kaatchi oru manasatchi
Aa…ullam konda kaatchi oru manasatchi
Aiyya….adharkethu veezhchchi
Nimmathi yaethu thoongavidaathu
Illaiyendra pothum dheivam vidaathu
Orr nenjukku neethi vellum vellum
Sila kaalamaagum
Vendravar melum melum vendrathumundu
Thottravar meendum meendum thorpathumundu
……………….
Sathi anusooyai kaalamalla naam vaazhum kaalam
Aniyaayam thannai vellum athikaaram sellum
…………….
Adhikara veliyondru siru dhooram sellum
Chorus :Siru dhooram sellum
Female :Manaiyaalin thaaliyondru dhinanthorum vellum
Chorus :Dhinanthorum vellum
Aasaikku vetkamillai
Female :Yaaridam kuttramillai
Male :Needhiyil pedhamilla
Female :Nee mattum needhiyillai
Indrenna solvathammaa edhirkaalam kaattum
Female :Edhirkaalam ennavendru vithi vanthu kaattum
Orr nenjukku needhi vellum vellum
Sila kaalamaagum
Chorus :Vendravar melum melum vendrathumundu
Thottravar meendum meendum thorpathumundu
Even if a thousand years pass by,
All endless disputes,
The goddess mother will settle them... ah... ah...
Male: Waiting for the goddess to settle it... oh...
Will not the deity called Law dance its game?... oh...
Justice will prevail, will prevail for a pure heart,
Though it may take some time.
Those who won have won again and again,
And those who lost have lost repeatedly.
Those who won have won again and again,
And those who lost have lost repeatedly.
If a human creates it, it is a law;
If God enacts it, it is righteousness.
Have all those human laws ever triumphed over righteousness?
Those who won have won again and again,
And those who lost have lost repeatedly.
If a God enacts it, it is righteousness;
If a human creates it, it is a law.
Like human laws, has all your righteousness
Ever truly triumphed?
Those who won have won again and again,
And those who lost have lost repeatedly.
The scene witnessed with eyes, with many standing as witness—
Ah... the scene witnessed with eyes, with many standing as witness—
Oh lady... this is our reign!
Building fortresses out of mere mud,
A crowd that eventually fades away;
Before justice that falls like rain, their arrogant play will subside.
Ah... the vision held within the heart is a conscience,
Ah... the vision held within the heart is a conscience—
Respected sir... how could it ever fall?
Where is peace? It will not let one sleep,
Even if denied, God will not let it go.
Justice will prevail, will prevail for a pure heart,
Though it may take some time.
Those who won have won again and again,
And those who lost have lost repeatedly.
……………….
The era we live in is not the ancient age of Sati Anasuya,
Authority that can conquer injustice will hold sway.
…………….
A fence of power travels only a short distance,
Chorus: Travels only a short distance.
Female: A wife's sacred thread triumphs every single day,
Chorus: Triumphs every single day.
Desire knows no shame,
Female: Who is without fault?
Male: Justice makes no discrimination—
Female: Only you are not justice!
What is there to say today, dear lady? The future will show.
Female: Fate will arrive and show what the future holds.
Justice will prevail, will prevail for a pure heart,
Though it may take some time.
Chorus: Those who won have won again and again,
And those who lost have lost repeatedly.
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a dramatic and philosophical debate between two opposing perspectives on justice, truth, human law, and destiny. The male character presents a pragmatic, cynical view of the legal system, observing that human laws are often flawed, authority rules supreme, and the rich/powerful keep winning while the weak keep losing. He argues that waiting for divine intervention in human courtrooms is naive. Conversely, the female character asserts the power of conscience, dharma (righteousness), and divine retribution. She argues that corrupt power built on mud will crumble before true justice, and that guilty consciences will never know peace. The song explores deep themes of morality, comparing human-made legal codes with eternal moral order, concluding that while human court battles may favor power in the short term, ultimate justice and fate eventually reveal the truth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Vendravar melum velum vendrathumundu / Thottravar meendum meendum thorpathumundu”

The lines end with identical rhythmic and rhyming suffixes ('vendrathumundu' / 'thorpathumundu'), emphasizing the recurring cycle of victory and defeat.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Sattam enum devanavan / Orr nenjukku needhi vellum”

In Tamil poetry, Ethugai involves the second letter of consecutive lines matching in sound value.

Upamai Ani (Simile)

“Mazhai pondra needhi munnae adangidum aattam”

Justice is compared directly to rain ('mazhai pondra needhi') using the explicit comparison word 'pondra', symbolizing how righteous justice washes away arrogant power.

Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)

“Orr manithan seithaal sattam / Athai deivam seithaal tharumam”

Contrasts human creation ('manithan seithaal sattam') with divine creation ('deivam seithaal tharumam') to highlight the tension between human legalities and divine righteousness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by T. K. Ramamurthy with lyrics penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan, this song stands out as a powerful philosophical debate duet sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. Kannadasan's lyrical brilliance shines through lines like 'Oru manithan seithaal sattam, athai deivam seithaal tharumam', capturing complex legal and spiritual philosophy in simple, memorable Tamil verse.

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