Madras High Court Justice Anand Venkatesh beautifully sings the Thirukkural in a newly released YouTube music series. His soulful rendition brings timeless Tamil wisdom to life through a contemporary and creative musical interpretation.
Justice Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court performed a Thirukkural verse emphasizing the importance of impartiality for the musical series ‘1330 Melodies,’ which was released on musician Lydian Nadhaswaram’s official YouTube channel.
Justice Venkatesh recited,
“சமன்செய்து சீர்தூக்குங் கோல்போல் அமைந்தொருபால் கோடாமை சான்றோர்க் கணி” (Kural 113)”
Which translates to “Like the balance that weighs both sides evenly, impartiality is the true ornament of the wise.”
This verse likens fairness to a weighing scale that remains stable only when balanced, highlighting equanimity as a hallmark of wisdom.
The Thirukkural, written over two thousand years ago, is a cornerstone of Tamil literature, consisting of 1,330 couplets that explore moral, social, and political conduct across three themes: virtue, wealth, and love. Its ethical and philosophical insights continue to influence discussions today, including in judicial reasoning in Tamil Nadu.
Notably, the Supreme Court referenced the Thirukkural in the case of Kaushal Kishor v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2023). In this Constitution Bench judgment authored by Justice V Ramasubramanian, the text was cited while examining the scope of freedom of speech and expression for lawmakers.
The video featuring Justice Venkatesh’s performance is part of a musical initiative that interprets the Thirukkural through modern artistic expression. Other notable figures who have contributed their voices to this project include singers Shankar Mahadevan, KS Chithra, and musician Deva.
Justice N. Anand Venkatesh was born on 4 July 1969. He completed his schooling at St. Mary’s School, Perambur, and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from A.M. Jain College, Meenambakkam, followed by a Bachelor of Law from Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai.
The Madras High Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice S.K. Kaul, proposed his name for appointment as an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court on 19 December 2016. This recommendation was subsequently approved by the Supreme Court Collegium in December 2017, and he officially assumed office on 4 June 2018.
Later, during its meeting on 12 February 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde confirmed his elevation as a permanent judge of the Madras High Court.
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