Kurai Onrum Illai.

Raga: Raagamaalika. 

Talam: Adi

Version: M.S. Subbulakshmi

Lyrics & Original Audio Courtesy: Lakshman Ragde

Aro/Ava information: Rani, www.karnatik.com

Meaning: Courtesy, www.ChennaiOnline.com

 

                                    (rAgA:  shivaranjani)

Pallavi:  kurai onrum illai maraimUrti kaNNA kurai onrum illai kaNNaa kurai onrum illai gOvindA

 

Anupallavi:  kaNNukku teriyAmal nirkkinrAi kaNNA kaNNukku teriyAmal ninrAluum enakku

kurai onrum illai maraimUrti kaNNA

 

Charanam 1:  vEnDiyadai tandiDa vEnkaTEsan enrirukka vEnDiyadu vErillai maraimUrti kaNNA
maNivaNNA malaiappA gOvindA gOvindA

 

(rAgA:  kApi)

Charanam  2: 

tiraiyin pin nirkinrAi kaNNA unnai marai Odum jnAniyar maTTumE kAN pAr enrAlum

kurai onrum enakkillai kaNNA enrAlum kurai onrum enakkillai

 

Charanam  3: kunrin mEl kallaAgi nirkkinra varadA kurai onrum illai maraimUrti kaNNA

kurai onrum illai marai mUrti kaNNAmaNivaNNA malaiappA gOvindA gOvindA

 

(rAgA:  sindhubhairavi)

Charanam  4:   

kalinALukkirangi kallilE irangi nilaiyAga kOyilil nirkinrAi kEshavA

kurai onrum illai marai mUrti kaNNA

 

Charanam  5:     

yAdum marukkAda malaiyappA un mArbil Edum tara nirkkum karuNai kaDalannai

enrum irundiDa Edu kurai enakku onrum kurai illai maraimUrti kaNNA
maNivaNNA malaiappA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA

 

Meaning: (Adapted From http://www.chennaionline.com/music/thamizhsongs/2004/song17.asp)

Pallavi: I do not ("illai") have any ("onrum") problem ("kurai") Oh, KaNNa the vEdAs ("marai") personified ("murthi")! I do not have ("onrum illai") any problem ("kurai"), kaNNA! I do not have any ("onrum illai") complaint ("kurai"), Oh, gOvindA!

Anupallavi: You are ("nirkinrai") invisible ("kannuku theriyaada"), Oh, kaNNA! But even ("ninraalum") when you remain invisible("kannuku theriyaada"), I ("yenakku") do not have any ("onrum illai") problem ("kurai"), Oh, kaNNA! 

Caranam1: When there is ("enrirukka") Venkatesan to give us ("thandhida") what we want ("Vendiyadhai"), we shall not want ("Verillai") anything ("Vediyadhu"), Oh, kaNNA! maNivaNNa! malaiyappA! gOvindA!

Caranam2: You are standing ("nirkinrai") behind ("pin") a screen ("tiraiyin"), kaNNa! Only ("mattume") the wise men ("jnaaniyar") who are well-versed in the vEdAs ("marai Odum") can “see” ("kaan paar") you ("unnai"). Still ("enraalum") I do not have a ("onrum illai") problem ("kurai") (if I cannot see you).

Caranam3: You ("varadaa") are standing ("nirkkinra") like a stone ("kallaagi") on the hilltop ("kunrin mel"). I do not have any problem ("kurai onrum illai") still.

Caranam4: You have taken ("kalinaalukkirangi") this stone-form ("nilayaaga")  recognising this kaliyugA ("kalile"). You are permanently here ("nirkinrai") in this temple ("koyilil").

Caranam5: You do not refuse ("marukkaada") the request ("yAdum") from your devotees. The ever-merciful ("karunai-kadal") Goddess Lakshmi ("kadal annai")  is residing in your ("un") chest ("maarbil"). In that situation ("enrum irundida") what ("Edu") deficiency ("kurai") can I ("ennakku") have? I do not have any complaint ("kurai onrum illai"), kannA, maNivaNNa, malaiyappA, gOvindA!

 

General comments:

This song is unusual in several ways. First of all it is a rare composition by a person who is not a regular composer or a musician. Although Rajaji was a popular writer, he was not recognised as a composer. Secondly, unlike other devotional songs which lament the status of the composer and request the Lord to save them (authors) in this and the next life, this song does not lament nor request special favours. Instead, the song describes the contented state of mind of the composer. The composer does not want anything. He is just content with seeing and worshipping the Lord. He just admires the everlasting grace of Lord Venkatesa of Tirupati.

Rajaji does not make any distinction here between Lord Venkatesa of Tirupati and the incarnation Krishna (known as kaNNAn in Thamizh). He uses the names interchangeably. He expresses only a common concept that the Lord, though present in the stone form, is taking care of the needs of the devotees. However, the concept comes out so crystal-clear when one hears the song. Perhaps it is the melody because there is no splendour of diction in this song. The words used are so commonplace.

Another distinctive feature of this song is that this was sung by MS Subbulakshmi at her United Nations concert in 1969 arranged by the then UN Undersecretary-general C V Narasimhan. The song was set to music by Kadayanallur Venkataraman who has worked with MS for decades. It is now a highly popular song in the concert circuit. Almost every musician keeps it in his/her repertoire to be rendered either as a regular item towards the end or to be rendered at the request of the audience.

Rajaji also composed a benediction verse in English to be rendered at the same UN concert by MS.

 

(rAgA:  shivaranjani)

ARO:  S  R2 G2 P D2   S        ||

AVO:  S  D2 P G2 R2   S        ||

 

Pallavi:

kurai onrum illai maraimUrti kaNNA kurai onrum illai kaNNaa kurai onrum illai gOvindA (twice)

 

I do not ("illai") have any ("onrum") problem ("kurai") Oh, KaNNa the vEdAs ("marai") personified ("murthi")!

 

g   G-  g     ; G         G ;      G ;             | g   P -  g        p D - p |  pgG ;             G ;       ||

Kurai on    - rum      il-      lai                 ma rai  mU    - -    rti      kaN-- -         NA

                                                                                                 [r]

r    G - s     ;  R     D ,  s      ;  - sg         |   R ;                ; ;         |  s  g r s            D P     ||

ku rai on    - rum   il- lai   -    kaN         Naa       - -           -  - -               -  -

 

I do not have ("onrum illai") any problem ("kurai"), kaNNA! I do not have any ("onrum illai") complaint ("kurai"), Oh, gOvindA!

 

p    D - s     ;  R     gpg-  g      rS,  - rd  |   S ;                S ;         |   ; ;                ; ;         ||

ku  rai on    - rum  il- -  lai     - -    gO       vin               dA            - -               - -

 

 

Anupallavi:

kaNNukku teriyAmal nirkkinrAi kaNNA kaNNukku teriyAmal ninrAluum enakku

kurai onrum illai maraimUrti kaNNA

 

You are ("nirkinrai") invisible ("kannuku theriyaada"), Oh, kaNNA!

 

; , p      ,  p  P     d  P - p          ; P        |  P    P             PG ;     |    ; D               dp- P   ||

--kaN  -Nukku  te ri  yA          - mal       nir kkin          rAi-           kaN-           -- NA

 

; , p      ,  p  P     d  S - dp        ; P        |  P    P             P , g     |    ; D               dp- P   ||

--kaN  -Nukku  te ri   yA         - mal       nir kkin          rAi-           kaN-           -- NA

 

But even ("ninraalum") when you remain invisible("kannuku theriyaada"),

 

; , p      ,  p  P     d  S - dp        G - G   |  G  , - g          ;     R    |    S G             R ;        ||

--kaN  -Nukku  te ri   yA         -   mal     nin-  rAl         -  uum       e na            kku

 

I ("yenakku") do not have any ("onrum illai") problem ("kurai"), Oh, kaNNA! 

 

g  P - d    p g - rs;     R  ;          R ;        |  d S -  d          G - R   |   rrS ;              S ;        ||

kurai on  - -    rum    il -            lai           marai mU       -    rti       kaN- -          NA

 

 

Charanam 1:

vEnDiyadai tandiDa vEnkaTEsan enrirukka vEnDiyadu vErillai maraimUrti kaNNA
maNivaNNA malaiappA gOvindA gOvindA

 

When there is ("enrirukka") Venkatesan to give us ("thandhida") what we want ("Vendiyadhai"), ...

 

; P        p    p P    D  D              D ;       |  pg ; g             P ,   p   |   sd  ;  d          S S       ||

vEn      Diyadai  tan di              Da          vEn- ka          TE-san    en -  ri           rukka

 

... we shall not want ("Verillai") anything ("Vediyadhu"), Oh, kaNNA! maNivaNNa! malaiyappA! gOvindA!

 

; S        s    s   S    d s r s           D  P     |  g P - ds         rg ,  R   |   g r s d          p g -  r  s          ||

 vEn     Diya du   vE - - -          ril lai      marai mU   -   --    rti       kaN- -         NA- ma Ni

 

G , - g     ; - p g         P , p        ;  d p    | d S - s            ;    rd    |  S  ;                S    ;     ||

vaN NA -   malai     ap pA       - gO-    vin- dA            -   gO-                vin-               dA -

 

 

(rAgA:  kApi)

22 kharaharapriya janya
ARO: S R2 M1 P N3 S
AVA: S N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S

Charanam  2: 

tiraiyin pin nirkinrAi kaNNA unnai marai Odum jnAniyar maTTumE kAN pAr enrAlum

kurai onrum enakkillai kaNNA enrAlum kurai onrum enakkillai

 

You are standing ("nirkinrai") behind ("pin") a screen ("tiraiyin"), kaNNa!

 

s  S - np     ;  P      M   P          pgR  ;   |  M ;                P ;        |  ;  P                p n s r   ||

tirai  yin     - pin   nir   kin       rAi -           kaN-             NA        - kaN-           NA- -

 

r  S - np     ;  P      M   P          pG,  R   |  M ;               P ;        |  ;  pS,             P  P      ||

tirai  yin     - pin   nir   kin       rAi -           kaN-             NA        -  -                 unnai

 

Only ("mattume") the wise men ("jnaaniyar") who are well-versed in the vEdAs ("marai Odum") can “see” ("kaan paar") you ("unnai").

 

mr R -  r        ;  M     ps  N , r S  - n P  |   M    G          M ;       |  p n mp           pn s r    ||

marai  O        - dum jnA -   - - -  niyar    maTTum         mE-        kAN- -          pAr --

 

                                                [snnp ; ]

g  R - s       ;  S      N    rs ;       s  n P     |  sn N S  ,n     |  R ;     snnp   P            ||

tirai  yin     - pin   nir   kin       rAi -            kaN-                        NA        -  -     un- - nai

 

g   G -  g        ;  M   sg  M , n P  - m G  |   G    G          g m g r  |  r s N ;           S ;        ||

marai  O       - dum jnA -   - - -    niyar    maTTum        mE-         kAN- -         pAr --

 

Still ("enraalum") I do not have a ("onrum illai") problem ("kurai") (if I cannot see you).

 

N ,  n               ;  N      s  N - g        ; G   |   n P - mg    G ;    R   |  s s  mg         R ;        ||

en   rA              - lum   kurai on       - rum   ena   kkil-   - -   lai    kaN-- NA

 

G ,  p               ;   P      p  P-   p       ;  P    |  p N - nm     ; P     |  sn N              S  ;       ||

en-  rA             -  lum  kurai  on      -  rum ena-   kkil        - lai     kaN--             NA

 

 

 

Charanam  3:

kunrin mEl kallaAgi nirkkinra varadA kurai onrum illai maraimUrti kaNNA

kurai onrum illai marai mUrti kaNNAmaNivaNNA malaiappA gOvindA gOvindA

 

You ("varadaa") are standing ("nirkkinrai") like a stone ("kallaagi") on the hilltop ("kunrin mel").

 

S    S     n s  r g      G  ,  - g       ; G       |  ;    G           R     sn    |  N G               R  ;       ||          

kunrin  mEl- -         kal-  laA     - gi         -    nir          kkin ra -   vara                 dA -

 

N    S    r m p m      G  ,  - g     ; G       |  ;    G           R     sn    |  N G               R  ;       ||          

kunrin  mEl- -          kal-  laA    - gi         -    nir          kkin ra -   vara                 dA -

 

I do not have any problem ("kurai onrum illai") still.

 

g  S - np    ;  P         pGr   ;       R ;        |  r M-  pN m P   - P    |  sn N              S ;        ||

kurai on-  -   rum    il -  -  -     lai-          marai  mU - -      rti       kaN-                         NA

 

n S -   g       ;  M       r M g       ;  G      |  g R -  s     ;  S            |  r s n p            m g  - r s          ||

kurai on      - rum     il -  -       -  lai         marai mU  -  rti             kaN- -           NA- mani

 

G , - g     ; - r  m        P , p       ;  m p  | N , - S            ;    rn    |  S  ;                S    ;     ||

vaN NA -   malai     ap pA       - gO-    vin- dA            -   gO-                vin-               dA -

 

 

(rAgA:  sindhubhairavi)

10 naaTakapriya janya
Aa: S R2 G2 M1 G2 P D1 N2 S
Av: N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S N2 S

 

 

Charanam  4:

kalinALukkirangi kallilE irangi nilaiyAga kOyilil nirkinrAi kEshavA (twice)

kurai onrum illai marai mUrti kaNNA

 

You have taken ("kalinaalukkirangi") this stone-form ("nilayaaga")  recognising this kaliyugA ("kalile").

 

 

p D - s                 ;  S         S   S           S  ;       |  ; g   s     ,  ndD ;         |  D  D              D ;       ||

kali  nA  -   Luk    ki   ran         gi -          - kalli    -  lE -  -           I   ran            gi -

 

You are permanently ("nilayaaga")   here ("nirkinrai") in this temple ("koyilil").

 

d D - d      ; D      md nsN       D D      |  P  dp       mG, ;          |  P , p              P ;        ||

nilai  yA   - ga      kO- - -         yi lil        nirkin-      rAi- -            kE-sha           vA

 

 

p D - ng    ;  G       G   G          G  ;      |  ; g   r     ,  snN ;         |  S  S              S ;        ||

kali  nA  -   Luk    ki   ran         gi -          - kalli    -  lE -  -           I   ran            gi -

 

n  N -  s      ; S      g g s n         D P      |  P  dp       mgG ;         |  P , p              P ;        ||

nilai  yA   - ga      kO- - -         yi lil        nirkin-      rAi- -            kE-sha           vA

 

g G -  g        ; G     gm S           S ;        |  s G - pm      G - M    |  P ;                 P ;        ||

kurai on       - rum il - -             lai          marai mU       -    rti     kaN-                NA

 

Charanam  5:      

yAdum marukkAda malaiyappA un mArbil Edum tara nirkkum karuNai kaDalannai

enrum irundiDa Edu kurai enakku onrum kurai illai maraimUrti kaNNA
maNivaNNA malaiappA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA gOvindA

 

You do not refuse ("marukkaada") the request ("yAdum") from your devotees.

 

; S        , S ,      g S - n          D- P        | g  P- d            ; S        |  ; ;                  ; ndD    ||

-yA      -dum  maru  kkA      -   da        malai ya            - ppA     - -                  -  - -

 

                                                                                                   x    x

; pdds   G - G  ,  g G - g           ;  - G    | g g   G            rmgg     |  R , grR          ; S        ||

-yA      -   dum  maru  kkA      -   da     malai ya            ppA       un  mAr-        - bil

 

The ever-merciful ("karunai-kadal") Goddess Lakshmi ("kadal annai")  is residing in your ("un") chest ("maarbil").

 

; N       , N ,     s S - s            ;    S      |  ;  p d                         , s rg     |  gs N -   nd     ; - P     ||

  E        - dum  tara  nir             -  kkum   - karu             - Nai-      kaDa -  lan    -  nai

 

 

In that situation ("enrum irundida") what ("Edu") deficiency ("kurai") can I ("ennakku") have?

 

; , d      ;  D     d D- d               D ;       |  ; , p               ,d- m p  | G  P     M ;               ||

- - en    - rum  I run di               Da-        - - E               du kurai  e   na      kku

 

pmg-sgm pd   ; D       d D- d          D ;   | ; S                s- d P     | M  D                P ;     ||

en-       - -   -   - rum    I run di        Da-    -E               du kurai    e   na     kku

 

I do not have any complaint ("kurai onrum illai"), kannA, maNivaNNa, malaiyappA, gOvindA!

 

; P        , D ,     s  S - s                         ; S        |  n  S -  n         sr- S     | nD,  ; P               P ;    ||

 on       -rum    kurai il               - lai        marai mU       -r   ti       kaN- - -            NA

 

 

; gmgg    ; G       n  gs; - nd        ; P       |  g  P -  d         S-  S    | g g sn dp -  m   g        ||

- on        - rum    kurai   il          - lai        marai mU       -r   ti       kaN- - -         NA- maNi

 

P , p     ; - g p      D , d                         ;  pd     | S , s                ; gmG   |  gR,; - s          ; pd      ||

vaNNA   malai  ap   pA            -  gO-  vin dA             - gO-      vin-    dA     - gO-

 

S ,  s      ;  gmG    gR,; - s         ; pd      | S ,   s              ; gmG   |  gR,; - S         S ;        ||          

vindA    -  gO-     vin- - dA      - gO-     vin-dA            -gO-      vin- -  -          dA