Punniyam Thedi Kasikku
From Kasi · 2001
- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Singer
- Hariharan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kasi2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar | People go to Kasi in search of virtue |
| Ingu nam naattinilae | Here in our land |
| Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar | Who will come searching for this Kasi? |
| Intha ulagaththilae | In this world |
| Male | |
| Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar | People go to Kasi in search of virtue |
| Ingu nam naattinilae | Here in our land |
| Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar | Who will come searching for this Kasi? |
| Intha ulagaththilae | In this world |
| Male | |
| Paavam pokkidum gangaiyin punitham | The sacredness of Ganges that absolves sins |
| Ellaarum arivaar | Everyone knows it |
| Intha paava piraviyin kanneer gangaiyai | The Ganges of tears of this sinful birth |
| Ingae yaar arivar | Who knows it here? |
| Male | |
| Dheivaththai thedi baktharkal koottam | Seeking God, a crowd of devotees |
| Aalayam selluthadi | Goes to the temple |
| Oru paattinil vaazhum piththanai thedi | Seeking the madman who lives in a song |
| Dheivamae vanthathadi | God Himself came |
| Male | |
| Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar | People go to Kasi in search of virtue |
| Ingu nam naattinilae | Here in our land |
| Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar | Who will come searching for this Kasi? |
| Intha ulagaththilae | In this world |
| Male | |
| Netru varai sooriyanai | Until yesterday, the sun |
| Nenjil karpanai seithaen | I imagined in my heart |
| Athu yaedho endru enni kondaen | I thought of it as something distant |
| Indru vantha sooriyanai | The sun that arrived today |
| Yaezhai kudisaiyil kandaen | I saw in a poor hut |
| Enthan yazhisaiyai alli thanthan | He gave abundantly the music of my harp |
| Male | |
| Raagaththin koyilil naadhaththin devanae | Oh Lord of sound in the temple of melody |
| Vedhaththai odhuvaen vedhanai theeravae | I shall recite the Vedas to relieve my pain |
| Kanneerilae uppu indru thiththikkuthae | Today the saltiness in my tears feels sweet |
| Kandukondaen maattrangalai thanthathu neethaanae | I realized that you are the one who brought these changes |
| Male | |
| Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar | People go to Kasi in search of virtue |
| Ingu nam naattinilae | Here in our land |
| Male | |
| Eppozhuthu eppozhuthu | When, oh when |
| Unthan mugaththinai paarpaen | Will I look at your face? |
| Adhil enthan mugaththinai paarppaen | And see my own face reflection in it? |
| Enna seithu enna seithu | Doing what, doing what |
| Intha kadan naan theeppean | Will I repay this debt? |
| Patta nandri kadangalai theerppaen | I will clear the debts of gratitude owed |
| Male | |
| Eththanai jenmangal vanthaalum podhaathu | No matter how many lifetimes come, it won't be enough |
| Saththiyam paattilae sonnaalum theeraathu | Even if told in a song of truth, it won't end |
| Kangal illai paarvai undu | I have no eyes, yet I have vision |
| Kandukondaen | I have realized |
| Oomai nenjam pesugindra | The words spoken by a mute heart |
| Vaarththaiyai kettaenae | I have heard them |
| Male | |
| Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar | People go to Kasi in search of virtue |
| Ingu nam naattinilae | Here in our land |
| Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar | Who will come searching for this Kasi? |
| Intha ulagaththilae | In this world |
| Male | |
| Paavam pokkidum gangaiyin punitham | The sacredness of Ganges that absolves sins |
| Ellaarum arivaar | Everyone knows it |
| Intha paava piraviyin kanneer gangaiyai | The Ganges of tears of this sinful birth |
| Ingae yaar arivar | Who knows it here? |
| Male | |
| Dheivaththai thedi baktharkal koottam | Seeking God, a crowd of devotees |
| Aalayam selluthadi | Goes to the temple |
| Oru paattinil vaazhum piththanai thedi | Seeking the madman who lives in a song |
| Dheivamae vanthathadi | God Himself came |
| Male | |
| Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar | People go to Kasi in search of virtue |
| Ingu nam naattinilae | Here in our land |
| Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar | Who will come searching for this Kasi? |
| Intha ulagaththilae | In this world |
புண்ணியம் தேடி காசிக்கு போவார்
இங்கு நம் நாட்டினிலே
இந்த காசியை தேடி யாரு வருவார்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Here in our land
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
In this world
புண்ணியம் தேடி காசிக்கு போவார்
இங்கு நம் நாட்டினிலே
இந்த காசியை தேடி யாரு வருவார்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Here in our land
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
In this world
பாவம் போக்கிடும் கங்கையின் புனிதம்
எல்லாரும் அறிவார்
இந்த பாவப் பிறவியின் கண்ணீர் கங்கையை
இங்கே யார் அறிவார்
The sacredness of Ganges that absolves sins
Everyone knows it
The Ganges of tears of this sinful birth
Who knows it here?
தெய்வத்தைத் தேடி பக்தர்கள் கூட்டம்
ஆலயம் செல்லுதடி
ஒரு பாட்டினில் வாழும் பித்தனைத் தேடி
தெய்வமே வந்ததடி.......
Seeking God, a crowd of devotees
Goes to the temple
Seeking the madman who lives in a song
God Himself came
புண்ணியம் தேடி காசிக்கு போவார்
இங்கு நம் நாட்டினிலே
இந்த காசியை தேடி யாரு வருவார்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Here in our land
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
In this world
நேற்று வரை சூரியனை
நெஞ்சில் கற்பனை செய்தேன்
அது ஏதோ என்று எண்ணிக் கொண்டேன்
இன்று வந்த சூரியனை
ஏழைக் குடிசையில் கண்டேன்
எந்தன் ஏழிசையை அள்ளித் தந்தேன்
Until yesterday, the sun
I imagined in my heart
I thought of it as something distant
The sun that arrived today
I saw in a poor hut
He gave abundantly the music of my harp
ராகத்தின் கோயிலில் நாதத்தின் தேவனே
வேதத்தை ஓதுவேன் வேதனை தீரவே
கண்ணீரிலே உப்பு இன்று தித்திக்குதே
கண்டுக்கொண்டேன் மாற்றங்களை தந்தது நீதானே
Oh Lord of sound in the temple of melody
I shall recite the Vedas to relieve my pain
Today the saltiness in my tears feels sweet
I realized that you are the one who brought these changes
புண்ணியம் தேடி காசிக்கு போவார்
இங்கு நம் நாட்டினிலே
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Here in our land
எப்பொழுது எப்பொழுது
உந்தன் முகத்தினை பார்ப்பேன்
அதில் எந்தன் முகத்தினை பார்ப்பேன்...
என்ன செய்து என்ன செய்து
இந்தக் கடன் நான் தீர்ப்பேன்
பட்ட நன்றிக் கடன்களை தீர்ப்பேன்
When, oh when
Will I look at your face?
And see my own face reflection in it?
Doing what, doing what
Will I repay this debt?
I will clear the debts of gratitude owed
எத்தனை ஜென்மங்கள் வந்தாலும் போதாது
சத்தியம் பாட்டிலே சொன்னாலும் தீராது
கண்கள் இல்லை பார்வை உண்டு
கண்டுக்கொண்டேன்....
ஊமை நெஞ்சம் பேசுகின்ற
வார்த்தையைக் கேட்டேனே........
No matter how many lifetimes come, it won't be enough
Even if told in a song of truth, it won't end
I have no eyes, yet I have vision
I have realized
The words spoken by a mute heart
I have heard them
புண்ணியம் தேடி காசிக்கு போவார்
இங்கு நம் நாட்டினிலே
இந்த காசியை தேடி யாரு வருவார்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Here in our land
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
In this world
பாவம் போக்கிடும் கங்கையின் புனிதம்
எல்லாரும் அறிவார்
இந்த பாவப் பிறவியின் கண்ணீர் கங்கையை
இங்கே யார் அறிவார்
The sacredness of Ganges that absolves sins
Everyone knows it
The Ganges of tears of this sinful birth
Who knows it here?
தெய்வத்தைத் தேடி பக்தர்கள் கூட்டம்
ஆலயம் செல்லுதடி
ஒரு பாட்டினில் வாழும் பித்தனைத் தேடி
தெய்வமே வந்ததடி.......
Seeking God, a crowd of devotees
Goes to the temple
Seeking the madman who lives in a song
God Himself came
புண்ணியம் தேடி காசிக்கு போவார்
இங்கு நம் நாட்டினிலே
இந்த காசியை தேடி யாரு வருவார்
இந்த உலகத்திலே
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Here in our land
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
In this world
Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Ingu nam naattinilae
Here in our land
Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
Intha ulagaththilae
In this world
Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Ingu nam naattinilae
Here in our land
Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
Intha ulagaththilae
In this world
Paavam pokkidum gangaiyin punitham
The sacredness of Ganges that absolves sins
Ellaarum arivaar
Everyone knows it
Intha paava piraviyin kanneer gangaiyai
The Ganges of tears of this sinful birth
Ingae yaar arivar
Who knows it here?
Dheivaththai thedi baktharkal koottam
Seeking God, a crowd of devotees
Aalayam selluthadi
Goes to the temple
Oru paattinil vaazhum piththanai thedi
Seeking the madman who lives in a song
Dheivamae vanthathadi
God Himself came
Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Ingu nam naattinilae
Here in our land
Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
Intha ulagaththilae
In this world
Netru varai sooriyanai
Until yesterday, the sun
Nenjil karpanai seithaen
I imagined in my heart
Athu yaedho endru enni kondaen
I thought of it as something distant
Indru vantha sooriyanai
The sun that arrived today
Yaezhai kudisaiyil kandaen
I saw in a poor hut
Enthan yazhisaiyai alli thanthan
He gave abundantly the music of my harp
Raagaththin koyilil naadhaththin devanae
Oh Lord of sound in the temple of melody
Vedhaththai odhuvaen vedhanai theeravae
I shall recite the Vedas to relieve my pain
Kanneerilae uppu indru thiththikkuthae
Today the saltiness in my tears feels sweet
Kandukondaen maattrangalai thanthathu neethaanae
I realized that you are the one who brought these changes
Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Ingu nam naattinilae
Here in our land
Eppozhuthu eppozhuthu
When, oh when
Unthan mugaththinai paarpaen
Will I look at your face?
Adhil enthan mugaththinai paarppaen
And see my own face reflection in it?
Enna seithu enna seithu
Doing what, doing what
Intha kadan naan theeppean
Will I repay this debt?
Patta nandri kadangalai theerppaen
I will clear the debts of gratitude owed
Eththanai jenmangal vanthaalum podhaathu
No matter how many lifetimes come, it won't be enough
Saththiyam paattilae sonnaalum theeraathu
Even if told in a song of truth, it won't end
Kangal illai paarvai undu
I have no eyes, yet I have vision
Kandukondaen
I have realized
Oomai nenjam pesugindra
The words spoken by a mute heart
Vaarththaiyai kettaenae
I have heard them
Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Ingu nam naattinilae
Here in our land
Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
Intha ulagaththilae
In this world
Paavam pokkidum gangaiyin punitham
The sacredness of Ganges that absolves sins
Ellaarum arivaar
Everyone knows it
Intha paava piraviyin kanneer gangaiyai
The Ganges of tears of this sinful birth
Ingae yaar arivar
Who knows it here?
Dheivaththai thedi baktharkal koottam
Seeking God, a crowd of devotees
Aalayam selluthadi
Goes to the temple
Oru paattinil vaazhum piththanai thedi
Seeking the madman who lives in a song
Dheivamae vanthathadi
God Himself came
Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar
People go to Kasi in search of virtue
Ingu nam naattinilae
Here in our land
Intha kasiyai thedi yaaru varuvaar
Who will come searching for this Kasi?
Intha ulagaththilae
In this world
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Punniyam Thedi Kasikku Povaar' from the movie Kasi expresses deep spiritual devotion, inner vision, and profound gratitude. The lyrics draw a powerful wordplay between the holy city of Kasi (Varanasi), where pilgrims go to cleanse their sins, and the blind protagonist named Kasi, who lives a humble life filled with music and suffering. While devotees seek God in temples and holy rivers, the song portrays a divine moment where God Himself comes seeking the blind musician in his simple hut. Despite lacking physical sight, the singer possesses true spiritual vision ('Kangal illai paarvai undu'). The lyrics reflect how compassion and grace can turn tears of sorrow into sweetness, inspiring an overwhelming sense of gratitude that feels impossible to repay even across multiple lifetimes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Double Entendre (Ilesai)
“Punniyam thedi kasikku povaar”
Wordplay on 'Kasi', referencing both the holy city of Varanasi and the blind protagonist's name Kasi.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Intha paava piraviyin kanneer gangaiyai”
Compares human suffering and sorrowful tears to the holy Ganges river.
Paradox (Muran)
“Kangal illai paarvai undu”
Presents a paradoxical truth of having true vision despite lacking physical eyes.
Oxymoron
“Kanneerilae uppu indru thiththikkuthae”
Juxtaposes bitter salty tears with sweetness to express emotional transformation through divine grace.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Kasi' (2001) stars Vikram as a blind village singer, a performance that earned him widespread critical acclaim including a Filmfare Award. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring soulful melodies that highlight the protagonist's emotional depth and musical expression.
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