Thanthai Naan Inge
From Neethibathi · 1983
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Neethibathi1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae | I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there. |
| Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae | I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there. |
| Naanezhuthum theerppu naayagann vaakku | The verdict I write is the divine word of God. |
| Naanezhuthum theerppu naayagann vaakku | The verdict I write is the divine word of God. |
| Needhyin mun nee yaar naan yaar sol | Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I? |
| Who ever it may be i live for justice | Whoever it may be, I live for justice. |
| Male | |
| Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae | I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there. |
| Male | |
| Naanum azhavillayaa kanneer vdavllayaa | Have I not wept? Have I not shed tears? |
| Thanthai manamillaiyaa paasam enakkillayaa | Do I not have a father's heart? Do I lack affection? |
| Kadamayin pidiylae | In the grip of duty, |
| Kadamayin pidiylae kaithyaai nirkkiraen | In the grip of duty, I stand as a prisoner. |
| Kangalai kattiyae unmaya paarkkiraen | Blindfolded, I behold the truth. |
| Kuttramo adhu kuttramo no….no….no…. | Is it a crime? Is it a crime? No... no... no... |
| Male | |
| Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae | I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there. |
| Naanezhuthum theerppu naayagann vaakku | The verdict I write is the divine word of God. |
| Needhyin mun nee yaar naan yaar sol | Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I? |
| Male | |
| Andru arichchanthiran pilla vilai ponathum | Back then, Harishchandra's child was sold for a price, |
| Sudala avan kaakkavae thunba nilaiyaanathum | And he suffered immensely while guarding the cremation ground; |
| Andru thaai sollaiyum karnan yaerkaathathum | Back then, Karna did not yield even to his mother's plea, |
| Sontha annan thambi endru paarkkaathathum | Without showing bias toward his own brothers; |
| Male | |
| Andru magudam thannai bharathan soodaathathum | Back then, Bharata refused to wear the crown himself, |
| Annan thiruppaathugai kondu arasaandathum | And ruled the kingdom placing his elder brother's holy sandals on the throne; |
| Unmaiya pottravae saththyam kaakkavae | Was it not all to praise the truth and protect righteousness? |
| Allavo… sollungal sollungal | Is it not so? Tell me, tell me! |
| Male | |
| Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae | I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there. |
| Naanezhuthum theerppu naayagann vaakku | The verdict I write is the divine word of God. |
| Needhyin mun nee yaar naan yaar sol | Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I? |
தந்தை நான் இங்கே நீதி தேவன்தான் அங்கே
தந்தை நான் இங்கே நீதி தேவன்தான் அங்கே
நானெழுதும் தீர்ப்பு நாயகனின் வாக்கு
நானெழுதும் தீர்ப்பு நாயகனின் வாக்கு
நீதியின் முன் நீ யார் நான் யார் சொல்
ஹூ எவர் இட் மே பி ஐ லிவ் பார் ஜஸ்டிஸ்
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
The verdict I write is the divine word of God.
The verdict I write is the divine word of God.
Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I?
Whoever it may be, I live for justice.
தந்தை நான் இங்கே நீதி தேவன்தான் அங்கே
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
நானும் அழவில்லையா கண்ணீர் விடவில்லையா
தந்தை மனமில்லையா பாசம் எனக்கில்லையா
கடமையின் பிடியிலே
கடமையின் பிடியிலே கைதியாய் நிற்கிறேன்
கண்களை கட்டியே உண்மையை பார்க்கிறேன்
குற்றமோ அது குற்றமோ நோ...நோ...நோ....
Have I not wept? Have I not shed tears?
Do I not have a father's heart? Do I lack affection?
In the grip of duty,
In the grip of duty, I stand as a prisoner.
Blindfolded, I behold the truth.
Is it a crime? Is it a crime? No... no... no...
தந்தை நான் இங்கே நீதி தேவன்தான் அங்கே
நானெழுதும் தீர்ப்பு நாயகனின் வாக்கு
நீதியின் முன் நீ யார் நான் யார் சொல்
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
The verdict I write is the divine word of God.
Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I?
அன்று அரிச்சந்திரன் பிள்ளை விலை போனதும்
சுடலை அவன் காக்கவே துன்ப நிலையானதும்
அன்று தாய் சொல்லையும் கர்ணன் ஏற்காததும்
சொந்த அண்ணன் தம்பி என்று பார்க்காததும்
Back then, Harishchandra's child was sold for a price,
And he suffered immensely while guarding the cremation ground;
Back then, Karna did not yield even to his mother's plea,
Without showing bias toward his own brothers;
அன்று மகுடம் தன்னை பரதன் சூடாததும்
அண்ணன் திருப்பாதுகை கொண்டு அரசாண்டதும்
உண்மையை போற்றவே சத்தியம் காக்கவே
அல்லவோ.....சொல்லுங்கள் சொல்லுங்கள்....
Back then, Bharata refused to wear the crown himself,
And ruled the kingdom placing his elder brother's holy sandals on the throne;
Was it not all to praise the truth and protect righteousness?
Is it not so? Tell me, tell me!
தந்தை நான் இங்கே நீதி தேவன்தான் அங்கே
நானெழுதும் தீர்ப்பு நாயகனின் வாக்கு
நீதியின் முன் நீ யார் நான் யார் சொல் சொல் சொல்
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
The verdict I write is the divine word of God.
Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I?
Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
Naanezhuthum theerppu naayagann vaakku
The verdict I write is the divine word of God.
Naanezhuthum theerppu naayagann vaakku
The verdict I write is the divine word of God.
Needhyin mun nee yaar naan yaar sol
Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I?
Who ever it may be i live for justice
Whoever it may be, I live for justice.
Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
Naanum azhavillayaa kanneer vdavllayaa
Have I not wept? Have I not shed tears?
Thanthai manamillaiyaa paasam enakkillayaa
Do I not have a father's heart? Do I lack affection?
Kadamayin pidiylae
In the grip of duty,
Kadamayin pidiylae kaithyaai nirkkiraen
In the grip of duty, I stand as a prisoner.
Kangalai kattiyae unmaya paarkkiraen
Blindfolded, I behold the truth.
Kuttramo adhu kuttramo no….no….no….
Is it a crime? Is it a crime? No... no... no...
Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
Naanezhuthum theerppu naayagann vaakku
The verdict I write is the divine word of God.
Needhyin mun nee yaar naan yaar sol
Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I?
Andru arichchanthiran pilla vilai ponathum
Back then, Harishchandra's child was sold for a price,
Sudala avan kaakkavae thunba nilaiyaanathum
And he suffered immensely while guarding the cremation ground;
Andru thaai sollaiyum karnan yaerkaathathum
Back then, Karna did not yield even to his mother's plea,
Sontha annan thambi endru paarkkaathathum
Without showing bias toward his own brothers;
Andru magudam thannai bharathan soodaathathum
Back then, Bharata refused to wear the crown himself,
Annan thiruppaathugai kondu arasaandathum
And ruled the kingdom placing his elder brother's holy sandals on the throne;
Unmaiya pottravae saththyam kaakkavae
Was it not all to praise the truth and protect righteousness?
Allavo… sollungal sollungal
Is it not so? Tell me, tell me!
Thanthai naan ngae needh devanthaan angae
I am a father here, but the goddess of justice is there.
Naanezhuthum theerppu naayagann vaakku
The verdict I write is the divine word of God.
Needhyin mun nee yaar naan yaar sol
Before justice, tell me, who are you and who am I?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This powerful song from Neethibathi portrays a judge agonizing over his solemn duty versus his emotional affection as a father. While his heart aches with parental grief and love, he realizes that justice is supreme and blind to personal ties. He asserts that a judicial verdict is sacred and unyielding. To justify his rigid stance of putting duty above personal relationships, he cites timeless mythological figures: King Harishchandra who sacrificed his family for truth, Karna who remained loyal to his principles over blood brotherhood, and Bharata who governed via Rama's sandals out of righteousness. The song underlines that no individual is above law and duty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mythological Allusion (Purana Uvamai)
“Andru arichchanthiran pilla vilai ponathum”
References epic figures like Harishchandra, Karna, and Bharata to establish historical and ethical precedent for prioritizing righteousness over personal love.
Rhetorical Question
“Needhyin mun nee yaar naan yaar sol”
Uses questions to highlight the judge's internal conflict and challenge the listener on the absolute nature of justice.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Kadamayin pidiylae kaithyaai nirkkiraen”
Compares being bound by legal duty to standing as a prisoner in duty's grasp.
Anaphora
“Andru arichchanthiran pilla vilai ponathum”
Repetition of 'Andru' at the start of consecutive lines in the charanam to build a rhythmic list of legendary examples.
Did you know?
Trivia
Neethibathi (1983) stars Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan as a stern judge. This song, composed by Gangai Amaran with lyrics by Vaali, features legendary singer T. M. Soundararajan giving his iconic voice to Sivaji Ganesan in one of their memorable late-career legal-drama collaborations.
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