S. C. Krishnan and A. G. Rathnamala perform “Kaasikku Ponene” from the album Kadan Vangi Kalyanam. Lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass open with a man boasting he went to Kasi. The music was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.
Kaasikku Ponene
A. G. Rathnamala | S. C. Krishnan • From “Kadan Vangi Kalyanam”
Kadan Vangi Kalyanam’s Kaasikku Ponene Lyrics Translation
The woman’s responses dismantle his stories. He offers holy water from the Ganges, but she identifies it as “Chennai Corporation Thanni” or city water. He presents sacred ash, which she bluntly calls ash from a cremation ground.
Kasikku Ponene RamahareI went to ‘Kasi’, O dear Rama (‘Kasi’: a holy city).
Gangai Theerthamum Kondanthen RamahareAnd I brought back holy water from the Ganges, O dear Rama.
Gangai Theerthamum Nan Kondanthen RamahareYes, I brought back the holy water from the Ganges, O dear Rama.
Kasikku Pogale MamahareYou didn’t go to ‘Kasi’, my dear man.
Chennai Corporation Thanni MamahareThat’s just Chennai’s city water, my dear man.
Chennai Corporation Thanni MamahareThat’s just Chennai’s city water, my dear man.
Vadalooru Ponene RamahareI went to ‘Vadalooru’, O dear Rama (‘Vadalooru’: a sacred town).
Jothi Thiruneeru Kondanthen RamahareI brought back the sacred ash of light, O dear Rama.
Swami Thiruneeru Kondanthen RamahareI brought back the sacred ash of the Swami, O dear Rama.
Vadalooru Pogale MamahareYou didn’t go to ‘Vadalooru’, my dear man.
Asal Sudukattu Sambal Idhu MamahareThis is just plain cremation ground ash, my dear man.
Nisama Sudukattu Sambal Idhu MamahareIt’s really just cremation ground ash, my dear man.
Anname Unbathillai RamahareI don’t eat any food at all, O dear Rama.
Enthan Agaram Katrithan RamahareThe alphabet is my only sustenance, O dear Rama.
Endrum Agaram Katrithan RamahareThe alphabet is always my only sustenance, O dear Rama.
Adharam Kattruthane MamahareSo learning is your only support, is it, my dear man?
Palgovavum Vizhungure MamahareBut you’re swallowing ‘palkova’, my dear man (‘palkova’: a milk sweet).
Badam Halwavum Muzhungure MamahareAnd you’re gulping down ‘badam halwa’, my dear man (‘badam halwa’: an almond dessert).
Kailasam Ponene RamahareI went to ‘Kailasam’, O dear Rama (‘Kailasam’: Lord Shiva’s divine abode).
Sivanai Kannale Parthene RamahareI saw Lord Shiva with my own eyes, O dear Rama.
Rendu Kannale Parthene RamahareWith both my eyes, I saw him, O dear Rama.
Kannale Parthirundha MamahareIf you had truly seen him with your eyes, my dear man,
Sivanai Kannale Parthirundha MamahareIf you had truly seen Lord Shiva with your own eyes, my dear man,
Neeyum Pinnale Suthuviya MamahareWould you be chasing after me, my dear man?
Enthan Pinnale Suthuviya MamahareWould you be following me around like this, my dear man?
Asaikku Alavillai RamahareDesire has no limits, O dear Rama.
Endrum Athmayogi Nane RamahareFor I am forever a spiritual ascetic, O dear Rama.
Periya Athmayogi Nane RamahareA great spiritual ascetic, that’s what I am, O dear Rama.
Adhu Mathiram Nijamthane MamahareThat part alone is true, my dear man.
Nanum Athukaga Than Vanthen MamahareAnd that’s the very reason I came, my dear man.
Summa Alakkama Purappadu MamahareSo stop your fussing and let’s go, my dear man.
Kaasikku Ponene Music Video
The song is a playful argument in a call-and-response style. The woman consistently exposes the man’s spiritual claims as false. The meaning of the Kaasikku Ponene lyrics comes from this witty takedown of boastful piety.